New to the forum / Micro 027 layout

I like the design of your layout, kids are gonna be happy to run this and welcome aboard the forum

always cool to be able to run multiple trains

That's a very cool little layout. It looks like a lot of fun to run for kids of all ages.

Thanks guys, my son is 3 and he loves it. 

What are the dimensions?
How much dollars you think you have in it?

These are my favorite kind of layouts.  The temptation to ditch everything and go back to all-O27 is growing daily for me.

 

I built my first layout when my son was three; he's seven now and we still run trains at least once a week.  Nice work, and enjoy!

Well I have had the track rolling stock, engines, and operating acc. since I was 12. (now 31) Was given all used Lionel stuff for Christmas from a couple big layout uncles. So I have nothing in the trains, the table is built from scrap 39x62" 24" high. I manage a garden center so decorative gravel, lichen and other "scenery" I get at cost. the whole base is covered in high dens foam (really the only thing I've bought $20). I think minus the rolling stock and engines you could pull this off with used equipment for a few hundred.  

here's an early pic. Did all the track bed with foam cut to 1/4" on hot wire and hill hot wired out of foam.

Great layout, with much potential. Running 2 engines, switching, etc. Always great to see small layouts. It shows you don't need a warehouse, large basement or room to enjoy model railroading.

Smaller layouts maybe just the thing to draw those who don't have room, to start building.

Again, great layout, thanks for sharing.

Cool, that's just the size to not intimidate a 3 year old, I'll bet he loves it.  You might want some railings to catch flying locomotives, kids tend to view throttles as binary controls, off and on.

 

A very creative effort.  Thanks for sharing.

and that is what you're after. welcome!

Fantastic great job

I like it a lot.  Well thought out and attractively made.  My layout is 027 as well.

Great little layout!

Very nice layout. Welcome to the forum.

Well done!

 

Peter

Nice job!

Very nice! That's about maximizing the space available.

 

Brad

Very nice!  Great layout that proves what can be done in a small amount of space.

 

Art

Great job and your son loves it.  In my way of thinking, you have a bases loaded home run.

 

Brent

Very nice layout especially in the small space.

Running two trains, a milk car, a cattle car and a siding.

Switch tracks to go back and forth, and nice scenery

Plenty of action going on.

 

If you wanted to control the maximum speed that the trains can run, you can use a variable AC transformer.  I run conventional power on my layout (ZW) and I use a variable AC transformer to power my ZW.  I can dial down the power coming into the ZW when my 2 year old grandson runs the trains.  That allows me to control the maximum speed of the train.  If we put on more cars I increase the voltage, if we take off cars I can reduce it.

The silver box to the left of the ZW has a dial and a variable transformer inside.

This particular one has an on/off switch in the lower left of the box.

 

Here is what a typical variable transformer looks like outside the box.

 

They come in much larger sizes and some smaller sizes as well.

The common product names are "Variac" and "Powerstat"

 

Plenty of them on the bay.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html...variable+transformer

 

It's an easy easy method of controlling the environment with some subtlety.

Needs some cars and trucks and people... and a cow.  Gotta have a cow.

Cool little layout, thanks for posting it

Really nice layout!!  Everyone who complains about the high cost of running O gauge trains should see it!

It looks nice with the scenery and the two ovals are a good way to get more action in limited space. Great kid layout! I think I see some S-gauge track in there?

muts,

Welcome to the forum! You have a very nice layout! If your son loves it, that's the most important thing! Enjoy!

Maybe your son would like to arrange some of his toy cars and trucks on the layout and change them around every once in a while? Does he have any miniature figures, too? I would offer the observation that such additions from his own hands would increase his sense of ownership and contribution and having a combined effort and creation with daddy, IMHO.

FrankM.