Joseph has been in touch. He’s added to the collection of model train mountain layouts on the blog:
“Hi Al; it has been quite some time since I sent any pix.
As a reminder, this is a freelanced late steam era HO railroad (12’ x 8’) set roughly in Northern New Mexico.
The town is “San Juan Creek”. The main industries are logging/lumber, coal mining and oil distribution.
The local short line is the “San Juan & Central”. Short line locomotives are: 0-6-0 saddle tank switcher and a 2-8-0 freight engine.
The coal mining operation has a 4-6-0 “San Juan Coal” #34. The logging operation has an 0-6-0 with a slope back tender “San Juan Lumber Co.” # 0687.
Back when I began the layout I looked at lots of model train mountain layouts. I built it as a modular design because I knew we would be moving at some point. I didn’t think that would be 6 years later.
The layout was built in 4 modules and carefully taken apart for the move in April. Here are some pix of the layout during the process of reassembly of the four modules.
Thankfully, I put leveling screw feet on all the legs as the new shop floor is angled. The former owner was smart to do this as he used to hose out the shop. I won’t be doing that but it was quite a job lining up the 4 modules and getting them all leveled.
I started with the rear 4×8 module leveling it out first. Then I brought in aligned and leveled the two side modules and finally the front module.
Here they are reassembled.
Level!
And here is the new backdrop. It was my first try and I really like it!
After I went to all the work of assembly and leveling, I took it all apart so I had better access to parts of the rear of the layout. I started with the rear center module.
Some of the prep work and tools.
This is the west end of the rear center module. I thought I was going to use 1/2″ foam board until I realized it would take forever!
So I switched to the ‘old school’ hard shell construction. I placed printouts of actual pictures I had taken along the “Cumbres & Toltec” in New Mexico and Colorado as “mock-ups”.
Model train mountain layouts:
The pink foam board, however was a good base color for the exposed rock, it came out perfect with a little painting.
Plaster cloth applied and I am checking clearances with the 2-8-4 loco.
Other end (east end) of the center section.
Plaster cloth applied.
DONE with this module. I accidentally discovered a technique for making these sculptamold rocks. As the sculptamold dried, i noticed it looked like an outcropping of rocks so I scrapped it out of the mixing bowl and just “slapped” it on the plaster cloth! With some paint and shading, they look real.
I then moved this module back against the wall and attached the two side modules and front center module.
Landscaping in the next installment.
Jospeh”
Next, on to Dave:
“Hi Al, started ( the main thing) about 12 months ago by cutting my garage in half and giving myself a work station then built a baseboard approx 14×9. All was well till I rediscovered some American N gauge I bought on various trips to the US.
Ahh I thought can make a layout for my young grandson. My layout has now been idle for 5 months but the video shows it was all worthwhile and I can’t wait to see his face Christmas Day. It’s 4 ft by 2 ft 6 Ins and a double loop.
Keep up the blog. Will post some pics of my layout when I get it back to reasonably tidy.
Take care
Dave W”
Latest ebay cheat sheet is here – still updated everyday.
A huge thanks to Joseph adding to the model train mountain layouts collection – and to Dave too.
Loved the way Joseph is building that layout – great pics and narrative. His next installment will be with you next time!
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you grab the bull by the horns, 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.
Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.
