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Alan’s latest update

“Hi Al,

just to update you on the progress of my layout. I have just completed building a new Metcalfe loco shed with a stone finish to match the station. It’s a very sturdy building and can recommend it.

I have also constructed a high level double track circuit so I can run-in new locos, or test ones that have been serviced. I can’t really run them in properly with an end to end layout. I did mention that I’m not a great fan of ’roundy roundy’ layouts, but I must admit that it’s nice to see longer trains travelling at some speed at eye level. I plan to fit a backscene at some time but don’t intend to put full scenery on it.

Having built the high level track, The lower ‘South Wales layout’ was in its shadow, so I bought som LED 5metre strips and fitted them under the shelf. It makes it a lot better.

Best wishes.

Alan”

“Dear Alastair,

I have been following the amazing Dave’s remodelling of his attic layout with great interest. In a recent instalment Dave was showing a little transformer he used for powering his LED street lighting and this obviously has many uses for stations signalling etc where LEDs can be used.

I teach simple electronics to teenage children at GCSE level in the UK. One of the things they need to know is which resistor to use with an LED and this depends on several factors;- The circuit voltage, the LED forward voltage (how much voltage the LED needs for optimal performance), The LED forward current (how many milliamps the LED needs for optimal performance) and how many LEDs you wish to use in your circuit.

LEDs used to be fairly standard at 2 volts and 20 milliamps but with the advent of larger and super bright LEDs this isn’t the case these day and the more powerful LEDs can use up to 3.5 volts. As a rule of thumb a 330r resistor will protect any LED connected to 3 – 12 volts DC. So if not sure, use one of about that value.

You will need to get the information on your LEDs which should be available from the manufacturers or distributors People such as Rapid Electronics, Maplin, Kingbright, etc are a good source of information.

Thank you for keeping my interest in model railways going if only as an observer of other peoples’ talent.

Regards

Paul”

Big thanks to Alan and Paul – some good LED advice there. Keep ’em coming.

That’s it for this time.

Don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if today’s the big day when you make your start.

Best

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Paul’s retirement project

“Alastair,

I was born in Bristol, England but immigrated to Vancouver B.C. in 1958 when I was three. My parents told me that they would walk me down to the train station in Bristol and I would watch the trains for hours, although I remember nothing of it, although that may have been the start of my interest in trains.

We did return to visit in 1963 and at that time I bought a Triang OO “Winston Churchill” and brought it back home where my Dad built me a 4×8’ train board that folded up into the wall. Although I did add a bit to my collection and play with it for a few years before I lost interest in my early teen years and sold everything except for my Winston and all my Super 4 track.

I do remember having a model railroading magazine of the day and spending endless hours looking at a full layout and wishing I could someday be able to build something like that myself. Fortunately I did pack that engine and track around with me for the last 50 years with the idea of building a real layout someday. I was fortunate enough to be able to retire a year and a half ago at 57 years old (I have a younger wife who still works)!

My oldest grandson is three now, so thinking of how much he might enjoy it but mainly to keep my sanity through the first winter of retirement I decided to start a layout. The last of our boys moved out last Fall and freed up a bedroom in the basement that my wife granted me permission to set up a train table in.

I bought a 4×8’ sheet of plywood set on some portable legs and put down a simple oval with a small siding and yard. That lasted a couple of weeks, then I decided I wanted to do something larger and more permanent. So I built a table that mostly filled the room at 7.5’ x 10’. I started to plan a layout and quickly realised I needed a lot more track, rolling stock etc. I spent the next few months on eBay purchasing a good quantity of Super 4 from the UK but also finding some within Canada.

At first I was going to build a non-prototypical English layout from the 50-70’s era. When my children were younger I acquired a fair quantity of HO North American stuff, so I then decided to do a blended layout which honoured both countries. Hence what was to be my second English hill turned into a “Rocky Mountain”.

I had a few “must have’s” for my layout 1.) a helix and 2.) a decent yard. The rest I just dreamed up with some hints from a 1970 something Hornby Triang layout manual.

I have never been an artsy or crafty type of guy so just looked at a bunch of uTube videos, Google searches, along with suggestions from your contributors and then started. I have not worked on it since March as I’m saving it for the dark days of winter this year but have been buying up scenic supplies and accessories to jump back in.

I’ve attached a few pictures of my progress to date. I blabbed on and on so much of my history that I thought it best to just wait for some responses and I will answer any questions on how I did my hill/helix and mountain etc., if anyone is interested.

Regards,

Paul from Tsawwassen B.C Canada”

“Hi Al ,

just posted a new video showing some more additional lights, Billboard ,new Coaches, and a new controller…… just about done with the changes now on that lower level, top to start next.

Regards

Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Big thanks to Dave and Paul! Please do keep ’em coming.

That’s all for today folks.

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 Silly Discount bundle.

N scale shelf layout – Peter’s

Peter’s been in touch with his N scale shelf layout:

“Hey Al . . .

For what it’s worth, here’s a small layout (narrow gauge) I built some years ago to show:

(a) You don’t have to have much space
(b) you don’t have to spent heaps on the hobby to have fun
(c) you don’t have to have a huge skill(s) base

to get something that works – and to enjoy yourself as a modeller.

Another thing most modellers – or those contemplating modelling a working layout – shd think about is building a small diorama to test their skills and ideas.

And, if nothing else, such a diorama can act as a photo ‘stage’ for models. This one is a little over 300mm (1ft) long.

This is a small one I built several years ago . . . I wanted to see how Woodland Scenics rock moulds wd work if I used plaster (very heavy results I would not attempt again on a portable layout!).

I also wanted to see how:

(a) realistic Micro Engineering N scale track could be made to look
(b) local (to my area) ballast could be made to look in such a small scale
(c) teased green carpet fibres could be used to model realistic railside undergrowth (I mixed this with the usual Woodland Scenics materials

and

(d) my models stacked up under the glare of close-up camera work (some are fully finished, and I was also testing some simple air-brushed weathering techniques).

Some of these models are Micro Trains, some are NSW rolling stock kits, some – like the tank cars – are scrap-box hand-me-downs I bought for a pence at second-hand stalls), and many are fitted with Intermountain trucks. The tank cars are designed to be extra fuel carriers for the locos.

Hope these help.

Chrs!

Pete”