Model railroad layouts plans

“Hi Al,

I am back at the hobby after a 3 month medical issue. (I won’t go into it as it will be a very long explanation)

Hope you can use the following.

I purchased an HOn3 Fine Scale Miniatures Rail Car shed from a model railroad club member only to find out that all the card stock templates were missing.

Only the instruction sheet and a photo of it was in the kit. Without these it was not possible to assemble the kit board by board as I would have had to draw templates and guess all the sizes.

So, a search on the internet for said kit came up with two photos of a built up kit them being an HO standard gauge one which did give me an idea of the size and shape for my HOn3 one.

For it to fit on the location on my layout, I had to make a mirror image of it.

I decided to use vertical scribed siding for the outside walls and horizontal scribed siding on the inside walls.

After cutting all the above out in scribed siding and temporary assembled it with my corner magnetic clamps, I was not happy with it.

So back to my scribed siding pile and decided to re build it with interior frame work.

Success and I was happy with the result. I think that I got all the dimensions right using the photos as a reference.

The kit (scratch build) at this stage is only about 60% complete.

Below is a card stock mock-up of the kit guessing the size from photos.

This is the first assembly of the scratch build of which I was not happy with. The height of the walls was incorrect – too low even adding one scale foot (3mm) at the bottom did not help.

Below, using the magnetic corner clamps to keep it together is where I realised the incorrect height at the front entrance doorway.

Static models used as a guide.

An HOn3 railcar (converted galloping goose) that the shed will house for repairs.

Here is the second scratch built one with the vertical siding on the exterior and at the right height. The floor was marked out for the building.

Cutting out the walls. The hardest and time consuming job is cutting out the window openings and making sure that the windows fit the openings.

Bracing the interior walls as per a real building.

This one is a mirror image of the original as it was needed for the correct position on the layout.

The walls glued in place. Doors still need to be glued.

Final assembly of the building. Now to start filling up the interior with all the detail.

Roofs temporary in place to get the feel of the building. They will have shingles on them.

As said above, this is as far as I have gone with the assembly of this mostly scratch built kit.

Till next time – keep modelling.

Brian – the HOn3 guy in Knysna RSA”

A big thanks to Brian – his posts are always so helpful. Have a look at what Rolland did: Model railroad engine house.

Now on to Mark:

“The first 2 shots prior to the installation foam, shot 3,4 prior to painting 5 6,7, adding scenery.

I first opened up the area, cut my wood front support to bring in more light then added the foam used hot glue to join together, used old blades to scratch the foam to look like rock formations.

Used satin house paint along with flat testors gray and rust paints, I did a small creek area for the sheep to drink, used white glue for a base, dried then added light brown paint then while wet added sand and dirt, dried then added scenery water.

Added my sheep and still have other brush and anything you can find outside to add to the area.

Thank You Al for adding this many great looking layouts you display

I run Lionel PW and other brands hope you enjoy God Speed to all!

Mark”

Now on to Dave:

“Hi Al… I have uploaded my Christmas video, I know its early but wanted to get it all done and ready for the festive season, as the saying goes ..better early than Late !!

..enjoyed doing it, have managed to get a little bit of Diddy Dave and Deb in on it, so should make a few smile as well ..all part of the hobby ..having fun and enjoying it all.

All The best to you and Members 

Dave 

A big thanks to Mark, Brian and Dave.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to roll your sleeves up and get back in to this fine, fun hobby, 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.

And there’s the Silly Discount bundle too.

Dean’s been back in touch with his small N scale track plan :

“Al, greetings from Dean in New Mexico,

A couple of weeks ago I sent in a blurb on the planning process for my next small N scale railroad.

After I saw it published, I realized I had only done half of the planning process.

Things I didn’t include: the towns and industries the railroad served, where it was located, and even its name.

So here are those details I have decided on.

My railroad is placed on a real river valley in southern Colorado, the Conejos (rabbit) River.

It connects with a still-active spur line of the Denver and Rio Grand Railroad that runs between Alamosa and Antonito.

Note that the very popular narrow gauge tourist railroad, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, also starts at Antonito.

My fictional Conejos Valley Railroad runs from Conejos, through Fox Creek, to Platoro and serves the town of Romeo.

All these towns exist and (except for Romeo) are situated on the Conejos River.

My video includes more information on the history of the D&RG RR, its relationship to the Conejos River RR, and the influence of the Spanish migration from Mexico to the Southwest of the US.

Here’s what’s real: Platoro once had several thriving mines, but they shut down before 1900, and Platoro is now mostly a ghost town with no mining. Conejos, Colorado is only a few houses, and Fox Creek is a small tourist town serving campers who visit this area.

Here’s a map of the real towns along the D&RG RR between Alamosa and Antonito.

On my imaginary railroad, Platoro is still a very active mining town and the towns of Conejos and Fox Creek are enlarged. I moved Romeo and turned it into a lumber center. Below is my track plan, reproduced from my earlier article. The siding at the lower right is the interchange to the D&RGW which can be used as a fiddle track to add and remove cars.

Below is a 3D view of the plan which shows the elevation changes of the outer loop. (Rendered with the Atlas Track Planning software.)

Here is my new plan for the Conejos Valley Railroad (In green) which shows the actual D&RG RR (large red line), and Cumbres and Toltec (small red line).

It’s important to include realistic buildings and industries in your mythical railroad, so here are photos of existing buildings that I will add to my railroad (taken with Google Earth).

That’s it for now. Cheers!

Dean”

A big thanks to Dean for sharing his small N scale track plan.

When it comes to your layout, a little planning can go a long way.

But in the same light, I know some of you wing it all the way, and still end up with a fabulous layout.

Just me, but I think as long as you have a theme, your layout will turn out well.

Now on to Tom, who has made that all important start:

“I just started this layout in January this year. It’s on two 4×8 sheets off plywood and foam.

Tom”

I always get mails asking why I post ‘half built’ layout. It’s because I like seeing them come to life, and also, making a start is the most important part…

A big thanks to Tom and Dean.

That’s all for today 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 N scale layouts here if that’s your thing.

Dana’s been in touch with his HO scale layout 5×14.

Like most of us, his layout grew and grew… but that’s all part of the fun:

“Hi,

Have enjoyed your site for years.

Anyway, thought I’d send a few photo’s of my new, currently under construcution layout, in HO scale.

I’m 80 years old so it’ll probably be my first and last layout. I am trying to do my best after obtaining many, many HO items these past years.

It started out as a 4×4 and soon went to 4×8.

This then went to a 5×8, then 5×10 and until I have now a 5×14 to work with. Funny how one always needs more space!

Instead of just doing one thing and then another I’ve decided to finish one end first and then the next section and so forth. It’s not correct but like the old saying goes,
“It’s my railroad and I’ll do what I want!”.

I’ve laid the outer main down and soldered the sections together. I tested it with a loco I have and everything worked fine.

Then I placed 2 inch and 4r inch risers, covered them with plaster cloth, thin coat of Plaster of Paris and painted that section brown.

I temporarily placed some buildings on it just for fun. They still need lighting and some detail work (people, interiors, cats and dogs, etc).

Even your buildings will get lighting after using poster board as supporting material. I’m even thinking of cutting out the windows and doors and installing Tichy items in their place.

I do my own decals to help keep costs down. I just finished a fleet of semi-trailers for a major carrier in the 50’s, Navajo Freight Lines.

I’ll be building a freight terminal to place them loading and in the yard. . I also stenciled a tee-shirt with my favorite railroad, The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.

I hope your readers can forgive an old man his mistakes as I go along with the build.

It’s such an enjoyment to spend time doing this.

If, by chance, you wish to publish this, please feel free to edit as you please.

Thanks,

Dana

So. California”

A big thanks to Dana for sharing his HO scale 5×14 layout.

There’s one particular line in his narrative that I absolutely love:

“It’s such an enjoyment to spend time doing this.”

That’s what it’s all about – otherwise what’s the point?

That’s all for today 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 HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.