If you could build ANYTHING to spice up your layout and get a few intresting comments from guests what would you do. I know that if I ever get the room, I would go to the local Wal-Mart and pick up some of the 1:64 Die cast NASCAR models and build a race track with practice runs goin on.
Operating accessories so that the kids could interact more with the trains. I’ve ordered a milk car and platform, and would like to get a gantry crane someday.
Jim
I’ve always wanted to model a strip mine…
My vision is a layout in a ‘E’ configuration with the center of the ‘E’ being the strip mine. There would be 3 main lines and they would circle the strip mine. The mainlines would be O-72, O-84, and O-96 in diameter, the center of the loop would be open to the floor and the strip mining operation could be viewed from the top. There would be steam shovels loading dump trucks, the dump trucks would move off and unload into coal bins, the bins would then unload into ore cars and the transport train would take the ore cars to a coaling station where the coal hoppers would be filled.
One can always dream! [:)]
My son & I are both pilots (me private, and he’s at an aviation university pursuing it professionally), so we’re incorporating an airport on our layout to tie in our related activities. On a 6x9 layout, that’s takes up almost 40% of the board. So far, we have a runway (with correct, legal FAA ILS markings), and of course the Plasticville terminal, the Lionel radar antenna, and rotating beacon (even if the colors are wrong). I’ve seen some examples of LED-based runway lights, but they’re all off a bit WRT accuracy. Funny - I don’t care about scale/size inaccuracies, but I want the other stuff correct!
Don’t really know what will be next for the airport - still thinking…
I did a strip club . . .
Carl,
I also put an airport on one of my layouts. I made the back of the layout a mountain (with trains running through tunnels underneath) and on the top of the mountain I put the air port. I actually “sliced off” the top of the mountain for an area for a flat airport. I modeled it after an airport in Central Americal where the runway went the length of the mountain top and the road from one side of the airport to the other had to go under the runway before winding down the mountain. I shrank the airport footprint and went with with smaller airplanes, buildings, and people to create a forced prospective that really did look nice.
Jim H
Looks busy, Frank. I did an airport too - more rustic - used black asphalt shingles for runways.
My dream project is a trolley barn that would fit all my trolleys - with a working transfer table to connect it to the main line.
I think a waterfall and a river leading to an operating R/C harbor with intermodal freight, and operating rigs to carry the freight to the trains.
That should keep the kids busy! Especially if I wrap the gifts in the intermodal containers![;)]
Presents??? You want presents??? They’re on the ship. Now go get’em…but STAY OFF THE TRAIN TABLE!
Kurt
I’ve had a LIONEL Rotary Coal Tipple (6-32910) that calls out to me everytime I walk down into the train room (5 years now)…gotta get that benchwork magic flowing again.
New York city circa 1940s. Not the whole thing but a good representation complete with Grand Central Station, Hellgate Bridge.
I’m really glad you asked. I would like to have a lake with a ferry boat going from one side to the other and back again (sort of like the action that a trolley does on land).
In my mind’s eye, I can see the docks, people and cars awaiting the commute and even “real” water. [zzz]
RR Redneck, It’ll be interesting to see Junior’s new number… maybe 83?
A Santa Fe stockyard [C):-)]
Wayray
My layout [:(] [V] [sigh] .
All real water rivers and a waterfall!
You a NASCAR fan?
Yes indeedy - I am a Junior fan…
If you use real water then you could put a magnet in a boat and one underneath the water and then use a train to pull the boat around. Or even better use a small R/C boat that you can control.
Jim H
Make a lake with fish in it and a log cabin on it with docks. Got the boats, fisherman, bathing beauties just got to make the lake. Then show DA CHIEF how to catch the big ens.[;)]
laz57
well since this is about dream projects and not real projects…
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A scale replica of Ohio Stadium with 105,000 figures and sound effects/lighting. (scale measurements: 19 X 14 X 3 feet)
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Grand Central Station with a lower level for passenger trains to stop at. (It would be from the era when REAL passenger trains used the terminal and not just commuter trains.)