Model railroad layouts plans

Brian’s been in touch with how he puts his backdrops together:

“Hi Al

Here is how a do my 3D backdrop.

I use 3mm (1/8”) Masonite (hardboard), makes no difference which side I use for my backdrop.

I cut it to the shape of the mountains that I want as well as the length.

Start with a coat of earth colour latex (PVA) paint over the whole area.

Mark out with a pencil where you want the closer hills and the hills further away.

Paint on white glue in a thick consistency starting at the bottom.

I use 4 colours of the ground foam from darkest to lightest.

Start at the bottom (closest) with the darkest green and work your way up using a lighter colour as you go.

Remember that the closest mountains are always darker that the furthest ones.

When all is dry, I mark out the different hills just to enhance the look of distance between the hills.

The photos show how it was done on 3mm thick Masonite for a section of my backdrop behind and under a bridge section.

Brian”

A big thanks to Brian! (His original post is here).

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you spring into action, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

If you are wondering about adding traffic lights to your model railroad, Kim shows you how:

“Hi Al.

This is a test build of a north American traffic signal. Made from wood.

This next one is made from a credit card and a plastic large tie wrap,and coffee stir stick for the len’s. Now after painting,and the len’s trimmed.

This is the finished project other than installing 1 or 3 LEDs. The led’s will slip into the tubes. If you noticed they are not the yellow American signals. these are UK built in mind.

The led’s are 3mm red yellow or green or all of them. If you want can have say a yellow 3mm flash can act as a caution signal.

Or can find a small project from the net to run a bunch of signal’s and have them switch to each color alturnatly. So what ya think?

This signal is to be installed onto a pole like in the UK. Im working on a hobo moonshine still right now. HO scale. These signals are HO scale as well. If you like a run down on it let me know.

Oh forgot to add. if you want these to be north American signals. Just paint the signal the canery yellow.

In the UK don’t paint the twist tie as it looks better weathered.

Paint only the credit card,and len’s be adding those tiny cctv camera’s soon.

Kim”

Now on to Roger:

“Hallo or in sweden we say Hej Lee

because of heart surgery if I newly completed so I have time to take up an old intesse if I had since I was young .. send some pictures of a old wiking car I fitted spotlights on the front …….-led lights 1,8 mm with a 470 oms resistance..I intend to set up a new model digital Roco.har earlier parts locomotive traces of an old Marklin train….you must be very thankful for those track plans you submitted it is not easy to find new things how they want their model
excuse my english is not 100%

Roger”

(images are clickable)

A big thanks to Roger and Kim. It was just by chance those two came in on the same day.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if today is the day you start on your layout.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

“Hi Al, keep up the good work.

Thought that I would share this with you and other fellow modelers – from Cape Town, South Africa.

Here is a photo of my 22′ x 10′ layout under construction in HOn3 – part logging and part freelance Denver & Rio Grand Western.

And an almost finished two stall engine house (modified) Fine Scale Miniatures Engine House kit that will be placed at my logging area on the layout.

I can send more photos of structures and part scenic areas of my layout if you would like to see them.

Cheers

Brian”

(Images are clickable)

“Hi Al.

Interested in another.How about a industrial vacumm made from a dish soap bottle lid and a toilet cleaner bottle lid lol just have to add pipe’s.

Top is the dish soap lid with the popup lid removed and the bottom is a toilet cleaner bottle.both have a hole so I ran a piece of dowel threw each other to hold together as you see and then I instant glued the seam.and then painted silver or aluminum.

The leg’s are balsawood made to look like metal eye beams.

Kim”

“Alastair,

Thanks for the tips.

I am big on magnets

Purchase a set of small screwdrivers with magnetic tips. They are a life saver when removing/replacing those tiny screws can bounce off into oblivion.

Also, you can buy sheets of magnetic vinyl (the backing for refrigerator magnets). Use a 12” x 12” sheet to do your fine work. It will protect your loco’s and cars from scratches and if you drop one of those teeny screws they will still to the backing instead of bouncing off into oblivion.

Automotive stores sell a telescoping wand with a magnetic tip. Use it to pick up track nails, etc instead of trying to grapple them with your fingers. Also great for getting into hard to reach areas.

When disassembling items with several metal parts, stick them to a small block magnet instead of placing them loosely in a dish, etc. That way, you can’t bump the dish and have everything go flying away into oblivion.

You can tell I have had many items disappear into oblivion-never to be seen again…

Cheers,

Knighttrain”

That’s all today, folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you’re heading off to ebay, hope the latest ebay cheat sheet helps.

Best

Al