Tinplate ToddlerThere is so much of a model railroading world outside of the Americas, but I guess that only few US/Canadian modelers would take an interest in participating in the making of a "foreign" layout.
I agree with Ulrich on this one. The history of the Hejaz Railroad is absolutely fascinating, hard to stop reading about it once you start. It featured so much German equipment that was "kitbashed" to deal with the desert sand that the MRR staff would be given a good challenge to come up with decent looking stuff.
Chinese model railroading is huge. An international sidetrack would be most welcome in my book.
http://www.chinesemodeltrains.com/encyclopedia_brand.html
In two years Asians will make up 24% of the population of Canada. If MRR expanded on what it covers, it might pick up more subscribers. I am always am interested in what the other guy is doing.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
SeeYou190 I cannot remember the last time a Model Railroader project layout had steam power. . -Kevin .
I cannot remember the last time a Model Railroader project layout had steam power.
.
-Kevin
The Virginian had an 0-8-0 switcher working the yard.
- Adam
When all else fails, wing it!
SeeYou190 nw2 I hope it's a urban/ industrial from the 70s, that's right no steam . I cannot remember the last time a Model Railroader project layout had steam power. . -Kevin .
nw2 I hope it's a urban/ industrial from the 70s, that's right no steam
The 2014 project "rice harbor" was steam, set in the 1930's.
Harrison
Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.
Modeling the D&H in 1978.
Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"
My YouTube
Living the dream.
I hope it's a urban/ industrial from the 70s, that's right no steam
Tinplate Toddler xboxtravis7992 I dunno a few other ideas, go international? What a splendid idea! There is so much of a model railroading world outside of the Americas, but I guess that only few US/Canadian modelers would take an interest in participating in the making of a "foreign" layout. With streetcars becoming more popular in US and Canadian cities these days, how about a modern traction layout?
xboxtravis7992 I dunno a few other ideas, go international?
What a splendid idea!
There is so much of a model railroading world outside of the Americas, but I guess that only few US/Canadian modelers would take an interest in participating in the making of a "foreign" layout.
With streetcars becoming more popular in US and Canadian cities these days, how about a modern traction layout?
I am surprised the Siemmens S70 has not been mass produced in HO scale yet from what I have seen. So many cities run them now, I would assume there would be a market there. Its not like light rail excludes freight either, here in Utah on the UTA TRAX system after the light rail has shut down for the night, freight trains run 'under the wire' to serve industries after dark. It could make for an interesting layout, to run passenger operations during day, dim the lights, then start up freight services.
Its just, light rail; especially modern light rail or DMU's is just either hard to find or pricey to get into. I tried finding some Stadler FLIRTs for HO scale, and all I could find were some 3D printed bodies on Shapeways. I don't want to plop down several hundred dollars on a few body shells and scratchbuild the rest, at least not now. Its strange to because the larger 'commuter' rail stuff is far more available, with the Bombardier bi-level coaches and Comet cars all in several popular paint schemes. Not to mention there are no real standards for any other 'fixed guideway/rail' transportation models such as monorails or peoplemovers. On my trip to Seattle last month I noticed the city's street car terminates just a half block away from the monorail depot, that would be an interesting 'rail' scene to recreate, but neither light rail or monorail stuff is out there unless your ready to scratchbuild like crazy.
With the App, looking up the older magazines is borderline painful. Scrolling to find a magazine... nice. =-(
on on the compute, mine logs out every 10-15 minutes. Kinda frustrating
I really don't care what modular standard is used. My main objective was to demonstrate how a great layout can be built within the constraints of a modular standard. Might inspire a modeler with limited space to design a big dream layout for the future yet get started by building some of the modules now that can be accomodated within whatever limited space the modeler has.
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
Tinplate Toddler PED I would be interested in seeing a modular layout that is compliant with the NMRA guidlines for modules yet shows all the creativity that the MR staff can fold into those constraints. How well established are those standards among model railroasders? It seems to me that Freemo standards are much more popular.
PED I would be interested in seeing a modular layout that is compliant with the NMRA guidlines for modules yet shows all the creativity that the MR staff can fold into those constraints.
How well established are those standards among model railroasders? It seems to me that Freemo standards are much more popular.
NTrak is pretty universal in the US and most HO modular clubs I've seen are NMRA or derived from it. Freemo is fairly uncommon in the regions of the US that I'm familiar with.
I just hope the next project has a custom roadname and the magazine includes decals for it so we can decorate our own freight cars for it.
My favorite part of the Turtle Creek Central was the decals!
Again a modular mountain layout would be cool. Ok so not in the Cascades, but perhaps Donner?
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
PEDI would be interested in seeing a modular layout that is compliant with the NMRA guidlines for modules yet shows all the creativity that the MR staff can fold into those constraints.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
I would be interested in seeing a modular layout that is compliant with the NMRA guidlines for modules yet shows all the creativity that the MR staff can fold into those constraints. I mostly see a lot of flat round and round layouts at the train shows. I know the clubs have limitations but it would be nice to see a NMRA modular compliant layout that would knock your socks off yet still be very mobile.
I think this would appeal to modlers who have a decent size space to build a new layout in yet want to build it for mobility so it can be moved to their next house.
Could address issues such as how to mount structures for easy removal yet still look good when installed, different module shapes yet still NMRA compliant, lift out section for a walkway, timeless landscape to allow operating in almost any era, etc.
Now if only I could access the digital archives to check out some of the past projects mentioned in this thread.
Seems to be on-again-off-again.
Mike.
My You Tube
Personally, I'd like to see something steam-era (pre-transition). Maybe a short line rural or industrial layout. Probably never happen though because the transition and modern eras seem to be the most popular among subscribers, and business-wise, it makes sense to keep them engaged.
And those MR guys really love their diesels.
It's actually been done by a now-defunct hobby shop in Australia. Dave Jones from the EEVBlog has it now. Here's one of the videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWm7hMkytyI
It actually covers all of the movies with various scenes. I know there is another of his videos that shows some of it running.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
A working version of the mine run from "Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom"...in Z-scale...including animated crocodiles.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
The Cripple Creek Central will always have a special place in my heart. I loved the no plan organic development of it. I also loved when they violated the "no soldering" rule on a late article on the justification of "well you'll have to learn sometime."
Two I always wanted to build were the Kinnikinnick from the 70's (I think that might have been the first project railroad that Russ Larson worked on), and Dave Frary's PRR Middle Division from 1993.
(writing from Amtrack train #670 so excuse any more than usual typos)
I was curious if they are due for a “let’s build a layout at David‘s house” aka the crystal lake series (?)
whats everyones top 5 project layouts?
Virginian with Thin Branch (not going to lie, gave this a lot of thought)
Black River Junction
Canadian Canyons
Wisconsin Central from the mid 90’s
Mohawk Valley from the early 90’s
You've pretty much described Joe Fugate's layout. Doubt MR would be interested in duplicating another magazine's work.
I'd like to see something like SP in the Cascades or Sierra Nevadas in the 70s, they could do it in modules, its take some creativity to hide the joints in the scenery but a nice 5x15 layout would be cool.
maxman Outsailing86 What are the size limitations of a project layout? It has to be sized to get it out the door of their workshop.
Outsailing86 What are the size limitations of a project layout?
It has to be sized to get it out the door of their workshop.
And their elevator. Let's not forget placing it in their van. The Canadian Canyons needs to transported in a bigger van due to its height.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
xboxtravis7992I dunno a few other ideas, go international?
Outsailing86What are the size limitations of a project layout?
I am surprised I haven't seen any recent attempts to do a model railroad set in the Pacific Northwest. My recent trip up there for Thanksgiving sure has the area on my mind a lot lately.I dunno a few other ideas, go international? I thought that OO Scale layout was a highlight of this year's articles, and would love to see more of that. It would make for an interesting story if it is prototypical, just how would a group of American modeler's go about recreating a prototype scene from an ocean away?
What are the size limitations of a project layout? island plans are great, but shelf and around the walls are more realistic for a train room.
One idea might be a commuter layout, maybe a modern take of those Mike Welch plans? But I am biased to a Chicago track plan.
the background, planning, LDE, compression, operations, and design parameters might be the best value. Applying roadbed and building benchwork might be a little redundant.
After being a armchair modeler for years, the Operating the Virginian video inspired me to build a railroad.
I recall seeing picture of the highway that went in front of my childhood home being constructed exactly how you described. Tiny trains on something like 15 or 18 inch gauge track. Horse drawn drag pans and graders.
jim
Steven Otte Canadian Canyons may be already familiar to MRVP subscribers, but we'll be bringing it to Model Railroader magazine subscribers starting in the January 2019 issue. The project for 2020 is an O scale (Proto:48) layout built by MR contributing editor and Model Railroad Planning editor Tony Koester. We're just beginning discussion of our project for 2021. All we can tell you for sure at this point is it will be HO scale. We're looking at what new structure, scenery, and rolling stock products will be coming out in the next year to help guide our choice of prototype, era, and setting.
Canadian Canyons may be already familiar to MRVP subscribers, but we'll be bringing it to Model Railroader magazine subscribers starting in the January 2019 issue. The project for 2020 is an O scale (Proto:48) layout built by MR contributing editor and Model Railroad Planning editor Tony Koester. We're just beginning discussion of our project for 2021. All we can tell you for sure at this point is it will be HO scale. We're looking at what new structure, scenery, and rolling stock products will be coming out in the next year to help guide our choice of prototype, era, and setting.
Just an idea, you could do the D&H in Plattsburgh or Mecanicville NY in the early 80's, interesting track, interesting industries, interesting power.