The following is a 14 minute tutorial on You Tube on the subject at hand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq2xSZJ-A4Y&feature=youtube_gdata

I'm working through the design of the benchwork for my modular chainsaw.  The goal is to build a free-standing modular layout around the perimeter of my basement.  I wanted to try to incorporate all the best practices I have seen and read about.  I threw this together quickly in sketch-up tonight.

I challenged myself to make some progress finishing a scene.  I now have quite a bit of scenery complete only to the point where the plaster is in and painted, but it will be nice to get someplace DONE or at least much closer to it.

I thought of finishing the area around two bridges on my mainline, which would also require completing a fairly sizable portion of the backdrop.  I decided instead to work on two trestles in the bottom of Cedar Creek canyon, which will require 3-D scenery only.

Here's the location:

First experiment. Building a shelf.

I finally got around to posting a couple progress pictures of my layout. I'm home from college over the summer and decided to finally start on a model railroad.

Basic Info:

N Scale

late 50's PRR

Freelanced

3'x6'

I adapted Rick Van Laar's track plan, found in the Feburary 2011 issue of Model railroader, to N scale. and added a few extra sidings for more switching potential. 

I need help with my layout design it is hard for me to design and build my layout in my room. I HAVE HO SCALE

..

In order to better understand my capabilities, I am creating a 12' modular mini-layout (chainsaw).  I may or may not keep it in the end, so I am building in the ability to expand it from the middle (red line near Oil Dealer) if it turns out well and I end up keeping it.  (This expansion would add an additional industry (Feed Mill) and extend the passing siding and yard tracks.

Scale is HO and train length will be limited to eight feet.

With as much time as this took I was afraid I would never get the windows in place.

This first photo only shows 7 of the 13 windows per side and the side doors on the two 125 foot long walls

The upper wall is the exterior with the 24" wide brick pillars and the lower shot shows the interior wall with the roofs 10" X 10" timber supports.

Joe, that was a very nice editorial about John Allen (and his heir apparent, Tom Hokel).

I never met John Allen or saw his layout in person, but I feel I've known him for many years.  He certainly influenced me, as well as many others, and his work will be fondly remembered for many years to come.

I'm glad to see what Tom Hokel is doing, and wish him well in his endeavor.

Mike Van Hove