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Bill’s HO scale model railroad layout update

Bill’s been back in touch with his HO scale model railroad:

“Hello Al and fellow modelers

Been a while since I sent anything in but now that life has settled down a bit I’m focusing back on modeling again.

I do want to start off by saying a big thank you to Al and his blog. A few years ago I was an arm chair modeler but I happened across Al’s posts and it got me out of my chair and back into the hobby. I haven’t missed a post since and always enjoy the modeling shared by everyone.

My wife thinks I went a little overboard as now I have the 4X16 HO switching layout and the 3X15 N scale layout and I’m in the planning stage of a 4.5X12 O and ON3O layout.

For the HO layout I have scenery basically finished and now I’m going into detail mode and will be weathering cars and engines and finishing up a variety of small projects. While it’s mostly done it’s never done and Ive been enjoying operating the layout.

I’m addition to the pictures I have a link for a recent video where I do a walk through of the layout and talk about things I learned and things I’d do different if I did it over which I’m not going to do. I think I’ll get a lot more enjoyment switching before I make any changes.

Thanks!

Bill in Virginia”

Love seeing Bill’s HO scale model railroad updates. Hope you enjoyed it as much as me.

Now on to Frank. Thanks to everyone who helped him the other day.

If you missed it, he was having problems with a reverse loop.

Trevor also kindly sent in this:

“Hi Frank,

You actually have a simple problem seeing you are using DCC. Your module is a safe loop so no problem there. Unless I am badly mistaken you need the reverser on the module you are not showing with the insulated joiners on the turnout just by the edge of the board where the red lines are shown.

It will not matter then if the train comes off the other module wherever and which ever direction, the reverser will pick up a “short” and correct it for the next module
Make sure you insulate both rails in both directions at that one point.

Hope this helps,

Cheers from Australia

Trevor”

A huge thanks to Trevor and Bill.

It’s fab to see and Bill’s layout(s) becoming more and more detailed. Impressive stuff!

And to think, he was an armchair modeler, until he decided to bite the bullet.

So if that’s you, why let everybody else have all the fun? You can grab the Beginner’s Guide here.

Best

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.

N scale courthouse

Mike’s been in touch with his N scale courthouse:

“Hello AL:

It’s been a while since I’ve been in touch. Presently enjoying your e-book “How to Create a Breath Taking Model Railroad for the Complete Beginner.” Highly recommended.

The last time I showed what I was attempting to do in HO scale with my homage to the Westerns with Old Tucson and Hill Valley from “Back to the Future” (I’ve included a few photos). Shortly after getting that far, I had a complete change of mind and decided to scrap all the HO and go into N scale for a smaller table set and more real estate.

I began with several Bachmann starter sets, but soon discovered KATO almost by accident. I sold off all the Bachmann but the Durango-Silverton (as I had the pleasure of riding that railroad a few months ago), and I went full forward with KATO engines and rolling stock.

Now that I have settled on a layout in n scale (photos included), I am starting to recreate the Hill Valley set at 54 percent the size of the original HO buildings.

First to complete: the N scale courthouse. I can see it isn’t going to be easy, but Winter is coming to offer plenty of homebound time for the work.

Cheers, and thanks for all your inspiration.

Mike

Grand Rapids, Michigan”

A big thanks to Mike for sharing his N scale courthouse.

You may well remember Mike’s earlier posts – here’s one. They are great fun.

And you’ll remember George’s when it comes to wild west layouts.

Now on to Tony.

“I started the benchwork “L-girder” in April, since I finally retired, for the second time.

The plans for this setup came from “101 Track Plans….” ,Linn H. Westcott…Thirty-First printing (First printing, 1956), Page 35.

It is the “New York, New Haven & Hollywood”.

It took me several weeks and many How-To and Track Plan books before I settled on this one.

Regards again,

Tony”

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 stop dreaming and start doing.

Best

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Frank needs some help with a reverse loop

Frank needs some help with his reverse loop in his layout. Can you help?

“Hi Al,

Big fan. Read all the daily postings and have learned a lot.

Like many of your posters, I too had a Lionel as a kid. It’s now gone, who knows where.

Started an HO double track oval for my kids in the 80’s. Still had everything and started up a new layout when the pandemic caused a lockdown.

Found out that HO was just too big for the room I had available. So I gave half of everything to my two son’s for my grandchildren.

This year I jumped in with both feet into N scale DCC. And so my problems Started.

I’ve read everything on line and bought a basic DCC wiring book and cannot grasp REVERSE LOOP WIRING.

I’m building my layouts as 4’x3’ modules. I’m attaching a layout photo of one of my modules and hoping you or one of your readers can educate me as to where I need to isolate the track and where to place my LOOP REVERSER(S).

Do I need a reverser for each loop???

Incoming train enters the module at the upper right left hand track and exits at the upper right, right hand track.

Thanks in advance.

Frank – 73 years old”

Please leave a comment below on Frank’s reverse loop problem if you can help.

Now on to Ed:

“Hi Al. The set is coming along.

I’ve sent a few pics of your printouts.

The layout has one central circle with two turn around on either end along with an upper residential level.

The ramps are slightly steeper than norm, I used different voltages for up and down controlled by photo eyes and relays.

I have a drawing that can be used for 3 rail or 2 rail, let me know if anyone interested. Next step is to move switch remotes to over by former, then put up using signals, then photo eyes for computer (plc) control.

Ed”

“Hi Al:

My first of 3 surgeries is delayed because Medicare did not pre-approve the surgery.

So I spent the past week rebuilding my two Montana Eastern Railroad boxcab diesels.

As a reminder, these are 7.5″ gauge, 1.5” scale based on the 23T and 25T General Electric diesels.

I needed 4 new batteries, the new ones are much wider so I rebuilt the floors, and now have cut the bodies in half to widen them.

The job to hook up the electronics and get the diesels back on the track normally would take all of an hour, but it took all day long, as I have to find ways of leveraging everything into place.

It is extremely difficult to lift anything at all right now and especially to bend down, or get on my knees etc and having to crawl around until I can finally stand up again…

I have some pictures of the boxcabs new floors and how they look cut in half.

Also have a sound system, amp, and speakers on the way. I bought the sound card from “Mylocosound”, they are an Australian company.

Also, I was asked about my two riding well cars, so I thought I would send some pictures of them along with some henscratch showing measurements that should be enough to use to build some if anyone is interested.

So I will send the pictures along a small group at a time as usual Al.

I hope someone finds this interesting.

Thanks so much again Al for all of your work to keep us active.

Dick”