Model railroad layouts plans

Hall of Fame Dan has been back in touch with some railroad ceiling tile scenery:

“Al, here is a post about my first try at ceiling tile rocks. You have to start some place.

I don’t think many of us like to show our very first attempts at something new. This is my very first ceiling tile rock try in 1982. I learned a lot form this first try. This was a small diorama that fit in a display case at the high school where I taught.

I learned never to use paper towels and plaster as a cover. The towels and plaster want to stick together and is very sloppy. Later I used plaster cloth. The plaster cloth is placed and then I spray it with wet water. It looks 100% better. NEVER dip the cloth in water first.

I used a product called Perma Scene as the ground cover. This was made of vermiculite I believe. Today I use Sculpta mold.

I also used rattle can spray for the coloring of the rocks. Now it is the craft paints.

The diorama.

The display in the library. (I do not recall the exact dimensions. I do remember that the top was 9 inches high. I did this for the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Trains were once traditional at that time. I got my first Lionel in 1947.

By 1984 it was time for something different. My next ceiling tile adventure was a complete N scale layout in the display case! It was not going to be a diorama this time. It was meant to run. I didn’t change the construction techniques by this time. The layout was a basic figure 8 up and over with the scenery hiding the grade.

There was a button to push for the train to run. Teenagers are a clever bunch. They found that when the train came down the grade a small bump caused it to derail. I placed a small rock at that spot and the trains never derailed again. I used this display for abut 4 years. I now resides at my model railroad club and runs from time to time.

Railroad ceiling tile scenery:

There always have to be a beginning. As I help new and even more experienced modelers, I hear “I saw such and such on You Tube.” I have noticed you don’t see the failures and not so successful tries. It is just the finished product.

I once watch a man show an EnviroTex river that ran along the very edge of the layout. He never once showed how he dammed up the side to prevent the “water” from leaking out. A very big shortcoming I think. I have seen the water “diaper” to places where you don’t want it.

Till next time,

SantaFeDan”

A huge big thank to Dan for sharing his railroad ceiling tile scenery technique.

I really enjoyed seeing his ‘first attempt’ with the ceiling tiles – it’s amazing what a journey this hobby can throw each of us on.

Here’s a more recent layout of Dan’s that really does show case his ceiling tiles technique:

Model train Santa Fe

You can see more of Dan in the Hall of Fame.

When it comes to the railroad ceiling tiles technique, I’m always reminded of Jim’s excellent post too:

Model railroad mountains.

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.

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

Rob’s been back in touch with another missive on how to build a model train bridge:

“My bridge is built and next will be the installation. That will come along in a few weeks. I can’t do it right away due to personal reasons.

Some people have expressed that the bridge looks a bit North American for a British outline layout. The thing is, I wanted to build a bridge. It is my layout so, I’ve done it.

I started building layouts after a trip to London in 2012. I went to Hamley’s toy shop, a place I had been to as a child while living in London with my family as a child. The fellow in the train department started talking to me about trains. It was very interesting to me.

After a while he said, “And this one has sound.” While pointing to a Class 50 diesel. Sound? I said. Yes, he said it makes the sounds of a locomotive. I was intrigued. Intending to buy something anyway, I said I’ll take it.

When I got home with my newly acquired circle of track, DCC controller and sound locomotive, I set it up on the dining room table and hit F1. To my delight, I heard the sound of a large diesel engine starting. Wow…I was instantly hooked. My journey had begun. At 76 it is still going.

Rob”

A huge big thanks to Hall of Fame Rob for sharing the second part of how to build a model train bridge.

You can see the first part here:

How to scratch build a bridge.

Now on to Roger, who is also building a bridge:

“Im currently building the “ Bitch Creek” bridge in N scale. The bridge is in Idaho and is on the Altoona Rails to Trails. I think Neds backdrop in O is magnificent, particularly since backdrops are often missing or inadequate in the presented projects

I think your daily email is alot of fun.

Best

Roger”

A big thanks to Rob and Roger – their posts jogged my memory to years and years ago.

Have a look at the bridge below and see if you can guess what it’s made from:

The answer is here.

Next, there are quite a few recent questions on the forum that haven’t had any replies. Can you help? They need help and I know you lovely lot can lend a helping hand.

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.

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

Philip has been in touch – he uses fiber board for his OO scale track bed:

“Hi Al, I’m living in east Liverpool Ohio but I’m from Tipton West Midlands.

I have been reading your blog for a couple of years now and it amazes me of the ingenuity of the members. I like dangerous David’s approach to modeling.

Mine started like most with a 0 gauge Hornby tin plate clockwork set.

Then it progressed to triang rovex layout built by my dad. I’m 72 years old.

The layout pictures shown has been 40 years in the making.

A 8’x4’ sheet of homasote fiberboard originally under the Christmas tree.

Then I made the 1×4 frame that that interlocked every foot on centre. Then I used pre shaped laminated card railbed the I ordered from the walthers catalogue. I had to add 6” to the back and right hand side.

All the track is OO scale British Peco brand. The fiber board and laminate rail bed cuts noise on the track bed to a minimum.

It’s just a tail chaser but I don’t have the room for anything bigger. I model British Railways from 1900 to current time.

I have models, mainly from Hornby and Bachmann from all the great 4 railways with emphasis on the Great Western Railway and BR up to modern times.

Most of the rolling stock is also used and some date back to the birth of Airfix and mainline as do some of the Manor and Mogul locos. And they still run good.

Most of the models, about 70-80% of them were purchased used as non-runners.

I have been taking model locos apart since I was 8 years old. I buy these types as I have a hard time justifying today’s cost of new ones.

I have added two photos one as I was modifying the layout and the other from last year. All the locos in the second photo are all GWR.

The buildings are OO scale Metcalfe and are very good. The two plate girder bridges are scratch built from various thickness of plastic card, track and plastruct shapes and sprayed with grey primer.

The embankment is made from Elmer’s foam core project board and the sides covered with 6 layers of paper towels with each layer coated with Elmer’s white glue. It is strong as my cats have proven time and again.

Electrics are provided by Bachmann spectrum controllers. Each circuit, 4, is wired the same way and no shorts occur.

The points are not powered, as yet but provision as been made for the time they will be, maybe.

The first pic is from 2005 when I was recovering from triple bypass surgery.

The second as it looks today in the process of being modified again.

Thanks for all your hard work.

Philip”

OO scale track bed:

A huge big thanks to Philip for sharing his OO scale track bed layout.

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.

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