Model railroad layouts plans

“Hi Al, thanks for all the wonderful comments about the ship chandler write-up.

Attached are a few teaser photos of my next project for the harbor just to keep everyone interested in my harbor project build.

The Sailmaker is nearly finished (needs lots of detail and weathering) and the building that will be alongside it, a restaurant.

Instead of doing a how to on each one singularly, I will do the how to on both of them with photos of the build.

All the best till next time.

Brian – the HOn3 guy.”

A huge thanks to Brian – if you missed his last post, with his stunning night time pics, they are here.

Brian is a Hall of Fame member, and now that club is growing because yesterday we welcomed Bill, and today I’m very pleased to say ‘John from Baltimore’ is added to the ranks.

John first got in touch with his bridge build and I’ve been looking out for his updates ever since. Have a look at his page and you’ll see why – it’s here. And welcome John!

Now on to some other stuff.

Yesterday, Mike showed us how he makes his shipping containers.

Some of you have asked where to get the prints he used. The prints for all three containers are free at the moment – they come with the Beginner’s Guide, which is just $9 right now.

Every now and then I run a sale, and when I do, I like it to be a ‘proper’ sale. So not only do you get the shipping containers free, you get a load of other stuff too – have a look, it’s here.

And that brings me to another thing. Some of you have asked ‘how it all works’.

The Beginner’s Guide and the print-out-scenery are all downloads. After checkout, you get sent emails with all the download links.

The great thing about the print-out-scenery is you can print as many sheets as you want, so you can make, kit bash and experiment.

Course, I’m biased, but they are a lot of fun.

Every model in the store is made from the print-out-scenery, and that includes these houses.

That brings us to the thorny issue of scale.

All the prints are created in HO scale. However, adjusting the scale is easy.

HO is 1:87th scale and 1:1 printed.

So you simply take 87 and divide it by the desired scale.

N=1:160, TT=1:120, S=1:64, O=1:48, G=1:32 alt. (1:29)

So for G scale HO / G

87 / 32 = 2.72.

Just increase the document size by 272% when your print.

For N scale HO / N

87 / 160 = 0.54

Just decrease the print by 54%.

So if you’ve been mulling over the Beginner’s Guide, now is the time to get it.

It’s just $9 and you get loads of freebies – including the shipping containers.

But this sale ends shortly!

And if you’re still not sure, here’s what John, the latest Hall of Fame member has to say about it:

“I recently got and read “How to Create A Breath Taking Model Railroad for The Complete Beginner.” Even though I’ve been modeling for some years and consider myself pretty knowledgeable in the building of miniature railroad worlds, I still learned new things.

The logical layout of the book and the background information was easy to follow, made good sense, and if done will save many hours of reworking mistakes. Every chapter has good information, is easy to read and understand. I particularly enjoyed the scenery tips, and how several different types of scenery building was discussed.

The numerous tips collected from Al’s website printed at the end of the book are a great addition to the knowledge contained in the book. Many I’ve tried myself!

It occurred to me that this book would be an ideal gift for someone we know who looks at our layout and says, “I’d love to do something like this, but I just don’t know where to start.” Haven’t we all heard this from friends and co-workers? Give ‘em the book, and be available to assist as they take saw and screw-gun in hand!

I recommend this beginners guide for all of us in the great hobby of Model Railroading without reservation.

John Frye”

Please don’t pass on the silly sale if you’ve been mulling over the Beginner’s Guide.

I know some buy just for the shipping containers and other freebies, and that’s fine, but please remember this sale closes soon.

That’s all this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

If you’ve ever fancied adding some shipping containers to your layout, Mike shows how easy it is with the latest print-out scenery:

“Making the shipping containers took me a few trial runs – but once I had the process right, I was surprised at how quick it was.

The first one I made was too detailed and took forever (the white one).

The second one was really quick – no detail – but didn’t look great. I binned it (no pic of this one).

The third one was a compromise and looked good (the blue one).

The fourth one took around 20 minutes and I was really pleased with it.

So, here’s what I did.

First, print out the container, stick to card and cut out (it’s HO scale).

Then, turn it round and score (cut lightly with a scalpel) where you need to fold. Doing this gives you a crisp, sharp fold.

Then, make the folds. I used the ruler to help keep the folds straight.

Now an important point. On the print, there are two rectangles. These are struts. Just cut them out and glue them to the inside of the container.

If you don’t do this, the structures bend, giving a very unrealistic appearance. It makes them almost look like they are inflatable models. Not good.

I just glue, hold them in place for a minute, then leave them for a mo.

Next, glue the ends to the flaps. Make sure it’s 100% square with the container then use a clip or clothes peg.

Once this is dry, it will give you a passable container. But it won’t look quite right. That’s because each side is completely flat. There is no ‘relief’ as John calls it.

It’s easy to fix this. Print some copies out.

Here, I’ve cut out an edge that I stuck to one of the sides.

Don’t throw the middle bit away. Just chop it up every 3 or 4 struts.

Now stick these struts back on to the container. I’ve left one protruding so you can see exactly what I mean. Doing this, with the frame, adds just enough to make the container a lot more realistic.

For the white one, I thought I’d do every strut. Looks fab, but… my eyes were going squiffy by the end of it, and it also took forever.

Now the fun bit, the weathering. I just use cheap waterpaints. Don’t add any water, just dunk the brush in the paint, scrape it nearly dry, and then dab on the container.

Make sure you use lots of different shades, and always mix.

I was pleased with the way they turned out. I could have gone to town with the weathering – but that’s the fun of them, it’s entirely up to you.

Mike”

And now on to Hall of Fame member, Dangerous Dave:

“Hi Al, just loaded this video showing my PD! Deltic running round the layout, and then follow up with it using the Mobius Camera… poor weather so what better than an escape up in to the Train Room.

Dave”

A big thanks to Dave, and talking of Hall of Fame members, I have an announcement:

Would you please welcome our newest member to the Hall of Fame…. Bill!

Bill’s done quite a few posts over the months. He’s done a wonderful job of documenting everything, right from the very start of his layout. It almost feels like I’ve been watching over his shoulder.

Anyhow, I went through all his posts the other month and I think it’s very fitting he’s in the Hall of Fame.

Please do leave a comment below if you’ve enjoyed his stuff as much as I have.

But the good news doesn’t stop there. It’s time for a silly sale.

I don’t run sales very often, but when I do, I want them to be the real thing.

So how about this – The Beginner’s Guide for just $9 and lots of free print out scenery? And yes, that includes the shipping containers. And the barns. And the tunnel. And the exclusive videos.

Like I said, it’s a very silly sale (but not for long).

And if you are unsure, here’s what our latest Hall of Fame member has to say on the Beginner’s Guide:

“I bought the ebook last fall actually and have it saved in my phone. Whenever I travel I spend some of my flight time enjoying flipping thru the pages.

I got the ebook just as I started to pull my track plan together and really enjoyed using the book as a refresher since I’d been out of the hobby as an actual participant since the mid 90’s. I found the book to be very well written and while geared for those just coming into the hobby it can teach old dogs new tricks.

There is a tremendous amount of detailed information and great tips in the book that modelers of every skill level will find useful. It’s a must have in my opinion. It has something for everyone that will make modeling more enjoyable and pull armchair modelers off seats and into a space where our hobby comes alive.

All the Best

Bill in Virginia”

So there you go folks.

A silly deal. I know some of you buy the guide just for the freebies, and that’s just fine too.

That’s all this time folks.

Please keep ’em coming – and please don’t miss this silly deal.

Best

Al

PS All the print out scenery is HO scale. For N scale, just reduce by 50% when you print it out.

PPS And tomorrow, there’s another new Hall of Fame member! Can you guess who?

Brian’s back in touch – this time with his stunning HO scale harbor small warehouse.

“When the Builders in Scale kit was released many years ago, I purchased it with the intent to add a harbour to my layout someday.

The kit unfortunately was “lost” in one of our moves to other cities but before it was “lost” I was able to make photocopies of the plans which I kept in a mailing tube. These are the ones that I use to make the buildings for my current project.

These three buildings (card stock mock-ups) are what I am going to use in the harbour area. First one is a shortened version for the Ship Chandler building, second one will be a sail maker and the third will be a small restaurant.

I used the photocopies as templates to make sure that the size and shapes are correct before transferring to the wood.

From the above, they were transferred to Board and Batten siding. I only used the wood on three sides of the building and because the back of it is up against the backdrop (wall) I used card stock for this back wall of the building. It cannot be seen from any angle on the layout.

This is where my magnetic corner right clamps came in handy to hold the building square along the bottom edge of it and an elastic band held the top in place.

I added a wood foundation to the bottom to bring the building up to the right height for the loading dock surrounding it on three sides.

The windows and doors (from my bits box – left overs from previous kits) were cut out and inserted in the appropriate places. The roofs were cut from cardstock and will be covered with different materials.

HO scale harbor small warehouse:

A window box was made from card stock to fit inside the front of the building to display the products sold in these premises. The name of the owner is derived from my wife’s initials.

It was then glued in position behind the window frame of the building with clear acetate between the frame and the display box.

The upper roof was covered with IBR sheets from Builders in Scale cut to 8ft X 4ft scale and stuck down with double sided tape. The double sided tape works exceptionally well for sticking down metal to card stock material.

The two lower roofs were covered with Campbell Scale corrugated iron sheets also cut to scale 8ft X 4ft size. These were also stuck down onto the double sided tape on the cardstock.

All the roofs were painted with an acrylic rust colour and once dry, were coated with a rust coloured powder. This powder is self-adhesive and will not rub off with handling.

Next I added the three loading docks around the three sides of the building, stressed them and then weathered them before adding the details.

Again I added detail from my bits box to make the building look busy. Figures and dogs were added to give the human element, two old guys taking their dogs for a walk decided to do a bit of window shopping.

Here the workers are knocking off and heading to the bar next door at Red Hook Wharf for a pint or two with their mates.

The poor guy at the door has to get all the stock inside the building before he can knock off and join his mates for a pint.

The Ship Chandler is all lit up for the night. I had put lights on the outside of the building for a change as there is no detail inside other than a light above the inside of the display window. The building is set back on the layout therefor the interior cannot be easily seen.

Woody’s boat rental is still open as old man Woody is waiting for the last rental to return, hopefully with a large catch of fish.

A close up view of the Ship Chandler building from the harbour masters office across the harbour.

Another view on the other side taken from the boat repair yard looking at the workers knocking off.

That’s all for now. The builders will be back on site tomorrow to make a start on the sail maker building.

When I refer to my “bits box”, I actually have two. One is all the leftover bits and pieces from kits that I have built in the past which I have either been kit bashed, modified or made smaller or larger and the left over pieces put in it.

The other is where I keep all my casting collection and when I feel like doing a small project, I look for a few castings to paint and weather to be ready for a future project.

Brian the HOn3 guy – Knysna RSA”

A huge thanks to Brian for sharing his HO scale harbor small warehouse – it’s wonderful to see how he creates his scenery. You can seem more or Brian’s stuff in the Hall of Fame.

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

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here, you’d like to make that start on your very own layout.

Best

Al

PS Seen the latest ebay cheat sheet yet?

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