Joe’s layout

I normally steer away from the folk that type in CAPS, but thought I’d make an exception in Joe’s case. What a layout:

“I’M EIGHTY EIGHT YEARS OLD CAME DOWN WITH CANCER OF THE BLADDER HAD TO STOP WORKING I WAS TIRED OF DOING NOTHING THATS WHY I DECIDED TO TRY AND BUILD A RAILROAD IN MY GARAGE. I WAS IN THE 101ST AIRBORNE WORLD WAR II FOR FOUR YEARS AND SPENT TWO YEARS IN KOREA I’M MARRIED AND HAVE 8 KIDS AND 22 GRAND KIDS THAT KEEP US BUSY GLAD YOU LIKED MY LAYOUT AND WISH I KNEW MORE ON HOW TO BUILD A GREAT LAYOUT GOD BLESS

JOE”

(Images are clickable)

model railroad garage

model railroad ship

model railroad ship

model railroad roundhouse

model railroad harbor

model railroad quay

model railroad water scene

model railroad tractor factory

model railroad tugboat

model railroad wharf

A huge thanks to Joe for sharing his stunning layout – just have a look at the comments at the bottom of the page!

(And to those doing the math, this is a repost from quite a while back.)

Next up, Kim:

“Hi Al.

I been messing with making traffic street lights from junk.I installed the green,yellow,and red leds.Ive made a post to hang 3 sets for a 3 way traffic light.

The one on the left is a UK traffic light.notice the len’s.made them realistic as possible.not happy with one of the paint job’s and will do again.made from an old credit card,tube plastic coffee stir stick for the len’s , and a black tie wrap large.I made the post from the same tube plastic coffee stir stick.I added more wires inside to be able to wire up 3 sets of traffic lights.

With all the wires inside it becomes very stiff.When you go to drill any holes in the tube sticks make sure to shove something lesser the size to be able to drill a perfect hole for the wireing.

For the horizontal post I drilled a hole big anough to slip the cross post into it and instant glue solid.The wireing held it there.In the second photo with the post the leds aren’t in it to give you the idea how it goes.

Kim”


Thanks to Joe and Kim. Have a look at the comments below!

And if you find Joe inspiring, what’s stopping you? Here’s how to start.

Anyhow, that’s all folks. Please keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

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

smokey joe's lock up printable building

Vince’s layout

“Alastair,

Enclosed is my son’s HO layout which he completed a few months ago.

When my sons were 6 and 9 years old we would put together layouts every Christmas Holiday season.

Themes each year would be Wild West, Modern Military. Calvary and Indians and modern city layouts circa 50s and 60s.

As they grew and became adults their hobby was put on hold and all was put away . Since I am a graphic artist and painter were all hand painted and the boys early on would build, paint and produce their own layouts.

Jump now to today, and the boys haven’t done any train layouts since they were very young.

The three of us we reminiscing about the great times we had in years past working together building our “train platforms”.

So my youngest son decided to start a new HO layout.

Work begun and was completed a few months later. We all contributed and my oldest son researched and purchased people and vehicles from all over the world while my youngest planned and built the 3.5′ x 8′.

I surprised the boys by telling them I kept all the buildings, houses, people, track & etc. ( I can’t believe how expensive today compared to many years ago).

A lot of new track, foliage, people and vehicles along with some hand built buildings, docks, billboards, etc.

Please take a look and let me know if you would like to see more photos (and video) as well as track design and details of the design.

Best regards

Vince”

(images are clickable)

model train track plan



“Hi Al,

Just uploaded my usual Xmas effort Al, all the best to you and members for the coming season.

Regards

Dave”

Daves model railway

Dave's model railway

Dave's model railway



That’s all for today folks. A big thanks to Dave and Vince.

Please do keep sharing and keep us all smiling.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you’re feeling left out.

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.

How to make signals for your layout

“Alastair,

A series of photos which are almost self explanatary for making signals

Peter”



make signals for your layout

make signals for your layout

make signals for your layout

make signals for your layout

make signals for your layout

make signals for your layout

Big thanks to Peter – a fantastic ‘how to’.

Please keep ’em coming. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

And don’t forget, the Beginner’s Guide is here if want to take the first few steps.

Best

Al