Model railroad layouts plans

Brian’s been backn in touch with his HO scale boats and ships:

“Hi Al

A few photos of the boats that I cast from a master and modified. There are four of the same boat with the different modifications made to them in order for them to look like different boats.

They will be at different harbors on the ‘new’ layout when I get started on it in the new year.

It was just a matter of using my Dremel motor tool to carve out the ‘hold’ and add the cover doors in different places on the other boats.

Two of them still have to be done and will figure out what ‘cargo’ to place in the holds depending on where the boat that is to be loaded/unloaded and at which harbor.

One of the smaller boats in the second photo will be used at my boat repair shop (previously shown on your site) as being repaired as well as having the engine replaced with a new one. It will also get a new coat of paint while there.

That’s all for now and as usual, keep up the excellent work on your blog.

Regards
Brian from Knysna South Africa.”

A huge thank you to Brian. I love the stuff he posts – his style is unique. Have a look at some of his posts, his place in the Hall of Fame is very deserved.

Here’s a couple of his posts that are HO scale boats and ships related:

HO scale harbor.

HO scale waterdock

That’s all for today folks. A big thanks to Brian for sharing his HO scale boats and ships.

Please do keep ’em coming – it’s getting a bit thin on the ground this end.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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

Mike’s been in touch with a tip on model train block detectors:

“Hi Al,

Been reading your blog for nearly a year now & found some great tips. I particularly like “Dangerous” Dave – his layout is superb.

I was watching his post of a few days ago when he was on about the 12 outlet connector blocks, something I hadn’t thought about.

Only problem from my point of view is that I will need quite a lot for my layout & it would get very expensive. So I thought I’d make my own.

Apart from the obvious cost advantage – I bought a 10 pack of 12 block strips for £3.50 – you can also make them whatever size you want.

So if you only want 8 connections at a certain point, you’re not wasting 4. Or if you need 15, simple, just join an extra 3 on the end.

Here is one I made for 8 connections for a series of lights. I used 9 blocks but you could you use 8 if you want to be frugal & use the fist connector for feed & output if your wires are thin enough.

I started by taking some wire (I used the core from some 13 amp power cable but any wire would be suitable) & bent it to shape to fit into the connector blocks – pic 1. (Don’t fix the first until you have bent the second so that you have a pattern to work to.)

Insert in one side of the block & tighten screws – pic 2.

Do same to second block.& then stick back to back, superglue works well – pic 3.

All that remains then is to put some coloured insulating tape over the wire to easily identify positive & negative & insert your feed wires – pic 4. Turning the block over, you now have your parallel lines of connecters for your outputs..

I hope you like this tip & consider it worthy to pass on.

Thanks

Mike”

Model train block detectors:

A big thanks to Mike for sharing his model train block detectors tip. It’s great when one tip leads to another.

If you missed Dangerous Dave’s last post, it’s here.

Looking back over the year, it’s amazing what subjects have been covered, and what remarkable tips have come in. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time and trouble to contribute.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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

“Hi Al , Just posted this HOW TO video, showing how to add lighting to buildings with cheap strip LED lights , also a few new Neon signs added , and Tonys Night Club in Full swing at 15.45 min. ..its a bit of a longer video but a few tips in there .

Regards

Dave”

“Hi Al,

Here is a photo of a Bachmann 14 ton tank wagon plus a platelyers hut, which I assembled from a kit.

The kit just had a printed corrugated iron roof, so I brought some corrugated cardboard from a craft discount store, and made a new roof for it.

Paul”

Thanks to Dave and Paul. I have no idea where Dave finds all the time for his layout – but I’m thankful he does.

In my last missive I showed you the most viewed layout of this year. It was no surprise. But the second most viewed post is.

It might strike you as a novelty layout, but no, have a closer look. It’s superb. It’s here.

That’s all this time folks – unless you want to grab the Beginners Guide and get going.

Please do keep ’em coming. Submissions have gone awfully quiet (just hit reply to any of my mails) – but I guess it’s because it’s that time of year again.

At least the ebay cheat sheet prospers when it’s like this. Have a look and you’ll see what I mean.

Best

Al