Model railroad layouts plans

Dick’s been back in touch with his battery powered G scale:

“Hi Al:

I have been doing as much as possible before the 27th when I have my first of 3 surgeries on my neck and back.

So working hard to do grunt work that I will not be able to do for quite a while.

For power I have the two Plum Cove Studios “Generic Electric” diesels. They were patterned after a GE 25ton boxcab. I had charged up the 4 batteries only to find that the diesels would not run.

I took the batteries to the big city. Interstate Batteries tested them to find out 3 were totally shot.

So I bought 4 Optimum Batteries and brought them home. It is an extreme struggle to lift anything over 20 pounds and these new babies are 60 pounds each. Finally got them in the garage, and found that they are over 3″ wider than the old deep cycle batteries.

So I had to build two new floors for the diesels, which means I will need to alter the bodies to fit, or build new bodies.

Anyway nothing exciting here except we will be able to have our first train party before winter hits.

For anyone interested, these diesels are wonderful little tanks. Mine are just over 16 years old now and they are as new, no wear and have plenty of power.

Pictures show original size of floors, and the new floors mounted on the frames.

Tomorrow I can start re-assembly of electronics and hookups, batteries and test run.

Then get the bodies built.

These pictures just show the size comparison of old floors to new floors I built yesterday and today.

The bodies long sides are fine for size, but the ends will be widened and the roof also widened. If this doesn’t work out well, then I will build new bodies.

If I can’t get them built before Friday, they will have to wait until next Spring before I can do much.

Thank you Al, nothing exciting as I mentioned already but boy they sure are fun to ride.

This is it for M. E. RR pics and info.”

A huge thanks to Dick for sharing his battery powered G scale.

Dick also kindly sent in an update on his N scale too. If you want to get up to speed,his last post is here.

“This past few weeks I have spent tons of hours on this layout, hopefully some will notice the changes. I have until Thursday the 26th to get anymore done, then I will have the first of 3 major surgeries on my neck and back. So progress will be pretty slow for quite a while.

For anyone wanting to see a layout diagram, look back at my old posts to see it.

Since the last update, I widened the long narrow stretch connecting Chicago to Denver by 1.5 inches and removed the white plastic runners from the fascia board that were 1.5 inches wide so my aisle way is still the same width.

Next I did more work on the backdrop building flats, still more to do before I affix them to the backdrop.

Next I planned where I could have the roads for each of the 5 towns and built them along with nearly 50 crossings. Aging and striping is next on the roads. added a few more buildings, a lot more autos and trucks.

Then I began painting the backdrops, first establishing a horizon, then adding features. This was quick and fun. Details can be added when the mood strikes. Paint, I hate to waste paint I have mixed to use, so when I finish with some aspect of all this scenery, I find places to use up the balance of paint either as is or change its color and use up.

My Grandson Hector is pleased to see that Hectorville California has grown so much.

Also I have been doing more work on the mountain that has the road with a school bus parked most of the way up. more color added features etc, it needs more but I am happy with it.

There was mention of this mountain being out of scale, I believe he was referring to it looking that way because it is not yet finished for detailing, carving, etc. As far as scale goes, from floor to peak is only 250 scale feet high. We have lots of examples out here in the West of steep roads, huge walls of rock and very large rock.

Very soon I can begin adding ground cover, ballast, trees, shrubs, telephone and power poles, and people will come last as I am pretty clumsy right now, and have to be careful what I am doing with my arms and hands.

This is a huge project and sometimes it seems as though there is no progress, but when I look through older pictures I can see lots of change.

I am including a picture of a train pushing one of those little SQ12 mini cameras resting on a depressed center flat car, being 25mm cubed this is the largest camera I can use that will fit through the Kato single track truss bridges.

Thaks again so much and stay well and safe.

Every one else’s entrees sure help to keep me going, I truly enjoy them all.

Dick”

A huge thanks to Dick. It’s wonderful to see a layout grow and come to life – whatever size they may be.

And I wish him well and a speedy recovery for his surgery.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

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

Best

Al

PS Seen the latest ebay cheat sheet yet?

Joe has been in touch, he been busy building a HO layout.

“Hi, several years ago i sent pix of my old layout, I have since moved and building a HO layout. I have less than two months into it so here’s some early pix.

All the buildings you see except for the one with the shops below and apts on top I built myself using balsa wood and pix taken from the internet via google images.

The roadway is convex using wall compound spread with a 3 inch blade. I still have to add an oil streak down the lanes.

The background views were taken from the internet and expanded using print shop as a banner.

The train station I built is in the middle of two 3ft passenger platforms.

I would estimate that after just 2 months work i’m about 20% along. Hundreds of trees to be added and more people. Street lights and telephone poles will be added soon.

System runs on dcc with Bachmann locos.

I will send more as it progresses!

Joe”

Jeff’s a man of few words but look what he’s put together in such a small space:

“Here are some pictures of my layout.

As you can see I don’t have a lot of space to work with, but I made the best out of what I have.

Jeff”

“Hi Al ,

just bought a new mini cam its the Mobius, and just a bit better in clarity than the old one, but after having that for 6/7 years now its given up the ghost (as they say ).

So splashed out and bought a new one, same camera but as viewers will se maybe that bit better than the old one.

No doubt will be spending more time in the loft with my Railway and making use of this little Gem…

Regards

Dave”

A big thanks to Joe for building a HO layout and sharaing, and to Jeff and Dave too.

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

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

Bruce been in touch with a very helpful post on building model train inclines.

Here’s a thorny issue that comes up quite a lot in my inbox.

Now on to Bruce and his piece on building model train inclines.

(His curve clearance post is here.)

“Al,

Some time ago, I sent a graphic with explanation on selecting the minimum radius for two parallel sets of rails. Some appreciative comments were added.

I have noted that in several viewer responses that there may be some difficulty determining rail length for various %slopes.

I thought perhaps that some users might have an easier solution by using a graph. Therefore, I am providing the following with example of usage for building a model train incline.

Rise and Run

%slope (percent slope) is determined by using the formula

RISE X 100 = %slope
RUN

The graph is graduated in UNITs. One unit may be any length measure base.

This would be determined by the measure the user decides to use; mm (millimeters), cm (centimeters) or inches.

Of course one could use Yards, Miles, Light Years or any other.

On the graph are lines representing typical %slopes plotted for determining either RISE or RUN.

Or, knowing the RISE and RUN, the %slope may be found.

Assume the user is into HO scale. Then on both the vertical (RISE) and horizontal (RUN), the Unit 1, 2, 50, 100, etc, might be labeled as cm (centimeters).

First one must determine the minimum height to be used for clearances of one track over or under another.

Select the tallest Locomotive or Car and measure its height in the cm.

Add additional measure for assurance of clearance.

I.e., tallest item might be 5.0 cm.

Then add to this using this measure, the height of roadbed and rails; 0.5 cm is assumed for example.

Then 5.5 cm would represent the minimum amount of RISE to be used with the desired %slope to determine the amount of RUN required.

Now one can determine whether he has enough real estate to accomplish the desired %slope.

Example referring to the accompanying graph.

Note that the RISE graph values range from 0 – 2.0 and the RUN values range from 0 – 100 UNITs.

Note also that the graph is linear for both RISE and RUN.

Minimum clearance height of 5.5 cm. This value is then equal to 1 UNIT on both RISE and RUN.

Example #1: Determine amount of RISE for given RUN and any %slope.

Select the desired RUN based of available real estate.

Assume RUN available to be 440 cm.

440 cm divided by 5.5 cm equals 80 UNITs.

Assume maximum clearance RISE allowed to be 11 cm or 2 UNITs.

Then search RISE value for each crossing value on the %slope values vertical to the 80 cm RUN value.

For this example, the 1.5 %slope provides a 1.2 UNIT RISE for the 80 UNIT RUN., or 5.5 X 1.2 = 6.6 cm minimum.

Also, using the 80 UNITs RUN, find the %slope value using the 11 cm RISE line. The crossing is found to be the 2.5 %slope line. One might consider this to be the steepest grade for his train to successfully climb with a desired number of cars coupled.

Example #2, the 3 %slope is desired for the 80 UNIT RUN. Find the required RISE (height) for this %slope.

The graph is linear; thus, the 3 %slope RISE would equal 2 X 1.5% RISE = 2.4 UNIT RISE or 2.4 UNITs X 5.5 cm = 13.2 cm.

Example #2: Determine amount of RUN for given RISE and SLOPE.

Assume RISE = 1.2 UNITs and SLOPE = 2%.

Search the 1.2 UNIT RISE value horizontal to the intersection of the 2% SLOPE line.

The RUN would be down from this intersect to the value of 60 UNITs.

The amount real estate required would be 60 UNIT RUN X 5.5 cm = 330 cm.

In like manner, one could determine %sLOPE by locating the intersect of the given RISE versus the given RUN.

Of course not all measurements will coincide with any graph interest, but the use can then eyeball the desired value between any two intersects.

Al, I certainly hope this is of value to your viewers. I certainly, enjoy all the posts and comments. I also have gained some insight from many of the posts as I continue my future layout. I have a lot of work ahead. Many comments have assisted to reduce some of the work load.

Bruce”

A big thanks to Bruce – it reminded me of Chris’s post: How to make inclines.

And Dean’s: Model train inclines.

Now on to Bob – he sent me this in but it fell through the cracks.

Fortunatley he gave me a gentle prompt, and I’m glad he did too, I enjoyed his vid.

“Al,

Thanks for all your emails, I find them quite inspiring. This video explains all the features of my layout.

Regards,

Bob”

A huge thanks to Bruce and Bob. What a clever lot you all are.

And if you like this tip, don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is jam packed with more just like it.

That’s all this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

PS Have you had a look at the new ebay cheat sheet yet?