Blog | Shelf Layouts

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Mar 25
5 min

Perspective

The above image was taken on my N scale switching layout using an iPhone and the room’s overhead Halogen track lighting. The depth of fie...

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Oct 18, 2019
2 min

Large Space, Small Skills

Modeler’s typically enter the hobby at two points in their lives, either during the teen years or at retirement. Those coming into model...

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Jun 13, 2019
3 min

The “Thirty Minute/Three Hour” Rule

When it comes to model railroad operations, I’ve noticed what I call the “thirty minute/three hour rule” or, as Captain Jack Sparrow woul...

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Mar 24, 2019
2 min

ACCEPTANCE

Acceptance. Acceptance of the reality of our situation. Acceptance of constraints. Acceptance of the fact that the subject we are tryi...

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Jan 22, 2019
2 min

DIAGONALS

The man made world we model tends to be built on engineering order. In other words, ninety degree angles, perpendicular orientations, and...

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Jul 21, 2018
1 min

TURNOUT OPTIMISM

Model railroaders are an optimistic bunch, particularly when it comes to layout design! To be more specific, overly optimistic when it c...

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Apr 12, 2018
4 min

“TIME”

The timeless 80/20 rule, model railroad planning is not immune. All too often we have our 80/20 priorities backwards. We spend eighty pe...

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Feb 24, 2018
4 min

PICKING A THEME, SETTING YOUR SCOPE

Before we draw the first line of a layout design, before we lay the first stick of bench work, the most important decisions present thems...

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Jan 14, 2018
4 min

FEAR OF MISTAKES

On a relatively frequent basis I encounter modelers that confide in me their fear of making mistakes. It’s perfectly understandable. Th...

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Nov 16, 2017
2 min

RAIL GAPS AND RAIL JOINERS

I get lots of questions from my model railroad design clients, many new to layout construction, as to how to handle rail gaps and rail jo...

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Oct 10, 2017
3 min

SIX LANDMINES TO AVOID

Planning a layout for several….or many years down the road? Design, preparing, and anticipation can be a big part of the fun. In my expe...

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Sep 13, 2017
2 min

WHAT’S YOUR OPERATIONAL STYLE?

Trains in motion, that’s what we ultimately want. Without it we essentially have a static diorama. But what is your operational style? ...

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Aug 11, 2017
1 min

WEST VIRGINIA LOGGING TRACK PLAN

Rickety logging lines are a popular theme. The design shown above is a free lanced West Virginia logging branch set in the 1930’s or 194...

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Jul 13, 2017
3 min

HOW MANY TOWNS SHOULD I PUT ON MY LAYOUT?

Early in the planning process, it’s common for clients to tell me that they have a specific number of towns they’d like to have on their ...

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Jun 14, 2017
2 min

STRUCTURE BUILDING PRACTICE

Model Railroad Structure Building Practice The clients that I see generally have many things in common. Typically they’ve been waiting d...

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