Model railroad layouts plans

Dean’s been back in touch- he’a nearly finished and now running his Union Pacific engines around his layout.

“Al, greetings from Dean in New Mexico!

This is the last description and video in my 8-part series discussing my construction of the N-Scale Scenic Ridge layout (kit from Woodland Scenics).

The series is aimed at a beginner model railroader, but there are a lot of hints for those with more experience.

In this session, I will discuss the final scenery, laying ballast, installing tunnel portals, finishing the landscape, and finishing rock outcroppings.

The layout is finally operational and probably 90% complete, but as Al has said, it’s never completely finished.

Here’s what I need to add or redue:

1) add more bushes and trees thoughout the layout

2) touchup ballast, white spots

3) rebuild back bridges (torn out to make the roads)

4) final installation of buildings and install lights (I’ll make a short video on this)

5) install a stream and lake (I’ll make a short video on this, also)

Dean”

It’s wonderful to see a layout from start to ‘finish’ – Dean looks like he’s having fun with those Union Pacific engines.

Here’s Dean’s previous post with links to his others too.

It just goes to show, it’s all about making that start.

But Dean’s closing line got me thinking – what would you do to ‘finish’ Dean’s layout?

It’s the finishing touches that can really make the difference.

Please leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Now on to Lenny.

He sent in this after Dave’s caravan post:

“Hi Al,

Lenny from Pittsburgh, PA

That’s awesome. Since we bought a travel trailer (caravan) last year, I had to include a park in my layout.

There’s even a stream for fishing and a track for racing RC cars and trucks.

Len”

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to start your model train layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

DD has been in touch with a question on a model train stop sign. Can anyone help?

“Hello Alastair,

I enjoy your postings and because of that I am making this message which may be out of context.

But considering Canada has the 2nd and 8th. of the worlds largest railroads based on income some members like myself must remember and model HO scale steam.

To be somewhat authentic I will have to produce my own ” Through STOP highway” signs.

The single attached photo is the only one I can find on the internet and I have always recalled them as white not yellow.

If any of your members my age can recall correctly I would appreciate it.

My DCC layout is 5ft by 20ft and I fantasize of sending photos for your critique,

D.D.”

Now on to Dangerous Dave who has been back in touch with is his OO scale layout.

As always, he’s been busy on his layout.

If you’re new to the blog, you can see more of him – and others – in the Hall of Fame.

“Hi Al,

just uploaded video showing that area I said needed improvement on my last one, got my own caravan park now.

All ready for the staycation which looks like being again this year ….

Well pleased how it came out after a good few suggestions from modellers who watched my last video….

Regards

Dave”

A big thanks to Dangerous Dave.

Please do leave a comment below if you can help!

Now on to Ernesto.

He’s not a man of many words he’s put together a fab layout:

“I gladly share some photos of my model

Ernesto”

A big thanks to Dave and Ernesto. Who can help DD with his model train stop sign?

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to get going on your own layout.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Jeff has a shorting track problem – can anyone help?

“Hi Al,

I have been receiving your emails for several years and have enjoyed them greatly.

They have encouraged me in model railroading. I am from Ohio and a novice to this hobby.

I’m sending you some pictures of an attempt I am making at an O scale layout.

As you can tell I am running a loop within a loop. I have connected them with entrance and exits turnouts.

I know I’m supposed to use insulated track sections. But I don’t know exactly how to place those sections or configure the wires underneath.

When my locomotive exits the inner loop to the outer loop or vice versa, it shorts on the insulated track sections.

I would be grateful for any advice on this.

Thank you so much for your encouragement in this hobby. I have included a couple of pictures so that you can see what I mean.

Have a blessed day.

Jeff”

Please do leave a comment below if you can help, Jeff.

Now on to Pete who has been busy with some revisions:

“Hi Al,

Some revisions here.

I made the fence from northeastern strip wood products, then aged with a greying solution. India ink and alcohol. It’s getting real close now.

After the benchwork of a particular scene is complete, I grid it with 1 x 3’s to accommodate buildings, the rest is sectioned off with cardboard strips or metal light screen for the plaster cloth to adhere to.

After all plaster has been put on (1st the gauze then fill in with pre made plaster (mud) in tubs) It is all painted with a latex earth tone. When dry, texturing begins. I use a combination of a lot of things as you see.

Lot’s of ‘Wood scenic products, etc. grass tufts, many different shades of texture, rocks, sand for roads, and so on.

I scratch built the farm house and barn, though the barn was a spinoff from an old Campbell HO kit, I just built it up from scratch to 1/48 O scale that I model in.

Trees are mostly commercial, I just grab whatever, whenever it suits my aesthetic needs.

The water for the garden hose is woodland scenic products for water falls and still water combination.

The rest by viewing is self explanatory, sooo, if you could kindly post these pics of both the standard gauge & narrow gauge, it would be most appreciated.

Thank you,

Peter”

A big thanks to Pete (his last post is here). His layout just gets better and better.

“Hi Al,

I love your site and I can’t wait to read the latest installment each morning.

I have learned a lot from your blog so I thought that I would contribute a little with this power supply and hookup units “manifolds” as I like to call them , that I made.

Under my layout are 8 of these “manifolds” shown in the first picture.

They are daisy chained together to form an expanded hook up for my lighting.

They are hooked up to a computer power supply that I converted to light my layout.

The supply has 12volt,5volt and 3.3volt supplies perfect for supplying whatever voltage is needed to light the entire layout!

All of my lighting is Led from the buildings to the street lights and the vehicle lights.

Hope you enjoy these pictures and hints ,maybe some of your readers will learn something as I have done from this site!!

Thank you for all of your hard work to keep this site going strong!!

Bob ( From Pennsylvania)”

That’s all for this time, folks.

Please do leave a comment below if you can help Jeff.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you are tired of sitting on the sidelines and want to join in with the fun.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here