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