Model railroad layouts plans

Alan’s been in touch with his U shaped N scale layout:

“Hi Alastair,

A while ago I sent you my first attempt at a layout built on an 8ft x 7.5ft board with a cut out in the middle.

Well at 82 years old I got fed up with bumping my head crawling under so I decided to cut an access slot and reduce the scale from OO to n scale to accommodate the tighter radius restrictions.

I’m from a small country Aotearoa (translated means Land of the Long White Cloud) which is about 8,000 miles west of California. Anyway being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean getting much in the way of n scale in the model shops locally is difficult to impossible so most is ordered on line.

I’ve tried to picture the transition from the 1st layout to the 2nd layout (U shaped N scale layout). Hope it makes sense. There is about 90ft of n track and 9 points controlled with lever type switches. The tunnels have access for track cleaning.

1st OO layout with bump your head hole

1st layout gutted

Enter the access slot

Track laying underway

Kitset bridge milestone completed

Earthworks underway

One side finished

Other side nearly finished. Houses are laser cut kitset

Alan”

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Thanks to Alan for sharing his U shaped N scale layout – I do love seeing the layouts being built from the ground up.

And thanks for all your comments on the latest stone embankment.

Of course, I’m biased, but it’s a terrific deal – four buildings for $9.97.

I shall be breaking that offer up shortly, so if you like the sound of it, best to grab it now.

I’m really looking forward to seeing the first embankment in a layout.

That’s all for today folks.

Don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide if you want to get off the side lines and get going.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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

And there’s the Silly Discount bundle too.

Some of you will remember John – he did the video ‘how to’ on this embankment stone wall.

Well, he’s been busy again with the latest addition to the printout scenery, which is another embankment wall, an engine shed and some brick sheds.

As you’ll see he was on form… I hope you find it as entertaining as I did.

There’s good news about these latest additions too.

You can get the new stone wall embankment, the brick sheds (manager’s sheds as John calls them) and the latest engine shed, all for just $9.97 (until I get them properly on the site – I’ve been dragging my heels somewhat recently).

So that’s all four buildings for just $9.97:

You can grab the new embankment wall and engine shed here.

I do love the new engine shed and embankment wall – both have bags of character! I really can’t wait to see them on one of your layouts. I’ve had some nice pics sent in of the engine sheds.

The first engine shed is here – and then when John saw the third engine shed, that’s when he got busy with camera. And I’m glad he did…

That’s all this time folks. Don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to get going.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

PS If you’re looking for the very latest ebay cheat sheet, it’s here.

I have a few shelf layouts for you today – and a suspended one too!

Let’s start with John, who has kindly sent in more pics of his layout from yesterday:

“Dear Mr. Lee,

Thank you again for your site.

Every time I look I get new ideas…

The embedded links to previous pages are very helpful.

One thing the links help with most is to inspire new ideas by combining the ideas of others.

Just for fun, here are five pictures of my “Little Walkley” shelf layouts and its On30 companion “Sandy Flats”.

I have also included the track plans for both

These are two separate layouts. To save space, they are usually stacked one above the other.

I am currently working on an idea to be able to hang them on the wall (so I can start some new shelf layouts).

Hopefully this can inspire other modelers to realize that one can have a lot of fun even when there is not a lot of space.

We do not have exhibitions here in the States like you have in the UK. I used to display these and others at a local hobby shop where several modelers would meet on the last Saturday of each month to show off their latest projects for constructive criticism and to get new ideas.

Be blessed and may this find you in the best of health.

John”

And Alan has been back in touch – his last post is here:

“Hi Al,

More or less finished my 009 shelf layouts now, it started with no scenery, as it was only to do a bit of shunting in the warmth of the house during the winter.

But I can’t help myself, I like building things from bits and bobs so gradually its morphed into a fully scenic layout.

My South Wales layout in the garage has been put on the back burner for a while but it still works fine.

Hope all is well your end, as you say ‘keep em coming’

Alan”

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“Railway layout accommodation has always been a bone of contention for enthusiasts. I have devised a simple pulley system so that a layout can be stored away when not in use.

My platform is about 9 and 1/2 feet long by 4 feet wide (290cm x 120cm).

On each corner of the layout I have secured 2 single pulleys (you can use a double).

To the ceiling joist, over each corner, I have attached a double pulley.

Each corner has its own rope and pulley system.

Here is the board raised to the ceiling of my garage.

The blue rope and clips are a safety feature, preventing the board falling if the pulleys fail. This is important as my car is stored underneath!

The white rope is first attached securely to the ceiling. It is then passed down to the first pulley on the board.

It then travels back to the double ceiling pulley.

Around the double pulley and back down to the second single pulley on the board.

Back up again to the double pulley.

From the double pulley at the top, it goes to a pulley that changes the direction through 90 degrees.

It travels to a double pulley where it drops down from the ceiling (where all four ropes can be pulled).

All four ropes, from each corner, are pulled together to raise or lower the board.

David”

A huge thanks to David – lack of space stops a lot of folk from rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in, which is a great shame.

Thanks to the others too for sharing their shelf layouts.

Of course, I’m biased, but the site really is an Aladdin’s cave of layout tips now – and it’s all thanks to you lot. Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide. It’s got the Hall of Fame’s stamp of approval, and without, this site wouldn’t exist.

That’s all this time folks.

Best

Al

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

And there’s the Silly Discount bundle too.