Eric’s been in touch with HO scale cows – or should that be O scale…
“Well Al been a few months since I last sent anything so here are some pics.
Have been working on odds and ends. Mainly people hanging around the haz-mat spill in the creek. Some folks my have noticed in last upload the cows are out of scale. This happened because the toxic waste made them O gauge size, lol.
News media pulled up on the scene and interviewing folks.
To the North a helicopter is landing around a few homes so relieve can be made at ranger tower. While to the West, the cliffs are filling up with folks going to the gun shop and range.
Hope members like it, I certainly enjoy reading their stories, ideas and problems.
Thanks Al
Eric”
A huge thanks to Eric for sharing his HO scale cows, farm and giggles.
I do love seeing a layout from the ground up – it makes a fab story. I think that’s why I’m so fond of an update.
And to show you what I mean, here’s Eric’s story from the start:
Bill’s been in touch. He’s shared a video of his N scale mountain scenery – and some stunning pics of his layout.
“Hi Al
Hope all is well for you and your family.
I’ve gotten plenty of opportunity to work on the N Scale build in the evenings and on weekends. Even taking a few days off means staying at home for the most part.
I’ve added a video link showing the N scale mountain scenery I put in a short while ago.
I’m working my way across the layout and have added in the stream feature and part of the big mountain.
It’s coming along and I’m enjoying the scenery work.
I continue to use sculptamold as my base then DAP plaster of Paris to add on the rock and give it depth as I work the scenes.
Take care!
Bill in Virginia”
Wow! What an update. A huge thanks to Hall of Fame member, Bill, for sharing his N scale mountain scenery vid.
I always enjoy watching Bill’s vids – he makes it looks so simple when it comes to the scenery.
I think Bill’s layouts looks so good – apart from his obvious talent – is that he’s working from a theme.
I know I must sound like a broken record, but the layouts that always turn out the best by a country mile, are the ones that have a theme in mind right from the very start. I suppose it gives you something to aim for.
In addition to a theme, having the patience of a saint helps. But I think we all have that to some degree, otherwise we wouldn’t enjoy this hobby at all.
You can hear the patience in Bill’s voice when he’s talking out the trees for his N scale mountain scenery.
Trees are wonderfully time consuming, but worth every minute. Some people buy them, but when you have a large area to fill, having trees that all look the same just won’t cut it.
And besides, when you invest in the time, you can get exactly what you want – Bill’s has pine trees and all the shades of fall in the other ones.
Bill takes just as much time and care with his mountains – the Sculptamold must have taken him a good while – but what amazes me is how tidy he keeps it all. I’d get it everywhere.
When you add the Sculptamold, or whatever you’re using though, the magic really does start to happen. The mountains really start to come to life.
And when you add that first base paint, and then a few highlighs and shadows, wow, the feeling really is satisfying. Again, time consuming, but I think that’s another reason why I like Bill’s videos so much: he’s is no hurry at all. The words come straight from the horses mouth, “I’m just going to take my time, I want it to look good,”
And this brings me to another really important point, which is going at your own pace.
I think most of us like to potter on our layouts – doing bits when it takes our fancy. It’s another wonderful thing about this hobby. The layouts are always there, waiting to be worked on, whenever that may be.
I know some of you work daily on them. Others work furiously on them in the winter and then forget about them in the summer. I’m rambling now, but the point is whatever pace you find enjoyable, that’s absolutely fine.
So I may as well put together a short list of things I’ve noticed about the hundreds (thousand?) of layouts I’ve posted over the years.
1. Pick a theme – this makes starting so much easier and as Bill shows us, you’ve got something to aim for.
2. Think of ways to add a few personal touches to the layout. Again this is really easy with a good theme. It doesn’t have to be complicated, I know a lot of give your locos numbers that mean something like birthdays and anniversaries. Other scratch build buildings based on real ones. Some put posters in the layout that feature loved ones. You get the idea.
3. Start. It doesn’t matter how much you ponder over a train layout, and even if you pick a theme, nothing happens until you make a start.
4. Go at your own pace. As Bill shows us, there’s no hurry when it’s your own little world. Just enjoy the journey.
5. Focus on what you enjoy and to hell with everybody else. Some folk just love running trains and don’t care a hoot about the scenery. Others love to camp down and get stuck into the scenery details, and never run their trains at all. And some love doing both (Bill!).
There’s lots more to add – but these are the 5 things I’ve noticed most over the years about the layouts that really stand out, and that goes for the simple ones too. They don’t have to be complicated, it’s the theme that glues it all together.
Well, now that I’ve got that off my chest I hope it inspires one or two of you. I do find myself smiling from ear to ear when I get a message saying the blog has cajoled them into action.
Steve’s been in touch with a theme that is popular on the blog: model railroad logging layouts!
“Alastair,
First, THANK YOU for all you do to share everyone’s model railroading!!! It’s great to see what people around the globe are doing – using their experiences for learning and education!
Second, it’s hard to believe it’s been over 3 ½ years since I sent my original email regarding the OWLS (Ohio Western & Lima Short line).
I continue to plug away, focusing on the scenery, landscape & buildings. Alas, age has taken it’s toll and the old hands aren’t as steady as they used to be!!
Here are recent photos of the OWLS Short line, mainly the progress I’ve made with the above mentioned areas.
Again, THANK YOU for all you do!
The layout is from about the late 1950 – 1960 time period and centers around a local logging/ lumber industry.
The sub roadbed made from pink insulation foam.
A a couple of the local industries.
The center of town on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
The switches controlling track power, power to the industry & house LEDs, smoke system for the lumber mill & other buildings as well as sound system. The sound system has one set for daylight (trucks, cars, etc.) and one set for night time (crickets, owls, etc.)
Where the timber is harvested
Retail outlet for the finished lumber
Where the rough cut trees are converted to lumber
Another look at the lumber mill and the shop for the ever ongoing work to repair/ refurbish trains and other manufacturing equipment
A look at some of the house in the little town.
Steve”
A huge thanks to Steve – I do love an update and it’s a great theme too. It’s no surprise there are so many model railroad logging layouts.
If you’re looking for Steve’s first post, it’s here.
I think Steve’s layout is another fine example of how important picking a theme is for your layout.
Once you have a theme so much falls into place – you have a pretty good idea of what buildings you’ll need, and what they will look like.
You’ll also have an idea of what else you want on the layout with regards to scenery. The chances are if you want a logging layout, you’ll want a forest area on hills, and of course, a lumber mill.
You can see Al’s layout, just like Steve’s, ‘makes sense’. Everything fits in, there’s nothing that looks out of place because it’s all congruent to the railroad logging theme.
And once you know your theme, you can start playing with your track plan.
But it all comes from the theme – I know I say it time and time again, but it ‘s the layouts that have a theme from day one that always look the best, by a country mile.
It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with making things up as you go along, if that’s what you enjoy, then go for it. After all, that’s what this hobby is all about, having fun.
A little thought on a theme though, will go an awful long way to visually glue the whole layout together. You’ve only got to spend 10 minute or so on the blog to see for yourself.
What’s more, a theme lets you create those scenes within a scene to add extra interest to your layout.
Have a look and Steve’s sixth picture and you’ll see what I mean. The workmen on each platform add so much more to the scene – they really bring it to life. What are they doing? Chatting about the game? Moaning about the boss? Who knows, but it all adds to the realism of the layout.
A theme on its own though is useless – you still have to make a start which as you’ll know is something I’ve very fond of saying.
It doesn’t matter how much thought you give to your theme, unless you actually do something nothing will happen.
So build that bench or use that old table in the shed that’s just gathering dust.
Star playing with track. Now you’re on your on way!
Your family will see a dusty old table with an oval train track. But in your mind’s eye you’ll see a bustling lumber mill, with workers unloading the latest train of logs, while on the otherside of the world you created, the rich green of the forest parts only for the tracks you’ve laid.
Sounds fun? Then what’s stopping you. You can pick any theme you like: model railroad logging layouts, urban, farm, desert, mountains, old west, steam, electric, freight, vintage… you are only limited by your imagination.
Choose whatever you want – it’s your world and your fun. To hell with everybody else.
And don’t forget, if you want to make that start, just like Steve did all those years ago, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
