New Layout I'm working on - 12m x 12m

Since you're building a rail transport scheme of a capital, and we know what trains you have, we should guess it is Tokyo. But your scheme still looks to me more like Chicago than Tokyo. 

So it's a bit hard to recognize it from your drawing. But nevertheless, I really think you have a great idea, and there will be much fun in realizing it for you and the whole family! Please keep us up to date with the progress of this project, Bijo! 😊

Building Tokyo itself would be a huge challenge The lines I have on the screenshot so far are:

Yamanote Line - full circular route
Ginza Metro Line - Shibuya - Asakusa
Narita Express - Narita - Ofuna via Yokohama/Hachioji via Shinjuku
Tokaido Line - Tokyo - Odawara

Tohoku Shinkansen - Tokyo - Shin-Aomori
Tokaido Shinkansen - Tokyo - Shin-Osaka
Sanyo Shinkansen - Shin-Osaka - Hakata
Kyushu Shinkansen - Hakata - Kagoshima

There are a few more lines that I am adding to that and will have some more stations along the way, but need to find a few more stopping rails.

It's a fun project, and a decent amount of research into the routes and trains used has already gone in I'll post an updated map later, this time with labels

[Super]

Its going to be great seeing this endeavor come to life BiJo

Here's a better overview of the layout superimposed over a map of Japan. Obviously, the Tokyo area is enlarged to allow for some nice routes there, but I'm happy with the way it fits.

I hope this is visible, as station names are tiny due to the scale.



Bigger scale: https://i.imgur.com/hRnSSE2.jpg

Train lines and trains I will be using - using real trains that still are or have been servicing those lines:

Yamanote Line - full circular route - E231-500 - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10298502
Ginza Metro Line - Shibuya - Asakusa - Tokyo Metro 01 Series - Ginza Line EMU - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10064866
Narita Express - Narita - Ofuna via Yokohama/Hachioji via Shinjuku - E259 series Narita Express - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10309650
Ueno-Tokyo Line - Tokyo - Ito - E233-3000 series -  https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10204403

Odawara Line - Tokyo - Odawara - Odakyu 50000 series (Romancecar) - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10457066
Tokaido Rapid Line - Hamamatsu - Ōgaki - 313-0 series - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10298507
Nara Line - Kyoto - Nara - 205 series - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10048721

Tohoku Shinkansen - Tokyo - Shin-Aomori - E5 Hayabusa & E6 Komachi - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10271473
Tokaido Shinkansen - Tokyo - Shin-Osaka - 300 Series - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10048672
Sanyo Shinkansen - Shin-Osaka - Hakata - 500 Series - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10164260
Kyushu Shinkansen - Hakata - Kagoshima - N700 series - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10871342

I think this is a complete list now. Not sure I can/want add to the complexity, but of course any feedback and corrections are welcome

Tokyo?

-plarnold

Bingo. That, and the main Shinkansen routes across Japan, plus some local routes that I have the trains for.

I have 2 prospective locations I can rent out for a day to do the assembly, recording and then have some fun with the family

The Yamanote line suggested it.

But can I say that your Shinkansen lines are too short.

The Touhoku Shinkansen you have there is almost the same length as the Yamanote line!

Looking forward to the final layout though. You're going to have a lot of fun and thanks for taking us along for the ride.


-plarnold

But can I say that your Shinkansen lines are too short.

The Touhoku Shinkansen you have there is almost the same length as the Yamanote line!

-plarnold

I think I may struggle to make this to the scale of the Yamanote line I'd have to hire the football stadium for this

Think of it as a blown-out Tokyo lines and Shinkansen lines roughly to scale

Well, not everything has to be the same as it really is. Nor is the Plarail system, by itself, entirely realistic. It's pretty far from that. But that is the beauty of Plarail, with many possibilities and options. It’s not precise scale modeling, but it allows us to do something we’ve imagined in our own special way. 😊