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HO 4-8-8-4 Big Boy Table Top Layout

Kenneth is planning a table top layout for his HO 4-8-8-4 Big Boy and wants to hear from readers:
“I have a HO 4-8-8-4 big boy and I am trying to design a table top layout 6’x8′. Does anyone know if this space is large enough, and what radius curves should Iuse? Also, what number turnouts would I need?”
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2 Responses to HO 4-8-8-4 Big Boy Table Top Layout

  • GWR says:

    I am running N gauge on a door !! It is 6’4″ by 2’9″ and my tightest curve is 9.5 ins. I have a 9F 2-10-0 and it goes round quite well.
    Since your big boy is really two 4-8-0 s (with one running in reverse) I would imagine that you would run happily in 10.5 inch curves. The number of turnouts or points depends on your layout plan.
    I can recommend the PECO plan books
    best wishes

    Peter Alliss
    Gresley and Wychnor Model Group
    England

  • Anonymous says:

    10.5 ins. Is not a bad turning point if you go past the 10.5 going down then the engine will not make a smooth turn if you go bigger that will work better if you make a bout a 11 inch to give you a .5 tolrence for the turning position. As for the Layout I would probly do the layout as if it was in the setting of where the BigBoys ran through the mountans at to make it look like a modal of the real event.

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