Model railroad layouts plans

Andrew’s been in touch again – his last post is here.

“Hi Al

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:

(You can John’s “viaduct how-to” post here.)

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.

Best

Al

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:

Lights for model train layout.

“Dear Alastair

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.

Keep up the good work Alastair.

Regards

Doug”

That’s all for today folks. A big thanks to Doug and Bill.

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.

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.