Model railroad layouts plans

Lou has made a start on his double oval HO scale layout:

“Al we’re getting going on a new layout we took down the engage started out with a whole new table we’re going ho this time and fortunately I saved all of my old track and what I had of train.

This is how far I’ve gotten so far and I hopefully it’ll look really cool when we get done will keep in touch with new pics as we go then.

Thank you all

Lou”

(You can see Lou’s last post here.)

You can tell he’s having lots of fun – and when it comes to fun, I always think of Jim’s.

It’s a great example of, “My layout, my rules”: HO scale oval track.

“Hi Alastair.

A few photos of my completed lift out “bridge” across the doorway to complete a loop around the layout. It has all the scenery on it including a small “hobo” camp.

The two Photos below show it during the scenery stage on the floor.

Photo below has two hobos walking along a path towards the others just behind the tree to join them for a meal and some music.

The hobos getting ready to settle in and enjoy a meal. The chickens had better stay out of the way if they don’t want to be the meal for tonight.

A bird landing on a branch in a tree to watch the hobos.

Better get a move on old man otherwise we will be late for the meal.

That’s all for now.

Keep up the excellent work Alastair.

Brian”

(Brian’s last post is here.)

“Hi Al,

Here is a photo of my hornby railroad 08 shunter after I weathered with a wash of grey, black, and brown paint.

Most diesels do look dirty after they have been in service for a while.

Paul”

A huge thanks to Paul, Brian and Lou.

I know there isn’t much to Lou’s layout at the moment, but I like publishing the ‘work in progress’ layouts for two reasons.

Firstly, this hobby is all about making a start.

And secondly, I do like seeing the choas of a layout before it starts to take shape. All of them, every single one of them, look like that at some point. So if yours does, don’t despair – just crack on.

And also, it’s a double oval HO scale, which seems quite popular.

That’s all for today folks. Please don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide if Lou, Brian or Paul have inspired you to get going on your layout.

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.

Fred’s been in touch with a fantastic ‘how to’ on making model railroad trees.

He’s a man of few words, but his pics speak for him.

There are lots of tree ‘how to’ posts on the site, but this one really is spectacular.

“Hi I must say some cracking tips of late ….love them ..

Thought this might be of interest to some my take on a wire tree

Fred”

Fred’s also made a ‘Making model railroad trees’ youtube:

Fred’s post reminded me of Rob’s on trees too:

How to make model train trees.

In fact, there’s lots on making model railroad trees, on the blog. Here’s a few more:

HO model train trees.

Model train trees.

Trees for a model train layout.

Now on to Michael who has been in touch again.

(his last post is here.)

“Al,

Here are a few pictures of my tunnel entrances, before and after assembly and the natural materials used.

I used tree bark from a white oak tree in the woods that I found and glued them (all 4 pcs.) to the top of the tunnel entrances, let them dry and painted them with a dark gray mixed with white paint and water.

Then dry brushed them with white paint.

Mickael”

“I have been reading this article for some time now and enjoy it very much. Unlike most on here, I run both O and S scale trains.

I thought I would share so hints I got from the old timers. Since I am 70 maybe I am the old timer now. I use a lot of wheat and rice bulbs with bare wire leads. I found nail polish make a good wire insulation after all connections are made. I also use it to lock on nuts to bolts and numerous other things. I prefer red so I can tell that everything is covered, but clear , black or any color will do.

The other hint is artificial coal. The original artificial coal was made from Bakelite which has some hazard properties. They then went to plastic which also has its draw backs. I found these lodged in motors and cut up belts using coal loaders. I also found black aquarium gravel worked better but still jammed up belts and was work to un-lodge from places. Try Grape Nuts cereal. Dry in microwave for 30 seconds then spray paint black. It takes a few spray times. Now if this gets caught in the motor or belts is crunches up and does not lodge as often as other materials. It takes just a little air and a brush to clean up Also safer for children and pets.

Your comments please….

Joseph”

“Well, seeing as how I am the least handy person on this planet, and cheap to boot, here are a couple:

Since my layout is in a permanent winter mode, I wrapped the plywood bases in white bedsheets —
It makes a a great “canvas” for laying down landscaping and a SUPERB conduit to run the wiring between the sheets and the wood – no drilling required.

The “snow” is actually a ceramic product: Duncan’s no-fire snow, available, among others, online at Amazon. You can paint or sculpt it on, and it dries to a plaster-like state.

More recently I wanted to add some ice-covered ponds, and as I dislike mixing chemicals, etc. for water effects, I went to the nearest drugstore and purchased a couple of ladies’ hand mirrors, you know, the kind they carry in their purses. I laid down some snow and partially buried them, feathering the edges with more snow.

But then I wanted a larger ice-covered swamp or pond, and here comes the cheapest solution of all: I headed to the kitchen, ripped off a good-sized sheet of food clingwrap (like Saran Wrap), painted the bedsheet in the colors I wanted to show through, and laid the wrap on top with a little landscape cement. You can make it smooth or rippled, and it looks great!

I hope these help.

Bill”

A huge thanks to Fred for his fab ‘how to’ on making model railroad trees, and to Mickael and Bill.

It just goes to show (again) that you should never throw anything out, and with a bit of thought and creativity, you can get stunning results.

That’s all for today, folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to take that first step with your very own layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

Scott’s been in touch with his Atlas train track HO scale:

“Dear Alastair,

My wife and I have been working for about 8 months on a new HO model railroad layout. We love your emails.

The layout is approximately 100 square feet with two layouts connecting from inner to outer. The inner layout is from an old Atlas book with 18 radius turns and the outer was freelanced.

We have about 50 buildings some of which are 50 or 60 years old including an old German butcher shop with a lift off roof showing the meat on the counters and an old Putin’s Chow factory.

A number of the buildings including the castle cane from antique shops or flea markets.

The trees are made from twigs but most of them have not been installed yet.

We also use real rocks for small mountains and loose rock.

For the side of the farm road we used fish tank stones and also used them on large mountain.

The large mountain was partially old school wire screen and light weight plaster and part plaster wrap. The snow on the mountain is plater sanded into dust.

Much still to do including improving the running. We used old atlas track and that may have been a mistake I need to fix. Your site is a great help and much appreciated.

Scott”

A huge thank you to Scott and his wife for sharing their Atlas train track HO scale – what a layout! Lots going on, and it looks great too.

And I have to say, if my little web site has helped Scott and his wife along the way, then I’m very pleased – it really does make it all worth while.

Speaking of which, it seems my last missive caused some confusion with some of you.

To share your pics, just hit reply to any of my mails, or send them directly to al@modelrailwaylayoutsplans.com

You can send in as many pics as you like – but please don’t attach more than three pics per mail.

Send as many mails as you need to, to get them all across.

Hope that has cleared it up if there was any confusion.

In fact, it’s getting a bit thin on the ground this end, so if you’ve got something to share, now’s a great time to do so.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming, and don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide if you want to grab the bull by the horns, just like Scott and his wife have.

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.