8 replies to this topic

[Alchemist]

with lots of scenery.

 

Nicely done for a home track - I like it!

 

[Bill from NH]

I've seen simpler. less decorated with scenery, but never one where you could drive the car back to the starting line. This would save one all kinds of time if running entirely by yourself. Thanks for sharing, Ernie.

[Tim Neja]

Beautiful scenery and a very cool track!! Nicely done!

[Michael Jr.]

I have SO much respect for this level of work and detail.  The imagination and skill required to develop this impresses me beyond words.  As time goes by my appreciation for this type of hobby, the scenic and realistic road and track layouts grows.  I don't have the skill to do this...any more than I have the skill to build a wood track.  But I would love something like this to just set off and let myself play with for hours.

Thanks for sharing.  Enjoyed watching.

[Dave Crevie]

Certainly model railroad level scenery. If you want to do it, it isn't that hard. So much in the way of materials is available from the model railroad industry. All usable, except for structures which are scale dedicated. Trees and plants work for many scales. A lot of what I used on my O-scale layout actually came from craft stores and floral shops. For the 1/32nd scale home-set racers, I see scenery as almost necessary to make the whole experience more complete. 

 

These small trees were cut from dried sprigs bought from a craft store.

 

 

This ground cover came from a florist, used for the base in flower arrangements.

 

 

The creek was made from fiberglass resin. Pebbles were arranged in the creek bed before the resin was poured.

 

 

The rock faces were cast from plaster in silicone rubber molds taken from boulders at a local forest preserve. Woodland Scenics also sells rock molds and can be found at hobby shops that sell model railroad supplies.

 

 

[John Luongo]

nicely done, dave! great attention to detail!

[Bill Seitz]

"G" scale model railroad buildings might be more appropriate for 1/32 or 1/24 slot car track. HO scale railroad is actually smaller than HO scale slot cars. In model railroad terms, HO slot cars are "S" scale (American Flyer), so try "S" scale buildings. "O" (Lionel) is in-between at 1:48 scale and might be reasonable with 1:43 scale slot cars.

[Dave Crevie]

I used some 1/43 die cast vehicles on my layout, and they don't appear grossly oversize as long as all the vehicles in the scene are the same scale.

 

Lionel is not 1/4 inch to the foot scale. It is 17/64ths inch to the foot, or closer to 1/43rd full size. So for a lionel layout, the 1/43rd die cast models are perfect. 

 

1/43rd vehicles on my layout. The loco is O-scale finescale (all dimensions perfect). Since it is narrow gauge, it is smaller than most steam engine models, but the vehicles don't look oversize in comparison.

 

 

This Case steam tractor is exactly 1/4 inch to the foot. Look at how large it seems next to narrow gauge boxcars. Just like in model railroading, in building a sceniced slot track you need to learn how to convert measurements to scale to keep everything in perspective.

[Alchemist]

I also enjoyed the engine sound synced to the car running around the course - nice touch!

 

Ernie