Model railroad layouts plans

Leo’s been back in touch with his HO scale airport terminal.

It’s quite a layout – it has a harbor too.

You may remember it from his first post (HO scale airport.

This time, Leo just sent in pics, so I’ve borrowed a few words from his earlier post:

“I am retired, and this particular layout is modeled after the Oregon layout with major modifications.

This layout is my fifth, housed on wheels in my garage. All lighting is LED voltage reduced via resisters.

I have no sound in any of my 50 plus locos, relying on MRC sound box (the one with about 24 different sound effects) with speakers around the layout. Sound is amazing, realistic and cost is less then “1” loco with sound equipped.

By the way I enjoyed all of readers pictures no matter the scale, I always learn. I am constantly amazed of the beautifull layouts fellow trains modelers have made (thanks to all I have learned so much, again thanks to you and your readers) .

I do not belong to any modeler railroad group for on a whole are way to serious, to specific, time specific and rely on actual time setting vs type of train usage.

Me on the other hand enjoy modeling based on little thought to anything other than what I like, what I have available to model with etc.

Leo, Langley, OK”

A big thanks to Leo for sharing his HO scale airport terminal.

Now on to Brent, who has a question I thought you lovely lot could help with:

“Thank you Alastair, these are so inspirational.

I have a question as I am retiring and looking to enjoy getting into this rail roading hobby.

Often folks who have fantastic displays often say they made the usual mistakes on the first build( or something close ) what are the mistakes a newbie should be aware of and try to avoid?

I appreciate all the info you provide

Brent”

Please do leave comment below if you can help Brent.

Lastly, please do get in touch if you have a layout you’d like to share, or an update, because it’s ghostly quiet this end.

Just hit reply to any of my mails.

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you press the fun button and get started, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

Joe’s been in touch with his HO scale diorama:

“Hello,

At age 72 with limited space and color printing capability, I was able to relive a part of my youth when a 4′ x 8′ sheet of 3/4″ plywood was acres and acres.

So with computer images, balsa wood, a color printer, a couple of car kits, and purchased landscaping and a few spots of glue, this is what I came up with.

Thanks for your great email links and photos.

Sincerely,

Joe”

There’s quite a few dioramas on the blog now, here are a few more:

Book nook diorama.

N scale diorama.

Model railroad dioramas.

Model railroad diorama HO scale.

Train diorama ideas.

Model railway diorama.

Ben makes a model train diorama.

Model train diorama.

N scale train diorama.

There’s more on the blog, but that’s enough for now!

Henry’s up next, with his annual update on his layout:

“Hello Alastair

It is the 4th of January 2025, so let me wish you and all your readers a very happy 2025.

It has become tradition that every year on the 4th of January, I do an annual layout update, and this year is no exception, it is now 8 years since I have started my current layout.

I include a link to the youtube video, plus a few random photos.

Henry”

(Watch on youtube here.)

A big thanks to Joe for sharing his HO scale diorama and also to Henry.

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming because it’s gone quiet this end.

Just email if you have something you’d like to share – just hit reply to any of my mails.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

Don’s been in touch with his HO scale steel mill buildings:

“Hi again Al,

First of all love this website, completely enjoy viewing all of the displays that people post. There is a ton of talent, patience, that go into each display you let us look at.

This is my 2nd attempt at my steel mill display. I don’t have much to say other than this is a FANTASTIC hobby.

When you can create your own environment and display how you feel and to have family and friends come over and view your display is a great feeling. I have gone thru local steel mills around Pittsburgh, Pa and other surrounding states many times. Some very scary compared to others. Some no longer in existence.

Until you are standing beside some of this equipment you don’t realize how massive and dangerous these places are.

I have always been fascinated by these mills.

This will be up for a couple of months then I will dismantle and rebuild another layout. This display is not perfect.

Thanks everyone for your great ideas and for sharing them with us.

Don”

HO scale steel mill buildings:

A huge big thanks to Don for sharing his HO scale steel mill buildings, you all know how much I love a theme.

I thought Don has the mood and feel of the mills just right – loved the ‘smoke’!

You can see Don’s first post here: HO train industries.

It reminded me of Fred’s N scale factory, which is an absolute work of art: N scale factory.

Now for some fun.

Using Don’s pics above, I’ve had a little fun some ‘ai’ – which stands for artificial intelligence.

For my first attempt, I’m very pleased with it:

(Watch on youtube here.)

There are some real howlers in it – have a look at the left hand side of the second scene – the bridge just ends.

But overall, I’m pleased with it, because when we create a layout, in our heads, it’s a living breathing thing, and I do think a vid like this does bring it to life.

Anyhow, let me know what you think in the comments below, and whether you’d like me to do some more.

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.