TRACKPLAN: The IMPROVED Unhinged and Horizontal

Monday, April 3, 2023

MODEL RAILROADING / N SCALE / TRACKPLANS

Back in the early days of N-scale model railroading, the Atlas Model Railroad Company came out with a book of track plans for their new line of N-scale track and trains.   One of those track plans was called "The Unhinged and Horizontal", so-called because the base board for this track plan was a hollow-core door!  A typical 4 x 8 sheet of plywood from the lumber yard was often chose to setup one's very first model railroad in HO scale.  But for the smaller N scale trains, the preferred base board for starting a small layout was a hollow-core door, usually measuring 30" x 80".

I did an internet search for this track plan, and found an improved version created by a guy named Mike.  He has an entire page on his website dedicated to N-scale track plans of all shapes and sizes.   And yes, this layout, much like the original, is designed to fit on a hollow-core door.   

If I were to buy all the Atlas track I would need to create this layout, along with additional electrical components to wire it for operation, it would easily set me back $800 USD.  Even small model railroads can be incredibly expensive.  And that price does not include any trains, buildings, scenery or even the door from the lumber yard.   

I just happen to have a hollow core door in my possession that I'm just using as a utility table, setup on a couple of saw horses.   I also happen to have a small collection of N scale trains!   So I was thinking about building this layout, to give my trains a place to run.

Here's a link to Mike's N-scale layout designs:  Cke1st's Trackplans Page