Model railroad layouts plans

Bill’s been working on his model railroad benchwork.

(his last post is here.)

“Hi Al

Over the past two weekends I’ve made great progress on the frame for the first section of my switching layout.

I need it to be lightweight as I have limited space that must be shared with my wife so it has to be portable.

For materials I use 1×3 select pine if the sides and then 1×1.5 for the rest of the basic frame. I predrilled holes in the frame members to run wires through when I get to that point. For the legs I wanted something that could be made to fold so I can store it or take it places if I would go to a show at some point.

In the pictures you can see I used 1×4 and 1×1.5 square stock and a good number of hinges. In all five posts support the layout and those posts fit inside pockets on the underside of the lift out layout. I also have a 4×8!sheet of 7/323 plywood that will go under the 2 inch foam board. This is more so I can mount micro switch’s on the underside to route power to the turnouts. As it is the foam is nice and flat in the frame without the plywood insert.

The legs still need to have some removable cross bracing made to give it rigidity. And I will also add castors to the legs so I can move it around my garage better. So far I can lift the layout portion easily by myself but it will be a two person job when I start to put track and buildings on.

Once it get things farther along I’ll be back in touch.

Hope you enjoy seeing how I do my model railroad benchwork.

Thanks!

Bill in Richmond Virginia”

A big thanks to Bill.

Here’s another benchwork post that you might find helpful.

“My 8 month layout but i’m going to tear down and move to my cave man room and give the living room back to my better half. I need more length.

I’m going to make a Hudson river valley scene water and all thanks to watching everyone’s contributions and ideas on here.Who here is Familiar with upstate New York I’ll start with Harmon Shops ( Diesel Mechanics ) and work south to Ossining and maybe put a small percentage of Sing Sing prison in scene,we’ll see.

So here’s the present day layout.

Bob”

A big thanks to Bill and Bob.

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

Keith’s been in touch with a post to add to the model railroad photography backdrops:

“Hi Al.

Thank you so much for creating and maintaining this site. It is a wonderful spot to rub elbows with those so very talented modelers out there.

I have found what I consider a very good but inexpensive to get a good backdrop.

I have noticed all sorts of modelers’ approaches to creating the background look on their layout. Some folks are talented enough to paint their own – not me.

I found a really good solution on line. I sent a banner company a photo I wanted to use, and they printed it on a 4′ x 15′ banner (no grommets or border roping) for $22.

I asked them, after I had seen the quality of their work, if they could flip the photo so I could butt them and have 30′ of exquisite mountains. I got it. They even cropped the photo according to my instructions.

Here are a couple of photos that show some of the banners – sorry but I am not landscaped as yet. Those are the Alaskan Rockies

Keith G”

Keith’s post reminded me of a few others:

model train backdrops

model railroad backdrop

Painting model railroad backdrops

Paint clouds on model railroad backdrop

N scale backdrop

There are lots more too.

Now on to Dave:

“HI Al, just downloaded part 6 of the re build, I show on this how using Copper tape as a BUS line for your Lighting and also for the track Bus ..and of course a few more tips , re adding rust to the tracks also…

Regards

Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A huge thanks to Keith and Dangerous Dave.

It’s wonderful to see how Dave his stuff. And as Keith says, there are lot so of banner / printing companies out there that can sort your backdrop.

Don’t forget you can get the new backdrop for just $7 at the me:

(Click to enlarge)

Just like all 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, you can grab it here for just $7.

A big thanks to Keith for adding to the model railroad photography backdrops.

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

Peter’s been in touch with his O scale roundhouse:

“Hi Al, wondering if you could post these progress and finished pics of a roundhouse I built from ‘Kitwood models’ located in the UK.

Thanks,

Peter”

A huge thanks to Peter for sharing his O scale roundhouse. I absoulutely love his layout – it has so much character and charm. I can’t wait to see the roundhouse on the layout.

If you want to see Peter’s last post, it’s here.

Peter’s post reminded me of Lawrence’s roundhouse scratch build.

I’ve seen some ambitious scratch builds, but I think most people would shy away from a roundhouse, which is perhaps why I liked it so much:

Scratchbuilt roundhouse building.

Now on to something completely different – another backdrop. It’s the third in the series, hope you like it. Here’s a pic of it:

(Click to enlarge)

Just like all 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. Job done.

If you’d like to grab this back drop before it goes in the store at full price, you can grab it here for just $7.

Please do leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts on the back drop. Always trying to improve – same goes for the ebay cheat sheet too.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming because it’s getting a bit thin on the ground this end.

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.