Category Archives: Layout design

Exhibitions, are they worth it?

Posted on July 24, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Julias Modelopolis  (Julia makes marvellous 2mm fine scale models, with some 3-D printing thrown in for good measure) recently commented on taking your layout to an exhibition.  The money comments were….. Browsing the interweb forums I always stumble across people … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Layout design, Operation, Out and about | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Less is more – two interesting examples

Posted on July 22, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

I used to follow a blog called ‘The Staging Yard’, following a UK based modeller’s trials at building a US layout, until it went quiet in 2014.  Reading RMWeb the other day, I saw that the blog had reappeared and was being continued … Continue reading →

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design, Operation | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Off my trolley – North Shore in ‘N’ gauge

Posted on July 10, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

I recently came across David Milburn’s layout on the web.  His layout is unusual in that it: Is traction, a model of the North Shore (CNS&M) interurban out of Chicago. Is in ‘N’ gauge. Is British. It’s also very, very, … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Layout design, Prototype, Traction | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Obituary – Ian Allan

Posted on July 6, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

I spotted this obituary in the Daily Telegraph.  In the UK and for those of my generation, Ian Allan was synonymous with train spotting books and quality transport books.  Certainly in my teens and early twenties, Ian Allen was THE … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Layout design, Prototype, Weird and wonderful | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A good ‘believe it or not’ scenic feature?

Posted on June 28, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Anyone can model a car crash or lots of emergency services on their layout.  However, this would really stretch the viewers belief. From the Daily Telegraph: Last Wednesday, Mr Xiang was driving along the Chongqing-Guizhou Expressway in central China when he … Continue reading →

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Coupling springs have sprung

Posted on June 26, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

This very useful tip appeared in the NRMA British Region magazine.  Most useful for those of us with Microtrains couplers, but now Dapol buckeyes are around it may also apply to them.  It was published under the wonderful title of … Continue reading →

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Off my trolley – San Pedro

Posted on June 24, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

At the end of one line from LA and Watts were San Pedro and LA Harbour.  In the days of large ocean liners, collecting passengers from the liner and transporting them into LA generated a lot of traffic through San Pedro. San … Continue reading →

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An easier way to ballast your track?

Posted on June 22, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Lance Mindheim  may have come up with a really good idea here…. Effectively applying ballast glue is a challenge at best.  The more powdery soils and small gauge products even more so.  The problem comes with application of the adhesive, … Continue reading →

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Why do layouts fail?

Posted on June 10, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Good words from Lance Mindheim: When I work with a design client, one question I always ask is why previous layouts didn’t get off the ground and gain critical mass.  After almost fifteen years the answers haven’t changed.  The three … Continue reading →

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Off my trolley – Pacific Electric to Watts – 3

Posted on June 8, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Finally, could one model the northern end, at Oscar’s junction, or the southern end, at Watts, of the four-track main line?  The prototype track layouts below are taken from the Model Railroader article.  Both have real potential as stand-alone layouts, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Layout design, Prototype, Traction | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments