Winter layout Ideas

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Does anybody have any good sources or ideas for modelling a winter layout?

2

[8] Baby, it’s cold outside…[8] {sorry I never could sing}

Well, here are a couple ready made ideas:

Winter people outside:

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200425475

Ice skaters;

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200426555

snowball fight scene:

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200426550

snowmen:

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200513631

Truck snowplow:

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200425086

snow covered pine trees:

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200511039

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200855140

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200511028

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200477780

Woodland Scenics “Snow”:

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?Scale=None&Item=WDSLANDSCAPE&ID=20010854

Hope this helps!

[8-|]

3

The Dec 2011 Model Railroader has a cover story on a layout with a winter section. A couple of books about doing scenery have a chapter on doing a winter layout or scene, but there’s not too much out there. Bill Henderson’s Coal Belt RR HO layout used talcum powder for a light “dusting” of snow in his winter scene that I think looked very realistic.

BTW I never cared for the snow covered pine trees that much. You might have a look like those frost / snow covered trees the morning after a snowfall, but after a few hours in the sun the snow and the pine trees mostly disappears - even if it’s still below freezing out. The dark green needles absorb heat and warm up enough to melt the snow, allowing the tree to do photosynthesis and survive.

4

Does your layout need a snow blower? I only visit the city in the summer, so I have never seen this beast in action. The jet engine (from a 747–the little tail generator set) tips down to clear the tracks. Apparently NYCT is not too happy with it: It blows the ballast into other standing equipment.But they do have five of them!

If you can model one of these, it would make an interesting addition to your snow scene.

5

My heartburn with modeled snow scenes (unless you’re modeling the rust belt during the height of its industrial activity) is that the pristine whiteness quickly picks up a layer of grey grunge. It requires cleaning about five times more frequently than ‘other season’ scenery.

Of course, you can try for that bleak, cold, everything dead or dormant look of midwinter and not have a snowflake in sight. Then have all the snow you want on the backdrop, where the vertical surface won’t be a dust magnet.

(Having said that, I do have a place in my master plan for a snow scene, Miyukidani - Beautiful Snow Valley. It’s on the very far end of a narrow gauge route that will probably never be built, on an upper level that isn’t framed in and may never be.)

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

6

Here’s more:

Snow boards and such {if you model a more modern era}:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/189-6004

older Chevy snowplow:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/247-7071

MOW snopwmelter like mentione by broadway lion:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/247-7086

Vintage snowmobile:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/361-454

Ice fishing set:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/361-453

older winter clothed outdoor figures:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/590-12197

seated winter passengers:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/590-10317

children in winter clothes:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/590-14007

witer clothed peoples:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/590-14037

n scale bare trees could work for HO:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/716-60001

winter effects scenic kit:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/785-4123

There are plenty of locomotive snow plows and lococ/plows and rotary Loco plows…you just have to search for them to buy them to add to your snow/winter scenes. I didn’t bothre to list them all here.

BTW all I did was go to my favori

7

Soon we will just have to look out the window in my part of the planet ![st]

8

Thanks for all the great ideas keep them coming!!!

9

http://www.flyerguide.net/viewphoto.php?id=379776&nseq=I think im going to start a little diorama and do some experiments because there’s something about trains in the snow that make me feel good.

here some pictures i m using for inspiration.

(all credit gores to photographer)

http://www.flyerguide.net/viewphoto.php?id=371548&nseq=57

http://www.flyerguide.net/viewphoto.php?id=374504&nseq=44

http://www.flyerguide.net/viewphoto.php?id=379776&nseq=10

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=349324&nseq=40

My personal favourite

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=364604&nseq=23

10

I built a two ft. high hill with a Skate&Ski resort at the top, to add something to my four season layout. Note the automated ski lift and Scenic Express Super trees in leafless Winter scene. At the top of the mountain is an automated skating pond with HO scale skaters moving magnetically in random patterns, controlled by magnetic mechanism operating below. Click on photo to enlarge it. Then, click on “Previpous” or “Next” to see other views of my layout. Bob Hahn