Category: Planning Book

Diorama Development, Layout Planning, Planning Book6 Comments

Track Laying – ICE Diorama Rework

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I am spending only 3-4 hours per week on model railway. Not a progress I would like to see especially if I am going to build a large layout. Last week, I marked all the drilling positions on the plywoods and determined the track centres on the baseboard. This week, I drilled the holes for the marked positions and completed the frame. As I am using 6mm thick, poplar plywood for my diorama, I had to use 2.5mm thick wood screws. I taped a small piece of sticker on the drill bit to mark the 16mm depth. And the finished product is … Continue reading Track Laying – ICE Diorama Rework

Layout Planning, Planning Book, Product ReviewLeave a comment

2D-Turnout Rapid Prototyping with 3D Effect

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As you can see I am picking up speed with my layout. The track plan is decided and fixed. Yesterday I had a good chat with Dirk over parts of the track plan and we looking into many areas such as positions and configurations of turnouts, positioning of signals and turnout mechanisms, how to build the layout and special considerations for vertical distances, tight curves and superelevation. As explained before in my earlier post on turnouts jigsaw puzzle, I printed out all the 45 Peco turnouts for my layout from their drawings and cut them to shape. I tested with … Continue reading 2D-Turnout Rapid Prototyping with 3D Effect

Benchwork, German Railways, Layout Planning, Planning Book4 Comments

“Somewhere in Germany” Trackplan – Final Version

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As promised, here is my updated “Somewhere in Germany” (“Irgendwo in Deutschland”) trackplan. I would call this the final version since for the past 2 weeks I have discussed and finetuned with a fellow N-scale modeler from Germany this trackplan. He has been kind and helpful to translate my 1st version paper drawing into a digital plan using SCARM. A BIG DANKE SCHÖN, DIRK! Basically, he took my requirements and wishes (what John Armstrong would call as “Givens and Druthers“) and made some modifications to my trackplan while still retaining my basic concept. I am pleased with the final result. In my initial plan, I had some … Continue reading “Somewhere in Germany” Trackplan – Final Version

Benchwork, Diorama Development, German Railways, Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Experimenting with Module Building – ICE Diorama Rework

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For the last 2 weeks I have not been active in this blog instead have been active in a German model railway forum, developing my track plan together with a few modelers. I will get back to that topic at a later date. In the meantime, I have visited a large handy mart Hornbach and searched almost every row and corner for something useful for my layout and diorama. I got most of the tools I needed for model railway construction as I have zero to start with. So the initial investment in tools will make a major dent in … Continue reading Experimenting with Module Building – ICE Diorama Rework

German Railways, Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

“Somewhere in Germany” Trackplan – 1st Version

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I have finally put my thoughts on paper. The theme of my layout is “Somewhere in Germany” (“Irgendwo in Deutschland”). Over 11m double-track, I want to capture the atmosphere and the feeling of somewhere in Germany without being specific where in Germany. Let me give you a short intro of the space and my benchwork/trackplan concept. Feel free to comment. Tell me what you like and dislike about the trackplan. – I have been given an enclosed balcony 3.7m (12ft) x 1.4m (4.6ft). The layout will be “around the wall” concept with 30cm (11.8in) width on the long side and 60cm … Continue reading “Somewhere in Germany” Trackplan – 1st Version

Benchwork, Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Life Makes Constant Changes

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As much as you like to plan for things in life, sometimes things do not turn out the way you wanted it to be. Take for instance the model railway. When I was in Malaysia, I wanted so much to have a layout even a small one. For first 30 years of my life, I lived with my extended family – uncles, aunties, cousins in my grandpa’s shophouse in Kuala Lumpur. Imagine 20 people in one house. It was in 1998 that I bought my first Life-Like HO-scale starter set – Santa Fe freight set – with my own life … Continue reading Life Makes Constant Changes

Benchwork, Layout Planning, Planning Book2 Comments

Finalised Tilt-table Benchwork (including measurements)

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Finally, after all the discussions and comments from fellow modellers and having sleepless nights how best to realise my tilt-table benchwork, here is the result. I have put down the measurements so that you too can build one. What is important to note is that you can adjust the size of your tabletop. I am doing 240cm (L) x 120cm x 15cm (H) using two equal frames. This translates to about 8ft (L) x 4ft x 0,5ft (H). You can have smaller or larger tabletop to suit your need; the largestever made was 5ft x 9ft by Suzan. The side … Continue reading Finalised Tilt-table Benchwork (including measurements)

Layout Planning, Planning Book6 Comments

Ballastless Track System for German High-speed Railway

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For those who wants to model the German high-speed railway network (read: ICE), the ballastless track system is a common feature on certain stretches, one of them is the Frankfurt-Köln strecth with 4% gradient. In this website Project VDE8 (Projekt Deutsch Einheit 8), the construction of the ballastless track system is explained and illustrated. This will help you in modelling the system in your preferred scale. Source: Project VDE8 Continue reading Ballastless Track System for German High-speed Railway

Benchwork, Layout Planning, Planning Book1 Comment

Tilt Table Layouts in Action

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It is good to know that there are people who have tilt table layouts. In Nscale.net and Nscale.org, the forumers referred me to their fellow members who have tilt-table layout – Gene (aka epumph in Nscale.net) and the late Suzan (aka steamedup in Nscale.org). With Gene’s permission and in loving memory of Suzan, who passed away sometime ago, I would like to share with you their construction of a tilt-table layout and how you could adopt them for yours. Gene (aka epumph) Gene from New Jersey, USA models a fictional Turtle Creek Industrial RR in N-scale on a 4ft 4in x 8ft 6in … Continue reading Tilt Table Layouts in Action