Model railroad layouts plans

“Hi Al,

Just finished compiling another ‘chapter’ in my proposed video “Exhibition Clips” series: “Diesel Operations on the SV&GS (Part 2 ) — A Fantasy Look at Passenger Trains” which depicts the “California Zephyr”, “The City of Fantasy” and “The McKinley Explorer.” I hope it meets with your approval for sharing with your readers.

And I hope you don’t mind my addressing some questions asked by the readers of the prior submission: My layout is the Susquehanna Valley & Gulf Summit Railway (N-scale) with a locale of roughly rural New York and Pennsylvania. The layout is 8′ x 5′ with two levels, as the name implies, that can operate four trains simultaneously.

The backdrops are strictly portable for photography and videoing purposes. They are photographic lithographs manufactured and sold by Realistic Backgrounds.com (also available from Scenic Express.com and other vendors). I used peel-and-stick lamination sheets on the back of each backdrop so that I coud use tape to temporarily secure them to wooden paint stirring sticks without the risk of tearing the backdrop card stock paper surface. The paint stirers are then taped to the layout fascia (see the 2 enclosed photos showing the backdrop front and rear when mounted).

I’ve also enclosed an illustration of the layout/track plan as many have requested. Again, thanks to you Al and all the readers for their expressed interest and phenomenal feedback.

Arnie”

A HUGE big thank you to Arnie. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

If you’ve sent stuff in and not seen it yet, please be patient. Going as fast as I can 🙂

Best

Al

“Hi Alastair,

Several comments on how I did the sky, thought I’d share the technique with everyone.

It’s all done with emulsion.

First, paint the complete wall with whichever shade of blue you would like.

Then when it’s dry, with a stiff brush no bigger than 1/2″ start by painting the outer cloud with pure white in short circular motions, 1″ at a time and moving along right to left.

As you come further down into the cloud let the brush dry out of paint on it’s own accord until the blue starts to come through the cloud. This way you can layer the cloud as often as you wish.

On some of them smoothly merge a grey into the bottom of the white to emphasise the shade from the sun.

For the whispey bits of cloud (which are not too prominent in the photograph) very lightly with a smaller stiff dry brush, paint a few whispey lines away from the main cloud in a slightly wonkey motion to fade out to nothing.

It took a few days to paint the clouds and get it how I wanted, but is was certainly worth it.

Will be in touch again when got new photos, Just doing my church at the moment

Cheers

Stuart P”

A huge thanks to Stuart.

Backdrops make such a difference to a layout. But I know from your mails and comments what a thorny issue they are.

I thought Stuart’s solution was fab.

What I like best about it, is if it doesn’t work out, another lick of paint and it’s all back to normal.

Please leave a comment below if you’re going to give it a go!

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here, if you
Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Got this video in from Arnie.

Thought I’d just copy and paste, word for word, too.

Please leave a comment if you’d like him to carry on with the ‘chapters’. I know I want him to!

“Hi Al,

I once again am contacting you about my endless photography and video projects on my N scale Susquehanna Valley & Gulf Summit Railway. I recently decided to put together a series of videos focusing on the many different trains I tend to run on my layout. I will be doing what I have entitled as Exhibition Clips. There will be 2 categories: Diesel Operations and Steam Operations.

Since I have, and continue, to run many different types of both steam and diesel locos, I plan to break each content area down into relatively short chapters.

I just finished the first of such chapters: “Diesel Operations on the SV&GS (Part 1) — A Look at the Susquehanna GP18 & GP20 Freight Service.” I hope you enjoy it and will consider sharing it with the other subscribers. Note: the sounds you hear of the locos are actual prototype soundtracks of the respective locos being shown. I think it ads greater impact and realism. If they appeal to you and the subscribers I would be happy to forward ‘chapters’ as I get them done.

Since my layout is a table-top design with access from all sides, there is no way to use permanent backdrops that would block access to the layout. So intstead, I use portable backdrops for photography and videoing. This technique also allows me a greater latitude in scenic backgrounds: By just changing the backdrop I can instantly change locales (e.g., from an eastern U.S.rural setting to a more western U.S. mountainous look). And by changing from steam to diesel and changing vehicles I can also change era. I’ve sent some photos to illustrate my point: Simulation of the Alaskan McKinley Explorer excursion train; The Amtrak Acela vs. the Old West 4-4-0 American steam loco/train of the 1860s.

Hope you enjoy them.

Thanks again,

Arnie”

Best

Al