Model railroad layouts plans

Steve’s been in touch his N scale track switching layout:

“Hello Al.

I have built and sold many HO layouts over the years.

However, this time I am building an N Scale layout for my grandboys.

I wanted to make the train layout very simple for them to operate with 6 switch tracks for a good variance of operation.

Everything on this layout lights up – all buildings, cars, streetlights, railroad lights, tunnel lights and spotlights.

Again, the operation is simple but the city and decor is extensive.

Thank you for letting me share this tilt table layout.

Steve”

“Hello Alastair:

I found this in some of my father’s old memorabilia. Perhaps some of your followers could comment on this.

My father was chosen to travel with this locomotive while it was here in the US in 1969-70. He worked for the CB&Q (Burlington Route) as was one of the few who understood boilers, steam engines and the US routes.

He had other items which I gave to a nephew. This was still in my possession. I vaguely remember he was gone for a little over a week traveling with the tour as an advisor.

I do remember how impressed he was with the sheer beauty of the craftsmanship. A side note… He also travelled with CB&Q #5632 which was painted gold in 1964 to tour the line in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of commuter train service in Chicago.

His father (my grandfather) was part of the team that built the shroud for the Aeolus, an S-4 Hudson 4-6-4 numbered 4000.

Cheers Mate, and I hope someone remembers any of those events.

Mike”

Now on to Ed, who has made that all important start:

“Hi Al,

I retired a few years ago and have finally started to set up my O gauge trains.

My setup will contain 2 modes, manual and auto via a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) the three rail system makes this much easier, I have used a combination of insulated and wired track sections and relays.

The table is 4 ft. X 14 ft. with 2 4×4 second levels over each end.

I am working on the ramps right now and when done will start buildings using the Big Kahuna and others.

The pictures show the initial layout and the ramp to the second level.

The table is on casters to allow for movement.

I will keep you posted on my progress, I give myself a year to complete, hopefully.

Your beginners guide got me going, your print outs look great.

Ed”

“Hello Alastair,

Thanks for your emails, it is inspirational to see what other modelers are doing.

I have been very quiet lately, but reading your emails daily. So, I thought I will share the progress on my layout with the readers.

I am building a double deck layout in a single garage, with 6 “stations” or towns, the first one on the upper deck to be closed to finished is Bloemfontein, a city in the geographical middle of South Africa.

I am not following the prototype for buildings and track layout as I do not have the space. So I have used the names of some of the well known businesses from Bloemfontein to on kit built buildings.

There is still some scenery work to be done, but the signals are operational, and the entry signal on each side of the station has route indicators as you will see in the pictures.

Bloemfontein Station is a passenger station, with 3 platforms for passenger trains and a mainline running behind the 3 platforms.

Freight trains will be routed along the mainline.

I enjoy adding small details to the scenes such as the glasses on the restaurant’s table and the handicap parking bay and the expired parking meter, with an officer writing a ticket.

Regards

Henry”

That’s all for today.

A big thanks to Steve for sharing his N scale track switching layout. And too Ed and Henry.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to make your start, the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to get going on your own layout.

Best

Al

Nich’s been back in touch with his N scale door layout.

And if I’m not mistaken, his first post is here.

He’s onto his second, and here it is:

“Hi Al.

Not quite sure what to write so I give you some bare bones:

This is my second layout. I learnt a lot about track laying from the first.

DC layout as I was having problems remembering what was what in programming DCC on the last layout.

This time I used all peco track mainly flexi but set track for some curves and peco points.

Layout again N scale door layout with the underside cut away for easy access for wiring.

30mm kingspan PVA’ed to the baseboard.

All raised areas built from expanding foam and reshaped.

Gaugemaster controller built into the hill.

Handmade points switch panel fitted with cdu.

Points and controller fitted with independent transformers.

All layout covering ( ballasting, roads and grass) handmade from coloured sawdust.

Building second handoff eBay. Most altered to fit in with my layout.

Engine shed scratched built from card.

Lighting powered but flat batteries.

If you would like more details on a particular bit please ask. I will send the photos bu google photos. Feel free to use as you like

Kind wishes

Nich”

A huge thank you to Nich for sharing his N scale door layout from the very start.

Door layouts are popular size for an obvious reason – the ‘table’ is easy if you have an old door lying about.

It reminds me of Michael’s N scale on a door

Another Mike’s too: N scale train layout on a door.

And this one: N scale train door layout plans.

Nich also had some wise words – his first layout was a learning curve, and that’s what it’s all about, getting started.

You can think as hard as you like, but unless you put some track down and get going, nothing happens.

Just get going and enjoy it.

I do love seeing a table or door covered in chaos and slowly morphing into a work of art. Loved his water scene too.

Hope you enjoyed today’s as much as me.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Here’s a load more N scale layouts if you’re after those.

Or perhaps you are undecided and over HO or N scale?

That’s all for today folks.

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.

The talented Brian has been back in touch with another addition to his HO scale harbor scenes.

If you want to get up to speed, here’s one of his recent posts.

“Al, This is the first instalment.

Many years ago, I purchased the Builders in Scale Tidewater Wharf kit with the intention of adding to my future layout.

Upon receiving it, I made photo copies of the plans for future reference.

Unfortunately this kit went “missing” in one of our moves although I still had the photocopies of the kit.

I used these to scratch build three buildings for my harbor area (below) on the layout. They were also modified from the same plans to suit the area.

Recently, I was able to obtain this Tidewater Wharf kit again through a friend. I have a place on my layout now to put this kit plus other waterfront buildings on it.

I also obtained the Builders in Scale Waterfront kit in the same deal (still to be built) but the card stock copies have already been made for future use.

After an extensive bit of research on the web, I finally decided how I wanted to modify the kit and add interior lights and details. Saw a similar photo on the web, such is the way with HO scale harbor scenes. Any scene, in fact.

Again I made more photo copies of the plans and started to cut and modify them to suit my needs.

I always do this and glue (pritt-stick) the plans to card stock. It is easy and a cheap way to modify the plan rather than modify the kit and find out that it is not quite what you want. Card stock can be discarded and begin again rather than destroy an excellent kit.

Here is a copy of part of the plan, the boat repair dock.

Below is a copy of the floor plan and where to start.

Photo copies cut out and placed over the floor plan and ready to figure out where the modifications are to be made.

The idea here was to open up the building from the front water level to be able to detail the interior with a ramp from the water level to inside to enable work to be done on the boats. HOn3 track used here as a guide.

Now to figure out how to get the ramp at the correct angle from the water level to the inside top front. Again using card stock for the sides temporarily.

After careful measurements, I got the ramp angle right. The track is just temporary as the correct track for the boat dolly still had to be made as well as the dolly.

Here the dolly has been made and test fitted under the boat.

The track has been made and a test fit with the boat dolly on it. The bi-fold doors can now be measured for fitment once I get round to building the kit.

The stone walls now in and a solid base (Masonite) in place

Again, a test fit to make sure that all fits the way I would like it to be.

The front and side wood walls now in place (note the nut, bolt washer castings) holding them in place.

Here is where I now have to choose between a wood or stone base for the bottom of the building to stand on. Right Way magnetic corner clamps (available from Micro Mark in the USA) come in handy when getting everything square on the base.

Still a lot of head scratching to do here on the foundations.

This is as far as I am with this build and I have not even started the kit yet. (3 weeks of work so far). This includes a scratch built lighthouse in close proximity to the above buildings. More about that later.

A kit like this normally takes me about 3 months to build the way that I would like it to be.

Many thanks.

Kind regards

Brian – the HOn3 guy in Knysna. RSA”

A huge big thanks to Brian for sharing another one of his HO scale harbor scenes.

“Hi Al

This is what my first layout looks like now but I’m well on with its successor.

I will send you some photos and description.

Nich”

I’m looking forward to posting Nich’s new layout in the day or so – his pic made me smile.

Lastly, here’s the latest from Dave:

“Hi Al,

Maybe a few will enjoy seeing a bit of real steam running ?

Had a nice day out on the North Yorkshire Moors today and managed to capture a good few steam trains running, not fully operational yet, but its a good start and great to visit up there again.

Regards

Dave”

That’s all for today folks.

But please do keep ’em coming – it’s getting very thin on the ground here (again!)

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to stop dreaming and start doing.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.