Category:Primer

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Contents 1 LDSIG Primer 1.1 How is the Primer put together? 1.2 How do I get around in the Prmer? 1.3 Updating the Layout Design Primer 2 Primer Topic Areas 2.1 The why of building a model railroad layout 2.2 Types and styles of layouts 2.3 General layout planning principles 2.4 Detail considerations for layout 2.5 Special layout circumstances 2.6 Layout design bibliography and references 3 Common Questions and Where to Find the Answers

LDSIG Primer

"To design is to plan and organize, to order, to relate and to control. In short it embraces all means opposing disorder and accident. Therefore it signifies a human need and qualifies man's thinking and doing." - Josef Albers

The Layout Design Primer (Primer) is a collection of articles intended to assist model railroaders become familiar with basic to advanced layout design concepts and practices.

The layout designer must engage in a lot of "give and take" as a part of the layout design process, so personal preference plays a significant role. Be aware the Primer presents the opinions of the authors, and as such may sometimes present contrary views.

The Primer directly contributes towards achieving two of the LDSIG's specific objectives and purposes as stated in the Bylaws. These are:

1. To act as a forum for the members' exchange of information and ideas, and to develop improved ways for hobbyists to learn the art and science of layout design, and
2. To provide leadership for planning, developing, coordinating, and expanding the knowledge of planning model railroads.

The information presented in the Primer is designed to:

• Help prevent beginners from making the most common mistakes in first layouts.
• Remind intermediate and more advanced modelers of fundamental concepts.
• Educate all modelers about successful design alternatives for their first or subsequent layout.
• Serve as a resource for modelers considering modifications of existing layouts to adapt them to changing needs or interests or to remedy problems, such as the modeler having a growing interest in operations or when they realize they need a more accessible layout as they age.
• Serve as a resource for experienced modelers who, after many years with the same layout, are starting over with a new layout with a new scale, concept, or space, such as a downsized home or apartment, or consideration for portable, non-permanent, modular layouts.
• Present the Layout Design SIG as a primary source of advanced design information through publications and networking.

Model railroaders who should find the Primer useful include, but are not limited to:

• The beginner designing their first layout. This would include those who built a practice layout from a published design.
• The person who has built a practice layout or two and is now designing their lifetime layout.
• The person who has been in the hobby for a significant period of time but has never built a layout for whatever reason. It is very possible this individual has acquired and built rolling stock, structures, and dioramas; has helped build a layout for another individual or club; and has definite ideas of what they want.
• The returnee to the hobby who had a layout many years ago and wants one again.

How is the Primer put together?

The Primer is a series of documents stored in the LDSIG Wiki and written using wiki markup. You can move around the Primer using hyperlinks.

The actual body of the Primer has been written by a number of volunteers who felt like putting their own modeling experiences in writing, in order to help others derive even greater satisfaction from our hobby. Individual articles have been assigned primarily on the basis of who volunteered to write them. Some articles are out of date or have no content yet and need authors, so if you're interested, please go to Primer Update.

How do I get around in the Primer?

The Primer is a collection of LDSIG Wiki documents. It is arranged much like a book, with the exception that the topics and articles need not be considered linear in their arrangement. The Primer is organized into six topic areas:

• The WHY of building a model railroad layout
• Types and styles of layouts
• General layout planning principles
• Detail considerations for layouts
• Special layout circumstances
• Layout design bibliography and references

Listed under each topic are a number of articles. Each chapter can be accessed directly from the Table of Contents if there is any text in that article. Some articles are placeholders, which means we need someone to write content for them (please volunteer!).

Updating the Layout Design Primer

The Layout Design SIG has embarked on a long-term project to update the Layout Design Primer and we need your help. Detailed information on the project and how you can contribute to it are located at Primer Update.

Primer Topic Areas

New content is added regularly, so please check back for additions frequently. All opinions are those of the indicated authors.

The why of building a model railroad layout

• Why do you want a layout?
• Why do layout planning?
• The layout design and planning process
• Using Givens and Druthers to guide the process

Types and styles of layouts

• Introduction to the wide variety of layouts possible
• Table top or island layouts
• Shelf layouts
• Multi-deck layouts
• Mushroom layouts
• Walkaround layouts
• Tiny Layouts
• Spaghetti Bowl Layouts

General layout planning principles

• Introduction to themes, eras, roles, intent, geographic location, etc.
• Why choosing a prototype is important
• How to plan ahead for operations
• Beyond the basement and what it does for you
• Industries
• Moving freight
• Moving passengers
• Basic layout building blocks
• Design implications for different scales
• Drawing Your Layout - Manual and Software Solutions
• Common mistakes and oversights by beginning layout planners

Detail considerations for layout

• Track standards: switches, curvature, grades, etc.
• Yards--freight and passenger
• Auxiliary Yards
• Construction methods
• Staging track design
• Signaling
• Control systems
• Layout room preparation
• Ways of lighting your layout
• Layout appearance, fascia, valances, carpeting, etc.
• Scenery design, compression, and illusion
• Human factors, aisles, crew lounge, etc.
• Handicap accessibility criteria
• Pro and cons of the helix
• Backdrops and Backdrop Painting

Special layout circumstances

• Interconnecting modules, such as NTRAK
• Designing layout in sections for moving
• Considerations for large club layouts
• Designing a layout for photography
• Designing a layout for video

Layout design bibliography and references

• A useful bibliography for layout design
• Bibliography on operations
• List of Layout Design SIG publications
• Research resources - sources of maps, photos, historical sigs
• How to use the LDSIG Design Primer
• Glossary of layout design terms

Common Questions and Where to Find the Answers

1. What command control system should I buy? See Control systems.
2. What radius curves should I use? See Track standards: switches, curvature, grades, etc..
3. What is the right height for each deck of a multi-deck layout? See Multi-deck layouts.
4. What trains should I run, and what jobs should I provide for operators? See How to plan ahead for operations.
5. What are the common pitfalls of the beginning layout planner? See Common mistakes and oversights by beginning layout planners.
6. Which layout design computer software is useful? See Drawing Your Layout - Manual and Software Solutions.

Articles in category "Primer"

There are 48 articles in this category.

A A useful bibliography for layout design Auxiliary Yards B Backdrops and Backdrop Painting Basic layout building blocks Beyond the basement and what it does for you Bibliography on operations C Common mistakes and oversights by beginning layout planners Considerations for large club layouts Construction methods Control systems D Design implications for different scales Designing a layout for photography Designing a layout for video Designing layout in sections for moving Drawing Your Layout - Manual and Software Solutions G Glossary of layout design terms

H Handicap accessibility criteria How to plan ahead for operations How to use the LDSIG Design Primer Human factors, aisles, crew lounge, etc. I Industries Interconnecting modules, such as NTRAK Introduction to the wide variety of layouts possible Introduction to themes, eras, roles, intent, geographic location, etc. L Layout appearance, fascia, valances, carpeting, etc. Layout room preparation List of Layout Design SIG publications M Moving freight Moving passengers Multi-deck layouts Mushroom layouts P Pro and cons of the helix R Research resources - sources of maps, photos, historical sigs

S Scenery design, compression, and illusion Shelf layouts Spaghetti Bowl Layouts Staging track design T Table top or island layouts The layout design and planning process Tiny Layouts Track standards: switches, curvature, grades, etc. U Using Givens and Druthers to guide the process W Walkaround layouts Ways of lighting your layout Why choosing a prototype is important Why do layout planning? Why do you want a layout? Y Yards--freight and passenger