Model railroad layouts plans

There are hundreds of N scale train sets on the blog – Arnie’s is one that really captures the imagination.

He’s one of the big guns from the Hall of Fame and it’s easy to see why.

I hope you enjoy it as much as me:

“Hi Al,

I’ve been trying to keep up regularly with your posts even though summer season is a time that gets most of us out of the house and into more outdoor activities. But what I’ve noticed is that it seems more readers are being more active contributors of photos and videos of their own projects. That’s great!

As you may recall, I was working on a series of videos around the theme of a fictional American Railroad Heritage Week. I have since gathered raw video footage for 2 such videos and hope to get to work on these soon.

However, I recently acquired a new steam locomotive from Broadway Limited Imports for my N scale layout. It’s their first N scale steam loco with DCC and sound.

The sounds from this engine are of superior prototype reproduction; especially given this is N scale and limited to using very small speakers.

The slow speed operation seems to be the best in the industry in my opinion. So I decided to do a video featuring this Pennsylvania Railroad M1a, 4-8-2 steamer in a story line around the heritage railroad theme. It focuses on the fiction of the M1a being used in excursion train service in the early post-1970s era in the Susquehanna Valley.

Hope you can post it and that you find it enjoyable.

Thanks — Arnie”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A HUGE thank you to Arnie for addinf to the N scale train sets on the blog. I do love his stuff. Please do let us all know your thoughts too – anyone can post a comment below.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if Arnie has got you inspired, 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.

There are lots of OO scale layouts on the blog now, here’s Geoff’s:

“Hi Al,

Geoff Tate here from Northumberland. I have been building a OO scale model railway in my 8 x 6 garden shed (its expanding into the garden now!)

Its no where near finished, but the pics help me identify what needs to be done. Control is DC, stock is mostly Hornby. Track is Hornby/Peco/Atlas.

I am also building a HO scale railroad in my garage in Florida (where I have more space). I started that one in April this year, in the space vacated by my 1982 Corvette! This one is DCC. No pics yet but back out next month so I will keep you posted.

Geoff”

OO scale layouts:

Now on to Cameron:

“Dear Al,

Another instalment.

The next building in the Lanarth line up is the signal box. Unlike the goods shed there were no plans available for this building on line so I
needed to work up the plans based on photos from the site.

I wanted to show a bit of detail inside the signal box so spent some time scratch building the furniture that would be typical for this type of signal box.

For the windows I first tried plastic mullions but these were too thick. In the end I used clear acetate sheet with the window mullions painted on using a bow pen. This turned out to be quite quick and very effective for a building that has a lot of glazing and mullions.

The progress and final photos are attached.

Cheers

Cameron”

“Hi Al , Have been asked a few times re putting weights on to rolling stock to help keep them on the tracks ..well here is my answer with a couple of tips ..

Hope this can be of some use to some of the modellers experiencing these problems

Regards

Dave”

A big thanks to Dave and Geoff for sharing thier OO scale layouts. Hope they’ve inspired you to roll up your sleeves and get going! The Beginner’s Guide is here if that’s you.

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

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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

Fernando has been in touch with his O scale lionel layout:

“Hello Al:

My name is Fernando Gomes and I live in Longueuil, Québec.

I have been following your site with all comments, ideas, counselling’s and pictures.

Today I am sending you pictures of my layout O scale that took about 2 years to build.

Although I started with old Lionel stuff, gradually I change everything to Atlas tracks and Railking to the rolling stock.

All the buildings, electrical posts, fences and most off the trees were hand made from scratch.

I am thinking to eventually change everything to DCS but that is another story.

Is not perfect but is my work. I hope that you like it.

Thanks for your site.

Fernando”

O scale Lionel layout:

“HI Al.

I have been railroading since my first train set back in the 50’s…. I thought your readers would like to know how I made a lake…. Well, my mom being a Disney artist took a mirror and some realistic rubber shrubbery she lined the mirror with the shrubs and wow it sure looked great

One can use their imagination on trees and shrubs…Sorry to say I have moved to Idaho and am waiting to build another railroad

Thanks.

Danny”

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“Al: Regarding your dust cover note today, here’s what works for me on my 6 x 10 foot S Gauge island style layout. It’s a 16’ army surplus parachute elevated by a $10 Tripod from the second hand store. The layout is in the loft of Wyoming un- air- conditioned house, with the windows open most of the summer and gravel roads and driveway. So it gets dusty within but this provides adequate protection from dust and pterodactyl sized flies. FYI. You are welcome to republish. Thanks what you do for our hobby. All the best,

John”

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“Well Alastair.. The best model Railroad tip that I use ta use, when I was a boy, was to use green and yellow spongie craft stuff from my local Hobby Shop.. And use craft glue to glue it to real small ( like only 2″s to 4″s long ends from real trees out in our yard, and some of the bottoms of the tree/sticks could simply be stuck into 1/16th to 1/8th holes drilled into the fiberboard, or plywood or what have you, Friend !!!

Or if ya used some clay that is molded while it is wet, you can just use it to stick this small tree branches into the soft clay, and wait while it hardens over night Brother !!! Hope those ideas help ya Guy !!! :o)

Curtis”

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A big thanks to John, Curtis, Danny and to Fernando for sharing his O scale Lionel layout. I never know what will turn up in my inbox – I do enjoy seeing all the different styles, scenes and scales.

It just goes to show this hobby really is for everyone. You can do whatever you want on your own layout – the golden rule is there are no rules!

That’s all for today folks. Don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is you’ve got an itch you just have to scratch.

Or if you just want to ease yourself in with a few buildings, the store is here.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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