Don’s been back in touch with his double level HO scale layout:
“It has been a while since I last sent you about my new layout.
My Old layout had a few problems. It had three lift/duck unders that just made running no fun. They were hard to keep aligned.
Also the scenery blocked the only window in the room.
The old layout was a continuous incline with a turn around at each end. The new layout is three levels connected with a helix.
The first set of pictures show the lower staging level. This level will be operated by a dedicated switcher.
It will bring assembled trains to and from the main level. there they will be connected to appropriate motive power. The helix connects the staging to the main and upper levels.
The helix also has a turn around for the main and upper levels so they can be run independently.
These are pictures of the main level. They are basically from right to left off the helix. Much of this level is from the old layout.
Mainline track was completely replaced and grades changed to match the helix. This level was lowered to 30 inches. A floor jack was used.
The new layout was a result of my wife deciding that we needed hardwood floors throughout the condo. Several sections of the old layout were stacked on dollies that the floors installers moved as they put in the new floors.
The bottom track under the waterfall is now only a display as a result of lowering this level.
Double level HO scale layout:
These pictures are are of the window treatment and the unfinished Baltimore area.
The two upper level bridges span 28 inches each with approaches to let in as much light as possible.
The girder bridges cross the main level. The new main level is to the left. It will have the Camden station and the B&O warehouse shown.
These are pictures of the upper level. They are from left to right. The center is from the old layout.
All The Main line was replaced. There is a branch line 5 inches above, Both corner sections are new to allow the track to cross the window and enter the helix.
Double level HO scale layout:
These show the new branch line bridge to the top of the helix. Tentatively the top of the relix will be a logging camp. Also is a picture of Harpers Ferry that connects the upper level to the helix
Don”
A big thanks to Don for sharing his double level HO scale layout.
Dean’s been back in touch again with an update. This time he talks us through his N scale river technique:
“Al,
I finally got back to finishing the flowing river on my N-Scale, western, Conejos Valley Railroad layout.
I really like how the waterfall (discussed in an earlier submission) and the river turned out.
This video is the eleventh in a series discussing my construction of the 80″ x 36” small N-Scale layout.
This is a fourth submission on the scenery and here I talk about finishing a tiered river with rapids.
I am testing out the use of inexpensive materials that you can readily obtain (white glue, plaster, paint, cotton balls).
Here’s a photo of the results. Note the rapids and the small island.
Four layers, or levels, were formed with ¼” Styrofoam sheets.
The riverbanks were textured with fine turf (Earth, Burnt Grass, and Green) and clump foliage.
Everything was glued down with scenic cement (1 part white glue, 3 parts water, 1 part isopropyl alcohol).
N scale river:
I created “rapids” by pouring textured layers of white glue over wax paper. After they had dried, I cut them to fit and fastened them down with hot glue. The thin parts can be easily folded to go over the drop in water level
Here’s a rapid in place.
Then I poured the water with white glue dyed with acrylic paint (1cup white glue plus 2 drops blue paint). After the first layer dried, a second layer was added.
To create ripples and texture on the N scale river, I used Dap Ultra Clear sealant. This is an organic based material which you should use with good ventilation.
The river on the right has the Dap applied (see sparkles), that on the left is untreated.
The Dap was smoothed and textured with a foam brush while wet.
Rocks, boulders, and a small island were made by adding blobs of thinned Hydrocal plaster.
They were then carved (utility knife) and formed (emery board) and dyed with diluted paints.
And trees and grass were added to the island.
Here’s what the river looked like at this point.
Foam at the rapids and bottom of waterfall was created with fluffs of cotton soaked with Scenic Cement.
Finally, foam and ripples were dry brushed with white paint.
Here’s another photo of the final result.
All in all, I’m quite happy with the results. Two thoughts for next time:
Use less blue paint so that the river is not quite so blue.
Use smaller tuffs of cotton at the top and base of the rapids. These are a little too big.
Cheers,
Dean from New Mexico.”
A big thanks to Dean for sharing his N scale river ‘how to’.
The talented Dan has been back in touch with pics of his HO scenery for model trains:
“I know not everyone has a lot of space when building a layout. You use what you have. That is the name of the game.
First impressions are very important. When I built my layout, I spent quite a bit of time working out what I wanted visitors to see first.
As you have seen, my layout is designed to have many scenes along the way around the layout.
Also, remember my layout is a scenery first layout. The other 7 I have done or worked on were operations AND scenery layouts. The B&M comes to mind.
On my layout, the first part you see is the part I am about to describe in this post. This was also the last part to be finished.
After just a few construction photos, I will spend more time on the detailing I have done. There will be lots of detailed photos. This is intended to show that in a 5 by7 foot section there is a lot to see without being too busy.
The overall scene is of a road leading from the layout. The road goes to a resort. In my case “Burnt Lake” a hot spring. Santa Fe has the Grand Canyon. I just did not have the space for
that!
The railroads often built resorts near great scenic vistas. They did this to keep passengers riding during the winter. The western ski resorts are an example.
The only way in or out is via train. The train arrives on the upper trestle on the way to a small station. This view sets the scene for the visitor as they walk around to the right and see the station.
This post will conclude the major rocks scenes. If there is interest, I can show more of the flatter parts seen in the track diagram.
If Al permits me to continue, I will have the rivers I have done, and some other layout sections I have done.
HO scenery for model trains:
This was the last section to be done. It shows the mainline (ballasted) going down to the lower level staging and run through.It is a 3 1/2 % grade. I duplicates the Route over Raton Pass the highest part of the passenger route of the Santa Fe.
Magic of ceiling tile rocks in place.
Here you can see the mainline on the lower level and the upper track to the station at Burnt Lake. The long track to the upper left was to be a tunnel. I realized that a long cut would be more interesting. Sometimes you make changes as you go. Don’t be afraid to adjust to make it better.
Roads often take gullies or natural cracks in the rocks. A road will run down from the station to the road crossing leaving the layout to the resort. The objective is to make it look natural.
My basement (always an advantage) has a “mud room.” The previous owner was a fisherman and had a half bath and an old kitchen sink pit in. The sink is a great place to clean bushes.
The wall on the left was white. I painted, full sized, the view from the el Capitan lounge car. The color of the interior is as I remember it when I rode it in 1957.
In the distance is what you see when entering the basement.
This what they see first.
The diagram of the layout shows the area as you walk in. As I mentioned before, if you follow a train around the layout, your back is always turned away from the scene in front of you.
The area around the Burnt Lake station and engine facility
Now I will start with the detailed sections. The trestle was built from a Campbell curved trestle kit. This was done in 1967, long before I built the layout. I used creosote stain from True-scale, I think.
When I built the large trestle I did not want it to be this dark. Rivet counters have told me that a crossing shanty should not be this large. Once they hear “my story” they understand.
The crossing guard lives in the shanty. He works only when a train has arrived at the Burnt Lake station or passengers are going the station.
Notice the van waiting to cross. They are owned by the resort. The only way to or from the resort is via train. Also, my era is 1958 to 1961. In the US the stop signs then were YELLOW. This helps to reinforce the setting.
The view as you move around to the right as you view the Burnt Lake station area.
A train approaching Burnt Lake station.
The trains need to be serviced before leaving. Santa Fe trains out west burned oil rather than coal. Oil was more plentiful back in those days.
I scratched built the oil tank and crib work. Once you do a trestle these are easy! I believe I have seen a kit to do the same thing several years later. At the time it cost $65. Mine was from left over lumber and an old tank car.
There is a lot of activity when the tourist train arrives. The tourist train is modeled after Death Valley Scotty’s train. He was a gold miner and wanted to set the speed record for the La to Chicago run. Te station is to the left of the photo. This the Walther’s 90 foot turn table.
Over all view of the pit. Look carefully just above the water tower…..
A lineman working on the wire. I have a very good modelling friend. When he came to visit he asked, “where are the electric lines for the turn table?” I went back and installed them. To make sure the wires are not ignored I added the line man.
HO scenery for model trains:
I added a turn table operator.
Just below Burnt Lake station the trains go in and out of a tunnel creating another mini scene. Here a rail fan. (train spotter) If you go back to the overall Burnt Lake view you can see the tunnel opening. One thing I never do is place people without a way to get to where they are. There is actually a path to his position.
The other tunnel behind the photographer.
As you first walk in and see the trestle, to the right is an over look for resort visitors. It is a short walk from the resort to the station.
Another overlook.
Looks like the honeymooner’s found a quiet place in the woods!
Passengers waiting for the train.
General view of Burnt Lake station. The steamer to the left is one of Death Valley Scotty’s 2-6-2 Prairie locomotives on display for visitors. Again you see the resort vans waiting to take visitors to and from the resort.
The road from the resort to the station.
A look down into the gully.
I was working on another layout for a friend. He is a fire fighter for the state natural resources department. He wanted a fire tower on his layout. Sooooo, I realized I needed one, too. They are N scale so they did not over power the trees.
By the way there are 1,200 pine trees here in the mountains. I use them to give a sense of distance and altitude. For example, between Winslow and Flagstaff the land goes from dry desert about 6000 ft. to 7,000 feet at Flagstaff. No trees in Winslow.
I have mentioned that I always line the tunnels with the rocks if you can see into them.
This finishes the look at First Impressions. There is an oddity in this photo. Most likely only a Santa Fe modeler will see it. Let me know if you see it.
Thanks for looking,
Dan”
A huge big thank you to Dan for sharing his narrative and HO scale model train scenery pics. Stunning stuff.
I did enjoy reading his thought process on planning the layout – you can really see how much went in to it.
If you missed Dan’s last post – another stunner – on his trestle bridge, it’s here:
I know we’ve had a run of stunners, but remember, this site is for all layouts and all scales – it they don’t have to be draw dropping for us to enjoy.
So if you have a layout, a scratch build or what ever, please share.
