Model railroad layouts plans

“I have not seen this tip from anyone, but it may not be new.

I save the saw dust from any wood work I do, (train table, remodeling, etc.).

Then I mix different colors of scenery grass and small foliage with it for landscape base.

This saves money by extending purchased material it looks good. Especially if you are doing fall or spring scenes.

Secondly, I mix water and alcohol with carpenter’s glue to the consistency of milk and use it as scenic cement. You have a comment?

Terry”

“Hi All, lately I’ve been making my own trees with things we throw away or find in our yard. I have many Oak trees on my property and when the branches fall I pick the Lichen off to use as foliage.

I also use grape vines. These will dry nicely which can be trimmed. No painting is necessary as they dry to a nice brown natural color.

I use a household glue that is thick to attach the lichen to form the tree. When dry, a little diluted water based green paint will give the tree highlights.

Frank”

“Hi Al,

Thanks for so quickly publishing my recent video to you on the Bachmann DD40AX.

I’ve gotten a lot of comments and requests for more information about my N scale layout.

The most frequent request is to see a copy of the track plan. So I’m attaching a copy of it.

If you are agreeable, I would like to have you share with the readers some further data about my Susquehanna Valley & Gulf Summit Railway:

> The layout is only 8ft. x 5ft. but has two levels (the lower Valley region and the upper Gulf Summit region).

> Three transition tracks join lower to upper levels and vice versa. One transition track is actually a 4 foot kit-bashed trestle with a 3% grade.

> Four trains (2 upper and 2 lower) can run simultaneously, or one train traversing the upper and lower levels in a multitude of patterns….

> The layout incorporates built-in environmental and railroad related sound effects and day-to-night lighting and environmental sound transition that can be activated by just turning on and off the room’s overhead fluorescent lighting.

> The layout is DC powered by two dual throttle MRC Tech 4 280 power packs; one for each level.

> Wiring scheme and control system panel was created by me. The control panel is entirely toggle switch operated using 55 toggle switches to power/activate 27 turnouts, approx. 10 sound effects, track signals, and lighting for numerous buildings and station platforms.

The layout was actually featured in “N Scale Model Railroading” magazine in the May-June 2007 issue (#41). As mentioned above, I am attaching a copy of the track plan that was used in the article.

Some readers have asked to see a video showing a more comprehensive view of the layout. Al, you previously published a video of mine entitled, “LIFE ON THE SV&GS.” I think this would fit the bill (you can see it here).

Once again, I thank you Al whole-heartedly for being so accommodating and providing this arena for the readers to share and enjoy each others’ work and ideas.

Arnie”

A big thanks to Arnie for taking the time to answer our questions.

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.

“Hi Al,

Despite the long hiatus since my last contact and submission to you, I have tried to keep up with your postings; working them in around my professional and family responsibilities… The posting submissions seem to have grown in number and diversity. Really nice to see the “World’s Greatest Hobby” growing and being shared internationally.

I am forwarding to you a short video I put together a couple of days ago. It features the recently released version of Bachmann’s N scale DD40AX diesel locomotive equipped with DCC and Sound. It’s Bachmann’s first sound equipped N scale loco. The number of sounds of these locos running on my layout are limited since I have a DC not DCC powered layout. Full access to the spectrum of sounds can only be accessed in DCC mode. Nonetheless, the automatic sound control when operating in DC mode still renders a good impression of the quality of the sound and the power of these impressive locomotives. The engine sounds are so bold and powerful that I had to reset them significantly lower for operation on my layout; and still the sound is impressive.

For the viewers unfamiliar with the real DD40AX, (really designated as the DDA40X) here’s some info: It was first made back in 1969 for the Union Pacific railroad; the only railroad to own them. It was a behemoth at 98 ft. 5 inches long and each loco had 2 diesel engines that yielded a total of 6,600 horse power. Today, it still remains the largest diesel locomotive ever built. There’s only one in operation today and runs for special excursion purposes only and as UP’s inspection train. There are 13 others preserved and now housed in museum display.

I hope you’ll find the video interesting enough to post.

Thanks,

Arnie”

Stunning stuff from Arnie – and a big thanks for sharing.

I couldn’t resist seeing how much these locos with DCC sound were – so if you’re curious too,

That’s all this time folks.

Keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

Paul’s been in touch with his BNSF N scale freight cars – such a shame the layout is no more!

“Here is the link to the Montana side of my layout. It is based on the small town of Rudyard on the “Hi-line” in northern Montana.

Sadly, the whole layout has been broken up and sold to provide capital for my next project. A small town in northern Germany.

Paul”

“Here is a Tip that might be useful for somebody other than myself, if you care to use it – A method of scenery that I have used several times in the past on my layouts is that there are “Real Trees” in real life Like the “Black Locust” (Not all trees have this type of layered bark, But still, there are actually more than you actually think) that have a certain style of large grained stacked layers to its bark that can be broken off and then cut or broken down into smaller chunks and sections and then used (either in single layers or by stacking these layered chunks on top of each other) and used as certain types of realistic looking rock strata simply by laying and gluing those sections down on their inside and then painting them with an air brush with the proper colors to represent layers and layers of rock.

So the next time you, as a Model Railroading fan (or buff) decides to wander by a real tree, take the time to stop and take a real close look at its bark with a new perspective, Who knows, it just might be one of those that has the bark that can be used as scenery on your layout as layers of rock.

Old P”

“Hello Al.

A tip that will save you MONEY is, Take some dirt from your yard, or a lot that is the color you like, then put it in a flour sifter. The kind that has a handle you squeeze, and sift it into a bowl. Put the sifted dirt into old seasoning bottle that has small holes. You can either dilute some Elmer’s glue in a squirt bottle, or take clear flat paint in a spray can. Put a thin coat where you want the dirt, and then sprinkle the dirt there. Instant natural dirt. You can also go to the Dollar store and get some Chile powder, or paprika, and sprinkle it in spots for shading, or to add depth. Much less expensive than the stuff you buy from the hobby store.

Happy Railroading

Thomas”

“Hi

This is essentially for N scalers. In Ontario garlic is sold in sleeves of fine net mesh (generally three bulbs pack). It stretches to a size suitable for chain link fencing. Cut the sleeve and pin it out stretched and paint it with an acrilic silver or aluminium. It will then be available to be cut to any height of fence you want. Just be careful that when you paint it is not stuck to the surface you are painting against. Try using pins to stretch it and raise it above the surface. There are quite a number of different pins available to be used as fence posts. The next thing to free. I love it.

Fred”

That’s all this time. Please keep ’em coming. A big thanks to Paul for sharing his BNSF N scale freight cars and youtube.

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

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