Joe’s been in touch with his DCC HO scale:
“Hi, several years ago i sent pix of my old layout, I have since moved and building a new HO layout here in Florida. I have less than two months into it so here’s some early pix.
All the buildings you see except for the one with the shops below and apts on top I built myself using balsa wood and pix taken from the internet via google images.
The roadway is convex using wall compound spread with a 3 inch blade. I still have to add an oil streak down the lanes.
The background views were taken from the internet and expanded using print shop as a banner.
The train station I built is in the middle of two 3ft passenger platforms.
I would estimate that after just 2 months work i’m about 20% along. Hundreds of trees to be added and more people. Street lights and telephone poles will be added soon.
System runs on dcc with Bachmann locos.
I will send more as it progresses!
Joe”
Now on to Andrew:
“Hi Al,
Thank you to all your readers and to you for sharing good ideas.
I saw your recent post from Roberto with recycled tracks rails as a cargo for his wagons. Attached are some photos of my use for the spare sleepers. I made coal bunkers with the redundant sleepers and coal from the foam that protected my last computer. Coal in the trucks is random lumps off the sole of old flip-flops (thongs in Australia)
Best wishes to you and all your readers
Andrew
Andrew”
Now on to Alan. And I have to say, I agree with him. Why just dump your unused cars and locos in a box?
“Hi Alistair, I just thought that you may like to see the sought of thing that an odd mind like mine can come up with.
I wanted a storage shelf for my ‘O’ gauge vehicles and this was the start of “Justash Elf Village”, I could’nt see the point of plian shelves would appreciate all comments good or bad as we can always learn.
There are more photo’s of this and ‘Tramps End’ if you wish to see them.
Alan.”
A big thanks to Joe, Andrew and Alan.
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you get started on your layout just like Joe, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
PPS HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Joe excellent scratch built buildings. Keep us up to date with your build.
Andrew great tip for old sleepers.
Joe , you’ve gotten a lot done in just a few months , looks keen , very detailed. Looking forward to seeing your finished project . You appear to be having fun , that’s where it’s at, good for you .
Joe
Great buildings. You did a lot of work in 2 months even though you had a decent inventory and the layout is going to be very nice indeed.
Andrew
great idea
Alan
Another great idea.
Big Al
All these ideas and such little time- LOL
Best
Joe, Well done, and in a very short time. What you have accomplished just proves people can build layouts of quality without spending years doing it. I like your background buildings too. Your bank building looks like it might be scratch-built. That leads me to think there may be many scratch-build items on your layout. Rob McCrain
Joe,
Dang, that’s a lot done in just a couple of months. Good work.
Alan,
I like it. That’s a great way to enhance the display shelves.
JC
I can’t hardly wait till the World stops thinking that HO Trains are the best !
News Flash to all … there are other scales of trains !
I use to think that HO was it then I woke up one day !
Instead of putting unused or damaged rolling stock in a box or a shelf, why not add to your layout a derailment or a repair shop or extra setting on a siding ?
Joe. Don’t know how close to Sarasota in Florida you are, but Sarasota has one of the best model railroad hobby shops I’ve seen. They have in stock just about everything Woodland scenic sells complete inventory of styrene sheets and shapes, different size track, building kits, just about everything you would need. If you or anyone goes by there tell John from Northern Virginia says hello.
Joe, those are some fine-looking roads and structures you’ve built. I like the modern theme of your layout (and, of course, the BNSF locomotive.) You’ve gotten a lot done in just two months. Please keep us posted with your progress.
Andrew, it’s nice to see some one else with a Hornby 00 set for a change. Can you post some more photos please.
good start like the parking garage
Joe, great looking layout for such a short time frame.
Andrew, a great idea for use of extra sleepers and packing foam
Alan, the display case is a much better idea than just sticking them on a shelf, it really looks great