Model railroad layouts plans

Arnie’s been in touch with his stunning N scale trains. What a layout.

Not only is he a fantastic modeller – he’s in to photography too. And it shows. Lots.

Hope you enjoy these ones as much as I did.

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“Hi Al,

I’m a relatively recent subscriber to your website. I’m very impressed with both the extent of information being provided by contributors and the no doubt hard work and countless hours you personally have put into making this project and website successful. I have recently been quite impressed with the work and layouts constructed by both new and experienced model railroading hobbiests.

I live in New York and have been an N scale trains model railroader for many years. I love the pictures folks have submitted of their layouts giving photographic reality to their creations. My layout was constructed about 10 years ago after about 2 years of work on it. Though I continually make small changes at this time (such as landscaping and other scenic details), it is otherwise complete.

Besides running my N scale trains, I love photography and have spent much time taking both photos and videos of my layout. It is 8 feet by 5 feet with operation on two levels and much scenic detail. It has both lighting and sound effects. I am sending a few pictures of a general view of the layout and of some specific scenes taken using photographic backdrops when needed to enhance the realism I seek when taking photos. I hope you enjoy it.

By the way, my layout was featured in N Scale trains Railroading (May-June 2007 issue) as well as having individual photos published annually in the Walthers N&Z Reference Catalog over the past few years in the section on The Magic of Model Railroading. I hope you enjoy these photos (in low resolution version).

Keep up the great work you’ve been doing through your website. It’s an invaluable contribution to all of us model railroading hobbiests.

Arnie”

N scale steam train.

N scale trains:

N scale trains steam.

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A big thank you to Arnie for sharing his N scale trains: an amazing layout and amazing pics.

That’s all for this time 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 More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the store.

They are great fun to make and great value too.

The talented scratch builder John has created this video ‘how to’ on lighting.

Hope it helps, because the lights always drive me insane. Thought it was good.

(But not as good as the ‘ebay cheat sheet‘!)

Best

Al

Visit John’s site here for more tutorials

“Hello Al,

I’m a new “subscriber” from Pennsylvania in the U.S. I have been modeling in N-gauge since 1970, but still consider myself an amateur.

I think I have a twist on one of your contributor’s submissions. When ballasting in N-gauge, I use a very fine screen to eliminate dust in the ballast. The real “trick” is to add a few drops of “wetting agent” (dishwasher product like JET DRY) to the diluted white glue/water mixture.

This eliminates surface tension in the water which causes bubbles when applied to the roadbed. The applied ballast will absorb the glue/water mixture like a sponge.

Has anyone ever suggested using the metal tops from pencil erasers? Here in the U.S. some of them look identical to oil drums. (probably best for use in HO modeling due to scale)

One silly question. What is the most popular height (from the floor) for setting up N-gauge layout tables?

M”

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“Alastair,

Here is a useful tool. I had a bunch of baby food jars. Filled with play sand from the home center store, they make excellent weights for holding down foam, cork or track if you are using glue to attach any of these. Just enough weight but not too much to damage track or push track out of guage. I have enclosed three pictures of the jars in use. A plus, the glue you use (I use yellow carpenter’s glue) doesn’t stick to the glass jars if you use a little too much.

Ed”

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“Hi Al,

Here are some photos showing my Layout, including my turntable made from a cd disc.

Paul”

“Al,

Here some pictures of the grey house. I hope you can use them. As you can see I am still in a starting stage. I’m a bridge freak so I’m trying to get them in place right before I move on.

Thanks,

Ken”

You can download the house ken has made here.

A real mixed bag this time – hope you liked them. Let us know below!

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide, if you want to get going on your layout.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.