Christmas Layouts 2014

[Penny Trains]

 Let's see them!  

Since I have 2 out of the 3 that I do each year finished already, I'll get the ball rolling!  

In September I built my little prewar layout.

The town's rich kid pauses for fresh milk, note his favorite plaything by his feet!  

More to come!  Let's see yours!

Becky

[cheapclassics]

Becky,

Outstanding, as usual!!!   This provides me incentive to get my own posterior in gear and get mine set up.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[fifedog]

Rails and Sails. 

[CB&Q]

HO HO HO now things are starting to look good. very nice layout for the holiday any grandchildren to share them with?

[Penny Trains]

CB&Q

HO HO HO now things are starting to look good. very nice layout for the holiday any grandchildren to share them with?

Nope.  45-SWF

[emdmike]

Here is one of my past layouts before we moved to where we live now.  I will post up pics of this years Lionel set up as soon as i get it up and running.   Mike

[Penny Trains]

Here's October's child:

I have to admit, of the 3 layouts I do at Christmas, this one is the most fun to build and operate.

The gateman pops in and out, the beacon goes round and round, the milkman does his thing on a dedicated track, signals flash, the banjo wig-wags, whistles, horns, smoke, choo-choo sounds and the endless droning of an oil pump working away at the rear of the layout really gets my blood flowing!  

One of my favorite sections of the layout features one of my favorite Plasticville structures: the Turnpike interchange.  This is a modern issue version as is the motel acting as the motor lodge component of my Howard Johnson's complex.  The HOJO's started life as a damaged 1960's issue Plasticville schoolhouse.

At the other end of the layout is another of my Plasticville favorites, the Airport administration building.  Again this is a modern issue with clear plastic and vellum added to the windows to create a more uniform glow.  The lights surrounding the "tarmac" are from diecast airport playsets.  The hard to miss Polar Express roaring through on the viaduct is a modified postwar 2-6-4.

Merry Christmas Plasticville style.

The land was cleared today so Disneyland construction can begin as soon as I do this and that and that over there and a few things I forgot to do and repair this and embellish that and....well, you get the idea.  

Becky

[Firesteel]

These Christmas layouts are fascinating. I know I would have a hard time taking them down. I think I would be tempted to leave them up all year.

Karl

[Firelock76]

Great layouts Becky, and I love that F4U "Corsair" parked at the airport.  Looks like Pappy Boyington's in town for the holidays!

[railroaded]

Penny, what did you use for the green fence with the cross hatch pattern around your station plaza? Is that all hand cut paper?

[Penny Trains]

I drew up the fence pattern on a paintbrush program and then printed it on green cardstock.  I also try to do that with windows wherever I can.  Walls and roofs are easy enough to draw by hand but when it comes to redundant parts you can't beat computer made.

Generally speaking, the standard gauge buildings average around 95% made from 65lb cardstock.  Most have foamcore bases and some have corrugated cardboard backing for the walls.  But other than light fixtures (many of which I made myself out of things you wouldn't expect to see a light fixture made out of) flag poles, flowers, or metal details, it's all cardstock.

Becky

[Plate Rail]

Too early yet, Becky.   Here's a little SG under the tree from Christmas past.

?tn=1956887357

Since it's my 50th trainaversary this year I might set up what little American Flyer i have in tribute.

Bruce

[anjdevil2]

Building my annual layout for my fire dept. Where Becky is using Plasticville, I'll be using Lemax. I'll be adding some more animation to the layout this year. In the past, I've adorned it with my MTH House on Fire, but I'm trying to keep it simpler. Usually, it has to be dismantled just after the parade and Santa visit, but my job would like to display it for the holidays, so we'll see. Pictures forthcoming.......

[wallyworld]

Due to multiple tip overs perpetrated by our feline bad actors, this year it's G gauge and the old standby, a simple circle around the tree..no mega elaborate temptations. My back from bending over to put the trains back on the track several times a day, nixed any inspired ideas I had, which is fine inasmuch disassembly should be a cinch.

I 

[railroaded]

Roger that. I made a station base for my double stop station that I just finished painting & I can't find any commercially made railing that looks nice around it. Yours is excellent, but I'd like something in either metal, plastic, or resin so it's more durable. My stuff gets unpacked & packed up a lot & I'm affraid paper won't hold up to the process. 

Penny Trains

I drew up the fence pattern on a paintbrush program and then printed it on green cardstock.  I also try to do that with windows wherever I can.  Walls and roofs are easy enough to draw by hand but when it comes to redundant parts you can't beat computer made.

Generally speaking, the standard gauge buildings average around 95% made from 65lb cardstock.  Most have foamcore bases and some have corrugated cardboard backing for the walls.  But other than light fixtures (many of which I made myself out of things you wouldn't expect to see a light fixture made out of) flag poles, flowers, or metal details, it's all cardstock.

Becky

[Penny Trains]

That's the real secret now isn't it?    That paper models don't last?  But that's also one of the biggest benefits in my book.  It gives me the chance to do everything over and since I've learned new and better ways of doing things each time, the replacements always look better.

If I could get it to work, I would print on styrene sheets.  So far I haven't found an inkjet that could handle the job.

BUT, there are inkjet transparencies.  If you built a model in a 3D rendering program like Metasequoia or Blender, then unfolded the model parts using Pepakura and printed them on transparencies, you could spray paint the parts after they're cut out and get much closer to the look of painted steel.

Becky

[railroaded]

Ok, understood. I like doing things once, & moving on to something else. I've poked around hobby shops, craft stores, & train shows but they either have plastic picket style fencing for a house, wrot iron style for a church, or if you get into the nicer resin or brass stuff- they have what I want, but it's $10 - $12 for a 6" or 8" section & that's just going to be crazy stupid money for the amount I need to go all the way around that building so right now I've got nothing. If I bought that stuff I'd be upwards of $60 for a fence & that's not realistic for me.

[Penny Trains]

Speaking of paper models and how they don't last very long, here's a list of what's new, what's been rebuilt, repaired or enhanced in my soon to be unveiled 2014 Disneyland layout.

Frontierland:

1. Fort Wilderness, formerly a paper model, was torn down and replaced with a wood, bamboo and cardstock version.
2. The Mark Twain sternwheeler was replaced with a reinforced model.  Lighting added.
3. A dock was built for the Mark Twain along the Rivers of America.
4. A "land entrance" arch was constructed.
5. The Golden Horshoe/Mile Long Bar building was modified.
6. Frontierland Station was rebuilt.
7. Country Bear Jamboree has moved to the new Bear Country section.
8. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad enhanced with new trackwork, added scenery and station platform area rebuilt.

New Orleans Square:

1. Area added.
2. Aunt Jemima's Kitchen added.
3. Don DeFore's Silver Banjo BBQ added.

Bear Country:

1. Section was created as space opened up due to modifications to Tom Sawyer Island module in Frontierland.
2. Teddi Barra's Swingin Arcade added.
3. Country Bear Jamboree enhanced.

Adventureland:

1. Jungle Cruise augmented with more animals and a much denser jungle.
2. Temple of the Forbidden Eye repaired.
3. Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse repaired and enhanced.

Fantasyland:

1. Wicked Wench lowered to ground level.  Previously the ship was 3 inches off the ground on a hill  because of the hull sticking through below water level.  (I didn't want to remove the hull below the waterline because I was afraid it would compromise hull integrity.)
2. Small World repaired.
3. Dumbo modified.
4. Peter Pan enhanced.
5. Carrousel replaced with more realistic model.
6. Pinnochio's Village Haus added.
7. Sleeping Beauty Castle repaired.
8. Mad Tea Party repaired.

Main Street USA:

1. General repairs throughout.
2. 2 gazebos added to the hub area.

Tomorrowland:

1. Star Tours added.
2. Star Traders added.
3. Astro Orbitor enhanced.
4. Lunching Pad added.
5. Tomorrowland info kiosk rebuilt.
6. Space Mountain Trylon enhanced.
7. Moonliner repaired and relocated.
8. Radio telescope added to roof of Rocket to the Moon building.

Other:

1. Disneyland sign rebuilt.
2. 50 palm trees added.
3. Other types of trees added.

Just a few things.  

Becky

[rrswede]

Becky, you are absolutely remarkable. Thanks for sharing.

Swede

[Penny Trains]

Disneyland

[Penny Trains]

[anjdevil2]

[Penny Trains]

Got airspace?

[wrmcclellan]

Penny,

As usual. Very nice. Very cool!

[Firelock76]

Wow, Fokkers and Zeppelins!  Becky, you've got excellent taste in aircraft!

[Penny Trains]

There's also a Ju52/3m hanging in a corner above the postwar layout in my bedroom.  I converted that one to a pseudo airliner by adding paper seats, partitions, a galley, etc. and gave it Lufthansa decals.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Christmas layout in 2009

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Led to this in 2012

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[Firelock76]

Penny Trains

There's also a Ju52/3m hanging in a corner above the postwar layout in my bedroom.  I converted that one to a pseudo airliner by adding paper seats, partitions, a galley, etc. and gave it Lufthansa decals.

I'm sure you sleep much better at night knowing "Tante Ju" is hovering overhead watching out for you!

[chatanuga]

Video of this year's tree and the trains racing around it.

watch?v=icM1OQ1NtVc

I used to have other Christmas videos up on YouTube with the Lionel trains, but they were pulled because they had music added, which YouTube claimed copyright infringement.

Kevin

[stebbycentral]