Model railroad layouts plans

“Hi Al,

Here is some photos of my new water tower.

Before I installed it, I leveled the landscape where it was to be installed with clay, then I painted the clay brown.

I sprinkled coarse beach sand from my local beach onto the clay, then poured Pva glue mixed with water and dish washing liquid onto the sand and allowed to set…

The sand is used to make a sandy shingle base for the model.

I then poured PVa glue onto the base, then mounted the model.

The last photo shows the model completed.

Paul”

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“As I watched this video and giggled to myself about John and his sips or, if you prefer, wee drams, I was reminded about MR articles from the 40’s and 50’s telling how, in the era before styrene, to make layout buildings from unprinted Bristol board (a quality cardboard available in thicknesses) doing just the same sort of thing as John only with much more effort because there was no printing.

Bringing it forward to today, what I’m contemplating for the downtown district is to artfully glue bits of styrene onto big sheets of styrene and for windows, say, I’ll use molded stuff where John uses printed stuff. The more things change the more they stay the same. I feel a trip down memory lane coming on…

AY”

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“Hi Al,

Really enjoy your e-mails – I’m slowly collecting pieces for an N scale old time layout.

Here’s a couple pics and vid I thought you might like. I took em at the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan. It was formed to preserve a Berkshire locomotive currently used for an excursion train. The engine claims to be the largest operating steam locomotive east of the Mississippi. It was the model for the Polar Express movie. They also have an operational tank engine and interesting misc. and models.

Keep up the good work.

Leonard”

“Hi Al

Well not really sure if I’m in the right postion to right this to you, but have followed your site for something like 3 years now.

When I was at school I saved and bought my first railway.

Living in New Zealand there wasn’t much choice, thoughs days (1955) triang/hornby was a bout it.

But visiting a small town in the south Island noticed a shop with a Marklin train running in large ferries wheel, well I was hooked so, saved for 2 years, then wrote to them to buy a set.

Nine months later got a letter to say it had arrived an to be pick it up.

As we lived on a farm far from any town the special day came to pick it up.

Well I still have that set, even though it has’ t been used for a number of years (becouse of living situations) but allways followed modeling in some form.

Well to the point is, I have just had the opportunity, to visit a place in Hamberg Germany called “Wunderland.” ModelBann, it covers 3 foors of a ware house, from trains to planes.

Yes this place is a commercial opperation, but the skill and detail bought to modeling buy these people, takes modeling to a new dimention.

Don’t get me wrong I believe some of the people who have sent things and advise to your site is amazing, and all ways will be, I thought Id write to let thoughs people who may be not aware of this place might be interested in checking it out , or like me was one of the fortunate ones that was able to visit this place.

I hope you didn’t mind me bring this to yor followers attention.

Yes my old Marklin set still runs when I was back in New Zealand 3 yrs ago and god knows how many miles it has done as it use to run every day for yrs. After getting married and the kids were around , it got a bit of a boost in extra locos and running stock, tried to get my boys interested but to no avail, so it sat for some time till we had to move and its never got back into a modeling situation since.

As for getting back into modeling I cant see that happening, but I follow your site with interest and its always good to see the skill of some people and there ideas.

Long time follower

Kiwi Ken”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

It’s funny, I get mailed most weeks about Wunderland but I’ve never included it in a post. But I thought Ken did it justice so I thought I’d better.

I’m also getting a few mails on the new store (I’m transferring all the buildings from the old store as quickly as I can). Sorry if there was any confusion.

That’s all this time folks. Hope it’s inspired you to get up and get involved. And if you need a helping hand, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Just a quickie today because I’m hopelessly short on time.

I get a lot of mails from folk who to make their print out scenery look just like John’s, so that’s how these videos came about.

Here John has a made a new video showing us how to make a simple house look realistic:

The house John is making in this vid is from the house bundle, which is

That’s all this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Best

Al

PS

Looking for the Beginner’s Guide? It’s here.

Rob’s added to the HO scale wooden bridges on the blog:

“Al,

Had an idea to build a logging bridge to transition over a small hill in the corner of my layout.

Gather and picked through maple tree sticks that had fallen in the yard based on girth and straightness.

Measured the transition and cut the logs to scale, skinned the bark, sanded flat the logs for the roadbed, experimented with the cross members and started hot gluing them together.

Gave it a couple wash coats of earthy colors and set it in place.

Rob”

A big thanks to Ron – it reminded me of Ned’s post:

Model railroad wooden bridges.

“I’ve seen lots of model railroads videos where flats were leaning or tilted against walls! My solution is simple – Velcro!

A one or two inch strip is all it takes.

I also use it for the skirting around the layout as well on any structure that I want to anchor now and perhaps move later!

Milton”

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And now Hall of Fame member, Arnie, replies to your questions from his stunning last post:

“Hi Al — Thanks for giving me the opportunity to respond to the many comments received on my video (“RAILROAD HERITAGE WEEK…”).

First, thanks to all the viewers for their continued positive and highly supportive feedback.

And I do also appreciate the constructive criticism that some offered as well: For example, some viewers noted that the pavement marking (STOP) at the grade crossing is facing the wrong way for any oncoming right lane traffic.

I had intended the STOP as a warning for being in the wrong lane for traffic entering that lane from the camera side of the crossing. But I will simply paint over the STOP to avoid confusion; thanks.

A couple of replies noted that the train stopped at the Susquehanna Station with the loco still adjacent to the platform leaving trailing passenger cars beyond the platform.

You’re absolutely correct! This was shot at the edge of the layout with the camera viewing angle having very limited positioning and viewing.

So I was taking creative liberty to shoot this in a way that would allow a view of the station and the platform with its passengers and train personnel rather than just a view of the train. But I thank you all for your attention to detail.

Some viewers wanted to know about the locomotives’ sound decoders.

The locos are by Broadway Limited Imports and use the company’s exclusive sound decoders which include things like station announcements and radio chatter and communications of various sorts. I do not believe the decoders are sold separately.

Lastly, I always am particularly interested in and moved by comments from viewers reflecting how the video(s) bring back fond memories of personal experiences of locations, trains, etc.

Glad that you all enjoyed the ride! —

Arnie”

And lastly I’ve managed to finally get the house bundle on the store.

(I’ll keep adding the other buildings as soon as I can.)

A huge thanks to Rob for adding to the HO scale wooden bridges, and to Milton and Arnie.

Please do keep ’em coming.

If they’ve got you feeling inspired – don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide to get you off the starting blocks.

Thanks all this time folks.

Best

Al.

PS ebay cheat sheet still going strong (updated everyday too).