Model railroad layouts plans

Henry’s been back in touch with a wonderful back story of his Scratch built locomotive:

“Hello Alastair

A little different submission from me this time. I know that you are very keen for people to make a start on their layouts, and rightly so.

However, this post is about making a start and finishing it.

During the 1980’s there were very few South African Steam locomotives on the market. The ones that were on the market were white metal and brass kits, that cost an arm and a leg. (Many of them are still being manufactured today).

An alternative to spending a huge amount on a single locomotive, was to scratchbuild or kitbash. This is the story of one such a project, started by my late dad.

He bought locomotives with the same wheel arrangement as the prototype, and then proceeded to strip everything down, leaving only the mechanism running. Then began the process of rebuilding, using plans, photos and other reference material.

Sadly, when my dad died in 2006, he left about 4 South African Steam locomotives unfinished. I inherited them, and packed them away for one day…

Well, for one of those locos, the one day has arrived. It is a South African Railways class 16 DA with a narrow firebox.

I include a few photos as well as a link to a youtube video showing the build process.

The Green loco was the starting point for this build. Now, I have completed what my dad had started 35-40 years ago.

Henry”

A big thanks to Henry for sharing his scratch built locomotive.

I really did enjoy his narrative because there’s always something special about posts that give a nod to the loved ones who got us involved in this hobby.

Please do leave a comment below if you have similar memories – I’d love to hear them.

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

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

Brian’s been back in touch with some great tips on creating some model railroad scenes.

You may want to refresh your memory about his 6×12 N scale.

This time he shows us how many ‘small scenes’ there are in his layout – it’s a wonderful video:

“Hi again, first of all have to say your site is powerful, that last video I sent you up around 2K views already!

So… at the risk of wearing out my welcome, here’s another.

Goals with this one are two-fold.

1. To show the importance of small scenes on a model railroad. Viewers will note the trains are simply for background. It’s what’s in front of the trains that are the stars. The small scenes.

2. This video was shot on my iPhone and edited with iMovie. Something we can all do, no need to be hesitant, this technology is designed to empower us. So let’s do it.

Viewers will note the footage is shot with the phone horizontally instead of vertically and I also used “rail fan” views for everything.

Thanks again my friend,

Brian
Gainesville GA”

Now on to Jerry:

“I have a layout I’ve been working on or started on in 2010… My wife gave me permission to actually take over a spare bedroom and after a while took down a wall between the bedroom and the living room.

I built a double decker layout and started building a helix but halfway through building I had an accident at work and almost severed my spinal column doing by a dislocated spine misalignment.

Pulling too many pallets of water and windshield washing fluid. Didn’t have it fused but had a rod inserted next to the spine screwed into it. The layout went on hold for at least six to eight months, then I found out I couldn’t finish the helix because my reach and bending were limited.

That’s still where I’m at today. Helix is not finished.. I can’t get help… Only comments that came back is “I’ll buy your rolling stock and track to help you!”

Yeah right! If that was my intention all the time! Idiots!

So it has been left unfinished for years…

Jerry”

A big thanks to Brian and Jerry.

I love they way Brian has created his ‘small scenes’ – please do leave a comment below if you’d like to share your thoughts on this one.

That’s all for today folks.

But please do keep ’em coming – you lot seem to have gone to sleep, it’s all very quiet this end…

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

Best

Al

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

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

Greg’s been in touch with his model power CN freight train cars – they look fab:

“Hello Alastair,

A few weeks ago I was looking up some details for a model railroad car I was working on and discovered the Distributed Braking Containers that CN railroad uses in the winter to supply air pressure in place of an extra locomotive.

After I finished the project I was working on I started working on building these.

I even wired a red led into them for end of train lighting.

I showed them to a few fellow railroading friends and they bought all the ones I had made.

So I’ve been hard at work making more and trying to stay ahead of orders on these. They add such a nice detail.

Greg”

Now on to Dave:

“hI Al, just uploaded this video showing the CMX track cleaner, how it works for the cleaning of the tracks and also the liquid I use for this.

Also I have tried to show and explain how I used the Green screen method of editing to put myself on to the video, not the easiest of explanations to do, but hope a few can get a idea of how its done, maybe there are easier ways and some of the members can give advice or better still a video showing how this is done…

Regards

Dave”

Now on to Tom:

“I just started this layout in January this year.

It’s on two 4×8 sheets off plywood and foam.

Tom”

A big thanks to Greg for sharing his Model power CN freight train cars, and to Dave and Tom too.

Please do leave your comments below – I’d love to know what you think of Greg’s braking containers.

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

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