Lance Mindheim track plan

Bill’s been in touch with his Lance Mindheim track plan and pics of his stunning layout:

“Hi Alastair,

Check out these photos of my layout. I get just as much joy from building it as I do from running it. My favorite part? The scenery.

I also love scratchbuilding and, of course, operations. I’ve included my track plan. I had Lance Mindheim design it for me.

Have a look at my YouTube channel.

Here’s a quick Q&A to tell you more about me.

MY Q&A

Q: How/When did you get into model railroading?

A: Probably a familiar story to some guys my age. My wife passed away 7 years ago, and suddenly I had some free time. I was still working full time, but caring for my wife, I had zero time for me.

So I’m sitting there thinking ‘Now what am I gonna do. I am not gonna sit and watch dumb stuff on TV. And I remembered a guy I had worked with, he had a layout and I thought it was really cool. So that is what I did.

Started 7 years ago at ground zero, no idea how to do any of it. And I would read up on it every night. I worked with computers for about 20 years, and I saw this thing called DCC – OMG they got little circuit boards in these locos?! That is what I am gonna do.’

Q: Is this your first layout?

A: No, this is my second. My first shot was a 4 x 8 with Atlas snap-track. I had a lot of fun building it. Then I started to want to do operations, and it was pretty limited. It also had a very toy-like look and feel. After about a year, I tore that one down and built the layout I have now, about 11′ x 20′.

Q: Who influenced you as far as model railroading is concerned?

A: I would say early on Lance Mindheim and Pelle Soeborg. I saw that super-realistic look and knew that’s what I wanted. And more recently Boomer Diorama of course.

Q: Why did you choose to model the Finger Lakes Railway?

A: I grew up in the area, I knew it well. I knew the signature scenes that would make it seem authentic. So it was just a natural match.

Take care –

Bill.”

lance mindheim track plan night time

model railroa backhoe

 lance mindheim track plan main street

model railroad lake



lance mindheim track plan stack

lance mindheim track plan

model railroad street and van

model train fog on the lake

 HO scale house

 lance mindheim track plan switching

model railroad freight and factory

model train factory scratch build

 model train factory scratch build



A big thanks to Bill for sharing his stunning layout – with a Lance Mindheim track plan too!

Hope you enjoyed it as much as me.

That’s all for this folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you stop dreaming, start doing, and join in the fun, 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.





HO scale switch machines

Terry has been in touch a good tip for HO scale switch machines:

“Hi Al-

I found an easy way to deal with under table Atlas switch machines.

As many do, I build a layout and then later tear it down. I had used the under table machines on my last layout which had a 1/4 inch plywood table top.

After installation I clipped the “L” shaped arm that goes in the hole in the actual switch to make it move. No problem.

However now 1/4″ plywood has been replaced by 3/8″ plywood and of course the “L” arm was too short to move the rails.

ho scale switch machines

I didn’t want to have to buy a whole new switch machine just to raise the arm another 1/8 of an inch.

I thought about it for a long time and finally realized that the plastic straw from a can of WD40 was just the right diameter to fit over the arm and extend through the hole to move the tracks.

ho scale switch machines

After installing it I clipped it to length to avoid having running stock derail and so far it’s working great.

 ho scale switch machines

Regards

Terry”

A big thanks to Terry, it reminded me of Dean’s post:

Switch machine.

And John’s:

Make your own railroad switch points.

And Dan’s:

HO scale switch throws.

Then that got me thinking about detecting trains:

Model train IR detector.



Now on to Joe.

He’s been kind enough to send in a video of his stunning layout after his last post:

HO scale 12x8

HO scale steam locomotive

HO scale passenger car

HO scale model railroad station



You can see Joe’s previous posts here:

How to make HO scale utility poles with wires.

12×8 HO scale (I do love seeing a layout from the very start!)

That’s all for this time folks.

A big thanks to Joe and to Terry for sharing his tip on the HO scale switch machines.

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.





Model train shunting layouts

There’s lots of model train shunting layouts on the blog, and Hall of Fame Brian’s is one of those.

This time, he’s made some improvements – he also hit on something that comes up quite often, and that’s how small, simple changes can have a big effect on a layout:

“Hi Alastair,

I was looking at the upper level of my layout last night and decided that it needs some refreshing in one of the corners on the upper level to improve operation.

I found that while doing some shunting to the stock pens, I had a small problem in seeing them because they were partially hidden from sight. Remember that the top level is almost at eye level.

By moving the stock pens to the opposite side of the track and the building (an industry) rotated it 180 degrees to where the stock pens were, the operator now can see where the stock cars / rolling stock need to be placed or collected.

Fortunately everything had not been fixed down yet so it was easily moved and is now ready to be placed in the ground cover.

Even the trees in front were moved for a better line of sight from the operators viewpoint.

It is amazing how something so small can improve viewing the layout and operations.

Here are a few photos of the corner section showing the before and after the move.

model train shunting layouts

Before moving the stock pens and the industry. (photos taken while standing on a step ladder.

model railroad corner

This is a simple move shown below as I had not bedded the buildings into the ground.

model train shunting layouts

Here a check is being done to see that all rolling stock clears everything.

 model train shunting layouts

A view from above.

 model railroad corner

Almost an eye level view.

A few small bushes and grass as well as some stray cattle and sheep need to be added here to finish the scene below taken at operators level.

There is enough room in front for a farmer to bring in his heard of cattle or sheep to the stock pens ready to be shipped out by rail.



model railroad corner

Now my fellow operators (me included ) cannot complain about not seeing the track for car placement or pick ups.

That’s all for now.

Alastair, please keep up the excellent site that you have here.

All the best to all the other modellers around the world. What a fantastic hobby this is.

Brian – The HOn3 guy from Knysna RSA”

A big thanks to Hall of Fame Brian for the update.

Here’s a few more of the model train shunting layouts on the blog:

British shunting layout.

Timesaver layout.

N scale swithching layout.

N scale small switching layout.

Next, David.

He has a problem, can you help?

“Al:

I read your blog every day and get great delight in doing so. I have a problem and am seeking help.

I feel stupid asking, since I have done this in the past, but my old age must be getting the best of me. I have tried to wire a 3 light block signal to a 3 way switch, as shown in the diagram, but only the red and green lights come on.

I can never get the yellow to work. I have fiddled with what I thought was every reasonable combination, but I only get 2 lights operating as I flip the switch.

Can any of your readers help me? I sure would appreciate a diagram.

David”

light block signal wiring

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you stop dreaming and start doing, 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.