Model railroad layouts plans

Bill’s been back in touch with his model train trees ‘how to’.

He’s made another fab video and a few pics too.

The pics really do show the difference between buying scenery, and making it yourself:

“Good Day Al,

Been off work recently recuperating from some back surgery. I put together another tree build video using the Rustic Wire.

This one shows how to build a deciduous tree in HO scale.

These are fun to build and don’t take a lot of time to make and cost is low.

These are a great way for modelers to scratch build something that is totally theirs

Attached are some pictures of the model train trees; both before and after and some general shots of both the HO scale and N scale layouts.

I do like how I can use the N scale layout for forced perspective when it is behind the HO scale layout. Gives it a much bigger look than it really is

Bill”

A huge thanks to Bill – his pics really sell the scratch build approach. Yes, bought trees look good, but Bills trees and scenery look fantastic.

If you missed his previous posts on his scenery, the last one is here.

Now on to Mike.

He’s been back in touch after posting on his bridges:

“A few of the guys on those bridges that you shared with them asked about them being scale.

One guy told me to put a track in a train on it and see what it looks like which I have done I taken a couple pictures

I wanted to attach them to this and see if you think it looks correct or not since I’m new at this okay thank you again,

Mike.”

That’s all for today.

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

Al

Ralph has been in touch – he’s shared pics of The General model train, and some Marlin’s too:

“Hi Al,

Just completed my first HO layout.

This was my first attempt in constructing a layout…since the last time I played with trains is well over 70 years ago.

Am thinking that a monorail above the layout could be interesting. Problem is that I have not seen monorail equipment. Does anyone out there know where I can be find it?

The first two of the vintage Marlin train.

The second two the Marlin intermodal.

The last three the Bachmann “The General”.

Thanks,

Ralph”

A big thanks to Ralph for sharing pics of The General model train – the Marlins look good too.

Now on to Peter:

“I have to say at the outset than I am no modeller and indeed for the ham fisted like me choosing N gauge has proved a real challenge.

I confess to a lifelong interest in public transport starting with a TT gauge trainset in the late 1950s.

Adulthood, raising a family and work got in the way of furthering the hobby. Retirement in 2013 provided an opportunity to pursue the interest and, with our three children having moved out, requisitioning the fourth bedroom for the purpose (a decision my wife, Jill, now rues!).

Started with the aim of building a Southern Region layout and got the ball rolling by acquiring a Merchant Navy class loco and three SR coaches plus a 4 car CEP EMU. However, having worked in Germany, I was tempted into juxtaposing the South West London environs with Bavaria. So with loads of different rolling stock I’ve ended up with a real mish mash.

I went for a layout on two levels which would provide variety with five circuits enabling a number of trains to run simultaneously.

Judgement of my modelling skills I will leave to fellow members of this group but it was great fun. Oh and early on I decided to introduce non-working overhead wiring to the German section – not particularly good for the back. Laying third rail for the Southern was relatively easy by comparison.

As to the electrics, starting off my knowledge was confined to the ability to change household light bulbs and fitting three pin plugs! The basics of wiring the layout were actually relatively straightforward. The decision to light buildings and streets came as a result of seeing what was possible after visiting a number of model rail exhibitions

I would caution against going to the next stage of introducing working colour signals and traffic lights as I did, not least because the wiring for LEDs (cathode v anode) differs in the UK to the rest of the world (something it took me several months to discover).

Adding electric points (turnouts) for hard to reach areas followed. The other hard lesson learnt is test lighting/wiring before installing it! And I still need to get round to organising the wiring.

My local shops in Essex, John Dutfield in Chelmsford and Plus Daughters in Basildon have been incredibly helpful and I would always argue for shopping at a local stockist before opting for online.

In addition, exhibitions, Layouts 4U and Block Signalling have proved invaluable in aiding my exploits.

I’m part way through writing a manual for the layout because there is so much that requires documenting which I’m happy to share if it ever gets finished!

And layout development is not over. I’ve applied my limited lifetime programme management skills to bear and been quite ruthless in making changes – buildings have gone, stations replaced and tracked uprooted.

My next project is to build a fairground on the Aldi car park site – the problem is obtaining an all singing and dancing motorised ferris wheel which is out of production … but I’m still looking.

I hope that this has provided a bit of an insight into the trials and tribulations experienced over the past six years!

All the best

Peter”

A big thanks to Ralph for sharing the General model train pics, and to Peter.

It’s still wonderful to see all your different layouts after all the years. Please do keep ’em coming.

That’s all for today folks.

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

Best

Al

Rich has been back in touch with some very impressive N scale girder bridge pics.

(His last post is here).

“Hi Al.

I know its been a while since my last post. From time to time life gets in the way of our hobby.

Through what I have learned on your web site [ I read all your posts. ] I believe I have done well on my side cliff coloration blend.

Still working on many other areas of my lay out and loving every time I get the chance to work on it.

Thanks again Al for all your posts.

Hope you like the latest pics from my train room – very pleased with my N scale girder bridge.

Happy Modeling

Rich from N.J.”

Wow – an N scale girder bridge! Fiddly work.

And now on to Eric. I found this when I was looking for the Orient Express post the other day (I’d just watched the film).

It really does sum up a lot about this hobby:

He’s been back in touch after his last post:

“Al,

Thanks for getting my story up so quickly. It was great reading all those wonderful comments!

I’ve noticed a lot of people mentioning getting their start in the hobby way back in their childhood. The same with me. I was about 5 years old when my Grandpa who lived in Germany sent my Dad and me some Marklin HO trains.

I remember my dad starting a layout that we never finished as we ended up moving to Hawaii. This was back around 1965. I remember a photo of my Dad and me working on the train layout and I just happened to find it again! I have attached it.

Might be interesting to see if others may have photos of way back with their original train sets. It would be real fun to see a collection of old photos and you may want to ask if anyone has any they would like to share.

Please feel free to share my photo on your site if you like. It made me feel real good seeing my Dad again in the picture.

Thanks again for everything you are doing to share this hobby with the world!

Eric”

Now for the latest from Richard:

And let’s have a look at Richard’s update. He’s been busy with some fine weathering:

“Hello Al.

I have been tending to some of the minor improvement tasks on my N-scale “Mountain View Railroad” layout since my first post in early August which you so kindly published on your blog.

I have finally received several shipments of trees which were back ordered for what seemed like an eternity and this has kept me somewhat busy planting them. I now have over 6oo trees on my tiny 4 by 7 foot layout.

I have also been a bit busy weathering some of my rolling stock. See pics below.

In addition I have been placing additional N-scale persons and vehicles around the layout. I still need lots more people around “Merchant’s Row” and the train station.

My layout is broken down into 4 basic areas:

The “FARM” area
The “RESIDENTIAL” area
The “INDUSTYRIAL” area
The “MERCHANTS ROW and TRAIN STATION” area

With my limited space of a small bedroom in my apartment, my work space as well as my storage space for my railroad “stuff” and tools was getting to be a bit of a mess. This necessitated purchasing some fabric with a steam locomotive motif print to hide the mess when I am not operating my trains.

My sisterI fabricated a “skirt” for the two sides of the layout that are not up against walls. There are two fabric panels which provide access to the stored “train stuff” and the engineer’s control panel which is mounted on a set of ball bearing slides designed for a computer keyboard allowing me to slide it beneath the layout platform when not in use.

Here’s a couple of pics showing the skirt and the layout in its current state.

Some stats of the layout are as follows:

Approximately 64 feet of Bachmann E-Z track with integrated ballast
6 each right hand #6 Bachmann remote E-Z track turn-outs
5 each left hand #6 Bachmann remote E-Z track turn-outs
7 each Bachmann E-Z track siding bumpers
67 Buildings and other structures
32 Steam and Diesel locomotives
170 Freight and passenger cars
106 automobiles and trucks
30 Street lights

Here’s a few of the weathered rolling stock (there are over 150 more to be weathered) *LOL*

Now that winter is on our doorstep I hope to get a bit more accomplished on my layout………Still lots to do, but it is getting down to the tedious chores that sometimes really tax my patience requiring me to take occasional breaks to maintain my sanity. *LOL*

Thanks for all your hints and tips. Without them I’d be lost. You certainly have done more than your share to support this great hobby. Keep riding the rails.

By the way, do you know of any firms that sell an N-scale powered hand car?

Regards,

Richard
Maryland
USA”

That’s all for today.

A big thanks to Rich, the other Rich and Eric.

Please do keep ’em coming, and if you’d like to make a start on your own masterpiece, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al