Model railroad layouts plans

Jim’s been in touch with his wood train model that I think looks very impressive:

“I saw the scratch build yesterday. I am in to scratch building if you want to call it that. Mine are all wood and glue with no metal or plastic parts.

The material is pine, popular and maple. There are based on 1/25 scale, this 0-6-0 is 27” long. All the major parts mover as you push it along.

I acquired a lump of coal crushed it, and filled the tender.

The coupling is a Janny style with a removal pin so they can be joined together.

I call it the “Wooden Railroad”

My collection to date is the 0-6-0 ( just finished), GP9, GP9 slug, 50 ft boxcar, high pressure hopper and a new style oil tanker with the baffles on the ends.

Jim”

Now on to Mike:

All though it’s very short, and only two pics, it really does show that the only way things are going to happen with your layout is to make a start!

“Hi Al,

My good friend Michael G put me on to your ‘network. We live in Devonshire about 2 miles apart. He is modelling in HO/OO and me in ”N” gauges.

My layout is still very much work in progress, the two pictures will give you some idea; First is ‘Early Days’, The second is about ‘Two Months Ago.’

Regards

Mike”

Call me old fashioned, but the only way forward in the hobby, any hobby, or anything at all, is to start, and then carry on…

And lastly, something that’s not really a train at all. But seeing as I was mesmerized by it, I thought maybe it’s worth posting:

That’s all this time folks. A big thanks to Jim for sharing his wood train model. Impressive stuff.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to make that start, 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.

Mark’s been in touch with a post on making a cliff face for a model railroad layout.

I’m constantly banging on about making a start.

Inertia affects us all, even Hall of Fame member, Mark.

But as you’ll see, it’s all about rolling up your sleeves and having a go.

And that’s the same for a brand new simple oval, or one like Mark’s that is 6 years in the making:

“Hi Al.

My Tip for Today is “just do it”.

After six years, I finally accepted the challenge…

It was a relatively small project, but very difficult to reach and extremely annoying.

This scene went unfinished for years as it is over five feet from the front of the layout and almost impossible to reach.

The height of the upper track is a little over five feet high.

The only possible access is over the top of the upper deck reached from the “canyon” isle in the back.

That meant doing scenery from a step ladder, bending over the top about two feet in to the layout and working upside-down!

I accepted the challenge and actually completed the scene in a timed 53 minutes! (not counting time for the glue and ballast to dry).

Just one more thing to scratch of the “this is probably never gonna get done” list.

Cheers!

Mark”

A huge thanks to Mark.

You can see more of his amazing working work in the Hall of fame.

It just goes to show, your layout is like most things in life: starting is more than half the battle.

Though I do concede, I think what took Mark less than an hour would take me an afternoon or two…

Mark’s post also reminded me of Bill’sModel train cliffs.

That’s all for today folks.

A big thanks to Mark for sharing his take on making a cliff face for a model railroad layout.

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.

Grant’s been in touch with his N gauge coffee table layout:

“Hi Al

I have just finished another layout.

A couple of years ago I was at a train show for a local church, and they were having a junk sale.

They had a small coffee table there with a space in it for magazines. I looked at it and saw that I could squeeze an N scale layout in there.

The project was on standby for a long time. Recently I have been bitten by the bug again and over the last few weeks have crafted the layout.

Apologies for the different lighting. Some were taken on my phone the other my camera, and I have yet to figure out white balance with high F stop. But given that it is sunnydale, this yellow light works.

The loco is a little Japanese unit I picked up, the motor is in the middle carriage.

The whole thing is 400x560mm. it has a base board, onto which I put a single piece of 3mm ply cut to make the elevated layout. Giving me a smooth curve.

The bridge is matchsticks and deliberately rickety.

To make my rocks i put down a base layer of either polystyrene or plastic fly wire over a frame. Onto this i place plaster mixed with grey concrete tint.

I place the plaster mix on tinfoil and lay over frame, foil up, shaping the foil to make rocks. Later I peel the foil off. I then paint dark colours and dry brush up to light.

Regards

Grant”

N gauge coffee table layout:

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A big thanks to Grant for sharing his N gauge coffee table layout – coffee table layouts are always fun. There’s been quite a collection over the years.

Here’s Brian’s coffee table layout.

And if I’m not mistaken, here’s another of Grant’s from a while back (scroll down to the middle – it’s the one in the drawer).

Or if you just want to get going yourself, the Beginners Guide is here.

That’s all this time. Please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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