Welcome to the Diesel Dreamin’ blog. While I am uploading videos to YouTube, I figured I might blog in parallel and be in some cases written words with pictures might be better able to explain or demonstrate some of the work I am doing on my layout. I do aspire to get my Golden Spike and then Master Model Railroader certificates from the NMRA so documenting the process for each part of the layout will help me with that. This blog will be run in tandem with my YouTube channel also name Diesel Dreamin’
So who am I?
Check out my About Me page.
The Plan!
My choice of scale is almost entirely related to my choice in subject matter. Queensland Rail. Given the space I would have been able to do so much with N scale, but there simply isn’t the availability for N scale as there is for HO scale. Which brings me to my second reason, I really love HO scale sizing. One day I will have the space to do that monster HO scale layout, but until then I can work with the space I have available and hone my modelling skills. There will be a multi-deck, helix fitted layout in my future, but not right now.
This is the the benchwork plan I have drawn up. Don’t focus on the track plan too much, it will probably get reworked a lot before I decide on it’s final form.
I am using the single car garage in my unit. As I’m an Aussie, I use the metric system but we use the basic approximation that 300mm (or 30cm) = 12 inches or 1 Imperial foot. I do have things like tools and camping equipment, children’s belongings etc that are also stored in this garage and this will be stored under the layout without impeding my access to underneath too greatly for the purposes of wiring, installing point motors etc. On occasion I may have to move things in and out but you take the rough with the smooth.