Model railroad layouts plans

Donald’s been in touch with a wonderful HO town scene – his first layout too!

“Hi Al,

I’m Donald, I’m new at this but, I’ve been a train lover for 60 years. This is my first HO scale layout.

Most people I’ve sent pictures too said they love it.

I hope you and the master layout builders find it interesting also.

Thanks

Donald”

A big thanks to Donald for sharing his HO town – and now on to Eric who is pretty much doing the same:

Now on to Eric:

“I mentioned in past post about ladies of the night waving down cars well that is here.

The fire in the old warehouse is getting out of control. The fire department is unable to respond due to police activity on the Westside of the building.

Then there is a little twist ….

One of the bloger followers wanted crime in the town well here it is , there was a clue in a past post photo with police cars blocking the street and officers out and with a police dog 🐕.

The talk around Town Maxville is the guy with the knife stabbed the guy on the ground and the other guy with a gun on a lady. Both may have started the fire in the vacant warehouse for profit.

I threw some extra pics of Town Maxville.

I will send YouTube videos in part 7 which will complete Town Maxville, well we will never know what else could happen.

Thank you Al and everyone that has been following Town Maxville

Eric the Firefighter St. Louis, MO area.”

A big thanks to Donald and Eric.

Hope it’s inspired one to two of you to jump off that cosy chair and start on your own layout.

Don’t forget, this is how Eric started his HO scale:

It’s all about making that start!

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you actually hit that button instead of just thinking about it, 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.

Bill’s been back in touch with is O / On30 layout update.

I know I use the word ‘stunning’ too much, but it’s hard not to when pics like these land in your inbox:

“Hello Al

I’ve been plugging away on the construction of my O/On30 portable layout.

The 4.5’ X 14’ layout is in three sections and I’ve been working on scenery in section one at a time.

I’ve added in a number of pictures showing the layout as it sits today.

I have been spending time after work in the garage doing a little each day.

The construction techniques for scenery are the same as in the videos I sent in some weeks ago.

On one side of the layout with the O Scale trestle to the top of the trees where the On30 tracks run is a vertical separation of nearly 42 inches.

I wanted to make dramatic cliffs with vertical rock strata in that area.

I’m hoping that at some point this year I’ll be able to take the layout to a show somewhere nearby.

I love our hobby and I want to excite the next generations of modelers to have a lasting impression and make a start.

Take care and happy modeling!!

Bill in Virginia”

A huge thanks to Bill for his On30 layout update.

Stunning pics – if his layout doesn’t inspire a few people to pick up this hobby, I don’t know what will.

What’s more, everything Bill does looks fun too.

Here’s his last post – the video really does show he’s going at his own pace and enjoying himself.

And here’s Bill talking us through a different layout.

It’s no surprise Bill’s in the Hall of Fame, where you can see more of his stuff too.

As one of you wisely commented:

“If you’re having fun, you’re doing it right.”

That’s all for today folks. Do leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Bill’s progress.

(Perhaps you are like me, I seem to spend more and more of time reading the comments.)

Please do keep ’em coming – I’ve never known it so quiet. I really would have liked to do a longer post.

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

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Mike’s been in touch with how he eased himself into this hobby, and started his 4 by 8 layout:

“Hi Alistair

just want to say thank you for all you do.

I thought I’d share my story on how I got started, I have some pictures for my little article.

It all started with a Christmas train for my wife on the living room floor, O scale.

Then I had to buy a HO set on eBay, to put with her O scale on the floor.

Next thing I knew I bought a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood, put it on some saw horses in the garage started adding to it.

One thing led to another and I bought a second 4 by 8 sheet of plywood and connected it to the first one and bought more stuff LOL.

Then I decided I wanted the turntables, so I cut me a hole in the plywood, installed it and bought a 3-bay roundhouse building.

I built it, adding lights and was very happy with it.

After reading all your emails and looking at stuff on YouTube I put all my Bachmann EZ track on eBay and sold everything and start buying a bunch of Atlas Flex track.

I cleaned out a room in the house and started building benchwork.

I’ve included some pictures of the four by 8 sheet I started with, and then added another 4 x 8 sheet, took it all apart started it all over again.

This is how I got started. Just wanted to say thank you again for your blog and everybody that contributes to it, thanks again.

Mike”

A big thanks to Mike – I love the way it started as a 4 by 8 and then soon grew.

It’s also another post that proves if you’re having fun, you’re doing it right.

Now on to Dangerous Dave.

He’s made another youtube – but this time it includes his layout from the very start – that’s fifteen years of train fun.

“Here is a short video showing a few trains running.. and the very start of it back in 2007.

Regards

Dave”

A big thanks to Mike and Dave.

And if you’re sitting there enjoying the blog, today’s a great day to join in and make your start.

Mike took that first step and look at him now.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get started – just like Mike – 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.