Model railroad layouts plans

John has been in touch with a wonderful ‘how to’ on HO scale bushes:

“Hi Al,

I’ve been working on scenery on my HO Scale layout lately and experimenting with some homemade mats for a woodsline. I like the way they turned out and thought I would share with you.

I’ve been creating a wooded hill to use as a scenic divider as well as to hide the entrance to staging on my layout. Between the open areas on either side of the trees on the hilltop, I wanted to create a brambled, overgrown area on the hillside. I used a Coconut Coir basket liner and part of an old air filter to create the effect.

First, I separated a section of the basket liner into two halves. I did the same with the air filter material. The side that was on the outside of either material is pressed flat with some sort of adhesive. But working with the inside, one can tease the material up and create vertical depth.

Next, simply paint the materials thoroughly with some flat brown and darker green tones. Once dry, I applied spray adhesive and several varieties of leaf and flock material, followed by hairspray. An optional mist of some florist green tone spray paint was perfect for some highlights.

I ended up using some thinner pieces along a nearby embankment, and combined with some Super Trees, the larger chunks made for what I think is a convincing woodsedge,

I documented the process in the video above, and ran some trains through the completed scene at the end.

John”

A huge thanks to John – what a ‘how-to’ on HO scale bushes.

Now on to John#2.

He’s back and he’s as bonkers as ever.

What’s more, he’s very kindly put together a video of the latest printable buildings.

There’s always been one particular building that people have requested when it comes to the print out buildings: a roundhouse.

So it’s fitting to have a very silly sale that includes the new roundhouse at a give-away price.

First, let’s have a look at it. Here it is:

It’s up to you how many stalls your roundhouse has, 2, 4, 6, 8… just print out what you need. Below are two stuck together.

And here’s the infamous John showing us how it’s done:

I’ve bundled the roundhouse with the Beginner’s Guide, the signal boxes and 4 other buildings, for just $19. A crazy price.

Have a look and see what else you get.

It’s a cracking deal – a big thank you, from me: a $74 saving with all the print out scenery.

I really do think the roundhouse looks good – I can’t wait to see it on a layout.

I know many of you already have the Beginner’s Guide and will grab this just for the Roundhouse – and that’s absolutley fine. Do a quick google and you’ll see just how expensive some of the roundhouse kits are.

And of course, every sale helps support the site and keep this show on the road.

As with all the print out scenery, it’s HO scale. If you want N scale, just reduce the print size by 54%.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the posts over the last year. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express my appreciation enough.

Hope you find the roundhouse a fitting ‘thank you’, and if you do, please do grab it now as this sale won’t last for long.

That’s all for today folks. As always, please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

PS And don’t forget it still comes with my no quibble, 60 day money back guarantee. If you’re not chuffed to bits with the roundhouse, the other prints, and the Beginner’s Guide, just let me know.

PPS Please don’t hang about to grab this deal. It’ll be business as normal shortly.

PPPS I’m also throwing in these two signal boxes:

Bob’s been in touch with his new HO scale city layout:

“Hi Alistair,

I’ve finally begun the new SLO&W.

After 7 years in boxes, I’ve completed all of my new benchwork and laid down about 40% of the track and cork roadbed.

Unfortunately I never made a video of the old layout.

Here are a few photos of my progress on the new layout.

It’s still very much a work in progress.

I will have more updates to share with everyone later.

My theme will HO scale city layout but will still include a trestle and bridge as well as some rockwork and detailed scenery…there will be a lot more structures as there will be more of a focus on switching…the layout’s smaller footprint will limit the size of any trains I can run.

My new layout occupies an area about 14′ x 16′ (the old one was in two rooms each one bigger in area than the new train room).

Bob”

A big thanks to Bob for sharing his HO scale city layout.

Now on to Eric (you can see his previous post here).

“Hi Alastair

Just a short movie from the rails, Lots of things to see when moving around the layout.

So keep your eyes open on the layout, not all the fire memorabilia throughout the room and you might see the recovered Titanic propellers on a flat car, rabbit hunters, robo’s hitching a ride, a signal light that fell over and a foam seam that did not get covered with ground cover.

So watch the clip and keep an eye out.

Thanks Al for all your hard work and all the information that your subscribers share.

Eric The Firefighter, St. Louis Area, Missouri

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here

A big thanks to Bob and Eric.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to create your masterpiece without all the mistakes.

Best

Al

John’s been in touch with his HO scale 12×16 layout:

“Hi Alistair,

I have been enjoying your site for a while now. Lots of good tips and great layouts.

I have included my HO layout built in Pennsylvania (USA) from 1993 and years later dismantled.We moved to California with no logistical way of moving it so I donated it to a model RR club that had to move and start anew.

The overall dimensions were HO scale 12×16 with 3 lines and a trolley (not shopping cart) line.

Many of the buildings are from the 4’x8′ train set my father built when I was about 8 (I’m 72 now). He was a painter so he made these out of illustration board and painted the detail – sort of a precursor to your printable buildings.

I am starting another layout – N scale – as I have less space now. I acquired all the N scale buildings, track, engines, rolling stock from a friend with a young boy, Travis, in the ’80s.

Travis liked my HO set (in a home previous to the 12 x 16; layout) so his dad built an N scale setup. It was too small for Travis to handle.

In the meantime a friend’s ex wife was cleaning out her attic where my buddy had an HO set up started. She said if you want it come get it. So I did. I didn’t really need all his stuff as I had mine, Light bulb went off! I’ll give it to Travis and his Dad. They were excited, but insisted I take their N scale stuff in trade.

I really didn’t want or need the N scale, but you know – free trains. So I have kept them for about 33 years … and now have a whole set up waiting to be created. I am going to set them up with DCC. Your articles have been extremely helpful.

I have also included a video (shot about 14 years ago – it’s a little rough)

Thanks for having this venue for model trains.

John”

A big thanks to John for sharing his HO scale 12×16 – it’s nice to know the love of trains never really leaves, whatever your age and how big the gap.

That’s all for this time folks.

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

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.