Bill’s been back in touch with his N scale track layout:
“Hi al.
It’s been about a year since you heard from me about my n gauge layout. If you’ll remember it’s called Gerskyville. Its come a long way of just would and styrofoam.
Theres shots of unfinished areas yet.
Along the long backside will be two arched bridges on each end leading to a 3 foot by 4 foot yard.
I’m not good at story telling so that’s up to you. All the layout was built, painted and assembled by myself , I purchased no already finished biuldings.
The race track on the layout is built after a track in indiana that my whole family raced at, up untill they closed down. Broadway speedway, the fastest track on earth.
How you all enjoy.
Thanks
Bill G”
A big thanks to Bill for sharing his N scale track layout.
I do love it when I see some of the printable buildings too. Bill’s done a fab job with his printable building houses.
And if you want to see just how much Bill’s layout has come along, his last post is here.
“Hi Alastair,
I’ve been lurking on your emails for a while, and thought I should send you a taste of what I’ve been working on – a fictional layout in a much-too-small space that sorta represents the railway line between Barchester and Winter Overcotes in the Angela Thirkell novels.
It is set in the late 40’s, probably, so there might be some BR stuff along with GWR and even some LSWR and Southern stuff with varying degrees of run-down-ness.
I’m located in California so that I have to get all the stock from eBay or the various mail-order stores. This picture is of an ancient Hornby 14xx pulling a couple of 4-wheel kit coaches with the interior roughly modeled and painted and with an assortment of figures sitting in it.
If you are interested I’ll send some other pics.
Roland”
Yes, Roland. We’d love to see some more.
Now on to some behind the scenes news:
Pretty much, every week, I get emails asking, “Why do you show so many American layouts?”
And I get just as many saying, “Why do you show so many British layouts?”
Well, the truth is, I’m not fussy – I don’t give a jot where they come from, what their theme is, or their era.
If there’s something to learn from them, or marvel at, I publish.
But I know what folk mean – have a look at these two for example. Polar opposites when it comes each side of the Atlantic:
And:
Polar opposites… but some real gems of wisdom.
But sometimes, no layout is necessary to tap in to some sage advice. Have a look at the comments in this one:
So there you go – oh, and one last thing. I also get mails everyday asking why I don’t publish the scale / gauge / track plan of some layouts. It’s all very simple: I publish everything I get. If I don’t have it, I can’t publish it.
That’s all for today.
If the posts have got your creative juices flowing, don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
I love that you publish layouts from all over the world. I am amassed when there is a layout from India or South Africa. It is like a travel log.
I like to see everyone’s layout no matter where it is located or what size or scale or what stage of development it is in. It is nice to know what scale is used , and layout designs etc. This is such a nice way to fellowship with one another and share our common bond of being interested in trains. I enjoy seeing layouts done with wooden trains that our children and grand children have built too I built my first layout 74 years ago with a Marx train set, some Lincoln logs and American bricks, Erector set parts, cardboard cutouts from cereal boxes etc and my imagination filled in all the missing details. I thought it was wonderful even though all I could afford was an oval of track on a plywood board Dad put on the porch for me. I enjoy every bit as much a fantastic layout where everything is exact as can be to the prototypical to freelance to the wonderful exciting Hardware store window display of Lionel trains on their tubuler 3 rail track with a tie every four inches and out of scale action toys. This really generates good imagination. Wouldn’t it be so much fun if somehow we could actually visit each others railroad efforts in person, talk trains, enjoy a terrific cinnamon roll and coffee with each other unless of course you are too young to drink coffee…hahaha. since we can’t do that, Al’s site offers us this fantastic opportunity to share this common bond with one another, cheer each other on and keep our minds forever young and active. “Being like a child without being childish”, I don’t think I’ll ever grow up. So bring it all on, I for one will enjoy everyone’s efforts and learn something from it.
Roland…yes send more pictures.
Perhaps you could help me learn something regarding the popular retaining wall in your picture. I like them, I have one on my G scale layout, why are they built to look like tunnel portals that have been bricked over? Ignorant question I know. But there must be a logical reason it is done that way.
always look forward to what Al has to offer next.
Dick from Hardin Montana USA
If you have a layout in X scale, that is what you focus on. It is as simple as that. I model both USA n scale (1:160) and British OO (1:76). I like both and I am interested in both. I am also interested in HO and O. Once in a while I even find G scale very interesting. The issues of model railway/railroad building and maintenance are essentially the same, it is just the size that is different. If you are proficient in one scale it is pretty easy to move to a different scale and learn to function in it. Sometimes the habits and techniques vary a little but not by much. The same theory applies. Track and turnouts but be level, inclines cannot exceed 3%, the electrical feeds must be adequate, and the track must be smooth from one section to the next. The electronics are the same. From then on it is just having fun and building your little world to suit.
Rob McCrain
I think any layout from anywhere is interesting. Al has and is doing a wonderful job of showing all the different layouts and ideas. I have Marklin trains and live in the USA, SO WHAT EVER YOU ENJOY that’s what is important. Remember life is a gift.
Congrats on that great looking N Scale Layout… Liked the transition from one level to the other.. And the Waterfall,, really stands out, looks Real!
One of the Questions did ring a bell about those Printable Cardstock Retaining Walls,, that look like bricked over tunnels….
I had originally obtained the printable building deal,with downloads.. However, after a short period of time,. I tried to print from them, after I saved the link to my desktop in a shortcut folder.. I couldn’t print anything after that..
The full sheets of brick and other materials I wanted to print from BUT could not. Wish you also included the H.O. Scale Plans on how to build that Factory and background buildings,, Needed the drawn out plans so I could duplicate those buildings.. Also needed to be able to print out the “street and sidewalks”, the breakwater wall and retaining wall could be used for a harbor wall as well.
Would it be Possible for you to send me those building plans? OR Put stuff on a CD and physically mail it to me? I would appreciate that much from Across the POND in New Hampshire, U.S.A. ~ (( And for the Ham Radio Operators who are also Model RR Buffs… )) Mike
Very creative use of space!
Bill,
Great N-scale layout. I have been a great fan of the use of lightweight materials and lightweight engineered base structures. It’s great to see you using 2” foam insulation board as a base. I currently am experimenting using double wall corrugated material that has been waterproofed and placed on a minimal L-girder frame. Land form scenery will be single layer Hydrocal hard shell and foam board. I’ve already used the double wall corrugated base material on a large 1/32 scale slot car layout I have, with great success.
Keep up the excellent work on your layout.
Jim
Gettin’ there! I especially like the rock work; however, it’s an overall good job, and I’m looking forward to future progress reports.