Blog - Page 555 of 715 - Model railroad layouts plansModel railroad layouts plans | Free model railroad track plans, pics and tips

Bachman DCC layout – Mike’s

Mike’s been in touch with his Bachman DCC layout:

“Al, I sent in a few pictures last year so I thought I would share my new layout.

I went to Bachmann DCC this year.

I’m new to DCC so I went with a simple system.

This year I built a few more paper houses. they really add some realism to the layout.

Mike”

Bachman DCC layout:

A huge big thanks to Mike for sharing his Bachman DCC layout.

Now on to Don:

Of course, I’m biased, but the printable buildings look fantastic – they add bags of character.

I also love the step by step nature of Mike’s post.

Now on to Don:

“Hey, Alastair

Just a note to say how much I enjoy the messages you send out, although every one of them is way beyond me. I am a mere beginner, although I am 73 years old! Right now, I’m cursing (and not under my breath!) Bachmann’s turnouts and the seeming inability of one’s tracks in the turnouts and those “regular” tracks not meshing.

Seems that the track in the turnout is just a shade higher than the other tracks, and so far, I have not been able to use a single turnout for that reason.

From the reading I’ve been doing, it seems like I ought to try out an Atlas turnout and see if it would be compatible to what I already have (HO, Eze-track (spelling?!) Well, enough for now. Thanks again, and I drool each time I have a look at the wonderful layouts your readers share.

Don”

That’s all this time folks. Hope you enjoyed Mike’s Bachmann DCC 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

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

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the store.

They are great fun to make and great value too.

Bill’s Kit Bashing

“Hello, Alastair:

I thought I’d share my first kit-bashed piece of rolling stock – it sort of qualifies as scenery, because it mostly sits on a siding in a BNSF classification yard in Spokane, Washington.

North American railroads have abandoned cabooses, as I’m sure you know, having replaced them with FREDs (flashing – not the original word – red end devices).

Those cabooses still on working rails are “shoving platforms” or “ride platforms.” They are completely boarded up and only serve as a platform for yard workers to ride on when putting together trains, etc.

Anyway, I’ve attached a picture of the prototype, a shot of the original Bachmann HO model caboose I bought for $3 at a thrift shop, and the end result.

As I said, it is my first attempt, and it was a really good learning experience.

Bill”

“Hi Al,

Just uploaded another video with a couple of tips.

Regards

Dave”

Now on to Brian.

“Hi Al,

A very good friend of mine asked for advice on building an Engine House like the one that I built for my layout previously (see bottom photo), to put in the logging area of his layout.

It will be quicker for me to build one for him rather than explain and demonstrate it to him.

Photos below show the start of the scratch built one in HO scale without using plans or instructions, just measurements from his track already placed on his layout. (I have built so many of these in the past that I could almost do it with my eyes closed).

Time from starting it using a scribed siding sheet until the third photo was about two and a half hours.

The magnetic clamps if anyone wants to know are called right clamps (2 per set) available from Micro Mark in the USA and extremely useful in squaring up a building before and during the gluing process.

I will send more photos of the construction as I forge ahead on it.

All the best

Brian

Cape Town South Africa”