Model railroad layouts plans

Mickael’s been in touch again, this time he’s added to the model railroad waterfalls on the blog.

(his last post is here.)

“Al,

Enclosed you will find 1 of my tunnels with a waterfall that I designed to be taken apart in case of a derailment inside the tunnel.

The top lifts off on both tunnels to allow access in case of derailment. My hands and arms are to big to fit all the way into the tunnels when I designed them so an alternative had to be designed.

Got bored with the layout design and wanted to add an additional underpass for the trains.

Put simulated ivy growing up the wall except underneath the rock overhang. Some pictures that I found in real life had nothing growing under the overhang (shadow of the rock) while others had some dead plants.

Went back and placed Ivy growing on the wall all the way down.

Again, thank you for all that you do to help all Railroad modelers from old to young.

Mickael”

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Now on to something completely different.

Not long ago I created my first backdrop.

I thought I’d have a go because they seem so expensive to me, and I wondered whether I could create a range that was much more affordable, just like the print-out-scenery.

Here’s a small pic of the first one (just click on it to enlarge it):

Anyhow, turns out there are a lot of helpful folk out there – the comment that came up most was a better size would be 18″ by 144″ (the first one was only 12″ inches high). So I have changed that now.

I never realised how easy they were to print. Just put the file 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.

Anyhow, there you go, if you’d like to grab this back drop, you can grab it here for just $7.

If you’d like to comment on it, or give me ideas for the next one please do let me know.

That’s all for today folks. A big thanks to Mickael for adding to the model railroad waterfalls on the blog.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get bored with being bored, 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.

Danny has been in touch again with his HO scale wall shelf layout.

(his last post is here if you want to get up to speed.)

“Al,

I have made some real progress since my last post.

The first photo is my mine installed.

The next is the miner houses and company store.

Cows are in the field next to the stream. The kit bashed trestle is in the background.

An old barn is by the field.

This is the lower stream. The bridge is cut down tunnel portholes.

The river crossing in front of the falls.

Bridge and other kit bashed trestle above the falls.

HO scale wall shelf:

The town.

A culvert.

I have more walls and a peninsula to go. the peninsula is two levels.

Dan”

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“Al

I have been meaning to send this for awhile. So here goes.

In reading the web site with the people who respond to it, I would like to send these pictures out to them.

The pictures below are of a switching layout that is two feet wide by eight feet long and is mounted on only a sheet of HOMOSOTE(TM) board.((YES IT IS FLEXIBLE AND MOVES WHEN CARRYING IT. Support it when using it .

This is for ease of transporting it to Boy Scout Events ((Railroading Merit Badge Classes)) and train shows as a demonstration on how to have fun with Model Railroading.

The first photo I call it the West End of the switching layout. It has the DC power supply or power pack. There are no structures on here (on purpose) to show the track plan.

The track near the power pack is the track that the trains enter the layout on and leave at the opposite end.

This is a game layout. As you are looking at the photo, on the right side is nine train cars = one of each type to be used.

1.Box car;
2. Refrigerator car (Reefer);
3. Coal Hopper car;
4. Tank car;
5 Gondola car;
6. Flat car (with a truck trailer on board);
7. Stock car (Cattle car);
8. Cement Hopper car;
9. Grain Hopper car.

On the table is some cardboard with white tags. These are the temporary buildings.

Now there are seven buildings=(structures) ((NINE TRAIN CARS)).

Starting at the opposite.

East End is #1 Furniture Factory;
#2 General Produce;
#3 Shippers Coal Company ;
#4 Union Gas & Oil;
#5 Lumber and Mill work Company;
#6 & #7 (on the west end)
#6 Live Stock & Cattle Pens;
#7 Rail to Truck Transfer Company.
Train Car numbers # 8 & # 9 (the two covered hopper cars are extra cars)

No structure for them to go to.

This will keep people busy who say they have no room for a train layout. This also may be added to any HO SCALE train layout you already have.

The game here is to take a train car or two and place it anywhere you like and at any of the industries. The little switch engine has to do the work to spot it at the correct industry with the same number (type of car)

I.E = cattle car to Cattle Pens; I.E. coal car to Shippers Coal Co

Next time use different cars and maybe a few more cars and time yourself on doing the job.

The person with the least amount of time or moves of the engine, WINS that game. HURRAH!

When you are done “switching = Shunting the cars” take the engine and train cars off the board and stand it up against a wall or slide it under a bed or table somewhere. Out of the way place to be used again again to have fun.

Bring friends over to join you doing the switching. I bet they will want to try it for themselves.

Yours in Railroading

Don

South eastern U.S.A.”

“Hi Al,

I have just uploaded my part 7 of the re build on the layout, in this video I show how to wire up lights, different connectors, adding a bridge portal with background, and a few more tips.

It is getting very near to being completed now, so think that the next one will be the last in this series.

Hope that some of my tips have been useful to some of the members, and I have tried to show and answer a lot of the questions asked.

Regards

Dave”

That’s all for today folks.

A big thanks to Dave, Don and Dan – I loved Dan’s HO scale wall shelf update, particularly the old barn. Touches like that really make a layout.

And I can’t believe Dave is starting again!

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

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

Tony’s sent in pics of his HO scale race track crossing train track – looks fun!

“Hi Alastair,

The task was how to integrate my love of model railways and the grand kids desire to race their model cars around a race track.

Main board is 8’x4’ then extended across window into goods yard and made a loop back to main side.

Please see finished project which has us all happy now!

Love your posts and ideas from members!

Kind regards

Tony from Stockport”

HO scale race track crossing train track:

And if you liked Tony’s HO scale model train, there are

lots more HO scale train layouts here

“Hi Al

I just moved into the 21 century with this new O gauge Lionel Jersey Central Lionchief Plus steam engine.

I have been watching your many videos show the new trains and finally decided my time had come.

I must say it brought my layout to a new level and I wanted to share it with everyone. Keep up the good work.

Steve from Toms River.”

Latest money saving ebay cheat sheet is here.

Loved Steve’s new vid – his last post is here by the way.

A huge thanks to Steve and to Tony for sharing his excellent HO scale race track crossing train track. What a layout!

I just loved the idea of a layout combined with a car race track.

Just goes to show, I never know what’s going to pop up in my inbox, and that’s probably why I enjoy doing this so much.

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.