Model railroad layouts plans

jay’s been in touch with his American Flyer model trains – what a collection!

“My grandfather’s 1939 American Flyer train set.

Back in January I got all of my HO train stuff out of storage to take inventory. That included my grandfather’s 1939 American Flyer O gauge 3/16 scale prewar era set.

I contacted the Train Collectors Association – Western Division and they sent me the information about the train set (see below). I learned that I was missing the baggage car to the set.

After taking inventory of all me HO trains I collected over the past 60 years I decided to put my grandfather’s set in a display case. At this time I have no room or any space to setup my HO trains.

So the 267 pieces of rolling stock went back into storage (neatly packed this time). When I finish remodeling the living room I will have half of my double car garage empty and decided I will use it to set up my trains.

Since January I have been watching several different websites for HO model trains and learning about DCC controls. Hope to have the HO trains setup by end of year. Right now I plan on setting up the Atlas HO bookshelf Plan # 17 in my office.

Back to American Flyer; I don’t even know if engine works.

First I had to fix the rear truck on the engine. Luckily I found a person on eBay that had parts for these old trains. I wanted to put people and lights in the cars. I made bench seats out of balsawood and bought some O gauge people and some two rail O gauge track.

After sealing the bottom of the cars and end door openings I glued in the seats and the people. Then I wired in LED lights, 3 per car & 1 in engine compartment. I also lined the inside cover of the cars with aluminum foil to enhance the lighting.

The base of the display case is a piece of 2 x 8 lumber routed on top to seal the acrylic case and grooved on the bottom to run wiring.

The cars and engine are held in place with springs so they won’t move around. I then added some scenery and rocks. I installed a 9 volt battery and switch in a box to operate the lights. I had the acrylic case made to fit.

I also order a name plaque to honor my grandfather. Unfortunately it got damaged in shipment and they are sending me a new one. Then it will be finally finished.

THE PLAQUE READS:

‘In Memorial of Grandpa
STEPHEN F. PIOTROWSKI
26 Jul 1898 – 24 Mar 1958’

Thank you Al for a wonderful blog.

Jay”

Love what Jay has done. And here’s another American Flyer model railroad if you’re after more.

“Al, I am a copy-cat, yes I am.

I copied Roger’s chair which I added tool trays and a arm rest with a trough to catch dropped items.

At 80 years old the arm rest gives me needed support for soldering and other duties under the layout. (see pictures of my chair).

Also, does everyone at near 80 years old drop everything they pickup or is just me? I also copied from someone else, I don’t remember his name , a throwaway razor bridge which I added leftover parts from two Central Valley bridges.

The ladder is an almost exact copy of the one someone else sent in pictures a while back.

Included is a picture of a trestle bridge I built from scratch. The trestles are spaced 1 3/4 ” apart which may not be to HO scale. There is a cat-walk with step-outs for the workmen to step into when a train is coming. Again the cat-walk and railing may not be to HO scale.

Al thanks to you and all the guys I copied from, and I don’t plan on stopping this habit.

John”

A very big thanks to Jay for sharing his American Flyer model trains, and to John.

I do live John’s razor bridge. How on earth did someone, look at a disposable razor and think, “That would make a great bridge…”

I will never tire of sharing your wonderful layouts, memories and inventions.

I really do look forward to my inbox each morning, just as much as you all.

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 stop dreaming and start doing.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Model train engine shed plans anyone?

It’s hard to believe the buildings below are all made from downloads – but they are.

All you need to is just:

1. Download
2. print out
3. Stick together
4. Make as many as you want!

I don’t care what you call them – locomotive shed, engine house… whatever it is, these models will look great on your layout.

Not only are they cheap, they are great fun to make.

What’s more, it doesn’t matter what scale you model in, these prints resize.

HO scale – you don’t need to do anything to the download. Just print it out!

N scale – reduce the print by 54%

Other scales aren’t a problem, but you’ll need sharp eyes for the smaller ones – or a big printer for the larger ones…

They are all from the printable buildings range – although some people call them cardstock buildings.

You get all 3 different model train engine shed plans in the download.

Engine shed #1

locomotive shed #2

Engine house #3

Here’s what they look like when you download them:

And here’s John having great fun making one of the engine sheds:

Making the model train engine shed plans is easy:

1. Download the file.
2. Print them out.
3. Stick to card (John uses old cornflake boxes)
4. Glue them together.
5. Add a bit of weathering – you can paint dirt on, cut windows out, brush on smoke stains…
6. You’re done!

What’s more, you can kit bash as much as you like – have a look at this one.

Or course, I’m biased, but they look just as good as the kits. Here’s a kit version Brian made – but it was a lot more expensive.

Now compare that with one Larry made from the download, which is here.

And here’s a kit one from Laurence. It looks fab, but I know which one I prefer (the download / stick together one) becuase it’s a fraction of the price.

You get all of these model train engine shed plans – all 3 – for a silly price of just $9.97.

There’s also 60 day, iron clad, money back guarantee too. No questions asked whatsoever.

Don’t forget, once you have the download, you can make as many as you like, so you really can have a lot of fun with them, just as John shows in the video.

Click here, or the button below, to buy right now. Checkout is secure.

Here’s some more pics of the engine sheds so you can see some more detail:

I love the broken windows – adds realism! But they are optional too…

The inside it just as detailed – it’s just the same printout stuck inside…

This one is a double shed.

This shot really does show off how 3D you can make this print out scenery look.

Some wonderful weathering.

And again, the inside is just as detailed.

Click here, or the button below to buy right now. Checkout is secure.

The check out for the model train engine shed plans is secure – here’s the screen you’ll see:

And if you’re wondering whether print out scenery looks any good – have a look at another one of John’s videos:

With the prints, and a bit of imagination, you can pretty much make anything.

Here’s another – John making the viaduct:

That’s all for this time.

Don’t forget this deal for the model train engine shed plans won’t be around forver, so please grab it now if you like the look of it.

And with a no quibble, 60 day money back guarantee, why wouldn’t you?

Best

Al

Brian’s been in touch with his Orient Express model train layout:

“Having more or less finished my n-gauge layout a while ago, although of course as we all know a layout is never really finished, I decided to start a OO gauge layout in the loft and
venture into the world of DCC operation and sound.

Although the various sounds of steam and diesel for each locomotive are incredible, I hadn’t foreseen the problems of working and running a model railway in an environment with extreme temperatures in winter and summer (yes, even here in the UK).

Anyway, I won’t dwell on that, especially as my finance manager won’t approve the budget for a full loft conversion or even roof insulation, funny that!

Moving swiftly on. With a friend and his little boy coming around to see my n-gauge layout recently, I thought I’d better tidy the shed up, and consequently sold quite a few items on e- bay. As the star of my layout is the eight coach Kato Orient Express (with lights), I decided to purchase another more up to date loco to pull it, the Fleischmann SBB-CFF-FFS Re460 (popularly known as the Lok 2000).

There are several manufacturers who have produced this locomotive in N gauge including Minitrix and Kato, and all are very fine models, but Iopted for the Fleischmann and haven’t been disappointed.

It’s interesting that the Swiss Federal Railways decided to benefit from the revenue generated from advertising on the Re460’s, and that the model manufacturers have faithfully reproduced some of these.

However, finding the fantastic photograph of the VSOE (Venice Simplon Orient Express) crossing the Luogelkin viaduct in Switzerland double-headed by the SBB Re460’s in standard red livery (see my video), I had to have this version.

The Orient Express coaches that you see in the video are one of the two CIWL (Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits) coach packs produced by Kato to celebrate the 1988 record breaking ‘longest railway journey’ (15,000km) Paris to Hong Kong via the Soviet Union and
China, staged by Japan’s Fuji Television.

After arriving in Hong Kong the train was shipped to Japan for a three-month schedule of promotional journeys. The quality of the Kato models is exceptional. Mouldings are crisp and the detailing of door handles and windows is outstanding. The lettering and CIWL badge are so good, that through an eyeglass one can read the lettering in the logo.

Unlike the early Lima CIWL cars, the Kato models have detailed interiors. The Pullman saloon car is supplied with table lamps that light up as standard, and the other cars (in my set) have been fitted with the Kato lighting kit that gives a general level of lighting to each car.

I think you’ll agree that the complete train looks just great on my layout, but it failed to take the ‘star spot’ in my friend’s little boy’s opinion. That was taken by Tomix’s Thomas the tank engine with Annie and Clarabel. Now, there’s a surprise.

Just out of interest, I wrote a detailed article for the N Gauge Journal (N Gauge Society) and the Pullman CIWL Newsletter (Terry Bye) a couple of years ago on the 1988 Paris to Hong Kong Orient Express. If anyone is interested in a copy of it, please contact me at my e-mail address: plymouthrockey@gmail.com.

Brian, Berkshire, UK”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A big thanks to Brian for sharing his Orient Express model train layout video and narrative – wonderful stuff!

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.