I've been lurking in this forum for awhile now and I have to say thank you to all of the well informed and helpful posters as I've learned quite a bit just by reading your posts. Now I have a question of my own to pose to thre group. I am currently setting up my second annual holiday layout with some postwar Lionel trains that were passed down to me and have been considering what would be the best inexpensive material to use to create roads and paths on my layout. I was considering printing out some texture images and gluing it to some form of cardstock but I was interested in what other ideas/ suggestions might be out there. For those who might be interested this will be 4x12 layout on which I will be running a postwar Lionel Thunderbird set with maroon top FM Lackawanna Trainmaster and an early 2026 steamer with some timplate passenger cars. Setting the scene will be a number of Plasticville buildings, some handpainted ceramic buldings, and a few Lionel accessories. Thaks for your help and Happy Holidays to all!
I've used the black foam core material for roads. I use a utility knife to bevel the edge, put white glue on the bevel and the sprinkle fine sand in the wet glue. The edge does not need to be perfect and it looks good. If you do not want "black" roads, take regular white blackboard chalk and using the side of the chalk color the road then take your hand and feather the chalk till you get the color you want. If it gets totally messed up, wipe it all off and start over.
Jim
Oh yea, WELCOME, especially another Ohioan
Welcome to the forum! Please post some photos when you get things up and running!
I guess it depends on what you are doing for the remainder of the scenery.
Kurt
First, welcome. This is a great place to share in our hobby. Regarding your question, a few ways to answer it. First, you have to decide a couple of things. If this is just going to be a "holiday layout" or if it will be a permanent layout. If only "holiday" in nature, you may want to go with a seasonal aspect, like snow covered road. In this case, you can get some inexpensive white felt from craft stores and make your roads. If, on the other hand it will be a year round layout, then again, more direction:'
If you are more into the "toy like" layout, you could easily make roads out of black paint and not worry about prototype. If you are looking more towards "Hi-Rail", or scale/prototype, you can do the foam core, or even upside down roof shingles. Some advocate using plaster by building up a curb, then filling in with plaster and pulling it out, at a level just below the curb height. They then paint it whatever color road they desire. I have also seen the foam core used and painted one color. Then, they take dark black and make "repairs" to the road to look more authentic. One great thing about this hobby is that if you don't like how something comes out, you can just change it to what you like. Either way, please keep us up to date with your progress.
dennis
TCA#09-63805
Here is a picture of the foamcore roads
I think these show the color fading and the berm
Thanks for the tips and pics! Those foam core roads look good Jim! This will be a temporary layout for the holidays and I'm going to use a snow ground cover roll as the landscaping base but something like this could work.
Hi all, just thought I'd post an update on the construction of my Christmas layout. I finally competed the setup and final touches a couple days ago and I have to say that it all took much longer than I anticipated but I couldn't be happier with the results! Here are some pics of the build and finished product.
Here is what I started with: 3 4' x 4' sections with a 60" x 32" upper level.
The settlement of the D&E Holiday Railroad begins. A 45N Gateman, prewar 134 Lionel City Station, 395 Floodlight Tower and 38 Water Tower find homes.
Settlers arrive in the highland village.
Skiing and sledding enthusiasts enjoy the fresh powder at night.
Plasticville residents have moved into the Lowlands.
Another shot of the D&E Holiday Railroad.
The Lionel FM Trainmaster rolls through Plasticville in the Lowlands.
A 2026 Prairie steamer chugs around the Highland village.
Another shot of the Hioghland village.
Some residents enjoy a sleighride past the Lionel City Station.
Plasticville Main St.
The joy of toy trains lives on in a new generation.
Thanks to all for your suggestions and encouragement!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
Dave
Dave,
Great photos and a nice Christmas Layout. I didn't set up any trains this year as I haven't been in the mood. Thankfully my wife has been in the Christmas Spirit and has decorated our house. I have a few days off from work now and said to my son, that maybe I would set up something on the family room floor rug with something in the middle, and there it is in your layout pictures. It even has my favorite train, a 2026 set. Our first train was a 2026 set that arrived the Christmas before I was born, and I have been collecting them ever since. My nephew now has our original set, it still runs good and looks good. It was a broken marker light on this engine, the result of a fall when I was a kid that got me started collecting 2026s. I started looking for a better shell, and then just started collecting them. They run good, look good, and you can repaint the tenders into railroads that you like.
Enjoy the season and your family. I just got off the phone an hour ago, and my brother was headed to NYC to pick up his daughter. I told him to make sure he stops at the Lionel Store near Rockerfeller Center. I said that Christmas is all about NY City, Lionel trains, the music, lights and smells, and if I was headed there, I would be sure to visit it. A Blessed and Merry Christmas, don't forget to go to church and the reason for the season. Happy Chanukah and a Blessed New Year to our friends who don't celebrate Christmas, and my you have good steam and clear track ahead.
A Blessed Holidays All...AlanK
Throw a couple logs in that fireplace, and I could sit on that carpet for hours.
Thanks for sharing.
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