Book

Author:	Lance Mindheim
Title:	8 Realistic Track Plans For A Spare Room
Publisher:	CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Country:	USA
Date:	2009
Format:	Paperback
Genre:	Transport, Hobbies
ISBN-13:	9781448612994
Rating:	Rate
Collection:	I Own It I Want It
Community:	1 Owns
Price Guide:	Valuation Page
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Comments and Reviews


WPLives 25th Jun 2021		Review Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2015 Jeffery G. Smith There wasn't a great deal of depth to how the author designed the ... The book was ok. There wasn't a great deal of depth to how the author designed the layouts and why certain choices were made. ✔︎ Helpful Review?



WPLives 25th Jun 2021		Review Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2013 Time Bandit100 Excellent, simple, realistic track plans Found a very practical, versatile plan adapted to my space in this book. Very good book. Excellent presentation. Recommend it highly ✔︎ Helpful Review?



WPLives 25th Jun 2021		Review Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2020 Bill Not worth the money. All the plans are for the same 11' x 12' room. Only one plan allows constant running. All the plans are variations the same theme. Noth9ing really innovative or clever. Not worth $20. ✔︎ Helpful Review?



WPLives 25th Jun 2021		Review Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2011 R. Lee More great ideas from a master builder... Another in the series of books from Lance Mindheim. I found the perfect layout here after searching for quite a while in other books and plans. The plans here are unique in that they capture the era and location along with the operational reasons for the railroads existance. This gives you a head start on planning the correct buildings, rolling stock and and industries to model to make the layout come alive. ✔︎ Helpful Review?



WPLives 25th Jun 2021		Review Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2012 Mase Mindheim Book Review - 2 The book is well written and illustrated with photographs that are representative of the geographic areas described in the particular track plan designs. The plans allow for realistic and efficient service to the various industries represented on each track layout. All this is done with the minimum of track necessary to carry out the various switching duties. I would certainly recommend this book for the model railroader looking for a great switching layout in a small spare room. ✔︎ Helpful Review?



WPLives 25th Jun 2021		Review Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2009 Fredrick C. G. Scheer 8 Realistic Track Plans for a Spare Room by Lance Mindheim Represents remarkable value. Mr. Mindheim gives you a rich palette of construction-ready, operations-ready layouts to choose from, using crystal clear graphics and augmented with straightforward, high-quality guidance without excess drivel, just what you need to get it started, built, and running. These railroads are for modelers looking for advanced design and yet are "doable" in every way, even for a novice. Part of doing a layout instead of just dreaming about one is getting in touch with what is reasonably possible in your modest space. Accordingly, Mindheim shares his discipline: (1) to put aside childish notions of huge empires in your crawl space or laundry room, and (2) to get yourself focused on what you can do to achieve a state-of-the-art rail operations platform. Having said that, any of these layouts could become a branch within a larger model railroad system. The plans are complete (with an inventory of track and switches you'll need, and showing principal structures you'll want), operationally elegant, and sophisticated, doing railroading patterned on the real thing, no silly switching puzzles and other toy train stuff in here. This is the best layout book I've seen in four decades of model railroading. You'll be pleased. ✔︎ Helpful Review?



WPLives 25th Jun 2021		Review Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2009 Paul Boehlert Layout Design For the Real World It's tempting to think of Lance Mindheim's book "8 Realistic Track Plans For a Spare Room" as strictly appealing to the small-layout fans among us, but I think it's got a lot to say to every student of model railroad design. The railroads in this book are modest and attainable, firmly based in the prototype,operationally interesting and refreshingly free from the gimmicks and gadgets that seem to teem in other current trackplans. The book itself is a simple soft-cover of 56 pages which includes 22 color photos and 12 diagrams, both trackplans and construction diagrams. One minor but much appreciated feature; smooth-finish uncoated page stock is used, making it easy to write notes and marginalia. A yellow data block accompanies each plan, with dimensions, curve radii and other vital info. Pretty standard, but appreciated nonetheless. My one gripe is with the perfect binding--opening the book flat on the workbench (it is essentially a workbook, after all) will likely result in damage to the spine and possible loss of pages. Perhaps the greatest value of this book is the support and validation it provides to the 'average model railroader'. The model press features large, elaborate layouts, as it should; such endeavors are inspiring and contain lots of great ideas. But most of us are far more humble in our vision, and Lance's books and articles serve as a continuing reminder that small and relatively uncomplicated layouts can be just as absorbing and fulfilling as the gymnasium-sized railroads. I'm considering two of the trackplans in this book for my next layout project. There's no higher accolade a planbook can receive than that. ✔︎ Helpful Review?



WPLives 25th Jun 2021		Review Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2014 J. Scofield Book for prototype modeling Great book if you are into running a railroad with lots of switching like the prototype. Lance Mindheim is the king of formulating plans for room size small model railroads with lots of prototypical switching action. His model railroads are made to operate like the real thing and not just run around in circles. If you like railroad action on your model railroad this is the book for you, or any of his other books for that matter. ✔︎ Helpful Review?



WPLives 25th Jun 2021		Review Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2014 FredB Should be in a modeler's library. Lance Mindheim's books should be on every modeler's "to read" list. His writing is concise, down-to earth, and always helpful in some way, even if one is a veteran modeler. There's always something to be learned about the hobby, even if it's just a little, less time-consuming way to do something, or maybe something that's been troublesome that you've overlooked, and found the answer in one of his books or magazine articles. Lance was kind enough to take the time to answer an e-mail I sent him once, (as a total stranger!) asking for some advice about DCC. Later, I was fortunate to meet him in person at a train show, and a conversation with him in person is like his books; down-to-earth, personable and helpful. Any book by him is worthwhile to have and to read! ✔︎ Helpful Review?



WPLives 25th Jun 2021		Review Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2011 Philanthropic Pundit Apartment switching at its best... If space is tight, there are enough ideas in this book to help you create a believable small layout, be it a shelf or small room sized layout. Construction methods are glossed over as there are enough books on the relevant subject matter (bench-work, scenery, wiring, operation etc) that deal with them exclusively if you require more reading. One suggestion would be Lance Mindheim's book How To Build A Switching Layout However, the plans are some of the most adaptable I have seen in many years. For example, two notable plans stand out (to me anyway.) The Appalachian Coal Branch Line and The Milwaukee Branch Line. The former provides for some continuous running whilst switching can be done in two towns and the loading tipple... very reminiscent of the Clinchfeild. The Milwaukee Branch is a wonderful example of a prototype that is selectively compressed and an actual timetable provides an idea on how to operate this type of layout. Colour pictures abound and provide examples of the types of scenes and details to aid in successfully producing a satisfactory outcome. ✔︎ Helpful Review?



WPLives 25th Jun 2021		Review Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2021 RichfromRoch Another Gem Lance Mindheim has been supplying model railroaders for many years with solid tips on layout design, operations, scenery and just about every other aspect of the hobby. This book is no different. The title says 8 track plans, but he threw in a ninth as a bonus. Plus he added tips on benchwork, sub-roadbed, roadbed and liftout bridges (usually necessary for spare-room layouts). Most of these layouts are big, but would easily fit in a basement, too. The bonus layout is a shelf only 80" long and could occupy a wall in just about any spare room, providing lots of switching action. ✔︎ Helpful Review?

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