Model railroad layouts plans

“A few more pictures of “Terrapin Yard” at the current level of progress…

The hill is a partial view block to hide the “rabbit hole” where the train ducks out of the main scene into the “fiddle yard”/ It is a foam core board base that was covered first in blue painter’s tape and then “brown shopping bag” pieces soaked in 40% (more or less) PVA. That was then covered in sifted decomposed sand stone..

As to the “no excuses” theme… I can only work on this project for about 30 minutes per day.. Occasionally I get a full hour. Unfortunately the annoying process of attempting to earn a living so I can pay my bills cuts drastically into the time I have available for modeling.

I hope you enjoy my little updates…

Today I worked on the fiddle yard area and made mock-up structures for that area.

The board fence begins finishing the back of the yard area. It is one of several items I have been building with
coffee stirring sticks. They work out to about 2×12 boards in 1/4″ scale and a box runs about $3.00 here in the US.

If you would like to know more about my removable hills/mountains (such as where I got the idea (Model Trains Magazine, US, early 1950’s), why I use them on most of my layouts, or how I build them, please feel free to drop a line.

One reason that I love these small layouts (I seem to be building about one per year) is that they provide me with an opportunity to try new ideas and refine old ones. So far this project has two new things I am playing with: the first is that it is in On30, the second is that this is the first time I have used photographs to embellish the backscene.

I hope you enjoy these updates.

Sincerely,

John”

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A fantastic series from John. I’m already looking forward to the next one.

Please do keep ’em coming – just like the comments on the ebay cheat sheet – latest one is here

And if today is the day you make your big start, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

“Hi Al

I have been reading your site for some time now and have learned a lot. about a year age I dug out all my old Lionel trains. Back in the late 40 and early 50 my Mom and Dad started a 027 Lionel set.

Every year at Christmas time they would get another piece. I packed everything away years ago. I am 69 now and retired.

I got everything out and started refurbishing it all. well now I can start the layout. I have been going to swap meets and picking up all kinds of parts. you can get a lot with a little money if you don’t mind fixing it up.

All the tips I have been reading about on your site I put to work. I took a 2′ X 2′ X1″ form and starting to play
around with it. my goal was not to spend any money. Well I have about $10.00 in it. It is all sawdust branches
and anything else I could find. i am happy with the way it turned out and looking forward to starting my 6′ X 9′
layout. I am working in 027/0 scale.

Steve from Toms River NJ US”

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A wonderful example of how space and money doesn’t have to stop you enjoying a layout. Big thanks to Steve!

That’s it for today peeps.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget, the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to make that all important start.

Best

Al

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

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

“Alastair…

Thank you again for your wonderful site…

I have started on a new layout (another micro)…

Lately I have been averaging about one per year…

This one I call my “No-Excuses layout” — I have tentatively named it “Terrapin Sidings”

The scale will be On30 and the baseboard is 12″ by 41″

It should fit on an Ironing Board… One of the inspirations is a popular British layout called “Ingleton Sidings”

Why is it “No-Excuses”? So far I have less than $10.00 in the baseboard… I expect the total to be less than $20.00 when all is said and done. The track is all brand new Peco and Atlas… So far less than $55.00
The baseboard is Foamcore board… a thin foam sheet that is backed on both sides with heavy paper.

It is easily cut with a straight-edge and a single edge razor blade. The whole thing is clued together with PVA (White Glue). This pretty much wipes out all potential excuses about why one cannot build a layout to run their trains on….

A little more progress..

The “Sleeper Thief” has been in action… The goal being to offer a kind of industrial tramway look to it.

I thought of sending the picture with this caption “The Notorious Sleeper Thief, Sir Charles Bullhead, has struck at Terrapin Yard”.

Also, here are a couple of photos concerning the wiring… Simplicity plus with the power soldered to the rail joiners and running through a pair of holes poked in the baseboard with a coat hanger.

Here are a few more photos on how I operate my turnouts (switches).

I use piano wire with a small hook at each end. I run the wire through a small channel cut in the baseboard and I cover the channel with tape.

Most of the track has now been pinned to the baseboard now.

Sincerely,

John”

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“Here are some things that I use:

1) Grape Myrtle ends after the blossoms die make great trees. I then add lichen painted different shades of green.

2) Get dried blocks of clay and crumble for use as real dirt.

3) I collect different sizes of saw dust and can use food coloring to make grass or other items

4) From Home Depot I got returned cans of Venetian Plaster to use to make and cover hills and stone walls make from chicken wire and newspapers with wall paper paste.

5) Go to the fabric store and look at felt to use for grass, gray for around track and brown for dirt.

6) I save any wire I get my hands on (telco, low voltage, old lamp cord, etc.)

7) I look for moss and when dried paint different color green or brown as needed.

Larry”

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Thanks to John and Larry! Please do keep ’em coming.

Here’s some more train layout builds if that’s your thing: Model train layout builds.

That’s all for today folks – please do keep ’em coming.

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

Best

Al