Model railroad layouts plans

Laurence has been in touch. He’s made sure someone is going to have a very happy model railroad Christmas:

“Hi Al,

Santa contacted me about 8 weeks ago asking if I could possibly help him. He told me a little boy has dreamed of having a train set for several years now and has spoken to him as well as writing to him. As he is extremely busy at this time of year he decided to contact me. So as Santa knows he’s been a really good boy this year he decided to grant his wish.

It’s only a small layout 5 feet x 3ft 4″ as he is a limited for space. I’ve tried to keep it simple but with enough to keep him interested without cluttering it up too much.

I can tell you Al it’s been like working in the North Pole at times in my garage but I think it’s been worth it.

Wishing you all A Very Merry Christmas,

Best Wishes

Laurence Johnston”

For a 5ft by 3ft layout, I think Laurence has done a superb job. The night scenes look fab. I’ll bet someone has a very merry model railroad Christmas!

Now on to Dave:

“Hi Al…

Just posted my Christmas Video with the Railway, a bit of fun for all, just like to add all the very Best to yourself and family, and of course to all the members have a great Christmas and Hopefully a better New Year with more fun with our model Railways.

Regards

Dave”

Well, I hope you are feeling festive and have a very happy model railroad Christmas!

I always wonder whether it’s too early to post the Christmas layouts, and then before I know it, it’s too late.

A big thanks to Dangerous Dave and Laurence.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide if fancy rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

Rolly’s been in touch again – have a look at his video (his first post is here).

“Here is another building I made. I have found that any model that has any movement tends to be quite expensive, yet it adds so much to a layout. I have made a few different ones very inexpensively. I sympathize with a lot of your viewers on fixed incomes and wanting to enjoy the hobby as I come from a modest background as well.

This model was made with balsa strips bought from Micheals ( hobby store) and found items from the dumpster. The back wall was a cut down base of a tape deck?( not sure as I tore apart various pieces of electronic gear that I forget what came from where). The gears are from a discarded printer, and the capacitors from same. The window is 1/4″ screen, again found.

The building itself is a workshop or mine building, that adds both noise and movement, hope you enjoy.

Rolland”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here. Still going strong!

“Hi Alistair ,

Been back from OZ for about 3 week’s now so have had a bit of free time before Christmas to have a go at something in the Fat Controller’s room!

I’m building a ‘Z’ gauge layout if you remember in a spare bedroom (kindly donated by Mrs wife).

Before our trip I was experimenting with ways of pining down the track…. sleeper pins are very small as you can imagine and getting them central in a sleeper is almost impossible!…. so I’ve made a couple of little fixtures to help.

They are stock aluminium bar in width and height, just cut to length that I’ve machined 3 holes in each… fixture No1 has a central hole of 1.3mm, this is for drilling the hole for the brass fixing screw,

The 2 holes each side of it have small pins that fit perfectly between 2 sleepers thus keeping the fixture in the correct position….. once the pilot hole has been drilled in the baseboard fixture No1 is replaced by fixture No2 which has pins in the same place as fixture No1 but with a central hole of 4mm… this is exactly the same size as the screw head allowing the screw to position itself perfect into the pilot hole…. small screwdriver and the job’s done!

Hope this all makes sense, it seems complicated but it does work.

Hopefully the pics will be in order.

Hope you all have a very merry Christmas & a happy new year.

Keith”

A huge thanks to Rolland and Keith.

Keith has been keeping us updated on his layout from the very start so it’s good to hear from him – can’t wait to see the next update.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide, because it’s never too late start.

That’s all this time folks, please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

A big thanks to Brian – and everybody else – who have contributed over the years. Talking of which, let’s get back to this years countdown.

The 8th most popular post of this year is here. And it from February of this year too.

That’s all this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming. And if you haven’t started your layout yet, the Beginner’s Guide will get you going.

Best

Al

PS

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here Still updated daily…