Model railroad layouts plans

Mike’s been in touch. He’s shared his layout and the HO scale buildings from scratch that he’s put together:

“Hello Al:

Here are some shots of what I have built in just over a year.

Benchwork is built and painted like furniture (my other hobby is woodworking) and blends in with the room decor (my wife’s influence 🤓). The layout is small by most standards, only 7’x7.5’ with a corner cut to hold my control panels.

All buildings except two are scratch built. I only buy what I am not able to make yet, primarily windows. That may come later since I make a lot of jigs to do other things. There are four buildings that use all or part of your technique. Photo copied wall materials glued to Matt board.

The barn on the farm is a building from your stock, made by my cousin. The other is in the area of the engine house. Can you guess which one it is?

I mentioned my focus is to encourage the beginner and intermediate modelers to be encouraged and try. Quality is a matter of some skill, ingenuity and patience. I learned much as I went. Not everything I built made it to a layout. Some were scrapped or revamped.

My layout now is working on details, adding to the character of the layout by creating interest in seeing the details that are not obvious at first glance. Half of my buildings are inspired from actual historic buildings I find driving around the country. There are so many great structures still standing in small towns that are not torn down yet.

Well, enough rambling..

Cheers mate and blessings to you.

Mike
Clermont, Florida”

A huge thanks to Mike – I loved his narrative, I couldn’t agree more with him: it’s all about getting started. It’s also great to see HO scale buildings from scratch, especially when they are from the printable buildings range.

That’s all for this time 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 More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

If you’re reading this, the chances are you’ve thought about Starting model train hobby.

Of course, I’m biased, but it’s a wonderful hobby.

All you need do is pick a theme, pick a track layout, and get going.

Start small. Start simple. And then it all falls into place.

Jeff’s a man of few words but look what he’s put together in such a small space:

“Here are some pictures of my layout.

As you can see I don’t have a lot of space to work with, but I made the best out of what I have.

Jeff”

Jeff might not have a lot to say, and there’s only a handful of pics of his layout, but he’s made a start, and that’s what it’s all about.

Over the years there has been quite a few posts now on how to make a start – and I really enjoy seeing them in my inbox and I take great delight in posting them.

Here’s a few of them:

How to start your HO scale

How to start a model train layout

Starting your train layout

Jim starts his HO scale

You get the idea… it’s all about the start.

In fact, it’s the start that stops most people.

And if you want a little bit of help in making that start, just pick a theme. It can be anything you like – an old holiday destination perhaps, or where you grew up. Or maybe it’s the era that interests you? The 1940s?

Once you have them that you know you’ll enjoy the rest will slot in to place and you’ll be laying track in no time at all.

Now on to Dangerous Dave.

He sent me this, which I have to say, did make me smile:

“After been challenged by a fellow Youtube Modeller in Germany to try and see how many cars and trucks could be pulled by one Locomotive ..(and to compete with American Rakes)

I did a quick video yesterday showing I got 45 on the back of one Locomotive, and not a problem, think I could manage another 5.

On the description it shows the lead to Andy`s Trains who sent the challenge.

Regards

Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Nice one Dave! A big thanks to you and Jeff.

And if you’re still thinking about starting model train hobby, jump on the newsletter and you’ll be laying track in no time.

That’s all for now – until tomorrow – when I have a cracking HO scale for you.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

Martin has been in touch with his HO engine house:

“Hi Al,

I like reading your many articles from people on your site.

I posted a ‘how to’ many years ago now about making a tunnel which you placed in your hall of fame!

Well following that I went onto making things & selling them on a scenics stall at model train exhibitions. It became quite popular I am proud to say.

So I have decided to create a small layout in my bedroom.

Early stages and I am not very hot at electrics or layout building but I’ll try. My plan is a simple two level with a terminus station & shed on the upper level. (eventually)…

But when time allows me to, I keep doing a bit & it has led me to scratch build a small HO engine house. Here are some pictures of work so far;

And my shed.

Martin”

There’s no way I could forget Martin’s tunnel ‘how to’. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s here. It’s an absolute cracker.

When it comes to making a HO engine house, I always think of mad John on the printable buildings page.

Here’s the Engine house / shed:

And there’s two others – you can find them all here.

And here’s how to make them:

The engine houses are really popular in the printable buildings, there also a bundle deal too for all 3.

Now on to Brian who has been busy scratch building.

“Hi Alastair,

A small finicky project that I am busy with but time consuming and very very small. (HO scale)

The coin is a South African one rand piece used as a comparison. It is 20mm in diameter.

The traps come on a flat photo etched sheet and have to be cut out, bent to shape and super glued together. Note the Lobsters on the left in the third photo.

The boat is unfinished but shows some of the lobster traps behind the guy hauling in the rope.

Brian – the HOn3 guy – Knysna RSA”

A big thanks to Brian and Martin – clever stuff as usual.

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 I’ll leave you with some good advice from Bonkers John: