Scot’s been in touch with some very clever On30 modules modules.
I love how not having the space hasn’t stopped him enjoying this hobby. And best of all, his modules will be able to travel with him:
“Hi Al!
You featured my HO layout “Warwick and Western” a few years back. Well, things have changed for me.
My wife and I have bought a fifth wheel camper and parked it near the grandkids. Needless to say there is no room for a layout here!
I do, however, build some of my craftsman structures outdoors under the trees. Anyway, on with the story!
I could not stand not having a place for the layout. I finally came up with the current plan. I rent a climate-controlled 10’x20’ storage building at a local storage facility down the road from the camper. I provide my own power for lighting and such via a portable rechargeable off-grid battery pack. It is actually a great setup to work in!
I am building my layout in large modules on rolling frames that also serve as storage for kits and materials. I will ultimately fit five of these modules together to make a single 10’x20’ layout that can be easily transported in a small truck or trailer.
I have just finished (mostly) my first module. It measures 31”x128”. The entire layout is called Crypto Falls.
This first module features the coal mining community of “Casper”. I am now beginning my second module of the same dimensions which will be fitted back-to-back with Casper and will allow continuous running as well as many more operational scenarios.
The second module -“Ethereum Springs”- will feature a wharf and carfloat area.
My layout is freelance and is completely dead-rail. I have seven dead-rail locomotives that will each run in excess of two hours per charge. Plenty of running time for an operating session.
I have documented every bit of my building experience as well as a few operating sessions on my YouTube channel. Interested viewers can see much more details and the full layout plan on that channel if they wish to check it out.
Thank you! I have enjoyed your emails for many years and hope to continue for years to come! Cheers!
Scot Rains AKA Scot.Trains”
A big thanks to Scot for sharing his on30 modules modules – I so can’t wait to see this one grow.
I absolutely love how Scot has done this, it just goes to show where there’s a will, there’s a way.
That’s all for this time folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if Scot has inspired you, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the store.
They are great fun to make and great value too.
This is fabulous. I just love that Scot found a way to live in an RV and have a layout. Why not? Life is short. Build a layout. Someone should put that on a t-shirt. The detail is stunning. One of those images could pass for a picture of a real scene. Most of all, Scot is able to do what he loves and be near family. Scot, thank you for sharing.
Nicely done Scot. What a great way to obtain space you don’t have. The storage shed looks fantastic and looks like a great place to model and work.
Beautiful detail… I also live in a fifth wheel but put together a Christmas layout, which I had in a house but now put it on a 4 x 8 plywood slide out at Christmas….. The trains don’t run well in Florida tho….Gordy in Naples
Scot, your weathering is amazing. I had to look twice to see if it was a model or is it was a photograph of old buildings. Well done. Rob
Very well done!
Wowzer! What incredible detail in making things look as the real things. I so enjoy the efforts to do so. I find that the crispness, often seen on other layouts between say grass and gravel roads is missing and positively and positively promotes the feeling of the “real thing.”
Thank you for another pleasant wake-up from this site.
Definitely Hall of Fame material! Can’t wait to see more…
Fantastic- love your approach to life. Reminds me of a friend that had to move from a house with a large basement in my area into a condo in Toronto to be close to his kids, no room for his set up, so he bought the condo next door and it is now used for a club house as well as a BIG layout, I should ask him for a picture of it.
Glenn
Scot, the detail and weathering is amazing. You are truly an artist. I have worked to make my scenes look more natural, but haven’t come close to what you have accomplished. Thank you for sharing your beautiful art.
Personally I wouldn’t want to keep my layout in an storage locker! You know thieves!
Fantastic work Scott! I see Bill in Virginia’s On30 finally got you to make the switch from HO with your new layout. Your love of building structures and attention to detail are very evident in your new layout. I’ve often thought of making the switch myself to On30, but I’ve got so much invested in HO over the past 50 years that it would be hard to sell it all and start over. I will definitely be checking out the rest of your YouTube channel. I’ve got a couple of the Sierra West HO scale structure kits but, so far, I’ve been too intimidated by them to actually try to build them. Anyway, thanks for sharing your new layout and I look forward to seeing how your second module turns out.
outstanding work and detail
Your lighting and awesome details makes your photos so lifelike. Some great modeling skills make this layout outstanding.
Jim AZ
GREAT MODEL. WELL DONE.
What can I say Scot that the other posters haven’t ? You are a true craftsman and I really admire your solution to a problem that many model RR guys have.
Your layout is a very enjoyable visual experience. I looked at the pictures several times to soak it all in. Also, thank you very much for explaining some of the detail of what you were doing, I learned some things I can certainly use.
Thaks for sharing
Roger in Kansas