Lionel Dealer Display Layouts, Factory Layouts and Postwar Layouts

Sure, PDF would be fine.

Again, thanks much for doing this!

I sent the email out w/ the 2 PDFs
Let me know when you get them

Another thing I just thought of -  Were all the display layouts painted green around the edges?   If so, what would be a good color match?   I was thinking of doing mine gray along with the shelves under the board.

Anybody know what happened to this site?

http://www.lionellines.com/displays.html

Was wondering that myself. In my travels around the ‘Net looking for Dealer Display pics and plans, I kept seeing that site referenced only to find a dead link.

Christopher2035:

I found a paint in a spray can at either Lowes or Home Depot that is a close match.  Compare my D-190 recreation to some of the original layouts photos (especially the D-133).  When I get home, I'll post the manufacturer and catalog number.

The paint that closely matches the original wood paint IMHO is Rustoleum Satin #7737 Spruce Green.

Thanks for getting back to me on that.   Do you know if anything would be available in a non spray format?  I think that may be better to paint the boards with

Christopher2035:

The spraying operation was not bad at all.  Two coats, no primer.

You could either spray a test shot out of the can or maybe use a paint chip sample and have HD or Lowes computer match it for brush-on paint.

The spray gives a nice finish with no brush marks.

Did find his e-mail address in CTT. He has a few copies available at $100.oo each.

Checked into the site that had all the display layout designs. My guess is that internet address lionellines.com infringed on Lionel's copyrights and it was taken down. Maybe at some point it will reappear under a different location unless the site itself violated some kind of copyright.

My guess is that the original Lionel Dealer Display plans are no longer covered by a copyright but the publication by Kalmbach is.

This is my own idea for an 8'x 8' display layout to run three trains. Lionel never did "easements" on their plans with O31 curves, which is something I favor for better operation and appearance. Instead of copying the old plans exactly, why don't we think up some new ideas along similar lines?

Using non-derailing switches, if switches A and B are set for the curved route, a train will "random-route" itself on the inner mainline. Switches A and D would need to be the newer style with smaller switch machines; O22 switches probably wouldn't fit. SCARM file attached.

I've modified the previous plan with wider curves on the outer circuits.

Ace-  Great layout work as usual.  Have you ever thought of a website housing all your designs?  Could be a small moneymaker with ads (use Google AdSense).  I suspect you'd generate decent traffic from people searching "O Gauge Layouts." 

MichMikeM, Thank You for the comment. I consider my contributions to the forums as a return payment for the camaraderie from other forum members, in terms of information and friendly feedback and occasionally material generosity. If other people like my track plans well enough to actually build them, I enjoy seeing photos of the results.

Ace,

On the 8'x8' layout, if you used the disappearing layout technique, you could make the curves on the reverse loop with larger diameter (under the two main loops.)

Great thread.

John.

I believe I saved this from another post here on the forum. The layout intrigued me and looked like a lot of fun. I haven't finished converting it to FasTrack in SCARM yet.

Just my opinion, but that layout seems like all sizzle and no steak.  The 3 crossovers don't give you much functionality.  For all those track pieces, crossovers, and switches, the layout doesn't reverse.  In that space and amount of track, one could do much better.

This layout does not connect without modification.  I've looked at O31, O27 and pre-war O31.

It's not hard to "fix", I'm just surprised when published layouts aren't correct.

  --Joe

Joe,

This was published in an edition of "The Lionel Railroad Magazine for Boys". The plan shows 1/2 length straights as fitters marked as "A".

So, it still doesn't fit? I don't know O sizes.

MichMikeM,

I agree, all sizzle, especially when trying to manage two trains. That's where I saw the fun. But, many of the Dealer Display layouts were sizzle also. Sell the product.