“Hey Al,
My name is Joe, I am a Diesel Electrician with Union Pacific Railroad. I start my HO layout a few years ago.
At the time I was Diagnosed with leukemia, so in between treatment I would work on it as much as I could.
I am now in remission and back at work after a long battle, but I still love working on it.
I build everything out of wood myself accept the electrical substation.
I still need all the scenery. Your website is great and I enjoy it very much.
Thank you,
Joe”
“Hi Al,
This is Mike again; you published a “how to” of mine a couple of months ago on a cheap way to make multi terminal blocks.
You have said a couple of times recently how you like to see layouts taking shape from inception to completion, so I hope you might be interested in mine.
A fairly lengthy explanation first. (If you choose to publish this, please feel free to edit the expalanation.)
Having had my loft converted specifically for the model railway, I started work on building the base framework in March 2015.
It is a large project measuring 22’ x 20’ with 2 internally projecting islands & with 1000 feet of track.
I was going pretty well until I unfortunately broke my shoulder in early September & the operation to replace it went disastrously wrong, leaving me very ill & unable to even get up to the loft until the end of January.
Since then I have been spending every spare minute up there – not as much as I would like as, although 70, I am still working & my work involves a lot of travel; I have already been abroad for 8 weeks this year with another 2 weeks coming up in July.
I am figuring at the present rate of work, I will need about 3 years to complete the railway.
Now the thing is, in February, while the loft conversion was being finished, I was diagnosed with stage 3 terminal cancer but I am very positive & am fighting it with everything I have.
They said 3-5 years but I’ll show ‘em – 8-10 at least. I’m not looking for sympathy. Don’t want it. Never have. Never will.
But I think the need to finish the project & leave it as a finished running railway for my grandkids to remember me by, is a strong motivator to keep me going.
I am absolutely determined to finish it!
If you see fit to publish this, I hope it may prove an inspiration to any others out there in the same position as me.
Just because you have a terminal illness does not mean you can’t build a model railway & have fun!
So, to the pictures:
Firstly I have included the plan, designed with AnyRail (great programme).
The video first to show the size of the room.
Then pics 1-3 showing the construction under way; then pics 4 & 5 showing the first completed section, which had to be made as a unit & then moved, because once it will be in place (see pic 6) in the corner, I won’t be able to reach it easily!
Kind regards
Mike”
A huge thanks to Mike, Joe and Alan. If they have inspired you to get going on your layout, then what’s stopping you?
Truly inspirational stuff from Mike.
The latest ebay cheat sheet is here and here’s the Beginner’s Guide.
You have everything you need, so why not join the fun?
Please do keep em coming.
Best
Al
Mike that is TOTALLY fantastic what you`ve done so far mate and I cant wait to see how the rest turns out! Sorry bout the cancer mate and just a by the by look at B17 apricot kernels (chrisbeatcancer.com) My wife beat the cancer using this method plus organic green juicing and changing what processed food she used to eat. I wanna c your layout finished mate so do some research on this stuff. All the best. JohnE UK
I liked looking at your framework. It looks light, but very sturdy. More on this with photos would be nice.
Keep up the good work.
Hi and thanks to Alan, Joe and Mike for their contributions. And I wish to extend my admiration and kudos to Joe and Mike for their commitment to their projects despite the adversity they are facing. Mike while I think, as you had mentioned, that it looks like some layout locations will be hard to reach, the benchwork itself looks flawless. Nice job and keep at it. Look forward to seeing more as you guys move along! Arnie
Mike, you are an inspiration, good luck, stay strong! Your bench work is fantastic
I saw layout on this site a few weeks ago, that was partially finished, and the
Cross members had 1 1/2 inch holes drilled through each one for ease of wiring,I
Indie D to add those when I redo my bench work, doesn’t show, but may make
Wiring easier. Meanwhile, “STAY IN THE FIGHT” !
Danny Marso , Rhode Island
!st word… WOW!!
Fantastic layouts under difficult conditions. Very positive attitudes. The adage that positive attitudes tend to yield positive outcomes is well illustrated in these posts…
On scenery and mountains. The foamboard profile idea is excellent! Usin hot glue to secure the profiles — fantastic tip I must try!
Myself, I tend to use cardboard for the profiles and blue painter’s tape for webbing under the cover. To cover my web I use either torn shopping bag paper (really cheap) or I use fabric scraps. For myself, I do not use plaster because of weight! (My layouts are very portable) Instead of plaster, I use diluted PVA glue. Usually 50% dilution for the base layer and then roughly 25% PVA on subsequent layers. Very solid and light! Pretty thrifty too.
Joe and Mike, my humblest and sincerest empathy goes out to you and your loved ones. Fighting leukemia or cancer is a huge battle for many. Some comments do add value to beating cancer but I would encourage you to please consult with your physician before undertaking such thoughtful advice.
Mike, I would like to know what type of structural plan is going into your layout. Is this called open grid?
My husband and I reside in Florida .
We began our HO train experience December of 2015′ A little circle under the Christmas tree. After Christmas friends invited us to a Hobiest Train Show.
We caught Train Fever .and
we are spending the summer in Ohio , the “train fever ” has followed us.
We are now setting up our summer HO train experience. We are in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio . We have been fortunate enough to find Hill Top hobby. The owner and people he employs have been so encouraging. We are in the right place.
I must tell you the many helpful insights and hints you post are great! We have learned how to do things a little differently and each person who has contributed to your site gives us food for thought.
We definately look at things and our trash with the idea ” .how can this be used…in our projects?
Best wishes to you. Special thoughts for Mike. Awesome set up you’ve got going, man! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎈🎈🚃🚈🚊🚉🚞
Mike: Kudos on your initiative to build such an expansive layout. I am sorry to hear that you have such a serious health issue. Your resolve to fight it is an encouragement to the rest of us in a similar state. I have to think your grandkids will love Grandpa’s layout. Better yet, involve them in making the layout now. They will never forget the memories of working with Grandpa or and the knowledge they acquired from him. My two great granddaughters (6 & 3) love to work with me in my woodshop. We are building a few projects together as well as making a lot of wonderful memories. Press on, my friend.
It looks good.
All the best Mike, I think having something you want to press on with helps keep you going. Might make the aisles a bit wider if you plan it as a family layout. Looks good anyway.
Rod
excellent beginning to your layout. Keep sending pictures as it progresses.
Great advise Alan. Never thought about painting inside of the tunnel.
Looks great keep up the great job, happy railroading.
excellent layouts all
keep em runnin fellas
stjohn in long beach calif
hi my name is steve i model in nscale no pict ures yet just building my fifth section like all the pictures ive seen thank ws piper
Great to see people pursuing their passions even while facing these types of challenges. Last night I drove 2 hours after work out in the country to meet a guy who had some G scale stuff for sale. He took me out to his barn, gave me some great deals and we had a blast running trains and looking over his collection.
Great people and a great hobby! Thanks to Al for giving us a place to share our stories. Cary in KY
Al, the pictures are great, the videos are good, but the posts today from these gentlemen continuing to work on their RR is just plain inspiring. Thank you.
Hi Joe……. We have something in common. I was a freight conductor for the Pennsy and also I am in remission from my bout with leukemia for 5 years now. Glad to hear you are in remission. For me, the chemo was brutal and left me with some side effects. The model railroad hobby has been a blessing and a help. I think I found Al’s website in 2017 and look forward to his emails everyday.
Good luck to you the rest of the way. Great start on your layout. Stay with it.
I made my mountains by cutting out strips of cardboard ( like come on a 12 pack of soda). The back was a 1/2 inch sheet of styrofoam I got in packing material. Shaped it with a hot knife. Hot glued the cardboard strips to styrofoam sheet, then covered with plaster of paris strips. Wrinkles made good mountain texture.
Similar but skipped a couple steps
Hey Mike,
1) Love your enthusiasm for the layout and attitude for your leukemia. Keeping busy and having a positive attitude are necessary to vanquish your disease and to complete your layout. In both areas you are off to a fantastic start. Good luck on both, and God bless!
2) Remarkable that our host, Al, put Alan’s how-to-do-it article above your work-in-progress. You caught a break there.
Mike,
Sorry to learn of your cancer diagnosis, but you have the right attitude to beat the odds. Having a specific project (i.e. your model railway) to complete should also be a strong positive influence. Unfortunately, it appears that Al was not able to include your AnyRail track plan with your photos. It looks like you’ve built some very substantial benchwork for the layout. My only suggestion is that it appears the aisles between the two islands look awfully narrow, which may be fine for the grandkids but might be a bit tight for adults.
The portions you have completed look really good, so please keep us posted with your progress.
Joe
Good for you buddy. I’m very happy to hear you’re in remission. Cancer is the evil of all evils Keep up the fight and the great work. Best of luck my friend.
Looks great, I like to see more.
What an impressive project! God bless you for your positive attitude about beating the disease! You will go above and beyond to complete the railroad! Stay in touch with us!
Another great example of the importance of solid benchwork as your first step in construction.
The suggestions for economy when building your layout are well and good but the trade off is a messier application. Watered down plaster w/ paper towels is a good idea but more difficult than plaster rolls. Reagadding benchwork, I have a small layout 5×9 with two scales HO & HOn3 and had my benchwork made by Mianne benchwork in Massachusetts. Yes, it’s more expensive than DIY, but no mess, trips to lumber yards, measuring once cutting twice, but it gets you to the fun aspect of model railroading. My layout is in an upstairs family room, and I couldn’t/didn’t want the headache of preventing messes when building my layout. I too am a cancer/leukemia survivor, and have been in remission for a few years, and I wish you long life and May all your biopsies be benign.