Rob’s been in touch with a vid of his British model train layout:
“Hi Al,
I was really overwhelmed with the number of people who watched my last submission to you. It was over 7,000. That is pretty impressive. Since I am just about finished with Farland, my model train layout, I put together a slide show with pictures of many areas of my layout.
Although I live in Colorado, I have been modeling Britain in the mid-60s to the early 80s.
Every time I finished a small area, I like to take pictures of it to see how it looks through the camera lens. Some of the images show an obviously incomplete area and that is because the photo was taken a while ago before that section was complete.
I know lots of your submissions are photos, so here are mine.
British model train:
Rob McCrain
PS My next project is to model an Interurban line in Colorado. It will be N Scale.”
A huge thanks to Rob, who has contributed a fair bit to the site. It’s always a delight when I see his name in my inbox. Really enjoyed watching that – hope you did too.
If you’d like to see more of Rob’s layouts have a look in the Hall of Fame.
For me, his stand out piece is the London Underground section of his layout – the detail really is amazing. Rob took his time over it and it paid off handsomely, here’s a pic and link if you want to have alook:
London underground model trains.
That’s all for today folks. Please just hit reply to any of my mails if you’d like to share anything on the blog.
Thanks to Rob for sharing his British model trains.
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 More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Nice one Rob …
Spellbinding! Takes me back to 1950/60s/ Wonderful work
Good one, like the attention to detail of tyre (tire) tracks through fields and love the street sign.
Eric.
Great Lay Out
Really Nice Layout.
more fantastic modelling cheers Rob and Al
good job done well done by the way the music was good as well,it sent my budgie to sleep,keep up the good work ,hope to cacth you again soon, all the best from john,
Rob, thank you for the slide show. I did like the music, but what I really liked was being able to study the pictures and see the detail of each scene. In particular, I enjoyed the placement of people in your layout and how, rather than just stand in place, they appear to be interacting or doing something that befits the setting they are in.
Thanks again.
Karl
Very nice job. Lots going on there!
Great work Rob! Thanks for sharing it!
Excellent work Rob, captures our railscene well, including our habit of parking cars up on the kerb edge. Great eye for detail – nice one. Steve R. UK
very nicely done…….love the attention to detail….an inspiration to all of us i’m sure……some of the details in individual scenes, really make the overall scene(railroad) come alive…..and I think that’s what many of us try to achieve….trying to make that miniature illusion look realistic and come alive……nice job
Superb, enjoy everything you send.
Steve
First class, a true inspiration for people building layouts. As I am! in an attempt to rebuild from a train set into a realistic layout this is great without being totally overwhelming. I too am using out of the box buildings and card structures as I do not possess the skills in my case to scratch build. This could only be England looking at it too great job!
Beautifully done, great detail, truly enjoyed it ! Thanks for sharing!
Hey Rob, what a superb layout. Mega-impressed here. Is there any chance of a track-plan please. It looks like a huge layout, or a very clever design on a smaller one! Whichever, it’s brilliant. I rather liked the music too, what is it ? Showing my age a bit here !
Really enjoyed it, thanks for sharing.
NEIL
PS Just out of nosy curiosity, what got you modelling British Rail , when you had Santa Fe and many other spectacular lines on your doorstep ? Or is that it, the appeal of what is not at your doorstep ?
Amazing detail Sir. You are a Master Modeler…
Excellent slide show and video presentation. From you very clear and nicely assembled photos, one can get lost in that “make believe” world of your layout. Such an idyllic place….I am sure so many wish, to climb aboard one of your trains, to visit. Oh and the music was just perfect. Thanks for sharing.
Jim
Another excellent example of railway modelling, Rob.
Great work, this is the type of layout that we all aspire to complete. I’m new to the railway hobbie and I’ve got a lot to learn, thanks for your help and I’ll soon put my layout photos on here too. ( well mabbe in a year or two ) lol.
Keep up the good work teacher….
George
Very nice attention to detail, nice work.
More inspiring modeling. Fantastic. Gives me lots of new ideas. I was mesmerized by the video.
Wayne. Pittsburgh PA
Awsome layout! Great detail!
Well done, very nice layout. Great detail.
Enjoyed looking at your slides your scenery is very detailed one can see that you have a lot of years in experience thank you for sharing. Nathan
brilliant layout.. loved the cat on the tin roof. it is all in the detail, that what makes a great layout shine.
Hi All, I think someone asked for the track plan. It is in Al’s archives. Just do a Golden Key search. The layout is 13 1/2 x 22 1/2. Thanks for all the wonderful comments, Rob
Rob,
Outstanding show. I really enjoy watching your videos and slide shows. You have beautifully depicted a place and era where I would like to live.
Thanks for building it and thanks for sharing it.
Don
Well done again Rob with your epitaph to this layout. Please give it to some deserving kids hospital near you rather than that evil cutter upper I know you have. With your new project ” n “guage you wont be able to use bits as you will need a complete new outlook for your next layout; you may need a bit of input from your old friend ( you showed us his layout ) coz a lot of second layouts seem to mirror your first. Take it from me I know tried to save money and bits and pieces from No1 to incorporate in No2 doesnt work haha or coz I am 67 maybe No 20 and No 21 due to retirement now and little dosh and more grandkids and new( 3years) wife and moved to new house The joy.
Good work very 50s rural great detail takes me back to boyhood because the buildings lay out and scenes. Really well done thank for showing you work Rob.
Regards Brian.
Great job, really enjoyed the video. Lots of talent there.
As many have mentioned the details are awesome. I was really fascinated by the people and trees. I observed figure I have never found in a hobby shop or on the internet and was wondering if they were bought or if Rob made them? Have the same question regarding the trees
Rob, Good luck with your new project much success.
“Farland Howe” a place of amazement! Catches ones breath and even though not a real place; replicates many real places around the world with all its glow.
A miniature of life in Europe in the 1960’s to 80’s jogs maybe a memory or fondness to this era, Or simply puts a sparkle in some childs eye or a bright smile upon their face. Model railroad well done! Thanks for the wonderful slide show well done!
regards,
Tom
I love the photo’s and the music too.
The detail is really good. Gave me some new ideas.
Great layout loved the slide show
You know a layout is so well done and detailed when you want to step right into it and live there. And I’ve never been to Britain!
Lovely Rob, although I’m sure Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate will be wanting a word about some fences between the zebra crossing and the railway lineside!
Rod
Only one word to describe that video and of course the railway…..Brilliant
Max Dosser
Ferntree Gully, Australia
If I may use the “in word of today” WOW! I could use it for every second of the slide show. Absolutely beautiful in design, detail, and presentation. Thanks very much for sharing. Would you be willing to share an overall plan of the layout? Thanks again. Keep up the inspiring work.
Hi Rob – Very much enjoyed your slide show. It’s been very appealing to see how your layout has developed and grown since your original postings from track plans to realizations. And I’ve always enjoyed your vocal narratives. You have a very calming and attention-grabbing speaking voice and style. Keep up the great work! — Arnie
Well done Rob.
very nice job your attention to detail is fantastic. gives the impression that we are really there.
Hi Rob, great video and Slides too, the first tune you played could you tell me who they were, my kind of music, could watch your video and slides all day. Keep the good work up. Roy UK
Rob, your layout is brilliant. Everything is done in the finest detail, if I can get my layout anything like yours I will be very happy. Have you lived in the UK once and what inspired you to base your layout with UK models etc ?
Keep posting the videos of Farland Howe, I email them to all my friends who are railway buffs. You will find some railway photos of mine on Flicker, just search under David Snape13. Best regards; David
Rob, your layout is brilliant. Everything is done in the finest detail, if I can get my layout anything like yours I will be very happy. Have you lived in the UK once and what inspired you to base your layout with UK models etc ?
You will find some railway photos of mine on Flicker, just search under David Snape13. Best regards; David
Enjoyed the slide show, really enjoyed the music. Did not recognize the music off hand, but still liked it.
Eccellent layout Bob. Lots of inspired touches with the scenery.
Well done.
Great show Rob!! Really impressive layout. thanks for sharing. Cheers Rossco, Adelaide, Australia
Looks Nice Rob
Great lay out love the slideshow
Truly amazing…your eye for detail is fantastic. It is all so very realistic and a great inspiration. Thanks so much
Rob.really enjoyed the show of the layout. super detail and very well
Done slide show, good timing so we could really look at the details
Before the next one came up,
Roy in lampas as county Texas
Awesome, I especially like the night scenes. Great job
Great photo presentation Rob, beautiful scenery and trains
Cary B
You, sir are an artist. Simply wonderful layout and pictures. I also subscribe to your youtube channel. As an N’er myself, I look forward to seeing your upcoming N layout.
KVEC Railroad Club, Huntley IL (Sun City)
And all the time I thought Rob was in Britain only to find out he’s only a state away from me! LOL
Great job.
Terry/Idaho
great layout but I have learnt that there is nothing shiny on a railroad so you need to paint your sleepers and train rail sides
Absolutely beautiful layout, lots iof detail, enjoyed watching.very well done
Rob! Thanks for sharing your amazing layout and I really enjoyed the slide show. Cheers Rossco, Adelaide, South Australia
Rob has a true gift
Liked the details, particularly the gardener and her flowers.
Nice blend of stills and video
Awesome! 😲
Nice slideshow Rob and some great modelling.
Brian, Wokingham, UK
This slide/video show was one of the best which I’ve seen in a very long time. Even, if I can say, better than Dangerous Dave’s videos (and I do like his work as well) though, by far, this beats all of them for clarity, focus, and general layout of the sequences. The music is a nice attribute as well. One can tell that Rob has a flare for perfection not only in how he put the video/slide show together but also with his overall layout. Thank you so much for making my evening viewing of your skills enviable as well as rewarding.
Nice video. Beautiful layout and wonderful detailing. Love the camera angle on the video portion. Made me feel as if I were actually there. Really enjoyed viewing. Thanks for sharing.
Great layout. One can see a lot of thought and effort was involved. Loved the different scenes, vehicles and buildings. You do nice work!
John Hauser
Briiliant Rob
An inspiration
Good Show; and the music was perfect.
Shlack in NC
Love watching it however the music let you down to loud my volume was on 1 & it was blasting out still had to turn sound off because of that next time don’t have it so loud as we do like the sound of the trains more so than music but thanks for the great picks love them & the detail in them we got to see thanks.
Hi Rob,
I love the way that you have woven the theme of your layout in to all the place names. Great detail in all the scenic work, makes watching the slide show really enjoyable and it needs multiple views to really appreciate the little happenings you have added along the way. I have been tuning in to Al’s site for quite a few years now and your layouts (old and new Farland) have been a great source of inspiration for me to get started on a layout for my two boys and myself. Its an 00 Gauge ‘Heritage Railway’ that gives us the excuse to run a mix of steam from LMS, LNER and BR days I will post some pics of work in progress. Thanks again and more power to your elbow! Alister, ex-pat Scot now living in Canberra Australia
Really enjoyed your post, thank you for sharing!
Great video and slide show Rob! I really enjoyed seeing some British freight trains running instead of Dangerous Dave’s racing passenger trains. (Just kidding Dave, I like all your videos too.) Although I see that your layout is set in England in the 60’s to 80’s, I have to ask “On what planet is it modeled?” You see, at about 2:53 into the video there’s a still photo of a man standing in the roadway who seems to have three different shadows. It seems to me that could only occur on a planet with three suns. 🙂 I guess your train layout is truly “Far out!”
This is fantastic Rob
WOW……A wonderful slide show of your meticulous layout that we can only dream to ever duplicate the detail. Your audience has said it all. Keep up the great work that keeps us inspired. Thank you.
Great job enjoyed the entire show.