Mike’s been in touch with some of his HO scale farm scenes – very much looking forward to seeing this layout expand:
“Greetings Alastair –
So I have this big vacant basement room and my goal is to create a big roughly u – shaped layout that re-creates our annual journey from my home on a farm in Indiana to our summer place in the mountains of Wyoming.
I have the first 1/4 pretty well complete modeling Posey County Indiana in something like the 1960’s when I grew up. Warts and all. A prosperous grain farm, a slightly worn out commercial center, then rural living with a nice family living next to a run-down house serving as a meth lab. And getting busted!
The next modules (that won’t be 4’ wide- rookie mistake) I hope to show a switching yard like in Nebraska, then up the North Platte to the mountains of Wyoming.
It’s taken 2 years of (summer) work to get this far, might be 6 more to finish!
Next I need to get off my lazy butt and finish out the room, then build the rest of the layout – but I’m impatient and wanted to have a place to run trains and build some scenery to learn.
Like everyone else, I get up in the morning, get my coffee, and read your blog. Then, I try to remember to say good morning to my wife!
Cheers- Mike from Indiana/Wyoming”
HO scale farm scenes:
A big thanks to Mike for sharing his HO scale farm scenes. Whenever a farm layout lands in my inbox, I’m always reminded me of Peter’s: HO scale farm.
Now on to something completely different, but made me smile because it looked like a lot of fun:
“Hi, Al —
Such huge personal layouts! Magnificent! Here in the (East Coast) US, I’m seeing a real growth in T-Trak module building (mainly N-Scale) with railroad modelers getting together to “run trains”.
This past week I was traveling and went to a local train hobby store. Their train club has been building mini-dioramas (like a T-Trak lite) in N-Scale.
The store owner told me that the club is having fun with the idea and has created interest with some youngsters. Are you seeing anything like this from your vast community?
Thanks for all you do.
Mason”
That’s all for this time folks.
A big thanks to Mike and Mason.
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if you feel like you’re missing out on 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.
very good job. i like this post.
Mike,
Great looking farm scenes! I never grew up in a farming area, so I doubt I could put together a believable farm layout. Yours shows that you know what farming areas are all about. Love the meth lab bust! Great contemporary addition and the run down yard and house are very accurate — tweekers aren’t into yard maintenance. I’m anxious to see your Wyoming addition.
Too funny , what town isn’t Complete without a drug bust going down . Great detail, good to see your farming theme , you’ve nailed mid America rural living . Very nicely done , do keep us posted , will like to see more .
Mike, Great layout. I love your farms. I have a farm on my layout, too, although I see you have more than one. I like the scenes you have created. They tell stories, and I have always liked that. Mason, you have demonstrated that even a simple loop can make for an entertaining time with a model railroad. Keep on modeling, Rob
Thanks for the nice posts- I guess my era really is all over the place, maybe just hints of the ‘60’s! The grain system and the crack house bust are definitely modern times. The tree pictures are to show what great gnarly old trees you can make from dead sagebrush. I love ‘em.
Nice layout Mike with nice looking farm scenes, well done.
excellent
Mike, I love your layout and am looking forward to seeing more of it! You’ve done such a wonderful job of recreating a small farm community, and the scenery is amazing. Your trees are wonderful and I’d love to see more about them…I’ve wanted to do something similar but none of the trimmings I lop off my trees and shrubs look nearly as good as yours. Great job on everything! Keep it up so we can see more! (I’m really looking forward to seeing Wyoming on your layout!)
Mike,
It is always fun to see a fellow Hoosier’s layout. That is a great start. You might want to make a loop through Brown County, Indiana before heading to Wyoming. You could stop at the only train station ever in Brown County. It would be at Helmsburg.
Have fun continuing your journey!
Roger
Hi Mason! t Track Modules is strong in Australia too. At our main train show in June T Track layouts are featured using the modules. There are strict guidelines so modules can be joined together, I have HO so I don’t know much more than that. Cheers Rossco, South Australia