Fred been in touch with some stunning pics of his layout which shows just how much of a difference model train LEDs can make.
He’s a man of few words, but with pics like these, he can get away with that. Stunning stuff:
“Hutton Ave backdrop, showing fibre optic “lighting tubes” in various color model train LEDs lights, and wires for separate “pica” LEDs
Front Side in Daylight (lit) roughly painted
Front side model train LEDs (Lit)
Rear Side of Hutton Ave Backdrop (Lit)
Rear Side of Hutton Ave Backdrop (not lit)
Forming street lamp shades 5mm model train LEDs
Hand formed lamp shades (5mm) from beer can aluminum!
My lights – pica and Z size pica LEDs from Evans Design – thousands of them!
Beginning City “RingRoad” in plexi backdrop. Note that lit autos not yet on last section of bridge, but will eventually form a lit continuum of nightmarish traffic past east end of city, over rail yards, past east end, over suburbs, and into background beyond. Background cutout is just visible. I’ve been working on it separately on bench for two months. More on this later.
For scale:
Wow! Some of Fred’s pics look so real. He really has nailed this night scene with his model train LEDs.
I know some of you will want to see some more day light pics – I know I do.
Fred mailed me last week to say he’s putting together a ‘how-to’. Can’t wait for that!
Now on to Dave:
“Hi Al
Well after a couple of weeks away, got back home now and of course just had to go and have a running session on my layout… just uploaded so here it is.
I have missed my trains, but got to admit enjoyed the sun this time of Year.
Regards
Dave”
Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
A huge thanks to Fred and Dave.
That’s all for today folks – please do keep ’em coming.
If you want to send anything in, please just email me (hit reply to any of my mails).
A quick heads up though. If you attach lots of pics to one email, it won’t get through.
Best thing to do is don’t attach more than 3 pics to one email – but send as many emails as you like.
Hope that makes sense.
Oh – and if you’re a HO chap, please do get in touch – it’s all getting a bit thin on the ground this end.
One last thing. Pleased don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide if today is the day you get started on your layout.
Best
Al
PS More N scale layouts here if that’s your thing.
Waw!!!!!!
Fred’s nights scenes are the best I’ve ever seen in creating depth. Did he work in film or theatre?
Most excellent with the fibre optics and micro technology- what patience. Only other time I’ve seen anything coming close was a layout using fluorescent paints for windows etc and integral filter fluor. black lights. Gave the layout an eire night effect and everything painted popped out with the colors, a 70’s thing way before… except for Chevy Corvette optics I knew of. Think even myself would go that route if… I won’t ever live long enough to accomplish something as with today’s post lmao.
Regards, Rich
Dave’s layout is the best I’ve ever seen….Wonder where he gets all the wonderful buildings and classic cars…….Is this from the UK?
Fred’s modelling results are amongst the very best we’ve ever seen on this site. Magnificent.
Nice job Fred, an amazing display. Very well thought out.
Fared
A total OMG moment. When you dont know if it is a real picture or a model then you know the model was created by the best. For those of you who may travel to NY City a must see is Gullivers Gate, 44th St an expose in 1/87 scale of each famous part of the world. The expertise of the modeling is why I mention that here and I compare Fred’s work to that of the “Gate”. Yeah stunning is the right word. The sky and moon- WOW! The city is alive.
Dave- thanks for the trip- Tank train was awesome!- ( never too long)
George from NY
Fred’s lamp shades are a great justification for beer consumption, should that become necessary. Oh, and the lighting is world class!
I wouldn’t believe that these weren’t just snapshots of the real world if it weren’t for the moon not being round in some of the pictures. Unbelievable otherwise! Well done!
Amazing
incredible lighting and art work..the concepts are truly a stroke of art
Absolutely amazing results. I thought he snuck in some “real world” pics! Kudos, Fred! Please keep sharing your great work.
Neat. And three rail O” gauge as well
Trains in England sure do run fast… WOW !
Fred has one of the most amazing layouts I have ever seen! WOW!
Amazing street/city detail. Lighting amazing. I wish I will have the patience to get the lights to that detail on my layout. I think that’s why I picked a more industrial layout out in the country woods, fields and Mtn landscapes. Your pictures do motivate me to spend more time on what little lighting I will have in my 4×8, which i appreciate. I hope my layout will grow to something much larger. One more child to go and the basement is mine, LOL! Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing.
Patrick from MD
OK I Quit!!! I admit that I will never be that good if I live to be 100 (thats an old saying) actually 200!!!! lol Kidding…magnificant work Fred. Im assuming that you are or were a lighting engineer or did lighting for professional models for movie sete etc… If not then you should apply for a position by sending your pics to producers…
Oh how great these night scenes are. Wow.
With the colored lights and optics I understand but I’m curious how Fred gets around the bluish color of LED’s.
What an awesome effect. The steamer with the distant city/village lights across the bay is FANTASTIC!! Had to double-take on many in these pics!
Fred, WOW, amazing work and such beautiful lighting. It looks so real.
Way above my pay grade! Very nice, and very nice to have the time necessary.
Wow Fred,
Everything looks so real. The lighting is extremely well done, like how you also blended the lighting into the background. Very intimidating, I wouldn’t know where to begin! Awesome job.
Dave, your work is always incredible. You set the standards high. Great job.
TOTALLY Awesome !!!!
WOW! If only all models were this beautiful! A masterpiece!
Talent,patience,and know how,I’m in aw! I can’t figure out how to hide my wiring on my upper level passenger platform let alone light an entire city. Great work fred
Crikey that’s exceptional, well done. Stuck most of my buildings down for protection in transit and can’t see me ripping a lot up for internal lighting now, but that is inspirational.
Glad you enjoyed your holiday Dave!
Rod
Thank you all re my Railway , and thanks Rod re the holiday , makes a nice change to be getting 25C this time of Year , as you will know in UK its down to 5/7c
Nice work with the lighting Fred , something to me that always adds life to a Railway ….Dangerous Dave
This is estonishing. Words cannot describe this superb work of art. Congratulations! This should be named LAYOUT OF THE YEAR!
Lighting work is outstanding!
Your lighting effects are quite remarkable and your photography of the scenes is very professional. Thanks for sharing.
Jim AZ
Amazing! How long have you been working on this great and unbelievable setup? I’m guessing you are still planning and working on your amazing setup!
Absolutely stunning. They all look like real life pictures. You’ve done an absolutely wonderful job with your layout.
Fred, you da man! Amazing!
whoever said “there’s no such thing as perfection” never saw this …..
i’ve been on here for years and never saw anything that came close to this ……….on a 1-10 scale this is off the chart …nice going
AWESOME SETUP DAVE. WELL DONE !!!!
Best lighting I have ever seen on a layout.GREAT JOB!!!!
Fred’s work is so fantastic that he should be in the Hall of Fame; truly spectacular work!
I’m speechless! Wow , amazing , fantastic , absolutely incredible what you’ve done with lighting and backdrop. A special skill indeed . Thank you , that is an inspiration.
OMG! Sensational city night scenes and scenery Fred..
Best to all
Brian, Wokingham, UK
Fred, your lighting is just stunning. Great job!
Dave, I love your setup. Did you build the pedestrian stairways by hand or purchase them. I just tried building one, and while it is functional, it is by no means the same quality as what you have in your setup.
Great work both of you. I am awed!
Wow, Fred, you are definitley in the hall of fame of model railroaders.
It supasses that commercial layout in Germany.
Just frigging awesome!!!!!
By far the most impressive nighttime work I’ve seen anywhere, in any medium. Simply astounding realism, and adding another whole dimension to model railroading. Thanks so much for your work, photos, and inspiration.
John from Baltimore
What an inspiring issue today. Utterly breathtaking night scenery, absolutely outstanding. Congratulations Fred. Daves return home thrah was great too. Would love to know the power / engine(s) on the tanker train? Dave??
Paul near Dover
W O W !!!
Dave, I REALLY want to know about your on-board CAMERA! The video is so clear and un-distorted!!!
Also, how did you attach it to different locos???
You got that second big bridge back up again Dave?
Just wow!
What can I say Fred? Your layout is beyond amazing. I especially like the way you’ve created the illusion of a shoreline fading off into the distance with lights on the horizon. Very clever. How do you dim down those picos on the horizon to make them look not so bright and up close?
Wow, how beautiful your work is. Your attention to detail is way beyond anything I have ever seen in model Railroading. Even better than some Cinema. Come and join us in Amarillo. Lol it would be a honor to meet you.
Okay, how BIG is the layout, because he managed to combine the urban with the rural, both were done very well. The downtown effects were nice, then faded into what looked like a rural scene. I really do wish though, that all modelers would give the size of their layouts so that I can get a better perspective of what I’m looking at and how it’s done. Overall, good job.
Very impressive!!! Just unbelievable!!!
Fred your lighting is second to none, brings the layout to life, what are all those people doing behind all those lit windows? Absolutely outstanding.
Dave a pleasure to watch as usual but I did want to say that your ballast, rails, sleepers, and in and around vegetation is superb. You have captured the look and feel of prototype operational trackage. You can almost smell the oil and diesel .
Hey we have sound, smoke and lighting why not smells, lumber yard, oil refinery, cattle pens, maybe in the future. Considering the age of this hobby, it continues to improve and move forward thanks to all those people that have the foresight to see it grow.
Stunning and way above my pay grade for execution.
what a wiring/lighting job. very nice.