Model building plans

[Anonymous]

I'm a scratch-build ship modeler who decided to try model railroading and have since started a 5' x 9' HO layout. Since I am accustomed to turning sticks of wood into planks, decks and spars I'm wondering if there are any sources or suppliers that offer plans for HO scale buildings (rather than the whole kit) so that I can scratch build them myself. I'm particularly interested in a mining operation/mine shaft, logging mill and industrial buildings. Thanks!

[cwclark]

a lot of us do what is called kitbashing...we'll take three or four building kits and cut the walls in different arangements to create a totally different version of a building than what is pictured on the kit...there are some good books out there by kalmbach publications on kitbashing, but to scratchbuild a building I would use styrene sheeting like evergreen and purchase pre-molded doors and windows from the internet or the Walthers catalog...welcome to the hobby...you're gonna have fun!...chuck

[jrbarney]

Mhdts,
Welcome to the hobby. Sounds as though the skills you already have will stand you in good stead in model railroading. There is even some intermodal and railroad marine modeling that combines the best of both "worlds."
Analogous to Seaway's "Ships in Scale," there are several model railroad magazines that should be available at your local hobby shop (LHS) and there are also books of projects published by Kalmbach Publishing Co., Carstens Publications and various others. Don't know how big the public library is in Williamsburg, but you might find some of the above there. If you use the Index of Publications at the top of this site, and do a keyword search you will get a list of citations. For publications other than Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman, both of which do photocopies of articles, you may have to request photocopies from the National Model Railroad Association's Kalmbach Memorial Library for a reasonable fee:
http://www.nmra.org
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[Anonymous]

MHDTS
If you contact me directly at [e-mail] . I maybe able to help you with what you need

Bob

[Big_Boy_4005]

Actually there are a lot of plans in the regular magazines like MR. The further back you can look the better the plans get. Check the Magazine Index at the very top of this page next to the Trains.com logo. Most large libraries have bound volumes of the magazines stashed away, if you find things that sound good in the index.

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone,

I'm trying to start my dream layout. OK do not jump down my throat(lol) but i'm not really into prototype. What i want is mainly passenger type layout point to point with 2 main terminals at each end with however many stops in between that the layout can handle. My room size is 16by16 and NO helix. any suggestions would help

thanks, Mike (HO, and only N if possible already have some equpment in HO)

[Anonymous]

MHD:

Welcome! In addition to the suggestions already posted I'd suggest you go through your local hobby shop (we call it LHS for short here) "dead pile" of back issue magazines. A quick scan through twenty or so will likely yield a year's worth of building projects and ideas. Typically they sell for 25 or 50 cents each. If the plans are not in your scale it is a simple matter to resize them on a modern computer.

Depending on the era you select industry journals may be a good source of photos if not plans. If you know one or two dimensions, hight of a doorway for example, it is relatively simple to work out other measurements.

Over time you will find that researching what you build is nearly as much fun as actually building it.

Good Luck

Randy

[Anonymous]

Here are two sites that have "prototype" plans that can be adapted to your needs:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/hhhtml/hhhome.html

http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/

Andrew

[CBQ_Guy]

You may be interested in this site, too. All plans, railroad related:

http://www.greatdecals.com/URP.html

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mccbones

Hello Everyone,

I'm trying to start my dream layout. OK do not jump down my throat(lol) but i'm not really into prototype. What i want is mainly passenger type layout point to point with 2 main terminals at each end with however many stops in between that the layout can handle. My room size is 16by16 and NO helix. any suggestions would help

thanks, Mike (HO, and only N if possible already have some equpment in HO)

Mike,

You should try your post on its own as the start of a new thread. You are more likely to get help that way - try a title like "Need help for passenger ops layout"

Andrew

[Anonymous]

MHDTS

The following are articles on scratch building sawmills. I hope they will be of some assistance to you in building your layout. You will also discover that sawmills take up a large portion of the layout.
NMRA Bulletin June & July 1976 Part 1 & 2
Sawmill Machinery & Sites
Model Railroader July 1968 by Jack Work
Build A Sawmill
Model Railroader August 1958 by Barett E. Snyder
Western Sawmill
Model Railroader November 1961 by Don Reschenberg
More About Sawmills
NMRA Bulletin September 1977 by Benjamin F. G. Kline Jr.
....Bob