Model railroad layouts plans

Sam’s been in touch with his Sci fi model train:

“Hi Al,

I’ve been a bit quiet recently but have got back into creating stuff for my layout.

Having seen a well known company release 2 Steampunk loco’s, I thought I’d have a go scratch building 2 of my own.

Both based on a Hornby 0-4-0 and have 3D printed parts added. Sprayed in silver and weathered. Great fun to create as there are no limits!!

Hope you enjoy the pics.

Sam”

Sam’s pics really did put a smile on my face. It also reminded me of ‘W’s layout which looks just as fun.

Next, Pap’s been touch with a novel solution for his back drop:

“I recently started my first layout. I tried to paint a mountain backdrop but I am definitely no artist.

I asked on a local website if there was a high school or college student who would be interested in making a few bucks and help me out. I received several responses.

Here is the finished product.

Pap”

Now on to Bob. Like many of us, he doesn’t have much space to play with:

“Dear Alastair,

Greetings from Venice Florida,

I enjoy seeing all the huge layouts that you bring to us.

I have built several layouts that were impossible to move.

My present layout was designed to fit into a closet so we could have a guest bedroom.

This is the wireless bottom view for the folded-up layout. All wires are on top and hidden under bushes.

I cut a foot and a half from one end of a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood. to be the removable siding.

The siding has no wires just the rail joiners from the main layout.

By removing seven screws the siding can be removed.

The layout has its own room now. I am 86 years old (Young).

Thus, the layout will not be a nightmare for someone to remove when I am gone, and my wife really appreciates that.

Bob”

Next, on to Steve.

He has a question that pops up quite often – is DCC conversion worth it?

So I thought I’d put it to you clever lot:

“Hi Al

I have 2 Con-cor Locos (New in box) … probably 25 years old. I want to DCC them. Do you have a recommendation?

Right now, I have them on Ebay for $45 starting price. There was pricetags on them is $75. Looking on Ebay, I see very similar ones for all of $75 and more.

Should I just sell them and buy DCC or should I buy the conversion kit… (which one.. there are so many)

Thanks Al

I love your emails.

Regards

Steve”

Lastly, Hall of Fame member Dave has been sent in his latest:

“Hi Al,

just uploaded my first run on the layout since Christmas, been a bit too cold for venturing in to the loft, but had to give them a run get the wheels turning.

Regards

Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A huge thanks to Sam for sharing his Sci fi model train, and to Steve, Dave and Pap.

Please do leave a comment below if you can help Steve with whether he should convert his locos or not.

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 Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Denny’s been in touch with some pics that look very similar to the HO scale barn kit (scroll down to see it).

“Dear Al,

Kitbashing isn’t just for modelers!

I found a picturesque old red barn less than a mile west of I-25 between Denver & Fort Collins, Colorado.

I wandered around trying to find the right angle & light for photos and I was astounded to find an old wooden boxcar with metal waffle ends incorporated into the barn & animal pens.

Perhaps this will inspire us to use our old boxcars for more than hobo camps & yard offices.

If you come up with great ideas, share them with Al so that he can share them with all of us.

Thanks Al!

Denny
Scottsdale Arizona USA”

Denny’s pics really reminded me of the HO scale barn kit in the printable scenery store – have a look, it’s here.

It’s not just HO scale, it’s any scale you want the barn to be by adjusting the print percentages, which you can see here in the printable buildings.

Now on to Hank, who has sent in his oldish youtube, but a wonderful write up.

It was the very last line that made me think I really should post:

“I received my first set of trains for Christmas when I was 5 years old. Every Christmas my parents would add more to my collection. My brothers and I would save our allowances to purchase accessories.

When I went to high school I lost interest in the trains until my daughter was born.

I set up a small display around the Christmas tree for my daughter to watch. I was shocked when the landlord complained of the noise from the trains and told me to stop immediately.

After that initial shock, I told my wife that we are moving out and buying our own house so I can freely run all the trains that I wanted.

Each year I would set up a display until my daughters lost interest.

Five years after my first wife passed away at a young age, I set up a display at my new girlfriend’s house. She encouraged me to work on the layout together. We had so much fun working as a team.

She had a big dance floor in her basement where we used to do Latin dances every night. Eventually, I asked her if Icould have a 12 by 14 L shape area to run my trains which she agreed. After 3 months, I dismantled the layout and built a new one that I was able to run simultaneously four sets of trains. My girlfriend loved doing the wiring and that gave me time to devote on designing the
layout.

We decided to get married, sell her house, and move into mine. I built two new rooms, a music room to accommodate her baby grand piano, and 15 X 22 room for my trains. Little did I realize that the train room would become a ping pong room after allowing her to design the rooms.

I ended up using part of our recreation room for the trains. I built a 12 ft by 18 ft layout where I was able to run 8 sets of trains. My wife helped install an “accident scene” with crashed cars, ambulance, and police cars.

With her small delicate hands and her surgical kit, she was able to open the vehicles and put the LED lights and wires inside. A challenging feat that I could not
have tackled!

My greatest joy is designing and building the layout. The satisfaction I derive of its success is worth the effort. Since then, I have constructed four levels. The bottom level has a subway system and three trains operate on the level. The main level has three trains running and one set of tracks where the train can reverse itself. The third level has two sets of trains running.

The upper level contains an amusement park and a large farm and one train goes around the amusement park and the second train drops people off at the park. I also have a trolley running from the business district to the amusement park. There is an addition of a Winter village with a Ski resort.

From the beginning to where we are now, I have switched from Lionel engines to MTH engines. I use four (4) Z4000 and two (2) Z1000 transformers. The lights are controlled by 1 Lionel
transformer.

The journey we take in designing and redesigning a personal train layout is endless, as we train enthusiasts know!

Hank”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A big thanks to Denny and Hank (the last line in his narrative says it all).

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to stop dreaming and start doing, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Remember, it’s the start that stops most people…

Best

Al

Mike’s been in touch with a common question: HO scale or O scale?

“Hello Alastair, my new friend:

I wrote to you once before, but I have more to the story.

I was re-introduced to model trains when my grandkids convinced me to get a Lionel Harry Potter Train set after vacationing in Florida.

I went crazy over Lionel and invested heavily for about a year building a large layout for trains to run free on four 4×8-foot tables in the basement.

No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t seem to find enough room to develop landscapes and city systems.

Not long after, I found your web site and have enjoyed every email update you have sent to me, but always intrigued with how much everyone was having with HO scale.

After seeing for the last time my lanky Lionels making sharp turns on my confined layout, I came to the ultimate decision. I have spent the last three months selling off ALL my Lionel O Gauge trains and track.

My new passion is HO scale which I am now invested heavily.

Much more realistic and on the old Lionel tables, these little trains have real room to move.

I also have much more real estate upon which to develop my scenery, and I have decided to recreate movie studio backlots on my train layout.

Now having the time of my life designing and building sets.

Attached are a few photos which I have scaled down a bit to keep from overloading your email. I hope you enjoy, and many thanks for setting me on the correct path.

Cheers, and all the best!

Your friend in Michigan,

Mike”

And now on to Henry who gets in touch around this time every year:

“Hello Al

Here is this year’s update.

Thank you for a wonderful service to the model railway community, I eagerly await your emails every day.

Thank You

Henry”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here. Still going strong and goes mad this time of year. Take a look.

Remember theres only way one you can update your layout – and that’s to make a start on one. Just like Mike has done.

A big thanks to Henry and to Mike for sharing his answer on the thorny question of HO scale or O scale.

I have to say, I do find it very encouraging when people mention the blog has helped them to make a start. I shall keep going with this theme.

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you stop dreaming, and start doing, don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al