Model railroad layouts plans

Mickael’s been in touch with his HO scale rock tunnel forms.

(his last post is here.)

“Al,

Here are a few pictures of my rock 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”

Now on to Joseph:

“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”

Thanks to Bill, Joseph and to Mickael for sharing his HO scale rock tunnel forms.

I thought his tunnel entrance looked great. So simple as well (all the best ideas are!).

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.

Joe and his HO scale elevated trains have been back in touch.

(his last post is here).

“Hi Al; Thanks for putting up the pics.

Here are some more “construction” pics.

The layout is a ‘free lanced’ 1940 – 1950 steam era set roughly in the “town” of San Juan Creek in N.W. New Mexico.

The main industries are coal mining and lumber.

I can’t tell if I already sent these. IF they are duplicate, please discard.

Laying roadbed. Elevation for inner main line completed. 2.75% grade.

Have attached HO scale elevated trains track plan.

Joe”

One of things I enjoy most about the blog is an update – seeing an empty table or bench come to life over the months or years is absolute joy.

And now more from Dave – another fab video:

” HI Al, just downloaded ? Or is it uploaded ? …my latest video, showing the easy way to paint your ballast with track grime, then adding the rust effect to the rails.

Think I can say this is the layout completed again for a while? But you know me by now, always have to change something… anyway I have also shown a good few of my Loco`s and rolling stock having a good run, with also a extra long haul (rake we call it in UK) shows the power these little Diesels have…

Regards

Dave”

The very latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A big thanks to Dave and to Joe for sharing his HO scale elevated trains – all these years on and I still love seeing these updates pop up in my inbox.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day when you shun the armchair and join in the fun, 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.

Mike’s been in touch and added to the ‘N scale train layout on a door’ collection:

“Hi Al….Started a new one this year…Hollow core door and will have a 4ft extension off the back left….Have a good week….

Mike”

There’s quite a few N scale door layouts on the blog now. When ever I see one I’m always reminded of Nich’s:

N scale door layout.

Now on to Don:

“Dear Alastair,

I came across a substance that I used for making my roads in and out of my township. I went to a local supplier to a builder of houses that the outside was Stucko. (plaster with fine sand mixed in) The have lots of grades of sand to choose from as well as colors.

What I loved about it most of it was mixed wrong so I got loads of it enough for a supper highway. I had my railroad in 0-27 three rail.

My city was all of plaster houses as well as some other O scale buildings. these building blended well with the mid centery look I was aiming for. I also was able to make the roads to have a hump for the middle of the street and at corners as well. It really worked well for the scale.

I am a guy that love the looks of real RR layouts but do love the three rail aspect of it being a toy. My entire layout was 17 feet long and 6 feet wide. within that I was able to put a long loop, a siding, two reverse loops as well as a figure 8. My curves on the main line were 054 and 031 for the logging area. I made it so I could run three trains at the same time on connected with one another and yet have 4 different levels of tracks. Yes it look as if it really was a toy train. I loved it.

Now its no longer because of my health I have taken it down and is just in my mind. I sold my one and only 4449 in the freedom colors . I’m from Portland Oregon and grew up with that locomotive. Mater of fact…. I sold the two doors from the original locomotive. I will write you when I think of other things I thought up for the dream I once had.

Don”

“Al

I sent in pictures of the start of the helix addition to my train layout. And I said I would send some videos of the trains running. I am just using my cell phone as the camera.

Because the helix is no where near finished the trains can only run from each side to about 90 percent of the first ring. The first ring has the track running but the rest of the mods (trees, people, train stops, etc) to the ring is not finished in the pictures. So I am sending two videos. One with both trains on the left side and one with both trains on the right side.

I have finished the first ring and tested it again (after I made the videos). and found out that I have made the trees too fat and they interfere with the passage of the train. So still working. Will send more probably when the helix is half built.

Lawrence”

The very latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

That’s all today folks – thanks to Lawrence, Don and to Mike for adding to the N scale train layout on a door collection.

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 N scale layouts here if that’s your thing.