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Model train backdrops

There have been quite a few model train backdrops on the blog over the years – but take a look at Jeffs:

“Hi Al,

Today I installed more ground work. I use sanded earth colored grout for the soil.

A mix of scenic express ground foam for the forest floor.

Glue all down with a 50, 50 white glue solution, I will let this dry and start to install trees and brush.

Have a long way to go.

Thanks

Jeff”

A big thanks to Jeff, it reminded me of Glyn’s post:

Scenic backdrops for model trains.

Now on to Mike:

“Hi Al,

About a year ago, you published some pics and explanation on the start of my layout. A year down the line, I thought you might like an update. I hope you like it enough to publish it.

Before I get into that, though, I would like to remark on how useful your blog is.

I am about to make some rocks for a bit of the layout that I won’t later be able to get to easily – I am trying to lay the majority of the track before doing the scenery where possible – and was considering the best way to do it when I read Eddie’s recent blog about using expanding foam.

This reminded me that when I first started, some 2 years ago, I had some expanding foam & put it aside for just this purpose but had completely forgotten about it! Thanks Eddie.

So onto my layout. Considering the limited amount of time I can spend on it, I am quite happy with the progress I am making.

I have had a train running to test all the track I have laid, using a borrowed ECOS 50200 but now have my own & am starting to programme for real.

As I don’t have the time to edit the video, like some of your contributors such as Dave – I really admire his work & wish he lived nearer me – it is in its raw state but hopefully OK.

I have also attached again the track plan, as I don’t think you included it last time.

On a personal note, I am still fighting the cancer & am reasonably well at the moment, although it has spread a bit & I am having a new course of treatment. I will win!

Anyone else out there with cancer, always keep your chin up & stay positive.

Mike”

A close up of one of the stalls

The Diesel Yard with Coach Washer

Frederick St Station

The Garden Centre & Pumphouse

Track Plan

Thanks for the good work you do.

Mike”

A huge big thanks to Jeff for adding to the model train backdrops on the blog – and to Mike too

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

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

Best

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.

N scale Canada layout

William’s been in touch with his N scale Canada layout.

I love the way he picked his theme, era and scale:

“Hi Al,

Thank you so much for persisting with these posts. It has helped me to see what others are doing, how they are doing it but mostly you have encouraged me to carry on (albeit very slowly).

I just turned 80 in a few weeks ago and looking at the pix on this machine I got your book and started on my layout over seven years ago! Sigh!

As your book highlights planning is important; but before you plan you need to know what you want to do, and for a first layout, that is hard (or was for me anyway).

What I decided I wanted was a cross section of Canada in my younger years and to convey a sense of space.

I just measured my total layout (not all shown here) and it comes to 137.5 square feet which I work out to be 81 acres.

So I knew at the start O or HO scale would not work for me. I looked at Z scale and decided it was (a) expensive and (b) hard to find CP and CNR running stock in Z. So N scale it had to be.

I also decided my time period, which maxes out before the formation of VIA rail which was in 1977.

But I am not much of a purist, so if you notice that some car looks like a 1978 Monte Carlo, please forgive me.

So the next step was to grab space. There was a room we used as a store room at the foot of the basement stairs. I built shelves along the back wall for some stuff. The rest went (in many trips) to the Goodwill or the Sally Ann.

The door opened inwards, taking up valuable space. I replaced the door with a sliding door, but that involved moving the doorway about 8 inches. Then I tiled the floor ( but I still haven’ grouted it).

The layout sits on blue construction foam or white foam scrap which in turn sits on 1/2 inch ply.

The right hand edge of the layout folds down to allow access to the closet and one set of shelves is reserved for panels (mostly old floor tiles) which hold shopping centres, car dealers etc. when the folding part is in the down position.

Electrically the layout is a bit different. For the track power there is no common ground. The layout is powered by multiple little plug-in transformers which drive 3 Bachman controllers and 4 DC controllers I got off ebay for a couple of bucks each.

The layout is blocked into multiple sections and no adjacent sections share a controller so there is no possibility of a short. (This is a bit like the old electric shaver outlets in bathrooms.)

It was my early intent to automate the running of the layout. To this end I bought two banks of DC DPDT relays. They are still sitting in their packaging.

Surprisingly my 81 acres supports four towns – Knocnarea in the tourist area by Lake Notalotawata, HillTop Village, the town of Yester and Smogton City(to be constructed).

Each town has its own railway station. As well as Knocnarea, Union, Yester and HillTop stations, the area is served by Yester-Smogton Regional airport (YSR) which has barely a one thousand foot runway (the planes are 1:200 SCALE).

Night landings are prohibited – I am still in the process of installing the runway lights and caution must be exercised departing YSR on runway 19 as an immediate right turn is required to avoid entering the closet.

William”