Model railroad layouts plans

John’s been in touch with How to build a model train helix without the pain and anguish that usually follows:

“hey Alistair

howzit goin man…greetings from the Left Coast of the United States…

Mark StJohn Jones here from Long Beach Calif…

here’s some pics of my ‘prototype track laydown’ and the FIRST elipse I’ve ever tried to construct

its just a prototype model I’m “engineering” ….lol

it’s all HO gauge and the ‘proto’ elipse only has an 8 inch radius and way too tight for much of anything except small stuff, it’s just a ‘model’ for study….

just testing my engineering skills and playing with it

the actual Elipse for my layout will have a 10 in radius (still kinda tight) but when you see my 48in X 60in layout you’ll see why it’s all so ‘tight’

I reside in a large studio apt and don’t have a lotta room to spread out like Dangerous Dave so I have to ‘Stack ’em Up”

with that kind of room It has to be three levels tall and I have to make it tight

it will have a ‘turn of the 20th century look’ when I finish

I’m also utilizing a ‘self-engineered’ version of the Woodland Scenics styrofoam risers, roadbed and technics..

never thought the difference between building with wood and styro could be so much fun……

more to come as I continue my build ….

your column rocks Al….keep up the good work

cheers

StJohn in Long Beach Calif”

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A huge thanks to John for showing us how to build a model train helix the easy way – I do love seeing what you are all tinkering with, and your different ways and methods.

Looking forward to seeing how this progresses.

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.

Rob’s created this youtube on a Faller road – if you’ve ever wanted to get your cars and trucks moving on a layout too, here’s how:

“Hi Al,

A lot of people are curious about the Faller car system and I was too. Because of this, I decided to buy a Faller starter kit and see what all the fuss was about.

I have been thinking as I planned the unfinished side of my Farland layout, it would be grand to have some other movement besides the trains. A Faller road as it turns out is fairly easy to design and to test your road design they suggest you use adhesive tape to hold the wire down as a test of your road design.

In this video, I open the starter kit and show it’s contents, then I demonstrate a truck running on my layout. It took about 2 and a half days to lay the road and get ready for the first test. I was so shocked when I finally tested it that it ran around the wire I had taped down and ran very well. I was not sure if it would leave the wire and go wild across the layout, but it didn’t.

I have had a lot of interest in in the Faller road system and thought perhaps your readers would too.

Rob, Farland Howe”

The very latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A huge thanks to Hall of Fame member, Rob. There is always a flurry of comments when I post a video with moving cars and trucks, so now you know: a Faller road.

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.

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”

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“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.