First O Gauge Layout...

It shouldn't be much of a problem to do a twice around, but it will mean more than 12" in the corners. Here's something I put together (sorry, I use RR-Track). I don't know what brand track you plan to use, so I just used regular Lionel track, O54 curves and O72 switches. There is a place on both sides of the lower outside curves where I replaced 10" tracks with two 5.5" tracks to make it all fit together. It's just simple ovals with crossovers and you should be able to convert it to SCARM easy enough using whatever track you plan to buy. If you try SCARM and run into trouble, just post the SCARM file and I'm sure I or someone else will be able to help.

Thanks for your help Dave!!

I will try another track plan tomorrow after work.

How do I setup the Scarm to show the shelf layout like you did so i can get a better idea on what I can and can't do??

I have been reading up on track here and at this point I'm not sure if I want Atlas Concrete and Wood or Gargraves / Ross or All Ross or even Fastrack.

One other thing I have seen many guys on Youtube and not many do any scenery on the ceiling layouts is it cause it's to high?

I was thinking I could keep a small stepping ladder in my room so that I could work and run trains??

Thanks Mike

UPMike, In SCARM, one creates two polygon objects instead of a baseboard. Inside first, then outside. Both are transparent color in the properties. Use the CTRL button before left-clicking to drag and create a straight line. Then un-click to set the end point.

I have attached a 10' x 12' foot shelf like above for you to use as a guide. Not sure of the inside corner angles. I just guessed.

Edit: Option 2 Create a 10 x 12 baseboard. Next, create a polygon for the inside edge of the shelf. Set the properties for a color and a height of .02. That looks better in 3D view. File v2 attached.

Right-click the attachments and save to your computer. Open with SCARM.

I hope that helps.

Mike, there is a lot of enjoyment in running and displaying trains on a high shelf operation.

An Airborne RR does require working from a stepladder to change out equipment and periodically clean the rails. Some o-gaugers have installed 3/4" deep building and tree flats along their walls and a variety of groundscapes in the corners[mountain with a fake tunnel,mine entrance,etc.]. All Gargraves Flextrack used to enable custom curves, one curved end of the room is 0156.

My dual shelf, 5 track, 14x32 stepladder RR in the kitchen/breakfast room of our mountain cottage lasted 15 years [1992-2008]. My wife deeded me the space as a trade off to get me up off her Den carpet. She made me stain all wood components to closely match the Kitchen cabinets. She was slightly upset when I tunneled into her pantry.

Couple of fuzzy photos below.

Mike,

Glad to see Moonman stepped up with what you need to get started with SCARM. I can edit SCARM files fairly well, but I use RR-Track, so I'm not very proficient starting from scratch with SCARM.

When it comes to track selection, I'd hesitate to use FasTrack because I think it might be too noisy compared to the others. I really like the 3 levels of Dewey's shelf layout, even though that makes it hard to connect them to each other. However, I'm not sure how much switching you'd do anyway and not having any switches cuts down on cost as well as potential switch problems.

BTW, thanks to Matt, I used this layout to post an example in another thread of how to do the cross-overs better to avoid reverse loops, I'll repost here. Notice how a train would make a smoother pass from the inside to the outside track and back. It did require changes to the rest and more work would need to be done to ensure adequate separation for trains to pass each other.

Thanks MoonMan as I type this I'm trying to get Option 2 worked out but so far No Luck...

I did say I was New to SCARM Lol.....

Wow Nice Layout Dewey how high is the top three tracks?

Looks like you have some very good advice for the layout. I did one with a double main line and I think the straight  area's were no more than 12". We put some trees and crossing gates and some trucks in the corners were you will have large space and ran it all with DCS. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR PROJECT.

Thanks Pops I will start a New Thread when I start

Thanks DoubleDAZ for the loop transition technique. It was the missing piece that made my layout come together.

Now as soon as the remaining pieces of track show up (nobody local had 42" curves in O27), I'll be in business.

You're welcome Matt, but credit goes to another Matt in one of pro hobby's SCARM tutorial threads. I intend to use this technique myself in my layout design.

As regards shelf layouts in rooms with 8' [and 9'] ceiling height the following faded sketch is a general plan used by a number of O-gaugers during the early-mid 1990s.  It was designed to make economic use of 3/4"x 4 x 8 plywood and 4x8 blue foam if desired. 

This particular plan is for a 14'x16' room x 9' high ceiling. However most of the shelf RRs we built were in 12x13, 12x11, etc rooms with 8' ceilings. The shelf was mounted right atop the door casing.

All used Gargraves Flex track and all had dual tracks and a fair number had 079 and 090 corner curve arcs. The wide curve arc size used was directly influenced by the issue of the MTH diecast Challenger in 1994 as well as the desire to use 20"[80'] passenger cars. With the broad curve arcs the corner sections have a "mezzanine effect", reaching out 31-1/2" diagonally from the corner to the front 072 curve cut in the face of the corner section. The straight-away shelving is 11-3/4" wide and the corner sections were cut from 4x4 plywood. As noted the plan only required 3 sheets of 3/4 plywood.

Most folks stacked foam to raise the rear track to improve line of sight view from floor level. Some framed the raised rear roadbed,clad with Masonite skirting as shown on my operation earlier. All plywood cuts were usually made free at Lowe's or Depot except for using the sabre saw on the 072  corner face cut.

Enameled 1/8" thick strong flatbar Maxi-Brackets from Home Depot were used as support in most cases unless a spouse insisted on wooden brackets.

Thanks Dewey that's going to help me get a idea what I need to do.

I'm planning on using a deck bridge on one end and a curve deck for the door way.

I'm still having a problem with what MoonMan has showed me so I'm thinking I will keep working on a track plan and when I get it to what I like I will have someone make sure it will fit on the bench work

UPMike,

Sorry, I was out visiting family. Right-click the v2 file and select "Save Target as" and save it to your desktop. Then just double-click it on the desktop and SCARM will open it.

I have 2 loops with 048 and 036 curves using FasTrack. Here's a 3D and the SCARM file attached. The corner will need to about 23" out from the wall in the center. It's 22" in the example and probably too short.

Here's version 3 with the rear track 6" higher than the front, like Dewey's. File attached.

How high is your ceiling Mike?

I'm not very proficient with SCARM, but does this help any? I elevated part of the outer oval and kept the crossover. O54 curves with O72 switches and around 2% grades.

Edit: Posted before I saw Moonman's latest examples.

Now We Are Talking Guys!!!

What kind of % inclines do O Scale need.... do I need to keep the 2%???

the biggest car I'm looking to run would be a MTH Autorack from what I can see the new Lionel would be way to much and Yes I'm a Diesel Guy so I won't be running any steam...

My local shop had a Lionel SD70ACe and it didn't look that bad on O48 so i know its going to look better on O54.

Also now thinking about going 15" wide over the 12" thinking I could get another track in for a siding or some switching.

Thanks Dave you got me thinking now...

MoonMan Still not sure what I'm doing...

When I go to 3D it shows the center still...

My first thought on building this layout was going to be just for scenery and running but now I'm thinking about adding some switching in to keep me Busy.

The tunnels that I did can be the side I will be doing all the scenery with trees and all then on the opposite side I can setup a few fronts for the switching???

Between the two tunnels I plan on putting a deck bridge.

Are you using the files that I provided? Use those and change the track to your liking. You can learn the software as you go. It takes some time to get the hang of the properties of the objects. It's only for a 3D look. 2D is sufficient for the track plan.

SCARM>Help>SCARM Blog and the main SCARM website have examples and tips.

Ok Thanks let me see what I can find...

I was looking at Scarm track and what Ross had and I don't see 052 or 056?

Tools/Settings/3D View - Unckeck Baseboard/Terrain

Why those sizes? Most libraries have O54.

Testing 1 2 3...

Yes!!!

Dave I was on Ross web site and that's what they showed?

No, that number is the radius. Curves are referred to as their diameter, the 52 equates to O104 and the 56 to O112. And you don't have enough room for such curves.

Oh, and don't forget you can change that white to a different color if you want.

Matt, that's a good point. In my example, the crossover switches at the top are at 0". The outer oval then rises on both sides to where the straight section at the bottom is at 3" for the ~2% grade. I could then have had the inner oval drop to where it's straight section at the bottom was at -3" for another ~2% grade down and that would have given the 2 straight sections a total separation of 6" with only 2% grades.

Another thing to consider is that if you want to add a spur, you don't need to increase the width of the shelf to 15" all the way around, you just need to increase it wherever you put the spur.

If you have a typical 8' ceiling height your clearance above shelf/ over door casing will be 11" or slightly less. When elevating track be aware of the clearance from railhead to drywall ceiling as regards hi-rise loads on the El track.

If 9' ceiling you are okay for stacked containers on the El.

I guess that begs the question, is the door casing the only height restriction in the room? By that I mean, in my example, can the door casing be the point where the crossover is located so that the rise and drop on the opposite wall will have plenty of ceiling clearance for the 3" rise and enough space for the 3" drop?

I guess now would be a good time to find out in which direction the design is currently going?

If he hasn't already, Mike needs to measure his actual floor to ceiling height and the height above the door casing. Knowing the actual dimensions up front saves a lot of agony later. 

Thanks for the heads up on the SCARM, I tried it and have a initial draft, it is rough cuz I am just learning to use it!

Thanks Guys just got home from work...

I guess I need to get out the tape measure and get to work!!

Still playing around with the idea but I might want to keep it all at ground level so I could get some switching done unless you Guys have a better idea for the left side of the layout???

On the bottom right I was thinking about using a Curve Deck from BridgeBoss  then another 40inch Deck between the two tunnels.

I used Atlas track on this one cause I had a hard time doing it with Ross.

No problem keeping it to one level, but given the photo I posted, you might have missed that my dual main example had a crossover as well as a spur if you didn't look at the SCARM file. Personally, I think I'd keep it to one level too, but I have no experience operating a ceiling layout. I'd probably stand on something to bring it to eye level, looking up for long periods just doesn't appeal to me.

Did you ever do the measuring? Have you considered a lower around-the-room shelf layout with lift-outs for the entrance and closet?