Model railroad layouts plans

“Hi Al,

I have now completed the main part of my N gauge layout of Newdale and produced a video of the scenery and running session which I hope you enjoy. Approx 4 months to this point from bare boards but delighted with the results so far.

With keeping sidings to a minimum all within reach at the front of the layout I have just plain track running all under the scenery meaning smooth running right round the layout. I run it all on DC.

The lighting is on two unused controllers so the lights can be dimmed or brightened to suit. After spending 33 years in electrical retailing I enjoy wiring all the lighting up, I realise a lot find the lighting side horrifying but I group the various voltage lights together into a 12 volt string and I’m sure many others would find this method simplifies the wiring chore, of course you must make sure the polarity is correct for each group before connecting. If grouped by a total of 12 voltage lights it saves having loads of various voltage adaptors cluttering your sockets. This also means that house and street lights can be linked into 12 volt segments.

This layout is my favourite to date as I managed to get all the elements I wanted, multi level running with station, three bridge sections and many tunnel mouths, believe me even after building it I have trouble working out which tunnel the train will emerge from this makes it fun.

This layout uses the most track I have ever used even though simplified.

I have said in the past I love building the tracks but disliked doing the scenery. Well in the past I always used plaster and plaster cloth for hills and cliffs, now using 1/4 and 1/2 inch furniture foam it has made the job a lot less messy, I admit the cliffs may be a bit amatuerish but it is my first attempt using it. The good point is it is easy to add more foam with contact glue to continue the flow.

As with all my layouts the boards can be lifted for easy access, especially the one under the centre hatch and with just a wiring plug/ socket connector linking the boards means pull it apart and then lift the board.

There are still a lot of bits to do but it’s getting there, I hope you enjoy.

Regards

Eric”

“Hi Alastair

A quick tip for you. Save the cedar liner that comes in cigar tubes. It is beautifully thin and is excellent for siding over card stock or plastic and very terrific for cedar shingles. A chopper works well with this stuff.

Fred”

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A big thanks to Eric. Hope you enjoyed his vid as much as I did – hard to believe that layout is inside a wardrobe!

And even after 4 years of blogging I still love to read your tips and techniques. Please do keep ’em coming.

That’s all this time. Don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide if you’ve got the itch to get of the side lines and get busy.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here. Still going strong.

Well, I’m hopelessly behind again.

I’ve still not got all the buildings in the new store.

Just so you know, the old store is here, and the new store is here. Soon to be all in one place!

That’s all this time folks. Don’t forget if your getting bored of the armchair, the Beginner’s Guide is here, lovingly edited by the Hall of Fame members.

Keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Peter’s been in touch with his suspended layout 10×8.

“Good morning Al,

Last year I bought your Beginners Guide – very useful, thank you and each day when I receive an e-mail from you I look with interest as my 10′ x 8′ layout is just starting to take shape.

So my plan is to construct a railway with all rolling stock bought with grand-children in mind (or by them) so the theme has to be from all ages.

We have a hall that is multi-functional (dances, meetings etc) but I have ceiling space for the track.

Tomorrow I plan to start wiring all the points, I am trying to leave wiring the track until later – play time would be too tempting!

Later I will try to find some theme park rides (fun fair), but that could be a good year down the line (Ha!).

Look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,

Peter”

“When I run my wires under my platform I put names on them so I know what they are for.

I use masking or adhesive tape to write on.

I do not just mark the ends but also if it is a very long run I mark in several places.

Also I run my wires through screw eyelets, this way I do not weaken the structure of the platform.

Also I use these to run wires under my ramps for track on mountains, this way the wire does not hang down and catch on other things.

Theodore”

“Hi Alistair,

I thought I’d been spending to much time on the things that I could do when the trains are up and running, so I’ve had a bit of a stock check and decided to get some track down, this is what I have at the moment, but I guess I’ll need more!

I’m experimenting curving long lengths of track as I want to keep the joints to a minimum.

I’ve been successful with soldering droppers to silver nickel rail, which I thought was going to cause me a headache…. not at all.

Hope you like the Barum circus train it was a rare find!…. didn’t tell the wife how much I payed for it by the way!!!

Sleeper retaining pins are way too small so I’m going make myself a little fixture that fit’s between the sleepers that allows me to drill a tiny hole in the baseboard for a flat head screw that bridges two sleepers hence retaining the track.

Just a last thought……. if any of you are nearing my age, 63 next week. Don’t go for ‘Z ‘ gauge it’s a tad small.

Happy modeling all.

Keith.”

I do love it when your tips come in – even after all these years. Please do keep ’em coming.

A big thanks to Keith, Theodore and Peter.

And if you’re still sitting on the side lines, you can dive in here with the Beginner’s Guide.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.