Need Layout Advice - Ceiling Or?

I have an overhead loop running through my bar and gameroom. It's 7' from the floor with an 8' ceiling height. Its about a 75' loop with a 25' siding and I used a shelf 12" wide. I could of went with 10" wide but 12" was a little more roomy with 072 and 080 curves.

Laidoffsick posted:

I could of went with 10" wide but 12" was a little more roomy with 072 and 080 curves.

You were able to get 072's on a 12" shelf? I tried playing around in SCARM and couldn't get my 72 1/4 turns to fit. 

Well the shelf in my corners don't go all the way into the corners at a 90, but yes the shelf is only 12" wide. I laid out my curves on a sheet of MDF (that's just what I used) and cut it out with a jig saw. The straight shelf on both walls is only 12" wide, but the actual corner is whatever it came out to be, I didn't measure the corner. So there is a gap in the corner between the corner of the wall and the shelf.

You could just cut a triangular piece of shelf to fit in the front of each corner to support the curves. I mounted all my curves as "L" shapes in one piece. Then used straights to fill in between the curves.

Actually, 1-foot deep shelves will work nicely for up to 45" radius (O-90). Shown in the pic is O-72/O-81 with 4" tangents.

Attic located/Suspended O/G layout. Inter-rail kit I installed about 8 years ago. Hardest part was getting it plum leveled from floor to ceiling. 10' at widest; 5' wide at narrow end about 20' long.

Gargraves O track inner loop and Aristo G outer loop. I have a nasty S curve due to a wall but it still works with small to medium sized rolling stock and engines. I wanted large curves 072 but settled on smaller curves as I wanted a longer layout but the wall on the left made the S curve possible! 

Good luck with yours, keep us posted.

I am in the attic and with sloped walls. So I couldn't do a shelve layout  So I modified mth monorail to hang from the ceiling 

Matt that's not how he was trying to do it though, that's why it wasn't working for him. His picture has 12" shelves going straight into the corner. I did as your picture shows, but cut out the back portion. 

Laidoffsick posted:

Matt that's not how he was trying to do it though, that's why it wasn't working for him. His picture has 12" shelves going straight into the corner. I did as your picture shows, but cut out the back portion. 

Oops. Misread what he was up to.

AGHRMatt posted:

Laidoffsick posted:

Matt that's not how he was trying to do it though, that's why it wasn't working for him. His picture has 12" shelves going straight into the corner. I did as your picture shows, but cut out the back portion. 

Oops. Misread what he was up to.

I think he's simply looking for a solution and you've pointed out that he doesn't need a 24" shelf around the entire room, just in the corners. And he can still use 12" shelving by mounting the corner shelf on a 45° angle leaving the corners open. Here's an example using FasTrack O-60 curves. The only adjustment needed is the length of all the shelves to accommodate whatever radius he wants to end up with. If he wants the corners filled, he'd just have to substitute the corner shelf with a piece of plywood cut to fill the corner.

Seacoast posted:

Attic located/Suspended O/G layout. Inter-rail kit I installed about 8 years ago. Hardest part was getting it plum leveled from floor to ceiling. 10' at widest; 5' wide at narrow end about 20' long.

Good luck with yours, keep us posted.

Okay..... This is pretty cool. Do you have a link for the support kit? I tried searching "Iner-Rail Kit" and couldn't find much on google.  I plan on suspending the shelving from the ceiling anyways, and this looks like its designed to do so.

AGHRMATT posted:

Actually, 1-foot deep shelves will work nicely for up to 45" radius (O-90). Shown in the pic is O-72/O-81 with 4" tangents.

Hey Matt, thanks for the picture. I guess I never though of putting the corners at an angle! That's why I asked on the form. I guess I'm just too closed minded, or not experienced enough, no matter how you put it. 

DoubleDAZ posted:

I think he's simply looking for a solution and you've pointed out that he doesn't need a 24" shelf around the entire room, just in the corners. And he can still use 12" shelving by mounting the corner shelf on a 45° angle leaving the corners open. Here's an example using FasTrack O-60 curves. The only adjustment needed is the length of all the shelves to accommodate whatever radius he wants to end up with. If he wants the corners filled, he'd just have to substitute the corner shelf with a piece of plywood cut to fill the corner.

 Thanks! I Like the idea of just leaving the corners open. Could make things a little easier. 

and that will still allow you to run a double track up there if you want. You will have to push the track to the edge in the corners, but that's what I did. I've never had any problems up there, except for 1.... that I caused   

raggedrebel92 posted:

Seacoast posted:

Attic located/Suspended O/G layout. Inter-rail kit I installed about 8 years ago. Hardest part was getting it plum leveled from floor to ceiling. 10' at widest; 5' wide at narrow end about 20' long.

Good luck with yours, keep us posted.

Okay..... This is pretty cool. Do you have a link for the support kit? I tried searching "Iner-Rail Kit" and couldn't find much on google.  I plan on suspending the shelving from the ceiling anyways, and this looks like its designed to do so

I bought the interrail modular suspended layout kit from Lantz Wholesale trains in Horsehead, NY. I checked their website it looks like the item is discontinued, but you might want to call Lantz's and see if they have anymore parts or kits left and or information.

George

Raggedrebel,

Here are some pics of my 7 month old overhead layout.  It is two 110 ft loops around the room, 7 1/2 inches from the ceiling.  

For those pesky corners I butted straight 8 X 10 inch wood using dowels.  Plenty of room for two trains, plus the wiring and lighting.  Leave a small space between roadbed sections that are at the end of boards.  I fasten them with metal straights on top to be secure and so I can disassemble them at any time.  The entire corner is measured on the floor with the track and roadbed and a jigsaw cuts the curved pieces. Once you are sure the track is correct, just lift up the sections and fasten them.

Track can be whatever as long as you measure and cut correctly.  The backdrop hides the heavy 6 inch L-brackets.  I used the wood I-beam box trim as a support, but attaching to the wall studs is no issue.   I needed to triple sand and triple coat the underside so that it looks like part of the paneling and structure.  The underside is smooth as a baby's butt.

For me, there is no point in doing it if you don't double-track it.  It runs DCS with 4 engines and lots of cars.  Power is a ZW.  Nothing like sitting with the poker group as the trains go around.

Hope this helps...

Jerry G.