Jose isn’t a man of many words, but he’s made a start and that’s what this hobby is all about. He’s shared his simple HO scale layout:
“Wanted to share my HO layout that I have been working on. I built everything by hand, except the track and electrical power station.
Jose”
And now on to Dangerous Dave:
“HI Al. Just uploaded this video, shows a few items I bought at a local Model Railway show in York.
The lamp is a magnifier LED lamp, which I have found very useful, think a lot of modellers could use one of these.
A few other items which go well on the layout, except some light flashing cones which I made a for-far with, but replacement have now been ordered so hopefully next time I should be showing full set of flashing cones.
A big thanks to Jose for sharing his simple HO scale layout, and to Dave.
I know some of express your dismay about posts with ‘half finished layouts’. But for me, getting started and beginning the journey is where the fun is, which is why I’ll continue to post them.
That’s all for today folks.
Bob’s been in touch with a great step by steo – How to build portable bench work for model train:
“Hi Al
I got interested in trains because my grandfather Davis was a Union Pacific railroad man from age 17 until retirement as a very senior engineer in 1960.
As kids, my brother and I had Lionel steam and diesel engines, and eventually HO gauge.
Off and on over the years I’ve gotten back into the hobby, and built a few layouts, including a well reinforced board that we put our live Christmas tree on.
We’ve moved across the country a few times, and it’s made the trip with a little repair and redo. I’ve really enjoyed your Model railroad layout plans blog, and hope my contribution is interesting to others as well.
A couple years ago I wanted to do something different for our gift exchange at Christmas for my son Brian, who likes N gauge. He didn’t have a board, and he lived out of state, so I decided to build a “freelance” modular board of my own design.
It needed to be very light weight, since we were going to haul it 800 miles on the top of our SUV, but big enough to have some fun with. I used some of the same woodworking ideas I’ve borrowed and modified, including using folding leg braces so it can be put up and taken down quickly. I really like doing pocket screws to hide the funky look of straight screws. It also needed a lightweight crate for storage and transportation.
It has three modules, with two sides bolted to each one, plus a top with minimal bracing. The whole thing weighs about fifty pounds.
A couple minutes to unbolt everything –
From below, the legs fold up and lock in place. It’s a 1/4” plywood top with bracing, plywood legs, and 1 x 2 finished wood for table edges. Note the thin wood strips that are suspended below the underside – they allow wiring to be quickly draped around the underside for quick and easy setup and takedown. Here’s how the legs fold up underneath.
And the legs unfold and lock down like so –
A closeup of the locking leg brackets and the pocket screw construction –
There are two end modules with legs, and a shorter center module that’s supported by the ends.
When it’s all together it’s about three feet wide by seven feet long.
Naturally Brian is trying out his UP passenger with diesel A/B – I think they are F7’s?
“Al. After you published my photos and story about my Lionel Fastrack Layout a number of people who commented mentioned that they would like to see a video. So I have created one.
It is about 5 1/2 minute long. I called it “Bill’s Yellowstone Valley Railroad”.
Bill”
A huge thanks to Bill, and to Robert for sharing how to build portable bench work for model train.
I know some folk struggle with finding space so I thought Bill’s post was a good answer to that, even if it is just to run some trains. It’s all about taking small steps and getting started.
And talking of getting started, the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to start your very own journey today.
Cassio has been in touch with his Union Pacific locomotives HO scale.
He is a man of new words, but I think it’s a language barrier more than anything else:
“Dear Alister
I take the liberty of sending photo of the construction of my lauout.
I hope you enjoy.
Scale HO 1:87
Cassio”
Now on to Allan:
“Al,
Nearly 20 years ago, I had a company build this layout which was shaped to fit into a architectural niche in my then house.
After getting it in place & plugged in, it never functioned well from day 1.
You could clean the wheels of the locos, clean tracks etc. but there never seemed to be adequate power & would completely bog down in switch areas
It became more of a night light & conversation piece than anything else.
Ten years ago I retired & moved from my then house in Petaluma, Ca. to my now house here in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
I tried to sell the layout before leaving California for half of what I had invested, but no cigar. So, I had it crated & on the moving van it went.
It stayed in that crate in the garage here for about two years, until i was sick of it being there. Given its shape, I didn’t have a great place for it in this new house, but I had a cabinet maker build a base for it.
It’s now tucked into a corner of my game room at a height that is below my pool table.
It largely survived the transit & storage with just minor damage to a building or two, but as far as function, now it really doesn’t work. The transfer station is balky & nearly dysfunctional. At least that part worked previous to the move.
So what to do?
If I knew how to fix it to a functional state, I would, but I’m old & not talented as a craftsperson.
I would invest more $ into it if doing so would be the answer. I see that there are way more sophisticated controllers available now than the transformers in use here, plus 5 pole locos & such.
If any of that would provide a fix, wonderful. Barring a fix, I’d be willing to sell it if it has any value as is…
Any advice, suggestions, would be appreciated. What I need is a traveling “Z” gauge tech, but those probably don’t exist…
Thanks,
Allan”
A big thank to Allan, Bob and to Cassio for sharing his Union Pacific locomotives HO scale.
What I liked about Cassio’s and Bob’s posts is how they are far from finishing, but both having fun along the way.
And as Bob’s layout shows, it’s certainly not a race. Course, I’m biased, but tinkering away on your layout is pleasant way to pass the time.
