HO model railroad scenes

The talented Dan has been back in touch with more of his HO model railroad scenes:

Al, here is a continuation of the last set of photos around the layout.

Enough said. You got to keep the law happy.

HO model railroad scenes donut shop

Part of the overall scene.

model train bridge

One of the stores in town.

HO model railroad scenes store

The liars’ bench in front of a campaign headquarters to set the year of the layout.

 model train street store

Night along the stores. I don’t run the trains at “night” but it looks good anyway.

HO model railroad scenes store at night

HO scale store night

HO scale store night



HO model railroad scenes:

Look close and you will see that the sign painter has misspelled almost just under the ladder to the left.

HO model railroad scenes factory

Weddings are nice. The HO “tin cans” behind the Chevy are made from solder droppings.

HO model railroad scenes church

To help set the era of the layout the stop sign is yellow. The use of red for stop signs was still a few years away

model train crossing

This is a HO model railroad Fine Scale Miniature kit. The were great craftsman kits. I did weather this kit. The truck was a resin casting. I also like slogans for my businesses.

HO model railroad scenes factory

This truck was also a resin casting.

HO scale house truck

A local gas station. This is a Woodland Scenic kit.

HO model railroad scenes

Waiting for the train.

HO scale bench people

A house along the railroad.

HO model railroad scenes truck house

I spent a lot of time riding my bike to see the trains in my youth.

model train ho scale people waving at train

Al, I will have another set next week.

Thanks for letting me do these.

A huge big thanks to Dan for sharing his HO model railroad scenes – they really do bring his layout to life.

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.

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





model train answers

Track for model trains

Dave’s been back in touch with some track for model trains that has been no end of problems:

“Hi Al… just had another bit of a problem with track movement, so had to go out and buy some new.

To start with could not locate what I wanted, then thinking I had bought some Peco track got home to find it was Hornby ..and due to no model shop near to us with Peco in stock, had to use this, its not up to Peco standard…

Also showing some glue which does what it says ..instant and sticks just about everything…especially track for model trains.

Regards

Dave”

track for model trains

track for model trains

track for model trains

track for model trains



A big thanks to Hall of fame Dave.

I think Track for model trains gives us all grief at some time or other.



Next, on to Brian, who has sent in more pics of his layout.

His first post is here: L shaped N scale layout.

“Alastair,

I love photography as much as railroading but promise not to keep sending these unless you want more.

Brian”

model railroad steam engine

n scale diesel engine

n scale freight

n scale steam engine

n scale steam train

Now on to another Brian, who has been busy with is track too:

“Hi Alastair,

I have been placing track on the last leg of the bottom level of my double deck HOn3 layout.

It is not fixed in place yet (good job that it isn’t) This is where a camera comes in handy as I physically could not see what was wrong until I took a photo of the section and the error glared at me.

There is a track that comes from the back of the layout leading to the the yard and engine facilities but could not get to the turntable from there. (No run around).

As can be seen below, there is no connection between the second track from the left to the next one to the right of it which leads to the engine terminal.

model train track

The track on the right hand side (not the siding) is the one that comes from the other side of the layout and leads to the yard and engine facilities. As seen below.

HOn3 track

The white card template shows where the track will be.

The spur from this track leads to the brewery. Seen below.

using card for model railroad track layout

Having taken a photo of this section is where I could see the error of the missing run – around between the two tracks. I have pencilled it in on the photo near the top left.

model railroad track layout

Fortunately I had two spare HOn3 right hand points that I could use to correct the problem as seen below.

track turnouts

The buildings are temporarily placed and not in the final position nor completed.

track turnouts

Short pieces of track placed temporarily to visualise what the final placement would be. (waiting for more HOn3 Peco track lengths to arrive).

track layouts with cardboard buildings

Below is a view of the bottom section allowing for trains to access the yard or down to the turntable and engine facilities.

track with turnouts

There will be background buildings along the wall with possibly some form of industry.

The bare wharf in the middle is where my FSM Seafood Emporium will be located as seen in previous posts of the build/kit-bash of it.

This black and white photo taken below looking east showing how it all worked out with the Roundhouse and facilities right at the end of this level.

shelf track plan

A closer view of the facilities without the buildings in there respective places while working on this section.

track turnouts by harbor

Fortunately I was able to purchase two more Blue Point motors for the points that our local hobby shop happened to have in stock.

A lesson learned (again) when working on a new layout, is – must have a track plan. (I have a track plan for the other side but not this side 😢😡😢).

Now to get on with the fixing down of the track. 👏

It has been extremely hot here in the past week of temperatures reaching 37c at times and way too hot to work in the train room.

Once again Alastair, keep up the excellent work you are doing for us modellers.

All the best.

Brian – the HOn3 guy in Knysna RSA”

That’s all for today folks. A big thank to the two Brians and Dave.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you stop dreaming and start doing, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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





model train answers

HO switching layouts

John’s added to the HO switching layouts on the blog with this fab update:

“Hi Al,

I’ve been busy with more stuff since I “retired” than I had when I was working! But the railroad has continued to grow in spite of everything else.

This time I added a few feet to the isle area of the layout, and put in tracks for more industry.

This part of the layout is pinned to switching and moving cars to the various industries. It will be wired and controlled separately from the rest of the layout.

I have always found “HO switching layouts” to be fun and challenging. How to get that tank car to the oil distributer without trapping the engine in the siding, collecting 2 “empty” boxcars and replacing them with “full” ones on a siding only long enough for 2 cars at a time, stuff like that.

I also added the “Almost Heaven RV Resort modeled after on of the worst places the wife and I ever took our RV! Actually this the one on the layout is better.

On a whim I bid on a bunch of Army vehicles, and won, so I put in the West Virginia Coal County National Guard yard post.

The small “Quonset” buildings are cookie holders from Girl-Scout cookies, the bigger ones are stripped cardboard.

As always, thanks so much for all you do for the hobby – world-wide!

I’ll send more pictures in a few days, trying out some interesting camera settings.

Regards,

John from Baltimore”

HO switching layouts

HO switching layouts

HO switching layouts coal mine



HO scale house on the hill

HO scale military base

model train forest

HO switching layouts

HO switching layout south facing

HO layout track plan

 model railroad quarry

model train park



A big thanks to John for adding to the HO switching layouts on the blog.

I’ve been a fan of his layouts for a long time now.

It also reminded me of this one:

HO switching layout plans.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you think everyone else is having all the fun, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

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




You can download this model here.