Model railroad layouts plans

Karl’s been in touch, he’s got an issue with his control panel – NCE DCC model trains:

“Al,

I sure appreciate the blogs every morning. I have my coffee and my poodle dog on my lap sound asleep enjoying the commentaries, the photo’s, video’s and all the use full tips.

Last September I turned 88 and I decided to start a model railroad.

I had one, a Marklin, 50 years ago when I was still living in Holland. In 1974 I migrated to the US.

I have built a table of 107” x 70” as per your “Beginner’s Guide. Used regular DC.

Trying to run 3 locos in 4 separate sections in the track.

After visiting a model railroad show in Puyallup Washington, I decided to go DCC.

I got a NCE control and programmed my 3 locos, who were DCC equipped.

No problem there. However running more than 1 loco at the same time, the speed considerably goes down.

Please ask our members what I can do about it. Is there something like a booster or what.

I would appreciate any help in this.

Many thanks in advance

Karl

Issaquah, Washington”

Now on to Bill. he’s been in touch again – his last post is here.

“Hi all !

It’s been awhile so here’s a bunch of pics of Gerskiville. The towns shaping up and and some tracks layed. Waiting on turnouts now been backordered, Rats.
I’m just getting ready to pave the streets and pour the sidewalks.

Well that’s about it for now. I’ll be checking in again.

Bill”

“Hi Al,

just loaded this video showing a tour around my layout… and I am saying that its now completed?

… well you know me by now… also a picture of a loco I have acquired from e bay… the Deltic Prototype which I am having a larger em2 speaker fitted, hopefully this can be shown on my next video, the sound should blow the socks off as they say…

Regards

Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet here.

That’s all for today folks, a big thanks to Bill and Dave. And who can help Karl with his NCE DCC model trains issue?

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.

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

Gib’s been in touch again, he added to the collection of N scale figure 8 track plans on the blog – his last post is here.

“Hi Al,

I was blown away by the nice comments on my little first try layout and appreciate each and every one.

There were some questions I thought I’d answer. The curve radii are 10.5” for the outer curve, 8” for the inner curve and 9” for the curves under the mountain.

I have to admit that I didn’t even think about grades when building the layout and they are too steep. The grade on the outer loop is 2.8% and a whopping 6% on the inner loop. Luckily my trains do navigate OK. There is access on the back side of the mountain to retrieve derailments.

I have attached several pictures. The first three is where I am today. The fourth shows the backside access.

The fifth is your red barn and finally I tried to send a video of my Bachman 0-6-0 Iron Man making the rounds.

Some comments on the red barn which was my first try at a printout building. I surface mounted the windows and doors since N scale is so small to work with to mount the windows inside. I also felt that the cereal box cardboard I glued the printout on was a little too thick for N gauge. Does any one have a better yardstick idea?

So I hope you find this interesting. I look forward to your post every day. Keep up the good work.

Gib”

(It’s always great to see the printable buildings on a layout!)

Gib’s layout reminded me of Clarke’s figure of 8 too: N scale figure of 8.

And now on to the talented Rob. Hope you enjoy this video as much as I did:

“Hi Al,

Running videos and how to videos are great, but to really see the work that has gone into a layout, one needs to get up close. That is exactly what I’ve done in this my latest video. Figures really can put life into a layout and I love them.

I spent almost two years building Farland II. I started in mid March and this is where I am today. Two major features of the layout are yet to be finished, but I am currently working on one and the other will follow. They are a castle ruin and a smallish freighter at the quay unloading or loading. By summer I will be almost done.

Thank you so much for all you do. The modeling communities of the world are very grateful.

Rob McCrain – Farland Howe”

Latest ebay cheat sheet here.

A huge thanks to Rob – he has a train room I would give my right arm for. Fantastic stuff – and a what a video too. A real treat.

And thanks to Gib to for adding to the N scale figure 8 track plans on the blog.

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.

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

Fred has been in touch again with his N scale city buildings.

I think you’ll probably remember his layout – it’s stunning.

And Fred, as you’ll see, also enjoys his night scenes, as the pictures show.

But do you know what, before you carry on reading, why not grab a coffee and have a look at the video on his last post.

It really gets across just how busy Fred has been.

“Hi Al,

I put modeling aside from last April ‘til this December to take up the violin again with a professional teacher and try to finish up a book I’m writing. (Too many projects in my retirement!)

But I’m back in the game again, and have been recently working on the N Scale city of Port Charles, complete with its theater street, neon lights, and a rather seedy strip joint.

Thought I’d share some photogs with you in case you needed more grist for the mill.

In the distance you can see my oil refinery, which is about 25% done. I’m illuminating with “Pica” LEDs, which are very fussy, very expensive, and very time consuming. Every single light you see is rheostat adjustable!

All the best,

Fred”

(All images are clickable)

Stunning, stunning stuff. Can’t thank Fred enough for sharing his N scale city buildings.

What I adore about his layout is that it looks stunning in the day light, and then at night, it looks just as amazing.

Fred enjoys the scenery part of the hobby, as many of you do (me included).

I know some of you just like running trains, and then there are those that love running trains, and getting the scenery ‘just right’.

And that’s the wonderful thing about this hobby – it’s entirely up to you.

What’s more, you choose at what pace to go at too. Take Fred, for example, he’s writing a book and busy playing the violin too. He works on his layout when he wants too. I know many of you do little on your layouts in the summer, and pick it up again in the winter.

It’s not unusual for a layout to take years – and even then, they are never truely finished, there’s always a corner you want to change or bit you want to improve.

Again, take Fred for example, as well as working on his layout when you wants too, he also works on the bit he wants to. As you’ll see from his pics, the lighting on his N scale city buildings is amazing, and that’s because he wasn’t in a hurry, he just wanted to get it right. That’s why there are hundreds and hundreds of fibre optic lights in his layout.

The same goes for his oil refinery. The lighting and the weathering on it is spot on. Fred’s gone at his own pace, on each bit of his layout when he felt like it.

But here’s the part I always think about. At some point, Fred has a bare table. There was nothing on it but perhaps some scattered track, a few tools and some bits of foam.

It just goes to show it’s all about making that start. You can go at whatever pace feels good for you, but without that start nothing happens.

Remember, it’s the start that stops most people.

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.

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