Rob’s been back in touch with his Faller model train road.
He’s been having fun making the vehicles move – this time, a night bus:
“Hi Al,
I thought your readers might find this interesting.
I added headlights and tail lights to my Faller Road bus some time ago. I thought it looked interesting running along in low light.
I shot some video the other day and added some new music to the scene. When I watched it, I found it quite pleasing. It is a very short video. It is slightly over one minute long, but it is an intriguing minute. While watching, I can imagine it is real.
If someone is interested in these Faller Roads and vehicles, I have several videos about how I built my road on my YouTube channel.
Adding the lights was more trouble than I expected. I was able to operate the tail lights from the motor circuit, but the tiny LEDs I used for the headlights wouldn’t work that way, something to do with resistance or something.
For them, I had to add a second small battery and a tiny switch to turn them off and on under the bus. I have done this to my DHL truck as well. Before I added the running lights to the vehicle, they just didn’t look right to me.
Thanks again for all you do for the rail modeling community all around the world.
Rob – Farland Howe”
A big thanks to Hall of Fame member, Rob.
If you want to see his Faller road post, it’s right here.
In fact, Rob’s been quite busy with his lights, here’s his post on adding brake lights to the rear of his trains:
His post reminded me of another Hall of Famer – Old Taz – who also did a very good post on adding car lights:
Looking back through the blog, I was surprised at how many posts there are on lighting – here’s another helpful one from Roger on car lights too:
Of course, when it comes to lighting, there’s one particular blog that stands out in my mind – Fred’s.
Have a look at his layout – it’s a night time scene that I can safely use the word ‘stunning’ for.
A big thanks to Hall of Fame Rob for sending us down this rabbit hole.
Please do leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts.
That’s all for today 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 Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
PPS HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
OUTSTANDING!!!! Brought a tear to my eye! I enjoyed watching it 10 times! I’m not through YET!
It’s a good system Rob , just wish I had the room on the layout to set up a moving road
Great video as always Rob. A lot of patience to fit those lights into the bus. Excellent.
Regards to all.
Brian, Wokingham, UK
All I can say is, amazing!
Rob…..that’s cool..nice work
One of, if not, the best. It took me a minute following the bus to see the engineering and time spent to get it where it is. I swear it looks beyond belief, the scenery, the glow, it’s all there. wow
That’s a great video- except the bus is on the wrong side of the road….oh wait!
John From Baltimore
“Absolutely perfect”
Absolutely fascinating watching the bus make its way, also terrific camera work with a very steady shot as we followed the bus.
One thing I think about is how we could ever get our people to move on our layouts. Perhaps 3D projection of some sort?
But a terrific and inspiring post!
I can’t decide what intrigues me more, a great layout like Farland Howe’s or the theme music.
Rob
Your talents and tenacious attention to detail surely place you at the top of the masters list. Thank you for the great video & blogs on the Faller system.
I have been harping on the concept that other things that move should also be included on model train layouts. Cars, buses, boats, people, & animals should also move. There are really old accessories like cattle movers, circus elements, logging, and moving cranes that liven up the show & keep the kids happy. They dont make them anymore.
I have the Faller Nachtbus & Fedex truck that ran on a test road but never got on my HO layout because to me they are smaller than HO scale. It is a large N scale. It just didnt look right with the people. I have been trying to create an S scale version using certain Matchbox cars, but the engineering, gears, motors & battery sizes are perplexing and I’ve been at it for years.
Funny that aside from you Rob, others didnt jump on either the Magnorail or the Faller. They are expensive and require a commitment but they add so much to the life of layout.
HOLY COW! Incredible! Seen a few of these Faller road gizmo’s in the past, but not like this one! Good going Rob! Thanks for all you do,
All
I once went to an exposition called Gullivers Gate in NYC that was the greatest model train expo ever. Every major city in the world was modeled by that country & assembled in that expo that took an entire floor of the building. It was in HO & had a Faller vehicle system that knocked your socks off. It had moving skiers, ski lifts, trucks & buses, pecking chickens, whirling helicopters, moving ships, and a HUGE airport with flying jet planes.
Alas, Covid took its tole and it had to shut down. What a loss.
That expo is burned in my memory and the wonder of all that model activity made it so I will never finish a layout – ever.
While I enjoy all of the posts, I have never commented on any but, I was really impressed with the night bus scene. I wouldn’t mind seeing it in daytime lighting
Rob that is wonderful work, and you are correct sir the music is quite soothing and I was watching it in the states while eating lunch and found my self dozing.
Thanks for sharing
Eric The Firefighter
St. Louis earache Missouri
awesome
Nice job Rob looking good