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Mike Hamer
Engineer
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 Posted - 05/07/2006 : 4:00:55 PM
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Here at the forum, we see so many fantastic images of great modelling...scenery, structures, rolling stock...but we rarely see each other's layouts as they would appear if we were to visit their homes and enter their subterranean paradises...or in whichever rooms they choose to create their model railroad.
I've read many times, modellers querying each other as to how their layouts appear in the "overall" perspective...you know, if you take a step back with the camera and show your layouts, workbenches and crew lounge areas.
...and, while my layout is complete (if ever a model railroad is!) your layouts do not have to be anywhere near complete to post an image here.
Be brave...and have fun! 
I'll begin with a few shots. In a later posting, I'll take you on a tour around the entire layout.
That's me at the workbench. Yes, I keep a tidy ship...as I have many visitors to my layout on a regular basis and I host regular operating sessions.
Here are some of the boys awaiting their turn in the crew lounge. That's the train room off in the distance. It may sound funny, but my crew lounge is over three times larger than the train room itself!
Here we see some of the boys outside the train room. We're at the duckunder entrance to the room where the "surround staging" concept is seen. Two of the lads are making up a train in the "active" staging yard. Model Railroader sent me the poster just visible to the right after my layout graced the cover of Great Model Railroads 2004. (It also appeared in Model Railroad Planning 2001 where I presented the surround staging concept to readers.)
I wanted to create that "museum diorama" appearance for visitors, so all fascia, valence and curtains are black allowing the eyes to focus solely on the layout which is backlit with both flourescent and incandescent lighting. This rural scene depicts the many trees required to re-create the verdant New England landscape.
My final shot shows the industrial area of the layout. Remember, we are in a bedroom-sized room and I wanted to capture both the rural and urban flavour of New England...a challenge indeed in such a small place...but I think I've managed quite well!
Hope to see pictures of your "overall" area no matter what degree of progression you find your model railroad at the present time!
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All the best, Mike Hamer
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
http://craftsmanstructures.blogspot.com
http://bostonandmaine.blogspot.com
http://fridaynightgroup.blogspot.com |
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Peterpools
Engineer
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 4:27:58 PM
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Mike
Looking forward to seeing the entire enchilada. Looking fantastic. My layout would fit easily in work area. Space is everything.
Peter 
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Country: USA
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Cigarguy
Fireman
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 5:35:54 PM
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Mike,
These are some excellent photos. How wonderful it is to have such talented people sharing this great hobby of ours. I couldn't help but notice that in the 2nd photo, one of the guests is using the treadmill. Boy - your strict when it comes to keeping your crew in shape! =)
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Mike
D&B Lumber Co.
"The Best Wood You Ever Saw!" |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 3877 |
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slimrails
Moderator
Premium Member
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rsmilley
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 5:40:19 PM
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Mike,
This is a great idea for a topic... as a novice in the hobby, but with big dreams, I'd love to see other folks' train rooms to get some ideas... my wife and I are preparing ourselves to move to a new home, and a generously-sized train room is a requirement !! So seeing some examples of how people utilize their space (for the train line, the work bench, storage, displays, etc.) will give me some great insight into how I can plan my future train room.
Also, I really love the "museum-style" approach that you've taken with your layout... I really like that approach...as if displaying many different dioramas, interconnected with a common rail line. I've considered pursuing this approach with my future, new train room, and eventual new layout.
In fact, I've considered making each "scene" modular such that I could interchange different dioramas whenever I feel like a change... I've considered employing the "FreeMo" standards for this approach. With the FreeMo approach, I could take a diorama to the FreeMo shows too. I'll have to track down RichBeau's FreeMo standards when I get started on this !!
Any thoughts on this idea ??
By the way, your layout looks great.
Take care,
steve milley
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| Posts: 397 |
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Tabooma County Rwy
Fireman
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 6:01:02 PM
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Drew, I used exactly the same method as you, and really like it...easy to do and inexpensive. I also might mention that because the vinyl is so flexible, it is easy to curve the corners. Here is a pic of the expansion section to my layout...this section of backdrop even "bridges" (with a plywood backing) a window opening:
And here is a pic of a corner section in my main layout room...the "corner" is actually to the left of the water tower:
One more thing I might mention...I ended up with a roll of sheet vinyl about 36" wide by 100' long. I wanted a backdrop about 18" tall. So, I put the roll up on the good old WorkMate and got out my hand saw and set to work. It wasn't easy, but I did manage to cut the whole roll. I figured a power saw would melt the vinyl, so it had to be a hand saw...
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Country: USA
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Eddie Landreth
Fireman
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 6:06:26 PM
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Great looking layout and room, Mike. Like you, I've chosen the shadowbox approach with having a black valance hide the overhead lighting and a black facia. I have a bolt of black cloth that will eventually hide all the crap I have stored underneath the layout once I get to a point of having the major scenery elements done.
My layout is in my basement, and the overall layout size is 11' x 29'. It's an around-the-walls style that is basically a "C" shape with a return loop on each end of the "C" and has walk-in access.
This pic shows the east wall with the roundhouse area in the lower portion of the photo, and the depot area in the middle, which I'm currently working on scenicing. The upper end of the photo shows the unfinished area which will eventually be the town of Benton, where I live.
This picture shows the north end of the layout, where the main feature is the steel bridge over the Saline River. There's the unfinished town area to the right, and a farm area to the left of the river.
North end, slightly different view.
This is looking towards the south end and the industrial area of the local ALCOA plant. The roundhouse area can be seen to the left of the photo. At this point, I've only built the major structures for the industrial area. I have a general idea of the track layout through the area, but have only laid the mainline at this point.
A couple of more views of the industrial area.
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maandg
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 6:09:23 PM
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Mike,
All I can say is WOW!!! The museum-quality presentation is most impressive. Although I had not considered a black fascia, it truly works with the matching valance to create a diorama effect. Your model work is equally superb!
Here are some photos of the interior of my portable train building. The lower staging level can be seen below. The third level has yet to be built. I will start on it this summer.
One thing that really caught my eye was the large poster of your GMR cover. How cool is that?!?!?!? My MA&G will be featured in Great Model Railroads 2007 this October. Lou Sassi did the photography, so maybe I’ll be lucky and make the cover like you did.
If anyone is interested, I have an entire photo album on my MA&G website dedicated to overall shots of the layout building...please check it out! Thanks for starting this thread…I look forward to seeing other’s work as well!!
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Cliff Powers
The Mississippi Alabama & Gulf
Please visit my layout website at
www.magnoliaroute.com
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Edited by - maandg on 12/30/2006 7:34:54 PM |
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Mike Hamer
Engineer
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 6:46:50 PM
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Hi fellas...thanks for your many compliments. Yes, the comfort of guests and regular operators was paramount in my books from the beginning considering most of our layouts are subterranean! I'm really glad to see many others have quickly begun to post the "overall" pics of their model railroad rooms, crew lounges and work areas.
Peter, thanks for your kind words. I'll post more pics after some of the other forum members have added a few. Hey it'd be great to see some of your room as well!
Hey Mike (Cigarguy)...yes, the treadmill is a vital cog in the operations of the layout. That's Rob Kazakoff about to begin peddling away to provide the electricity to run the trains! 
Hey Russ, thanks for posting your area as well. I wish I lived nearby...I'd give you a hand with the room...but, judging by your interlocking tower and small diesel electric in the other posts, you're a master modeller already!
Steve, glad to see you've joined the forum! Yes, it's a great place where modellers can share their talents. Indeed, this is the "World's Greatest Hobby!" While my layout is bolted to the walls with cantilever construction, I'm certain that a modular, or better still, a "sectional" layout can be utilized following the "museum diorama effect" I've used. I look forward to seeing your progression with your modules!
Al, Wow...those curved corners really do the trick with the sheet vinyl. In retrospect, I wish I had've taken that route! Really nice looking layout you've got there!
Eddie, a-ha...you've also used the shadowbox technique on your beautiful layout! I wish I had your room size, for sure. (When I began my layout, the crew lounge doubled as a home daycare which my wife ran, so no trains were allowed out in that area. While Lisa is finished doing the daycare work - as our kids are now grown-up - I've kept the bigger space solely as a crew lounge...but it could be a place of future expansion.) I particularly enjoyed those long scenes you've managed to achieve on your layout. I'll have to come down sometime to operate!
Cliff, I've e-mailed the link to your website to countless friends here in Ottawa and across Canada. You've got a magical thing going on there! One of the members in our Friday Night Group models in a very similar way to you, and I really enjoy getting over to his place. He uses a bright atmosphere like you have done. I imagine that for your room white was the best choice due to the three different levels you'll have in time. I like the choice of green you've selected for your fascia. Hey, I know yours is not a subterranean layout...how far a walk from your house is it...thirty feet or so? The reason I ask is...our winters up here in Ottawa can be pretty nasty with snow accumulations and drifts that'd come up to your neck, if not higher! Looking forward to your article and video in the not-too-distant future!
Yes, each layout is situated in a unique position and it's very interesting to see how others utilize their trains spaces!
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All the best, Mike Hamer
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
http://craftsmanstructures.blogspot.com
http://bostonandmaine.blogspot.com
http://fridaynightgroup.blogspot.com |
Edited by - Mike Hamer on 05/07/2006 6:52:23 PM |
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Tabooma County Rwy
Fireman
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 7:22:19 PM
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Al I moved your post over to the backdrop thread as requested.
I think this post should remain her also as mention was made of you work by another and besides looking at such a nice layout twice is never a problem.
John Bagley(Bbags)
Mike, OOPS!!! I posted in your thread, and I meant to post in Drew's thread about backdrops. Dang it.  Too quick with the fingers, I guess. Thanks for the compliments, though.
HELP! Any Moderator out there that can move my post to where it belongs?
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Edited by - Bbags on 05/07/2006 8:02:32 PM |
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Country: USA
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maandg
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 7:28:15 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mike Hamer
Hey, I know yours is not a subterranean layout...how far a walk from your house is it...thirty feet or so? The reason I ask is...our winters up here in Ottawa can be pretty nasty with snow accumulations and drifts that'd come up to your neck, if not higher!
Mike,
Believe it or not, my layout building is about 100 feet away from our house. We have two acres, so space was no problem. Quite frankly, I enjoy the peace and quiet the distance affords. I consider it to be my "fortress of solitude" (my apologies to Superman).
I've got some HUGE news that I've been dieing to break on one of the forums - I'll give the honor to my new home at RR-Line. The MA&G will indeed become portable! My wife and I are closing on a new house May 25th. We will be going from 1700 sf to 3500 sf! Also from 2 acres to 4.5!! I have already contracted with a house mover to relocate the train building to our new property. Once there, the building will be nearly 350 feet from the house! We'll be surrounded by hundreds of acres of raw timber land, so the view should be quite breathtaking. I'll be posting photos of the move itself on my website sometime nest month. Stay tuned!!!
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Cliff Powers
The Mississippi Alabama & Gulf
Please visit my layout website at
www.magnoliaroute.com
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Mike Hamer
Engineer
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slimrails
Moderator
Premium Member
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 7:35:54 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mike Hamer
Hey Russ, thanks for posting your area as well. I wish I lived nearby...I'd give you a hand with the room.
Thanks, Mike! Here's the story...I started finishing 1/2 of the basement to be th railroad room about 18 months ago, but we always have had other projects taking precedence because we're also doing a 'renovate-as-we-go-along' make-over to our circa 1923 house. This year, I'm contracting out a bunch of work that will free me up to finish the room.  That will include the electrical upgrade, too, so I'll have plenty of outlets. The overall size of my layout design will be 4'x12'. Anytime you're in the neighborhood, stop on in...could always use the help! 
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Take a look at my vintage railroad postcard collection at http://www.railroadpostcards.blogspot.com
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Edited by - slimrails on 05/07/2006 7:38:21 PM |
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Dreamweaver
Crew Chief
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 7:37:27 PM
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Hi Teach and the rest,
Let me first say that these are some awsome layouts.
Next Cliff your layout is amazing and I would have to say that all it needs is a little black paint on the facia and a valance painted black and it would POP so hard it would knock you out.
Awsome work Guy's
Mike J
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Bbags
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 8:35:27 PM
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Hi all.
Some great layouts are being featured here in this thread.
While I am a little ahead of Russ I am still nowhere near the level of completion that is exhibited here by many of you.
The area of the basement for the layout in August 2004 when I moved from Connecticut where I did not have a layout to Georgia.
A diagram showing my benchwork
The basic benchwork is constructed.
I am working on the 12' by 6' section and the pink foam against the back wall has been replaced with My Alaskan Mountain and My Alaskan Cemetery will be right in front of the mountain.
The other structures etc. are all just sitting there for the picture and may move to a different home when all is said and done.
Again what a great thread and some really impressive modeling.
Thanks to all that have posted and I hope to see many more layouts posted here in the future.
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John Bagley
Modeling the Alaska Railroad in HO in Wildwood Georgia. |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 13054 |
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leeflan
Fireman
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Posted - 05/07/2006 : 8:36:21 PM
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Hey, Mike, thanks for bringing up this thread; it's always fun to see the overall picture of everyone's layouts. Here are a couple of mine from February 2005 and today, May 07, 2006.
Here's where I was a year ago February. The track was all down, the layout operated and the Wadley section was pretty much complete.
And, here's where we are today, showing about 90% of the layout. Most of the scenery and structures are in position (although in some areas the scenery has not been glued down or detailed. The scene divider really helps separate the roadside scene from the oil mill scene, a big change from the previous picture.
And, Cliff, as a Deep South modeler, I've admired your layout since it first appeared in MR. If I had your space, what I could do with a 10-mile short line.
Thanks again, Mike. PS, see my good nature rib in the L&WS thread.
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