Tag Archives: layout design

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 →

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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 →

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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

What would you change?

Posted on June 6, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Mike Cougil contributes another thought provoking post.  He starts with…. If you had a blank slate to begin again in the craft, would you change anything? Would you switch scales, stick with the same theme, explore a different one or, do … Continue reading →

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Off my trolley – Pacific Electric to Watts – 2

Posted on June 4, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Now for a couple of simple ideas for Pacific Electric N-mod modules.  I’ve selected two places where other lines crossed the four-track main line.  The first of these, nearest Watts, is at Slauson Tower, where the ATSF Harbor branch crossed the PE.  The … Continue reading →

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What do you care about?

Posted on June 2, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Another short, but excellent post by Mike Cougill on the OST blog… What do trains help you to care about? For what it’s worth, here’s my answer: trains help me remember times and events that are meaningful. Memories that I … Continue reading →

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Off my trolley – Pacific Electric to Watts

Posted on May 29, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Once again, it’s been a long time since I posted on traction and trolleys.  But I’m still thinking about modelling ideas, and while I wait, more interurbans and trolleys keep appearing on the Shapeways site. One of my issues with … Continue reading →

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The fear factor

Posted on May 21, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

One of my regular blog reads, ‘Motorised Dandruff’, has been very quiet recently.  However, I found I could identify with this recent post: The major problem I have is one of perfectionist block (I think that’s what its called). I … Continue reading →

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Book review – “Compact Layout Design – Iain Rice”

Posted on April 25, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

One of my favourite reads is an Iain Rice layout design book.  Hidden amongst the slightly bumptious and wordy – but always entertaining – text, there are always inspiring photographs, clever construction techniques, prototype information and neat track plans.  And the … Continue reading →

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Jon’s modules – ‘Earl’s Wood’ progress

Posted on April 5, 2015 by snitchthebudgie

Progress on Earl’s Wood continues, aided by a week off work.  The photos below show the exit from the layout with scenery and ballast complete (apart from a hoover to pick up any odd debris).  The trees hide the exit … Continue reading →

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