Model railroad layouts plans

Here’s another ‘how to’ video from the talented John.

I gave John the latest offering in the print out scenery range, so he could have a tinker with it.

But I have to say, I was amazed with what he came up with.

Believe it or not, it’s all made from just one print (printed out lots of times…)

It really does show how this embankment is only limited by your imagination.

You can make an embankment as long or as short as you like.

Here are the pics of his ‘creation’:

So how did he do it? Well, John was kind enough to record this ‘how to’ video:

I really can’t thank John enough.

(The embankment print is HO scale at 100% – as they all are. Print out at 54% for N scale).

You can see more of the print out scenery here in the store.

For all you arm chair modellers out there, if the stone wall doesn’t get you excited for a first project, there’s always the Beginner’s Guide.

And now for the latest from Steve’s layout:

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“Hi Al

The modern engine shed area under development!

This is the latest area following the station projects and this shows it partly finished as above which will hopefully be useful to viewers.

Many ancillary buildings and other parts are yet to be placed, paths, fences walls etc are partly fixed.

First I thought was a perimeter wall to keep train spotters out!( always a challenge in the old days but I always got in!).

I had some fun with this as I have left a small gap in the wall to creep though!

Note the 3mm of cork packing under the shed to compensate for the foam ballast this will be covered completely once completed similar to the small shed by the station shown in the first photo.

Learning from my own errors here is what to watch out for

1) Curves will create fouling issues always double check as the track is laid relative to buildings and other solid objects!

2) check track spacing for alignment and centre to centre ( you can buy ready made spacers for this)

3) Check the track fits in the shed correctly this often requires altering the approach roads or centres to fit and remember long locomotives will requires more space.

3) I laid the walls first immediately in front of the( rear) main line to create a realistic barrier

4) in an effort to convert the train set to something realistic think about buildings and services typical of a depot , car park, freight entrance, offices, storage buildings, roadway approach, gates, paths and equipment, some compromise is usually necessary but well worth thinking and “playing” about shows with it until it is as near right as it can be!

Hope your viewers find it useful and this addresses some of the questions and thanks for the positive comments,

Steve”

That’s all this time folks.

Thanks to Steve and John.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Simon has been in touch with his N scale suitcase layout:

“Hi Al,

Winter German themed case layout

Have been taking lots of notes from your emails and bits from gaming blog sites and have spent a lot of time building and adding bits and people (birthday and Christmas presents) to my layout in a tool box, it is an n gauge oval made from 2 bits of flexi track, with a bit of bending to fit within the case.

The station and platform are scratch built from card and match sticks with some jewellery wire for the rails. The base snow was made from bicarbonate of soda mixed with pva which over time has turned yellow (may need to paint with a wash of white) the tunnel and hills are just polystyrene carved to shape. Winter trees were off eBay

Hope you like the layout.

Like to hear everybody’s thoughts.

Regards

Simon”

N scale suitcase layout:

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Dangerous Dave mailed me this – he has been busy with his camera again, this time filming the Flying Scotsman when it was in his neck of the woods.

(If you want to know whether the Scotsman was / wasn’t the fastest steam train recorded, have a look at the bottom of this post).)

“Hi Al , not sure if you are interested but managed to film the Flying Scotsman to day up on the NYMR…

She sure performed good.

Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet here.

And lastly, this came in from Jane. Can anyone help? Who knows, fingers crossed they’ll send in pics of their train themed office:

“Hi Alastair,

I hope you don’t mind me getting in touch. I am an interior designer currently designing an office space, and my clients would like to turn their office/room into a 1950/60s train carriage. They suggested that I get in touch with you for advice. Would you happen to know where we could source any train salvage parts like seats, luggage rail etc in the UK?

Thank you very much for your help.

Kind regards,

Jane”

Thanks to Simon for his N scale suitcase layout layout – I ‘ll add it to the collection. Embarrassingly, it’s been sitting in my inbox for an age. I stumbled over it this morning when I was doing some ‘house keeping’.

That’s all this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide if you want to get off the side lines.

Best

Al

Here’s a simple tip from Hall of Fame member, Brian:

“Hi Al

An easy way to make smoke for steam powered machinery.

I used a cotton bud. Hold the stem in one hand and with a pair of tweezers in the other, gently pulling at the cotton wool end to form a tail.

Next cut the stem to the length required and insert it in the smoke stack of your machine.

All that’s need now is to fire up my airbrush with some black paint and apply to look a bit dirty.

This can be done in any scale. In the photo is an HO scale Erie B-2 steam powered shovel (a Jordan Highway miniatures kit) busy removing earth from a collapsed tunnel.

Thought that I would send this video to you of an arc welding module that I use in quite a few industrial buildings on my layout including my two stall engine house that you posted.

This one is in a small repair shop (woodland scenics) where the guy is welding a part on the floor next to the workbench.

I model in HO scale – narrow gauge – HOn3 as I get quite a few requests as to what scale is it.

All the best

Brian”

And, here’s more from another Hall of fame, member – Dangerous Dave:

That’s all for today, folks. Please do keep ’em coming – I enjoy them as much as you!

Don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide if you’re still sitting on the fence about whether to get started or not.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here. Lots of engines around at the mo, have a look.