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Iain Rice

Small, Smart & Practical Track Plans (Model Railroading) Paperback – March 1, 2000

by Iain Rice (Author)

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Clever solutions give modelers new options for small, flexible layouts. Shows how interchangeable modules, linked dioramas, and even shelving and stacking layout concepts can build a prototype-oriented model railroad into just about any situation. Perfect for modelers wanting a second project layout or a portable railroad that travels well.

--Features prototype railroad operations

--Includes original, custom-designed HO and N scale layout designs for spaces no larger than 10x12 feet

--Each layout design features full-color plans and layout perspectives

Print length

80 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Kalmbach Pub Co
Publication date

March 1, 2000
Dimensions

8.5 x 0.25 x 10.75 inches
ISBN-10

0890244162
ISBN-13

978-0890244166
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kalmbach Pub Co; 1st edition (March 1, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 80 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0890244162
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0890244166
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.25 x 10.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #508,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #97 in Model Trains
- #241 in Railroads (Books)
- #286 in Toy Making

Customer Reviews:
18 ratings

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5 star		62%
4 star		28%
3 star		10%
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Top reviews from the United States

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J. T. Gray

Small Model Railroads Book

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2017

Verified Purchase

Excellent source of information.

Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2014

Verified Purchase

Good buy, exactly as described.

Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2018

Verified Purchase

Great track plan ideas. Would recommend this book.

Helpful

Benjamin Cortes

good Small and practical track plan ideas

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2015

Verified Purchase

good Small and practical track plan ideas, however, they were only drawings and not pictures, or more enriched descriptions.

Helpful

J. D. Abolins

Good intro to UK compact layout methods in USA RR settings

Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2003

"Small, Smart & Practical Track Plans" was my first introduction to Iain Rice's excellent illustrations and his explanations of compact layout techniques.
I recognized seeing many of the ideas -- such as sector plates, fiddle yards, and train cassettes -- in some UK model railway magazines. Soon enough, I found some of Mr. Rice's books published in the UK. (Some of which can be readily found on the Amazon.com's British site at www.amazon.co.uk if they can't be found ion the Amazon.com site.)
This book does a decent job of translating those British small layout ideas into USA railroad settings. For many model railroaders, this is be an eye-opener, making us think of creative ways to work in small spaces. For anybody who wanted to build a model railroad layout but has been discouraged by lack of space, this book may be the catalyst to pursue the dream.
One caution, not to deteract from the book's value, the illustrations are wonderfully captivating but they are suggestions for the scenic possibilities. They are not scale blueprints. So for some of the plans, not everything shown in the drawings will easily fit into the space, especially if one doesn't custom hand-lay the track. Not a major flaw; there are ways to adjust the plans or make compromises.
Even if one can and will build a larger space railroad layout, the book is a wonderful inspiration. Some of the train handling concepts, such as train cassettes, can be used in any size layout.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jennifer

Nice book.

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2009

Iain Rice hand-paints his track plans, and while they may not 100% match what you are doing (he tends to favor using Peco track and curved turnouts in his plans, which are over twice the price of their non-curved Atlas counterparts), the book is a good jumping off point for an imaginary project of your own. I've never built a model railroad that piece-for-piece copied someone else's work - for me, a lot of the fun of the hobby is producing something unique. Still, Rice is so vivid in his plans and descriptions that his work can serve as the inspiration for something you creat yourself. This book was originally priced at 19.95, U.S., and while it has been out of print for a little under a decade, paying over twice that (especially for a used book) is obscene, and I would urge you to watch for the price to drop.

Helpful

James Taylor

Good food for thought

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2001

I really liked the way the author gets inside the whole concept for each layout, explaining his vision of the important elements of each plan and then illustrating it very nicely. Think of this as a starting point for your own ideas and you won't go far wrong. Like the previous reviewer I'm slightly dissapointed by the way the book is bound, with plans being printed across a very tight spine.
If, like me, you've always had trouble designing a lot layout to fit into a tight space, then this is the book for you.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Ewen Moase

Good but could be better

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2004

Iain Rice is a wonderful designer and there are some great ideas in this book, but it lacks small railroads and blue prints. Even so I think it would be a good purchase.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

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David Thompson

A good book, but with a high out of print price.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2015

Verified Purchase

This book deals with "small" layouts (from 4 X 8 feet up to 10 X 20 feet) and provides 15 track plan. In addition there is a good discussion of the designing of small and smart layout as well as a chapter on design solutions. These are more than just track plans because Iain Rice believes in a "holistic" design which includes the buildings, scenery and operation in his plans in addition to the track layout. This is a good book but because it is out of print the second hand prices can be high, but it is worth it.

One person found this helpful

Stephen Rogers

Exactly what it claims to be

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

Finally got a copy at a sensible price. Exactly what I needed and gave me the inspiration I was after. In my opinion this is one of Iain Rice's best efforts.

Stephen Webb

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2016

Verified Purchase

This was a replacement for a copy I had lost.

David

Check twice

Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2021

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed the book and the ideas put forward by the author. Iain Rice He really does support small track plans 4 by 6' and less while also showing some large plans 10 by 20' and how one needs to have a concept to work towards

But I thought his harbor plan was included, it was not and I thought the book included large track plans. It does not. The plans for the most part are less that 1/4 to half a page but they do appear to be scalable and I took one plan from 3" by 6" to 4 by 8 feet with limited distortion.

Bottom line I will be following his directions to build a 4 by 8 foot layout and the Canadian Supplier of the book was very helpful

Ch.K.

Perfekt

Reviewed in Germany on February 15, 2019

Verified Purchase

Perfekt

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