Lindsay & District Model Railroaders Inc.

• Hide the improbable - continuous operation layouts of any design (circular, oval, “dog bone”, figure-eight, multiple figure-eight, reversing loop) will seek to hide the curve(s) to avoid the appearance of caboose chasing.

• Texture and colour - Matte colours and a little weathering are in order for structures. Above all, colouring the landscape should never be attempted with paint at full strength. A sieve for powdering on landscape materials and a syringe of diluted paint for rock faces work well for proper texture. Techniques vary from modeller to modeller.

• Time and place - many layouts are dated to the 1950s, which allows for the operation of both contemporary steam and diesel power. In the past, manufacturers tended to produce motive power models that never existed on a particular railroad, or with numbers chosen at random, or without offering a choice of more than one number, but fortunately, models produced today are more likely to be a more correct representation of the prototype, both in design and livery.

Be sure to choose rollingstock that conforms to the era and location of choice - streamlined passenger cars and heavy modern freight cars are simply not credible on a 1950s branch line.

That said, you can cut yourself some slack by including a railway tourist operation on the layout, or by designing it in such a way that parts of it can be legitimately designated as main and branch line operations.

• Tracklaying - the appearance of many a promising layout has been spoilt by indifferent tracklaying and poor or non-existent ballasting.

“Dog-legs”, that is rail joints with a kink, not only look unsightly, but are a hazard to good operation.

Track that is not in good alignment is also very noticeable.

It only takes a few moments to slide spare ties under the track at joints, in order to preserve the continuity of the prototype.

Ballast is also an important component of “acceptance threshold”.

Last but not least, turnouts with attached above-ground electric motors will stretch credibility unless located at busy stations or junctions.

• Detailing - Too little detail does not let the model come to life ¬- too much may detract from the overall impression that the model is trying to make. Again, scale plays a part.

For instance, experienced modellers in HO, S and O scales usually “weather” their motive power and rolling stock, but in N and Z scales excessive weathering may detract from the fine detail of the equipment.

As another example, many layouts include roadways, but an excessive attention to road signs, traffic lights, and so forth, is likely to be at the expense of, or will detract from, the detail that should be bestowed on the railway-related infrastructure.

Too much detail can swamp the viewer’s ability to grasp the essence of the model - a good model is a representation, not necessarily a minutely-detailed imitation. However, one tip: tunnel entrances should afford a view of a tunnel rather than an all-too-common cavern.

But detail is necessary to make the model to come to life, and to provide an interest for the viewer.

Do detailing after the essential railway buildings and structures are in place, starting with people, livestock, road vehicles, station names, order boards, switch stands, signalling, fencing, telegraph poles, non-railway buildings, and so on and so forth.

Some layouts add lighting, houses on fire, a street accident, half-built houses, illuminated business signs, a static or operating trolley line. There are loads for the gondola, flat, hopper and bulkhead cars. Got a stash of bits of scrap metal, discarded axle sets? Perfect for a scrap yard. The possibilities are endless.

• Too much railway. When planning a layout, resist the temptation to jam in as much track as possible. Unless the plan is for a marshalling yard, that’s simply not prototypical. Allow the layout to breathe. Less is better. Study the many variations of layout plans published in many magazines and periodicals.

For a successful layout there has to be room for other activities that represent the model community around your railway - there is not just the station, but a water tower, a freight shed, a yardmaster’s hut - there are trees, the road leading to the station, some people, road vehicles - even some abandoned track. An abandoned roadbed is very prototypical today, and is proof of the determination to resist laying track on every available inch of space.

A related rule is not to plan too big - better to start modest and do it well than to have a vast expanse of layout (even if you have the space, lucky person) and make a sloppy, obviously rushed model.

Conclusion

Imitating the real thing is more of an art than a science. There are few absolute rules to follow, yet the realism of a model will always depend on an impressionist adherence to the essentials of the prototype, set in the appropriate time and space. At a minimum, the purpose of the model has been achieved as soon as the viewer’s forgiveness threshold has been satisfied.

08-09