There are some real stunners on the blog, and Sheldon’s is one that sticks out in my mind.
Not only is it a joy to look at, it has bags of character too.
What’s more, Sheldon’s captions with his pictures really do add to the sense of fun.
“Good morning from across the pond.
MAN CAVE. Train room 20×14 some room for growth. We will see ? HO run above the layout and into my wife’s area. Three engines and two switches.
Bi Plane with old glory
N Scale. 12 engines and as many as 100 cars. No period, if I like the look it’s added….
All engines are equipped for DCC. One with sound so far, Digitrex.
Hot air balloons. Landing at the Gentleman’s clubhouse. Sm. Fishing pond.
Helicopter with strobe light. Police investigators in back…
Down town… Mayor is having a Birthday
CROSS on Mount Soladad in San Diego California….. long story but we won!
Furniture manufacturers… tight loading area
Storage yard one of two…
Roundhouse
Yard #2
747 just arriving from London… Direct flight to Phoenix USA
Station with my private train about to leave
My personal car. Sleeps six. Party time
Sheldon”
My word, a huge thank you to Sheldon for sharing more of his pics. What an addition to the amazing N scale layouts on the blog. Whenever I see a layout with a helicopter in, I’m reminded of this:
Well I moved my railway out of the shed as it was too cold and damp was affecting me and the buildings on my railway, so I decided to bring it in my spare room, so started again.
I am now developing an L shape layout with half a figure of eight with an elevated section on the curve.
The village will be under the elevated section, I am at the moment doing the Station section and I must say it’s coming on well.
I have also reverted back to DC from DCC as it was too expensive. My controller is fitted under my work table as an integrated system. More pics to follow as I develop the sections.
I would welcome comments and suggestions from the plethora of great Modellers out there.
Andrew”
A big thank you to Andrew. I do love seeing the updates – especially as a layout is never really finished.
Andrew’s layout reminded me of John’s viaduct / arches:
Now back on to those backdrops. I few of you have asked to see the earlier ones, so here you are.
I’ll get them on the store as soon as I can (I’ve been meaning to for a while). Do you know, every week I write out an ever growing ‘to do’ list. But nowadays, I’m lucky if I knock 2 or 3 things off the list.
Anyhow here you go.
Backdrop 1:
Click here to buy backdrop 1
Backdrop 2:
Click here to buy backdrop 2
Backdrop 3:
Click here to buy backdrop 3
Backdrop 4:
Click here to buy backdrop 4
All the backdrops are 18″ x 144″. To print, just download on to a CD or memory stick, take it to any office stationers (Kinko / Office Max) and print it out on a smooth, self adhesive, vinyl with UV inks and a matte finish.
You can grab a backdrop for just $7, until I get them on to the store.
Oh – and please, please do let me know your thoughts on the backdrops, and what you’d like to see more of.
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if you want to start your layout, stop dreaming and start doing: the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Bob’s been in touch with his Model train LED lights:
“Hello Alastair,
I haven’t written in a while but because I enjoy the posts you put up so much I thought I should contribute something.
I’m 73 and I live in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
The corner of this layout is old now and in truth it has become neglected. I tried to put more life in the hobby by deciding to make a LED electrical addition.
The photos are random but you can see that one portion of the layout can be pulled away and is on casters so that I can reach the back corner.
I soldered about ten LED lights with tails about eight inches long and then drilled holes to insert them into a section of ceiling board that had been discarded. The arch just fits inside of the curved track.
In reality this track plan is a figure eight with double tracks and fits in a room about twenty six feet long. The widest part is five feet at each end but is only a foot wide at the middle of the room.
Years ago I had a Pentax camera that was manual and used film. I loved this camera but now I have a modern electronic camera that is impossible to control in low light. Hence the poor quality photos that I do not know how to fix.
The factory had LED lights from an old computer flat screen that was scrapped. The strip could be cut apart and wires soldered on and these were set in artificial floors hoping all the light would not fill the whole building.
One of the photos show how the light illuminates the roof so I used some gold plating cardboard that came from Waterbright candy bars and I found the gold reflection modified the blue hue yo get from the LED lights. I just cut it to size and glued it on the ceiling of the buildings.
The whole project took about two weeks working at the pace I can stand at my age. I hope some of your readers enjoy these photos.
Sincerely,
Bob”
A big thanks to Bob.
If you are looking for more LED lighting tips, have a look at Rob’s post:
Like me, all railway modellers use miles of wire when building their layouts. Years ago I became friends with a BT telephone engineer who was doing a big rewire in an office block.
All the old wire was going in the skip and at the cost f a cup of tea he let me help myself. I took boxes of it, all for free. Its only problem is that it is single core and not very flexible.
Recently I was in another office building that was being refurbished and I saw this van outside with logos for an alarm company on it. I found and chatted with the fitter and the whole building was being fitted with an upgraded system and re-wired. He stripped out all the old wire and again was throwing it in the skip. It transpired that he was also a railway modeller and he used nothing else.
He told me to help myself to whatever I wanted of the old stuff. There was tons of it. The good thing about alarm wire is that it is thinner than phone wire. It is multi cored and therefore much more flexible. The only time it carries any current is when the alarm is activated which usually is never so the actual wire is ‘as new’. I now use that and it is easier to use and much better. I also use the copper tape method.
I now buy a lot of stuff direct from China, Figures and streetlamps etc – usually sold by the 100, good quality and really cheap. Apart from E-Bay I use 2 other sites – WISH – they always charge shipping, and – ALIBABA, also called ALIEXPRESS in UK. Delivery can take up to a month but in cost saving, it is well worth it.
At the age of 68 I have also just become a volunteer ‘ Fat Controller’ on the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch miniature Railway. (They have a website) I live on Romney Marsh in Kent and it runs past the bottom of my rear garden. I love trains.
Now on to something completely different – another backdrop. Really pleased with this one, hope you like it:
(Click to enlarge image.)
Just like the other backdrops, it’s 18″ x 144″. To print it, just download on to a CD or memory stick, take it to any office stationers (Kinko / Office Max) and print it out on a smooth, self adhesive, vinyl with UV inks and a matte finish.
If you’d like to grab this back drop before it goes in the store at full price (I’ve got quite a few to put on now), you can grab it here for just $7.
That’s all for today folks. A big thnanks to Doug and Bill.
