O / On30 layout - I’ve been plugging away on the construction of my O/On30 portable layout. The 4.5’ X 14’ layout is in three sections.
Layout by Dan & Mick Lawrence
I have been a model railroader for many years. My first layout was the classic 4×8 sheet of plywood. It was placed on top of an old pool table that was no longer used. I built several track ar…
Modell RailRoader
There are lots of videos of layouts in action or under construction; I'm not aware of any showing one being dismantled. Until now, at least. Discovery Channel's Daily Planet show had a feature about Montreal's Canada Central layout on February 8. The segment was about the loss of the layout, one of the largest (if not the largest) in Canada. In addition to footage of final runs, the segment showed members beginning the process of taking the layout apart--prying buildings off the layout, plucking off trees, removing wiring, etc. It's a bit sad and poignant at parts, particularly when members dismantle portions they laboured over for a long time. Click here to see the show. The segment about the Canada Central is at about the seven-minute mark. Below find a few more photos of this layout. You can more photos on this blog by clicking here.
Staple to any eye-catching layout is some form of waterfront, be it a small stream, a raging river, or an inlet/bay. For our layout we chose to dedicate the right end portion to create a fishing and shipping inlet with a large wharf area. The concept will be to make it a bustling beehive of […]
Dave Jacobs shares his process for modeling a narrow gauge railroad in a small space, which takes inspiration from a logging camp
Geoff Nott & John Montgomary - On30
Domain name FreeRails.com offers startups a sense of boundless opportunity and movement. The term rails evokes images of train tracks, symbolizing direction, progress, and connectivity. The word free adds a sense of liberation and openness,
The layout at a glance Name: Marshfield & Old Colony Layout owner: Michael Tylick Scale: On30 (1:48 proportion on 30″ gauge track) Size: 8 x 16 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island Era: 1920s and 1930s Mainline run: 25 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: handlaid, approximately no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 [...]Read More...
For 5 weeks of evenings and weekends in 2012, I built this model railway diorama as a secret Santa gift for my father. It depicts a segment of the Canadian Pacific branch line from Ottawa, Ontario to Maniwaki, Quebec--specifically, a section of the line that runs alongside the Gatineau river near Farm Point (just before Wakefield). The layout consists of two 1x4 ft modules--each with integrated backscene and overhead lighting valance. The layout is built on a base of sculpted extruded polystyrene to make the landforms. Code 75 track is laid onto a layer of 1/8" cork and ballasted with a mixture of Woodland scenics ballast in grey and buff. The rest of the landscaping is a gradual build-up and layering of various Woodland scenics products to achieve the desired effect. The river is also made from Woodland scenics instant water. The photographic backdrop was made by me on the computer by compositing various images I had taken from the area. I printed and carefully tiled the images into the final scene. A fun project--and amazingly quick for 5-weeks part time work! The grade crossing and road disappearing into the backdrop was a bit of a failed execution on my part. I know this technique works very well (see here model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/8934?page=1) but I didn't quite do it justice. I messed up my first attempt and then had another go by gluing another perspective road on to the back scene. The blending at the bottom edge and the colours was ok, but I could still see the unsightly relief of the other photo paper layer at the edges. I'm pretty sure if I do this again--I'll pull it off ok!
From a getaway on Portland's doorstep to a rugged outpost of Acadia National Park, we explore the special hold that Maine islands have on the imagination.
I am planning my second shelf switching layout. While its only a year since my last one was operational I have been thinking about what I would like to have for my layout. We moved home which meant packing it up and putting it aside during the design and build of our new house which should be ready this spring (October for us). I am hoping the by writing my thoughts down some inspiration will arrive, either from someone reading this or in my sleep 📷. The existing layout is built in five modules. Three at 24" (600mm) wide and two at 16" 400mm) wide. These were mounted on the wall of my shed. It was bolted together with auto connectors for the cables and so was easy to take apart, pack and move. I like the modular approach and will be doing that again. I followed a lot of the planning guidelines espoused by Lance Mindheim in designing the layout for quantity and choice of industry. This was a good fit for me and the layout was fun to operate. I used the JMRI operations software to generate trains for a surprise element. Session length was for me was around 40 minutes to an hour but I could walk away at any time and resume later or if the line was particularly busy that day I would run another train. Layout mark I is in n scale. I was not sure what I was going to enjoy about the hobby when I built it, I just had a long held desire to build a model railway. My only previous experience was a Hornby set when I was a boy. The shelf Layout and operations looked like a good fit so that is what I did. I learned that I like switching operations, including classification. I found n scale fun but fiddley and had to add yards to hold my rolling stock so that I didnt have to move it on and off the layout (I learned I liked classification). As there is an opportunity for change I have decided not to reassemble layout mark I and to build a HO scale shelf switching layout better, not bigger, than before. The planning phase is turning out to be more difficult the second time around. The inspiration for the first layout came from a local line that could possibly reopen as a private short line operation. This gave a background ideally suited to freelancing with a location as inspiration. Do I want to reuse this theme? Actually typing this I now believe that I do, thank you Blog. Building the base and laying track was my least favourite part of the last build so I am wondering about the longevity of this layout and how to future proof it for interest in both operations and looks. I think I am going to carry the modular thinking into the structures on the layout. Industries change, buildings are more or less weathered dependent on age, some structures may disappear altogether. I plan to make as many of my structures as possible easy to remove from their base so they can be replaced with a differently aged similar structure or even a different one altogether. I will then be able to time shift my layout to another era if I choose. I may never use this option, but it will be there needed. One think i have discovered is the move to a larger scale is going to concentrate my mind on what can go onto the layout. No long run from yards to Town through the countryside, possibly no yards at all. I plan to build at least some of the bench work before we move so that I can keep up the momentum. I now need to design what goes on top. So far I have: an approximately 9 feet (2.9m) square room of which I can practically use two walls. single level shelf layout maximum 24" (600mm) wide probably using the old base boards eight industries with a combined sixteen spots between them. a modern theme. DCC with under the bench sound Some questions: Do I need have room for yards? Do I need runarounds (probably not)? What should the track layout be? What would be the best approach to positioning the buildings? I have spent some time thinking about the last question. It seems to me the area surrounding the shelf needs to be known so that the area actually modeled appears to be lifted out of a coherent landscape. Road placement has proved particularly tricky for me. I had not come across a suitable local landscape but using some helpful blogs ( Lance Mindheim and Trevor Marshall in particular) have directed my thinking and my searches eventually to Los Angeles inspiration for Lance's latest layout. I plan to use the same area as inspiration for track work but the port of Napier in New Zealand for the structures and landscape. I plan to devise an industrial area plan based on an amalgamation of the two areas, then fit the track work in around the industries (rail served and otherwise). Thanks for Reading Peter I have edited to use feet and inches as well as the metric system.
This page is home to Model Railroader tracks plans as downloadable PDFs.
I know that this is a bunch of questions, but I hope to open up a discussion here. I have hopes that Verne and several of the other On30 modelers here on the forum will join in on this discussion. I am at that point where N scale is just too small for the ol' eyes anymore. It is really getting hard to see the rail joiners lining up on N scale track. At this point I doubt I have to worry if more than one car has the same road number. I can't see it going by. If I am going to jump to a larger scale it will be On30. The decision has been made. Yet, I have questions. I will post a few here for now and more later. I understand that one can use regular HO track for On30. Yet, I have seen track labeled as On30. So, what I am figuring is that there must be a tie size and spacing difference. Is there a width difference between the ties of HO and On30 track? Is HO track acceptable and cheaper or is it best to just buy track labeled for On30? What have you guys done on your own On30 layouts? What about switches for On30? Use the HO switches? I have seen switches labeled for On30 by Micro Engineering and Peco. Is there a preference between the two? Are the Peco On30 switches spring equipped like their N scale switches? Does Peco On30 look like American narrow gauge or is it more of an English looking narrow gauge? What have you On30 modelers done on your own layouts? Are any of the switches made for DCC or do I have to modify those too? What about rail code? I have seen code 83 and code 100 for On30. Are these the two most common rail codes? Is there a preference when modeling On30? I have read that On30 can be run on the same real estate as an HO plan. The only adjustments will be in clearances. What have you learned from your experiences? You guys haven't seen a book on the subject that would answer many questions for the individual who is considering On30? One that answers question like those I am asking here? If not I think it would make a great article for MRH. ( A big hint for Verne who has been publsihed.) It would be great to learn about the difficulties in making your change from a smaller scale to On30. Does the satisfaction of modeling in On30 suppress the need to run long lash ups as can be done in HO and N scales? What is the normal train length in On30? I am looking for all kinds of advice. I am about to start all over again with nothing for On30. I want to buy smart. Thanks! Den
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This 4x8-foot model railroad layout was designed and built by St. Louis area members of the National Model Railroad Association and is inspired by scenes and railroads of the Saint Louis area. It is perfect for the beginning to advanced model railroading enthusiast.
My OO finescale Micro layout based on Abercynon South Wales UK
Marvel at the scenic wonder and beautiful details on Pete Smith's 28’x20’ Sn3 narrow-gauge layout. Shays and Heislers crawl over the 125-foot loop-to-loop mainline servicing logging, mining and waterfront operations.
Hallo Jos, was mich auch besonders interessiert ist die sagenhaft gute Colorierung. Schreibe bitte auch da immer detailliert etwas zu. MfG Ralf, alias Ralp
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This compact design uses two hollow-core doors arranged into an "L" but – like Norm Wolf's Bowman Center, which inspired it - a cassette provides valuable staging and switch lead space.
