Whimsical layouts?

[Anonymous]

I've got Zoids and harry potter people (from some dice game that worked out the right size HO)
Still looking for Lord of the Rings figures at the moment. I have Orc's rounding up clowns and lots more to mention!

[Jetrock]

Whimsical ideas can also be used in prototype modeling. On my own layout, I have plans for the following whimsical scenes:

An ASPCA facility (animal shelter), which was located right off the prototype's main line, featuring a "dog breakout"--a few HO dogs being chased by net-carrying dogcatchers.

Two neighbors--one with an immaculately kept house and lawn, the other with a run-down looking shack and overgrown weed-infested lawn. On the neat property, a prim housewife will stand glaring at a slovenly slob sitting on the shack's porch in an easy chair with a case of beer.

Several "inside jokes" in the form of businesses and miniatures on the layout in honor of some of my modern-day friends who have a fondness for the period I model.

A dog in the cab of one of the diesels--on the prototype, a pit bull owned by the railroad was appointed "official rodent catcher" on the railroad's right-of-way and it often rode the rails, kind of a less-well-traveled version of the Railway Post Office's legendary dog "Owney." Even though the dog would have been long gone during the period I model (1947-60) the idea of having a dog riding in the cab is too cute to not model. Although I could also have him leading the pack of the dog breakout, heading straight for the railroad's main line...

Whimsy and realism don't have to butt heads, really--often history can provide us with more amazing stories than legend.

[Anonymous]

Hey sounds great, Im in same sheoes. I havent got a layout on benchwork yrt but like you Im planning one. I have my layout on paper only right now, also like you Im not going to follow any prototype layout, Basicly my laout will have 5 differant Rail Roads. Each serving a different Indrustry, Im not so conserned with having the RRs running exactly like the real thing. And my RRs names are made up. My layout will be a 4x8 model connecting to 3 smaller layouts, A 2x4,4x4 and a 1x4. I will do all this in N scale,

My first plan is to get the ok from my wife. Shes agreed to let me but only after we buy a house, which will be within the next 1 to 2 years. Anyway good luck with your layout.

[vsmith]

Model whatcha like and like whatcha model...

For any freelanced layout, which yours will be, the sky is the limit. I would first figure out how big an area you will have to do it. Make a list of what "scenes" you want to model then start to draw up a trackplan incorporating those scenes.

-or-

Save time and use a track plan from one of the many publications out there and then add your scenes into the open spaces on the layout.


DONT FORGET to add a scale TARDIS and a Dalek "Exterminate!, Exterminate!"

[BR60103]

In Britain, one of the favourites for whimsical railways is Rowland Emett. A search on his name will turn up a lot of cartoons. He drew railways as they should have been, not as they were. Some of his best are of the sleepy branchlines.

[CP5170]

Go for it! Model railroading is suppose to be fun. Since you have a small child, maybe you would include an animated circus. I've seen one on a layout tour and quite enjoyed it.

I model the Canadian Pacific Railroad and enjoy operations but I admire people who do their own thing and enjoy it. Usually those who are most critical are those who haven't tried to build anything. we all have different skill levels and enjoyment levels.

Have fun...Ken

[Anonymous]

After reading the “Furlow bashing” topicI know this might be a potentially controversial question, but I’ll risk it anyway. Does anyone know of any resources, internet, print, or otherwise for whimsical model railroads?

I’ll let you know where I’m coming from and the reason I ask, just in case that’ll cut down on any potential backlash.

I’m currently in that nebulous phase known as “thinking about building a layout” with no real firm timetable on when construction will begin. I’ve read a lot of books, and have been subscribing to MR for about 3 years now. I’ve come to the conclusion that prototypical accuracy or operation isn’t my focus. I think the aspect of modeling that I’m being drawn to the most is the details that can be added to a layout.

My family is another consideration in all this as well. My wife and my 4 year old daughter love model trains as well. We’re frequent visitors to the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum.

So, we’d like to build a family layout that will be fun for everyone. My current thought is to have a layout that is half city/urban area and half “fantasy land” for lack of a better term. Actually, I think it would be two 4 x 8 layouts joined by a smaller section maybe 2 x 3. I’m still trying to figure out how much of the basement I can appropriate for all this.

The layout plan that is my favorite at the moment is the Carbondale Central from one of the Kalambach books. The appeal there is a simple track plan and the potential for adding lots of detail. I envision adding a track around the outside that will connect the “real” space to the “fantasy” space. We have the Hogwarts Express set, so it would be fun to try and design a hidden train station on the real side that lets the train cross over into the other half of the layout.

Something that I thought of the other day, is that the train comes out of a tunnel at the edge of the “real” layout, crosses behind a corn field where a baseball game is in progress (ala “Field of Dreams”) and then passes into another tunnel to emerge in the “fantasy” space.

On the “fantasy” side I think the general scenery will be a generic English country side sort of thing. Some of the items on the list to include in that are Hogsmead Station, Thomas the Tank Engine (we have that set as well), the lamppost from the “Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” (along with the lion and the kids), maybe some dinosaurs hidden in the trees, etc.

Anyway, I don’t mean to offend the purists. I enjoy looking at the prototype models that are features in the books and magazines. I have an immense amount of respect for the skill and dedication that that sort of layout takes.