Where to find HO scale plans????

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I recently obtained a Epilog Helix (laser) and I thinking about making structures. Looking for interesting to scale blue prints or ideas on how to make these. Any help would be great!

Thanks

RMax1

2

I seem to remember an article by Pelle Soeborg about building a Denny’s??? Anyone know what issue that was in? I also found something by Robert Smaus on building a downtown warehouse in HO. I should be able to put the drawing that I make into Corel and cut most of the parts easily with the laser.

RMax1

3

Past issues of MR and other model magazines used to have plans regularly. Do a search on the MR online magazine index, check for articles that have plans. There are hundreds already out there.

Bob Boudreau

4

Thanks Bob!

That did the trick! I found it on page 54 of the Sept. issue. He used a milling machine to cut the styrene. Our laser should do much the same thing. There is an online article also!

RMax1

5

Make sure you post some pix for us

6

Chuck I ordered some catalogs for materials Hopefully I can start this soon. Here is a link to the machine. I’ll post some pictures as I go. Found some good books too.

http://www.epiloglaser.com/helix24_overview.htm

RMax1

7

The best source for old plans are pre-1990 backissues of the NMRA Bulletin. In the 1970s and early 1980s especially, they would publish 2-5 plans per issue! And the subject matter was all over the place: frame depots, stone depots, storefronts, factories, water tanks, dwellings, you name it, they published it. It makes the paltry one or two plans per month published by MR and RMC look like nothing.

And don’t forget Mainline Modeler. They usually publish at least two plans per issue. While mostly rolling stock, they do have a large number of rail-related structure plans: a LOT more than what MR has published over the past decade.

8

that’s a very interesting looking machine . are you planning on going into commercial production of structure kits , or did you buy the laser for some other purpose and now you want to get some hobby use out of it ? [:)]

how much work is required to get from printed plan to cut parts ?

9

Wow. That’s some spiffy looking laser.

Don’t forget that if you are going into commercial production, that you’ve got to negotiate for the rights to use the plans for commercial purposes. Plans published in magazines are for personal, not commercial use. Most drawings have such a notice on them. But whether or not they’ve got a notice restricting their use, anything published is copyrighted, according to federal law.

-Ed

10

She bought the machine to cut fabric for some of the accessories her company makes. It just so happens it has other things that can be done with it. I got really lucky! I’m going to start playing with it to make some custom structures. Who knows if they go off well anything can happen. Right now my wife is open to see what the thing will do. It cuts, engraves and shapes just about anything except pvc.

Thanks guys for the suggestions and places to look. I’ll let ya’ll know what happens.

RMax1

BTW I don’t know how much work is going to be involved with it. It uses Corel Draw as it’s main tool. So anything I can import should be workable within reason.