A Very Small Fn3 Scale Layout

G

Graham ASH

Fn3 Logging & Mining
Hi all,
as some of you will know from previous Im into Fn3 - always have been - because its a very accurate scale/gauge.
Anyway - Ive just given up on On30 - because of eyesight issues and decided that despite my eyesight I could continue railroading !! That been the case Ive decided to go back to Fn3 - which is 1:20.3 - for those who arnt sure.
My only real place for a layout is the garage, which measures 17ft x 8ft - thats the indoor space available to me.
So -been as Im into Logging - and still have a penchant for it, Ive decided to once again go that way. Ive also decided which track to use and also bought some locos and log skeles !! Currently Ive laid about 38ft of track, using PSB sleepers and Peco Code 200 track, Ive taken my time and its going okay - photos to follow !!

My only real problem - so far - is will my 2-6-6-2 go around the bend. My layout by the way is a U shape, 15ft down the left hand side, round the top (8ft tops) and back down the other side.
Ive heard and read loads of ideas as to what my locos will take as a minimum radius.

Looking at it - I reckon all my locos will go around the curve - and tommorow is testing day - so watch this space.

The locos that I have are all Bachmann - I have a 3 truck Shay, a 2 Truck Shay, a Climax, a Heisler and lastly a 2-6-6-2 - the only other loco I want is a Goose but I do need some more Logging Skeles.

Anyway - its good to be back on here and no doubt I will catch up with those of you who know me
Graham
 
graham have you considered the LGB porter and davenport?
both are in fact, as i understand, 1:20
and well suited to smaller layouts imho


which maker's buildings do you like for F?
it would seem that the piko US water tower is Fn3 to my eye, and i cannot think of any other's ready kits a'tall

looking forward to pics
 
Graham, I think I have traded posts with you on MLS over here about this layout, please post pics when you can as I am very curious to see what you can squeeze into that space. I still think you could use 6.5' diameter OK, but the biggest issue (literally) is your mallet is 2' long , thats a quarter of one side of the layout. so I'm am doubly curious to see your track plan as well.
 
That's pretty much the size and shape I used to have. I'll be very interested to see how you plan to set everything out. Plans and/or photos, please !
 
I have done the same thing, 15 x 8.
bdf137529a2b4960a02ab67a0619b704.jpg

Initial base baord layout, an extra board and return curve was added later.
1abbec84cf894a3990bc720033d7899c.jpg

After some scenery
1463712d52524e96ad2117ebca2ea626.jpg

Station area
1248ef7250244ce1b2cf72770cc3c4ae.jpg

Davenport on return viewed from lounge chair.
It's very theraputic to sit and watch trans go round.
 
Hello there from another Fn3 fan.
With regards to your original question - Bachmann 2-6-6-2 seems to have no problem negociating the inner radius of the Piko curved point that is rated as an LGB R3. Hangs out a bit at the corners though. Love to see picctures of your layout as it gets built.

1916cace57574d128b8f650266044cd2.jpg

And here it is having just negociated that R3 pointwork (I think that is about 3'6"radius) Rest of train Bachmann Spectrum/AMS 1:20.3 stock.

Max
 
Hi Steve
My reply is by email to yours, however ---
I do like the Davenport (although its a bit out of my time train ) and I do really like my Porters - but I do more than anything like my geared logging locos, and I have to date a 3 Truck Shay, a 2 Truck Shay, a Climax, a Heisler and my favourite my 2-6-6-2
Today Im going to lay some more track (which will finish the end loop) then I will be able to see exactly what will go around the end. Its 8ft wide is the garage - and thats it, cant really knock a hole in the wall!!!
So wait out - and I will give you my full breakdown as to what happened and with some pics
Graham
 
Hi VS
Yes we have spoken before. as Ive said in previous text - todays the day, personally I think the Mallet will go round, Ive had two of these before, and despite their overhang, they will go around pretty tight corners. As I said I will photo it today and let you know
cheers
Graham
 
Hi C&S
Sorry - I will post some photos later today - but I dont do plans !! Everything that I do I do from my head, if it wont fit I wil try to make it fit, if the loco wont go around, then I will have to look at running it only on the straight parts - which will be a shame
cheers
Graham
 
Hi Simon
I like your photos and yours looks very good, although a bit clean for me !! Nothing derogatary against you oryour setup. I think youve got quite a mix there.
I want to have mine as a Logging Layout, simple end to end, thats how it will be. Theres loads of things I can fit into such a scene, I will have a log loading operation at one end, and a log pond at the other.
I intend taking this further forward and as Im a member of the Slim Gauge Circle I will be approaching others at Rugby at end of October with a view to setting up a Fn3 modular layout within the group.
The intention being to be able to hook up 60ft or so of these boards and take them to Narrow Gauge Shows.
Anyway - please wait until later today and I will hopefully have an answer to one problem - will the 2-6-6-2 make it around the curve - I think it will
cheers
Graham
 
Hi Max
I like your outside modelling - looks good.
What you need to bear in mind is that Im hand laying my track, Im using Peco Code 200 rail, soldering onto 12mm wide PCB for sleepers, therefore I dont need to operate as tightly as youmay have to. Im still making my way through point making (what a job) but Im getting there, Im a member of Wakefield Modellers and we have some great modellers here - should I get stuck !!
At the moment - I reckon I have a part fitted size of around 6ft-6" - and could go out as far as almost 8ft, but that will reduce the size of my Logging camp/
As Ive said earler - wait and see, I willpost some pictures of what happened later today
cheers
Graham
 
Ok, been out in the garage, and found that my 2-6-6-2 will go around the curve, but theres nothing left - ie its hugging the walls. So what Ive done is to pull up that section of track (which was only tacked down with solder, and Ive taken it further back and relaid about 6ft of sleepers in order to re-align the rail.
This should give me about 12 inches extra on the radius and should therefore enable the 2-6-6-2 to go round a lot more easily than it was.

Tommorow I will relay the rail onto the sleepers and test it out before soldering everything up.

Ive measured all up, I can get 5 Skeletal log cars plus my 2-6-6-2 down one loading track, plus the other track will take 7 plus the 2-6-6-2
At the end of the day all I want is the 2-6-6-2 plus 3 skeles so Im well in on that.
Its a case of getting on now and continuing track laying to around the corner and the third point.
I will now look how to post some pics on here
cheers
Graham
 
It is still a work in progress, I am hoping to make it very decrepite over time.
I recently finished the ground cover and hope to start the station area soon, once I finish repairing the clubs early Bachmann Shay (the pickups melted, along with a few other issues)
 
Sorry Simon - surely if your talking about another layout you should simply open another message ??
I assume thats what your talking about - your text doesngt belong on here - does it ?
Gfraham
 
It was a response to to message 10, I didn't use the show message section which is why it appears by itself. Some times I have problems with computors, e.g. most of the time:rolf:
 
Ok Mate, no probs. Ivehad a good day, we had a meeting here in wakefield of the Slim Gauge Circle, really good group, about 20 of us went, I sold a couple of On30 Shays, |(which will pay for the next Sound update on my Hiesler = then I returned and did a bit more modelling - its all coming together
cheers
Graham
 
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