Charlie has been in touch with some more model train track plans:
“Design, redesign, and building layouts are interrelated in that you should always keep a basic plan in mind as you start a build.
Try to stick to it as long as everything fits, but be ready to make changes as you run into snags.
You can work out changes on your original design (redesign), or just keep building!
I find that as you make something work or look better it is very handy to put those changes into your basic plan before you tear something out you didn’t mean to.
I use AnyRail. Others use various other track planning software packages, pencil and paper, or markers on the baseboard.
Which method doesn’t matter, but I really recommend using one of them because as layouts get more complicated, you can lose track of your original ideas.
It can be very upsetting as you complete a detailed diorama (scene) to discover that it needs to be moved because your mainline coming from another table has to pass right through the middle of it.
These layouts are here for you to use for your layout. AnyRail files or just the bills of material are available for all of them.
Enjoy, play, build, and share our hobby with future railroading addicts!
Charlie”
Double loop with sidings:
L shaped track plan:
Shelf layout track plan:
Shelf layout:
Expanding a shelf layout:
Track plan to keep you busy:
8×3 track plan:
Expanding shelf layout 2:
Folded 8 track plan:
Double oval with sidings:
Double oval with sidings:
Double yard:
Simple N scale
4×6 track Layout:
Charlie has recreated a popular layout on the blog for us – Bob’s 4×6 layout:
A big thanks to Charlie for sharing his model train track plans.
I shall keep adding to the page whenever Charlie sends some more.
And do you know what you need to know after you’ve chosen a track plan for your layout?
Ever wondered how to get rid of the model railroad backdrop gap?
Backdrops look great on a layout, but they can start and finish quite abruptly.
Henry’s been in touch with how he hides the transition between the two:
“Hello Alastair
I have not sent in a video or pictures in some time, as I have been rather busy working on my layout.
I’ve been hiding the joint between the foreground scenery and photo backdrop.
I have always been keen on using a photo backdrop for added realism, but how to make the transition between the 3d scenery and the backdrop is always a challenge.
I have found a couple of techniques that seem to help with this transition.
You can use a wall or a fence, or as the photos show, vegetation.
Disguising the ends of the backdrop can also be a challenge.
On one side, I have used a multi story building, and on the other side a large tree.
Regards
Henry”
A big thanks to Henry for sharing his model railroad backdrop gap solution.
Backdrops can make such a difference to a layout – but certainly there harsh endings can cause a few visual questions.
And now on to Peter, who is asking for comments before he get’s busy on his layout:
“Hello Al:
Again thanks for your continued work. Yours is the first email I open every day.
I enjoy seeing what all the RR folks around the world have been doing and what challenges they’re faced with… and how they overcome them. Quite educational and creatively inspirational actually.
It’s always a good email to open first!
You were kind enough to publish my ‘tester’ shelf layout a while back – a fictitious town called Amaranth Falls. I made the layout in about 4 months and enjoyed the process.
The feedback provided by the readers was very positive. I have since given that layout away and it became time to plan the ‘Empire Layout’… but construction could only begin once the renovations in the basement were completed.
The basement work should be done within the next 2 weeks, so I have been madly planning the empire layout (probably over 50 plans made to date actually).
I started on a 4 x 8 layout but it just became too difficult to fit everything in, especially trying to preserve a minimum 21” radius.
So its grown marginally to a 5 x 9 ft. layout with an added extension for a large marshalling yard. I think it can work.
Having more space would be lovely, but it is what it is. So I had to get creative.
The way the basement is constructed, there is a cubby space for a future gas fireplace that I’ve retained to provide a much needed inspection access point at the back side of the layout.
I’ve provided a layout plan, and a few CAD photos taken from the SCARM software I’m using to plan the layout. Hopefully you’ll be able to clearly see it all here.
I’ve decided to retain the “Amaranth Falls” namesake – but this time it’s bigger and much more detailed. The previously displaced town’s folk couldn’t be more pleased!
I’d love your readers to study the track plan and provide their thoughts. Keep in mind there are many more connecting roads, trees and forests, signed RR crossings etc. that were just impossible to include with these software visuals. I’ve included a hand written description of some of the layouts attributes which may help readers see the direction I’m going in.
I’m trying to create a layout that provides a continuous run loop plus opportunities for switching operations simultaneously.
Also incorporated is a reverse loop allowing trains to re-enter the marshalling yard in a forward entry fashion. The layout will be DCC.
The minimum radius is generally around 21” – 24” and all but 3 switches are #6 or more.
The other 3 are #5 and are in the small marine terminal marshalling yards preceding that terminal.
It will be modeled in the 1940’s – 1980’s era in North America.
Most rolling stock will be the 40’ variety, save for the passenger train coaches. The layout is inspired by the Toronto Hamilton & Buffalo Railway (TH&B).
I think I’ve got a solid plan here, trying to maximize the space but ensure things aren’t too compressed. A 2nd, 3rd, 4th… etc. set of eyes may come up with a blinding flash of the obvious that I’ve missed.
And that’s where your good readership group comes in.
I look forward to the feedback.
Thanks Al!”
Thanks to Peter for sharing. But who can help?
Please do leave a comment below if you can share any advice, because after all, it’s always better if we don’t have to find out the hard way…
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you say no to boredom, jump out of your chair and join in the fun, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Old Taz has been in touch with a model train around Christmas tree.
If you want a little festive cheer when it comes to trains, you need to start thinking about it now…
“Hi Al and all of AL’S train buddies
I’m going to show you a few of the things that I’ve done in the past for Christmas.
Eons ago, my wife bought me a Kincaid Christmas train. It was another eon before I had time and a space to set it up.
When we moved into our new house (built in 1942 new to us) I had the bright idea of having a model train around christmas tree, rather than below it.
I started with a fake Christmas tree and built a platform at the first section. Had to block it up so it was level and so that it was the same height as our Bay window.
The platform was made to fit the track that was with the train. It had one switch with it so I made it so that it would go down into the bay window.
The buildings and people were bought at the dollar store. We ordered them in bulk over the Internet. The snow was a thin layer of cotton sheeting.
The first year the, train would only go down into the bay window.
The next year, I added to the model train around christmas tree and had it come out the other end and go around a coffee table, which had to be raised to the height of the bow window and was done with four (coffee cans).
The next year is when I got mixed up with little r my friend down the street. That year, I decided to go HO in the bay window. The turns were such that I had to add onto the platform to make the turns so that it came out into the room further. I did not have any HO track, so I went to my friend little r and got some of his surplus. He always has surplus.
The platform was inch and a half styrofoam. hills and scenery were also Styrofoam. I didn’t have any HO passenger cars. So, I ordered them from EBay and tried to get ones that would be of the right vintage for the Christmas express.
The lights in the passenger cars are those small candles that have batteries in them and flicker. Again, I used the ceramic buildings and people from the collection that bought from the dollar store.
A lot of the trees and shrubs are twigs and branches from real trees and bushes. The display did not get to my bay window that year. It ended up in the corner window of our bank downtown.
It was displayed for the month of December during which, the town had what they call, the Christmas walk, where the stores stay open and serve cookies and hot chocolate. There’s a big Christmas parade. To show it on that night I had to be locked in the bank with one of their personnel during the time of the walk.
The next year it still didn’t get displayed in my bay window it went to a restaurant downtown where it was displayed for the month of December. Little r also had a display in a window down the street from me. So, we were both in display windows on that Christmas.
Sometime during all this mess, we had both of our displays at the senior citizens center here in town. Sometime while it was there, I gained a car. One. of the ladies said she had one at home and just put it on my display. pretty cool Huh!
Next year I finally got to display it in my bay window. Two of the pictures shows a friend from across the street over here running the trains. He sat there for three hours. With a grin on his face. I had the smoke going on both engines’ I wanted to give the. layout to him but mom says no. The layout and trains were given to two brothers. Their dad made a special place for that layout in their bedroom.
A friend of ours would like to have us set up the big layout in his store this year, but because of security and the health of myself and my friend Richard I don’t think it’s going to get done. I think I’m going to go back to my bay window in N engage. Mabe invite the school kids to come up on the deck with their teacher. I have a lot of surpluses to do it with.
At the end of the video Richard and I are setting up four or three months stay in the bank window. It started in October for Thanksgiving, November for Halloween and then we changed it again for Christmas. For Christmas the cars were changed with Seighs and sleds on the roadway. Sorry, I have no pictures of this Richard I of both lost them.
Computers, can’t live with them, can’t live without them, says who?
Merry Christmas in July Ho ho ho and happy modeling!!!
The old taz”
Model train around christmas tree:
A big thanks to Old Taz for sharing his model train around christmas tree.
You’ll remember is now one of the Hall of Fame members, along with his pal ‘Little R’.
But do you know what?
Whenever I put the Hall of Fame pages together, there is always something gnawing away at me. It’s this: what if I’ve overlooked someone?
Well, just a few days after Old Taz and Little Rich appeared in the Hall of Fame I got a sledgehammer sized blow when John popped up in my inbox.
How could I over look John with all his done for the blog over the years? So I’m putting that right.
I appreciate there are lots ‘Johns’ featured on the blog, but you’ll know who I mean instantly if I show some of his pics and his last video again.
