But I have been enjoying it so far and want to press forward. Currently, I cannot operate my layout in any meaningful way because the mainline isn't long enough on the ends to perform any switching moves, and the ends aren't connected for round-and-round running (which is my ultimate goal). It was time for Phase 2.
The issue is my space isn't very large at roughly 12' x 16', and since it would be a walkaround style layout the real limitation would be the end curves. My sides are already 12' long, so that plus the ends had to fit (I could angle the layout slightly). Ideally, my track diameter would be 0-54 curves which would allow for all but the largest types of engines and passenger cars. (I have no intention of running Big Boys on my layout.) Of course, everyone says that in the beginning and many live to regret it. But not me.
A lot of scale 3-rail equipment can run on 0-36 curves. Brian Inch, a custom layout builder, constructed a wonderful New England themed layout shown in the March 2018 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine that used 0-36 curves and was only 4' x 16. I watched it operate at the Springfield Train Show in 2017 and was impressed by how much he squeezed in such a small area.
However, the most important factor for me was that I wanted to run my MTH Amtrak Amfleet passenger coaches. They are nearly scale length and require 0-42 curves, so that became my minimum diameter. But, I would try and go as large as I could.
I can build rectangular benchwork, but for simplicity I went with a commercial product for Phase 1. For the ends I want rounded benchwork which would look nice and provide more space for walking around it in a cramped basement. I certainly cannot fabricate round benchwork myself. Thankfully, Model Railroad Benchwork offers pre-fabricated outside curve benchwork in various diameters including 48", 60", and 72".
I took a diagram of my basement and tried to see what would fit. 72" diameter benchwork ends would allow me to have 36" deep benchwork on the back (Phase 3) but there wouldn't be much clearance with the walls or support posts, and trying to maneuver full laundry baskets around the end of the layout by the stairs would be difficult for my wife (an very important consideration!) Note the three black circles in the middle of the room which are support poles. They are dictating what I can fit.
Next, I mocked up 48" diameter benchwork ends and they worked except that if I used 0-42 diameter track would result in a scant 3" between the track and the edge of the scenery on the curves. For safety I could add guardrails, but a secondary concern was that the final back layout section would then only be 12" deep unless I added a "bump out". Scenery would be difficult, so I didn't like that.
That meant purchasing the 60" diameter benchwork end sections was the best option. But I wanted to be sure and couldn't visualize it by staring at a piece of paper.
So, I removed nearly all of my HO layout that was currently residing in the same space. Then, I bought some Foamcore sheets and made two 72" diameter half-circles. The process involved taping and gluing five sheets together for each semicircle, a process which took over 7 hours as I didn't have enough weights so I had to glue down a couple and leave it for a couple of hours to cure.
A homemade protractor and a knife cut them down into a pair of 72" diameter semicircles. I rolled my existing O scale layout into place and set the two semicircles on the end and realized quickly that it was a bit cramped. It was on wheels so I could try and force it against the walls as much as possible to allow for clearance, but I didn't like that arrangement. It didn't fit.
So, I trimmed them to 60" diameter, which would easily allow for my 0-42 minimum radius track and give me 24" benchwork depth for scenery or staging tracks in the back of the layout.
When I mocked them up and walked around everything I was happy with the arrangement. True, the far end curve doesn't really have much clearance to walk around it but I am thinking of modeling a cut or a forest there anyway where the scenery will overwhelm the trains and you can see it all from the front. On the right side, there was plenty of clearance for a laundry basket.
Ideally I would use 0-48 diameter curves but no one makes sectional track in that size so I will need to bend flextrack for that. O-54 sectional diameter curves are offered by several manufacturers but they are dangerously close to the edge of the layout.
Because of the location of the ceiling support posts and stairs I am stuck with this arrangement. If I ever move I can ditch the ends and install my front/back modules into a new layout configuration. So it isn't permanent. And, at least it will allow me to run trains round and round which is what I enjoy most (and Harrison too). Ignore the mess on the left including a rolling train layout, a treadmill, and the remains of a wooden TV stand...
Now, I just need to order the benchwork...