Model railroad layouts plans

“Hi Al,

I have been using foam scenery for years. If you wish to make a mountain or a river, you just add foam sheet or cut away foam sheet.

I also use foam in a can as can be seen in the photo below.

Once it is set, I then carve it or sand it to what I want and them paint and add greenery.

Brian”

Another reason to use foam, easy to cut out for building placement.”

“yes one tip is when making model houses use saw dust mixed with pva clue and paint it on to the model to look like pebel dash .

when dry paint it looks like the real thing any more tips i have i will send.

thanks

tommmy”

“Love the tips. Here’s one.

When buying a used DCC Locomotive, try to find out the DCC Decoder address is.

It makes it a lot easier to either use that address or re-program.

Cheers

Steve”

“a-photo-of-my-layout-as-you-can-see-you-can-carry-it-around-in-the-boot-of-your-car

you-dont-need-any-fancy-hobby-rooms,and-when-your-wife-gets-fedup-just-load-it-in-the-car

and-go-somewhere-else——Sorry-but-the-spacebar-on-my-computer-just-decided-to-die

hence-all-the-hyphens——————————————

Regards

Syd”

Syd’s post did make me laugh.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you are feeling left out, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Rob’s been in touch again. He’s been inspired by your comments and put together a new video.

It’s a bit dark – but that’s twilight for you!

“Dear Alastair,

I got such a rousing response to the postings in your modeling letter, that I have been working with renewed enthusiasm to make progress on my layout.

It seemed like a few people were interested in the way I created my color palette.

I have a camera on order and after I get a chance to try it out for a while, I thought I would tape a “how to” or explanation of what I am doing.

The response was overwhelming and all the kind and thoughtful comments were very encouraging.

The other day after a long session of working on the layout, I noticed the light was perfect for a little session of twilight video.

The next day after I took the video, I checked to see what I had in my crummy old camera. I was inspired! I decided that the footage could make a really fun (for modelers and me) video.

I plan to do two sort of how to vids in the future.

One will we about color mixing and my color palette and the other will about building a low hill I have planned. I want to get to those as soon as I can.

In the meantime, I hope you have fun watching this video as much as I had fun making it.

Thank you for publishing my pictures and other videos.

Rob”

I do so love this hobby! Please keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

Arnie’s been in touch again. Not much to say except the obvious: amazing!

“Hi Al,

I’ve been watching the new postings, and I see readers have been more and more getting into videos.

Since my last video I shared with you and the readers, I’ve done a few depicting AMTRAK trains, the primary interstate passenger carrier in the U.S. I just completed one on the Amtrak Amfleet line depicting the F40PH locomotive that was used by Amtrak from 1975 to 1992. I created the video on my N scale layout simulating a run of this train from near sunset into the night in the eastern U.S. I hope you enjoy it and will consider posting it.

Other AMTRAK trains video clips I’ve done are: the E8A locomotive with Phase I paint scheme of the early 1970s; the P42 Genesis Amtrak with Superliner cars of 1992 to 2001 and still currently used in the central and western U.S.; the Amtrak Acela Express the only true high-speed rail in North America begun in 2000 which ran from Boston to Washington D.C. along the Northeast coast.

I am also now considering doing a video on the Amtrak HHP-8 (an 8000 horsepower electric loco) of 1999 to 2001 that was in operation along the Northeast Corridor for a decade. Unfortunately, HHP-8 and Amtrak Acela service were discontinued due to unreliability issues and excessive maintainance costs.

Thanks Al and regards to all the readers,

Arnie”

Thanks to Arnie – a fantastic display of skill. I’m deeply envious!

Best

Al