Model railroad layouts plans

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.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to stop dreaming and start doing, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

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

Download this building here.

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.

Another good example of this is Al’s HO logging road.

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.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

David has been in touch again, and he has very kindly taken the trouble to answer your questions on his HO scale elevated train track.

If you want to get up to speed, and see his first post, it’s here.

“Hi Alastair,

Thanks again for your blogs and also to those that sent me such kind comments.

I notice that there were quite a few questions, so will attempt to answer some of them here.

I have included some more pics which may assist with the below explanations.

“KARRAWIDGEE” uses Peco code 100 set track points ( turnouts ), some set track pre-formed pieces and flexi track.

The layout splits lengthwise down the middle and runs along front side of loco shed which created some problems with joins to get track into loco shed on back half.

The track plan just evolved. Initially I had one outer oval, then played until eventually it all fitted inside the first oval.

The smallest radii ( curves) I used was #2, 438mm. I was amazed at how many configurations would have worked. See photo of control panel for track plan.

I was determined to have an elevated coaling facility and the result over loco shed was the result, as nothing else would work, no room below. That’s how I ended up with my HO scale elevated train track.

The 4 dead ends on the right hand side are intentional, designed for further expansion of the layout. Because “KARRAWIDGEE” occupies the space needed for the next layout it had to moved on and the new owner will use those dead ends to connect to his other larger layout.

Because I could not fit a turntable on the layout, one track on the right was used to provide loco turning and transport to programming track via a “loco lift”

The back dead end in tunnel I used as a loco shed to store a loco out of dust. Wig-wags flash and sound is genuine 1950s bells.

The white fencing at the pedestrian track crossing is how any Victorian Railways uncontrolled crossing is designed and this is still in use today but made from galvanised iron not timber. You cannot go straight ahead onto track but must deviate left or right and return to cross track.

The track work is all ballasted including the bridges, faithful to the Victorian Railways method of bridge building.

They decked the top of the timber trestles with side boards and then laid the sleepers ( ties) on the deck, then ballasted. Other states in Australia did not use this method.

All the electrical components are hidden, if possible, the signal box and timber platform extension are hiding switches.

The photos show the method I chose to gain access, if needed,
by having lift out panels.

The backdrop lifts off if needed and the sides and front (clear acrylic ) are what I call” anti -damage barriers” as I have found it so easy to do damage when leaning over the sides. I have knocked the signals repeatedly.

My signals are now held in place by drilling up through the baseplate and another matching hole in the ground into which is inserted a piece of bus wire and signal inserted on top.

This gives a loose fitting which moves if knocked and has so far served me well, as against a rigidly glued item.

The vegetation was all individually planted and colored out in natural daylight with acrylic paint.

The trees are made from the CEDUM plant which bears a strong resemblance to our Eucalyptus trees.

The shrubs, bushes and groundcover all vitamised foam rubber. The terrain is white styrene packaging foam, usually got for free (see lift out panel photo ) smeared in Gapfiller, hot wire cut, shaped etc.

I do lots of experimentation with techniques and materials.

The loco shed is the only building illuminated so you can watch to park your locos on the 2 roads.

I hope this may have answered some of your questions.

Cheers,

David”

A huge thanks to David for sharing his HO scale elevated train track – it really is fab not just seeing a layout like this, but also knowing how it came about.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as me. It reminded me of Wayne’s: Elevated model train track.

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you grab the bull by the horns, 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.