Model railroad layouts plans

Got this in from Tony. I think it has all the makings of a great train layout!

Hello Alastair, find pics for a 4M x 2M HO layout in figure 8. Still under construction but base board, track risers and track laid and ballast.

The tunnels and mountains are constructed from broken styrene boxes, expanding foam and plaster cloth.

I am in North Queensland Australia so this layout will be a rainforest and bush layout. Have left the “mess” in the pics to show some of the materials.

To make tunnels/mountain, I first made a box section with openings for the tunnels and spray painted inside with flat black waterbase acrylic.

As can be seen there is a roof for the mountain to go on top. The mountain is constructed by breaking up styrene boxes (got these from the fuit and vegtable section of a large supermarket as ithey are what the transport cold produce are are usually trash) and randomly placing them on the tunnel roof.

I then fill in everything with triple expanding foam (in an aersol, $14 from a large hardware store chain). Took 3 cans. This all tapers down onto the base board. I break the styrene by hand as this gives a more random pattern to the edges . Also by using the broken styrene boxes and no expanding foam I can create a cave in the layout as seen above the tunnel opening. You can also see the expanding foam and broken styrene in the same pic.

Once the expanding foam has cured (24hrs) I then “carve it” using an electric carving knife ($10 Ebay) and a “surform”

I just chop and hack any old way to obtain random shapes and because I do this I don’t become set in a pattern.

With the surform I can create the mountain and river waterfall. Once shaped I then covered it in plaster cloth. I did not use wadded newspaper as a fellow modeller had an insect problem from the newspaper.

After the plaster cloth hardens (24hrs) I then mix up a soup mixture of plaster and dab this on to reinforce the hardshell.

Cant really see it in the photos but at the bottom of the waterfall is a pond with river coming of this. Next step will be a mixture of grey acrylic primer mixed with water and plaster to prime the scene.

Regards,

Tony”

An excellent ‘how to’, Tony, thank you very much.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you decide to join in the fun, 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.

I got this in from Laurence. I think his layout is just stunning.

“Hi Al,

thought your readers might like to see my layout. I started to build it for my grandson last summer, but I’m afraid I got carried away a little bit.

The layout is OO on a 6’x4’ plywood base. The tunnel and rocks are made of insulating foam which I found to be great to work with and when painted looks very realistic.

I wanted it to be busy but not overcrowded, so I tried to give enough space for different parts of the layout, ie: quarry, farm, station and manor house.

There’s still more to do, but there always is when you build something like this, you always find that little bit that’s missing. Hope your readers enjoy my efforts.

Yours Truly,

Laurence”

I think Laurence night time pictures are fab.

One more thing – have you seen the most popular section yet?

There’s pages of tips in there – and of course they are coming in all the time too.

But if you can’t wait and you want to get stuck in, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

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

They are great fun to make and great value too.

David’s model railroad is really taking shape – again!

Don’t forget the latest ‘ebay cheat sheet’ to save those hard earned dollars.

Best

Al