A Look Back at my Last 15 Layout Projects

In this video, I take a look at the first 14 small model railroads I've built on this channel plus a quick preview of layout #15. You can watch videos on each of these layouts using the links below:
• Buy me a coffee to help support this channel: www.buymeacoffee.com/stephens...
Layout 1: • My 5 x 10 Foot HO Scal...
Layout 2: • N Scale Micro Layout
Layout 3: • N Scale Mini Layout Pr...
Layout 4: • Another N Scale Micro ...
Layout 5: • Build a Small Christma...
Layout 6: • Rebuilding a small HO ...
Layout 7: • Model a Realistic Rive...
Layout 8: • How I Operate Small Sw...
Layout 9: • A Small N-Scale Micro ...
Layout 10: • HO Scale Minimum Radiu...
Layout 11: • An On30 Micro Layout: ...
Layout 12: • Build a Tiny Model Tra...
Layout 13: • A Battery Powered 24" ...
Layout 14: • Building a 17"x30" N S...
Layout 15: • Colorado Loop: New Pro...
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PRODUCT LINKS
BOOKS:
•Carl Arendt's Small Layout Scrapbook: amzn.to/2AZkqzM
•How to Build a Switching Layout: amzn.to/2t0xXE5
•How to Operate a Modern Era Switching Layout: amzn.to/2ut8nfn
•How to Design a Small Switching Layout: amzn.to/2ujJ2nt
•8 Realistic Track Plans for Small Switching Layouts: amzn.to/2ujBOQd
•Building a Model Railroad Step by Step: amzn.to/2ut23Ev
•Building a Sectional Layout: amzn.to/3EWNMSb
CONTROLLERS:
Battery Powered Controllers that work great for N scale too: amzn.to/3umqFfa
Awesome DCC Starter System: amzn.to/3gZVbbp
TRAIN SETS:
N Scale Kato Amtrack Set: amzn.to/3iyCbBt
N Scale Kato Super Chief Set: amzn.to/3B4ISS7
Kato N Scale Track and Controller Set 1: amzn.to/3B61UHF
Kato N Scale Track and Controller Set 2: amzn.to/3Y5hflZ
More Kato Track Sets: amzn.to/3OYcZQJ
HO Scale Rail Chief Train Set: amzn.to/3OVJizQ
O Scale Lionel Polar Express Train Set: amzn.to/3EQLcNu
O Scale Lionel Hogwarts Express Train Set: amzn.to/3Y5hM7t
LAYOUT KIT:
HO Scale Grand Valley Kit: amzn.to/3uiPvN1 (my first adult railroad project)
Track set for Grand Valley Kit: amzn.to/3VPyzsS
Building set for Grand Valley Kit: amzn.to/3F1b8WQ
N Scale building set: amzn.to/3BsZMu3
TOOLS:
Bench top hot wire cutter: amzn.to/3Voq1tk
My Resin 3D Printer: amzn.to/3gT2PEH
My Filament 3D Printer (upgraded version): amzn.to/3Uroph6
Snap-off Blade Utility Knife: amzn.to/3OXM1cj
Cordless Dremel Set: amzn.to/3VO86Mm
My DeWalt cordless drill: amzn.to/3gW5i18
My Dewalt cordless saw (current version): amzn.to/3H73Jbo
My Dewalt cordless miter saw: amzn.to/3VNnzfL
VIDEO AND AUDIO GEAR:
Rode Wireless Mic: amzn.to/3KhNlCy
Shure MV88 Portable iOS Microphone (Great external microphone for iPhone): amzn.to/3LmWw67
Smartphone vlogging kit: amzn.to/3rTXyPf
Selfie Mirror to see phone screen when recording self with back cameras: amzn.to/3KiCgRU
Canon SL3 (nice basic DSLR): amzn.to/3kdBHy1
LED light panels: amzn.to/36NZBNy
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Favorite Online Hobby Shops
• www.fiferhobby.com
• www.horizonhobby.com/
• www.modeltrainstuff.com
• www.trainworld.com
• www.walthers.com
Music: www.epidemicsound.com
Want to see more train-related videos, magazines, and more?
Go to: 24trains.tv/subscribe/registr... stevestrains10
And receive up to 25% off a 24Trains.tv subscription
#modeltrains
#modelrailroads
#microlayouts
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Hi there, my name is Steve and on this channel, I make videos on:
• Small Model Train Layouts
• N Scale Trains• HO Scale Trains
• On30 Trains• Building Structures
• Scenery and Terrain Building
• Layout Operations
• Layout Details
• Hobby Tools• Weathering Projects
• Layout Wiring and Electronics
More on my website: www.steves-trains.com
Facebook: / trainsbysteve
KZbin Page: / stevestrains

[@NasusMiniatures]

Okay, now I'm thinking I have to get into model trains!

[@goat_horde]

Im getting back into it...this guys first layout was one of the first i saw when ibhad gotten started years ago. Now im back at it again lol

[@diydyl6207]

I. Love. Your. Vids

[@NasusMiniatures]

@@diydyl6207 Mine? You mean Steve's--he's so awesome!

[@rickdee67]

Wonderful! I too like the idea of compact layout design.

[@TheMidlandDorchesterRailroad]

Love seeing all those little layouts. You can do so much in a tiny space.

[@jeffreyyeater1780]

More like a diorama. Pure art .

[@AkashRoy-mv2sl]

I really want to see the larger layout please build it as soon as possible. I can't wait ! 😳😳

[@StevesTrains]

The first video of the 3.5 x 5.5 layout was up a couple days ago. I’ll have the layout done this summer.

[@scottyq66]

Super cool mate!..

[@tomt9543]

Great layout ideas! I’m also impressed with your talents as a magician @ 9:28 where you make a dog appear out of nowhere!

[@troysimpson9550]

Steve all these layouts are well done and look great. Thanks for Sharing!

[@rhikdavis]

Puppy is quite the photo bomber.

[@EarthtoSpaceScience]

always is!!

[@StevesTrains]

Whoops used my other account. Yep, the dog always likes to get in the mix.

[@multicolorfilms]

Thank you so much for uploading this. I love your layouts, and the industrial switching layouts have been a big inspiration for my own layout!

[@Butch71]

So awesome. The detail and art in these tiny layouts

[@realchinabot]

Really impressed with how much you're able to do in such a small area.

[@ShivamGupta-hw9yc]

interesting points ,if anyone else trying to find out how to build a model railroad layout plans try Pycanta Model Railroaders Protocol (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my brother in law got excellent results with it.

[@jeffreyyeater1780]

All very beautiful.

[@mikec3260]

Layout 3 is what I want to have!! So cool!!

[@chriskrebill1842]

Inspirational! I'm working on a Z-scale layout in an end table I bought which was inspired by your first video! These are so cool!

[@charlesmcclure5994]

Love all your layout you have built, who says you have to have a big layout to enjoy the hobby 👍👍😃

[@DunnyRail]

Love the Dog, oh the layouts are all interesting as well.

[@steve87thpsap]

Great little layout builds so fun to watch them.

[@jesikebiking]

Very Very realistic looking

[@Charze7758]

You are without a doubt "AN EXPERT" when it comes to model railroading.

[@elleryparsons5766]

All these layouts Are good. A small Reminder don’t set a Budget for a Layout It’s All About Pride in your layout.

[@cybaggs]

Beautiful work and very inspirational to improve aspects of my layout. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@Mercatoyd]

You have a really good feel for landscape making these small foot print layouts very nice.

[@StevesTrains]

Thanks!

[@virafmulla]

Wasn't able to concentrate on layout no 13. Was admiring your beautiful lab sitting there.

[@StevesTrains]

Yeah he is a beautiful dog. I’ll have a full video out in a couple of weeks on layout #15 which I am almost done with, so maybe I’ll have to get both dogs in there as well.

[@virafmulla]

@@StevesTrains looking forward.

[@grantbassett2048]

"You Really do a Great job in a shall area. I was a fan of the HO 6' Switching layout. Very good and fun.

[@TonisalpenmodellbahnN58]

Sehr gut gezeigt, wie man auf wenig Platz schön bauen kann.

[@jensmetts4809]

Very impressed, awesome talented work. Thanks for sharing

[@iggybeauchance7406]

excellent photography specially on layout #1, track level and close, no hand held pan and zoom from 2000 scale feet...

[@more5347]

very inspirational. I built my first (so far) N guage inside my piano bench, I had 11" by 23" to work with. now I'm hooked, and am building my next one in the missing drawer section of a vintage dresser.

[@dnovello]

Love these projects! Great inspirational and insightful tutorial!

[@jb1639]

Very nice all 15 layouts and a cute dog :)

[@hubertmantz1516]

Beautiful layouts. Well done!

[@robertlossing3390]

Thank you! Lots of amazing ideas!

[@Mason-DixonRR]

Excited to try out a similar 1x3 HO scale layout

[@jamesmarsh9888]

Amazing!

[@TouchoftheBrushModelWeathering]

Super Impressive Steve! I work for the A&M. That layout reminds me of Rogers, AR. The layouts are beautiful and unique! Great work!

[@StevesTrains]

Thanks!

[@ewoodrailway]

I love small layouts, it's surprising what you can fit in

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

You've done some beautiful work. One of my favorite mrr channels!

[@StevesTrains]

Thanks! Your channel is fantastic by the way. I need to start playing with tinkercad and get a 3D printer. I love your videos on your designing and 3D printing structures. I just checked out the elegoo mars printer on amazon you had a link to and I couldn't believe you can get the quality of prints you have out of a printer that cheap. Those things have really come a long way. I'm probably going to pick one up later this year and start playing with one.

[@thefutureofyesterday8136]

Great work with lots of time and attention to detail which is key. 👍

[@StevesTrains]

If they aren't already being built to order, I sell them on eBay, or in the case of the 2x3' N scale layout, I sold that one at a train show.

[@dreadapocalypse3773]

The layouts look super realistic

[@edmijares1011]

Great Work

[@wilsonbroughman850]

Good job Steve I like the smaller layouts 24" x 36" ideally.

[@canyonpast]

Very cool, thanks for the inspiration.

[@maxwilson7001]

7:23 Me: “whoa those are some amazing trees!” Also me: “oh those are real trees”

[@coxsj]

Steve, love your stuff. Thanks for sharing, I know it takes a lot of time and energy. Compared to many model railroaders, you seem very disciplined in keeping the layout footprint small. For most of us, that would require super human willpower! How do you do it?!!

[@StevesTrains]

Mostly because I don't currently have a lot of space for a larger layout, and I just like trying out different ideas in quick succession which is a lot easier to do with small layouts. One problem I've had with larger ones (I had a 4.5x8 foot layout prior to my 5x10 HO one I took down a couple of years ago) is that I'm often wanting to do something completely different before I even finish the layout.

[@coxsj]

@@StevesTrains Amen to that brother!

[@SteveH-TN]

Inspirational ! I may make a micro-layout to develop my skill and operate !

[@supercuda1950]

Thanks for all the tips and tricks. I'm new to n scale but experienced with HO. Having lost layouts to tornados (try to get an insurance company to pay for your blood seat and tears in building a layout) and kicked out of spare bedroom when it no longer became a spare, I feel N scale may be the way to go starting with a coffee table layout.

[@thatairplaneguy]

Truly incredible

[@HO_scale_by_Ale]

Nice little layouts. It could be an excellent source of ideas!

[@tramminiature5292]

Nice layouts! Thank You for ideas

[@davidsheriff8989]

Creativity and lots of patience....

[@rrad8106]

Very cool! Nicely done!

[@trentthompson2928]

Just WOW!

[@strafrag1]

Great work! Cheers.

Great layouts and video !

[@graphicsman]

I love your graffiti car! Thanks for posting, very inspiring :-)

[@SussexHistory]

I liked layout 14 the best. You finished with a train set layout on a dining table, which gave me an idea - I don't know if you have thought of it, but you might consider making an N scale layout of a large O scale train set layout such as Lionel.

[@MrMontrose1967]

Great job plenty of ideas

[@arifakyuz7673]

Now these are some inspirational layouts :)

[@StevesTrains]

Glad you think so!

[@Wyattbehrndttrains]

My favorite is model 1.

[@Charze7758]

AMAZING WORK!

[@mr.nobody1998]

All awesome layouts

[@johnwhitehead8253]

FINALLY.... a moving train that’s NOT being operated at 300 scale MPH...!!!!

[@POVLA]

Really fun video. Thanks!

[@kgee2111]

Nice! I got dizzy on the spiral track though! 😀

[@michellesarkinen4050]

Wow I really enjoyed seeing these layouts they are great I'm doing n scale you have shown me that you can make a small layout I haven't started mine yet because I thought I would need a lot of space I have started getting stuff together

[@michaelbujaki2462]

Pro tip- the smaller your locomotives are, the tighter they can turn. I have an Atlas Mogul with a set of overton passenger coaches. They look the best when they are placed on a curve of more than 6" but they can turn as tight as 4". I have put an N scale layout on a piece of wood 12" by 18" by putting the 4" curve out of sight.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Awesome layouts!

[@scottyq66]

Very inspirational!.. love your furry kid!..

[@TheSuperStarCarWash]

Thumbs up. Cool vid. Great ideas!

[@mrbohl]

Great layouts. Gives me a lot of motivation. I currently only have gscale track and trains and want to get into smaller gauge to possibly go around a basement. Would you recommend O or HO for that purpose?

[@gusneaker]

I love each and every one!

[@nothingbuttrains9241]

Wow, you should make a video about your collection it must be huge!

[@christianklammer4081]

Very nice layouts. Thank you very much fpor sharing these with us. BTW: nice 1:1-scale ambulatory dog model you have there ... how'd you get it to move ;-)

[@albertoortiz3574]

🙂 Thanks!!!!!

[@evileyeball]

Thank you for this Steve, Im currently a guy with little space but in a couple years once I am able to purge some stuff from my garage I may end up with more space. I;ve always wanted to have some trains but sadly everythng I've ever wanted to do took either more time, more money, or more space than I had so for now I've vicariously through youtube modelers and toying around in the free trial of Scam. My problem is They don't make the Locos I would want to run in any scale lower than HO so I need HO level space minimum, and the locos I want to run are expensive so I need Expensive HO loco money, and then there's the fact I am the father of a 2 year old which eats up my time. Oh well one can dream

[@evileyeball]

Steve, in response to this do you know any places that make nice N scale Canadian Steam Locos that I may have missed when I said they didn't make the Locos I like. I have 8 locos in mind, specifically the 4 preserved royal Hudsons, Empress, the two preserved Selkirks, and CN6060 but I have only found Rapido Icons of Canadian Steam that currently makes Royal Hudsons in HO (for $600 with dcc sound) and has plans to produce the rest of what I desire in future.

[@bobbyjames4300]

Thank you...very informative..

[@Hornhausen]

Very nice video.

[@JonathanKing-nr7dz]

Same here I have always put one around the x-mas tree for 60years old

[@anthonymcmillan5881]

Very impressive layouts. You look like a scenery expert. I have a basement 20 × 24 feet. I am trying to design a local point to point layout. I would like to see how you would set-up a Yard to industries paper work oppression session. Thanks

[@thunderturbine8860]

@Steves Trains your first layout is somewhat similar to my Marklin ho scale layout . Jolly good show Steve 🙂

[@shiftintohigh5564]

Excellent!👍👍😁

[@ADPeguero]

Nice layouts. Best of luck with the auction at your son's school this Fall.

[@StevesTrains]

Delta_KBOS they are having the online auction tomorrow so we will see what happens.

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

i am comsidering a 1901 layout.. liked the train in #9. Interested in doing a lot of horse drawn carriage is horseless carriage is and automobiles all in one scene plus a lot of different early American and Elizabethan buildings. Really enjoyed #11 Let me know if you're interested in doing a big layout in Philadelphia.

[@StevesTrains]

Don’t really have the time to do any larger layouts presently but I hope to eventually be able to take on big projects as my schedule allows.

[@lotsatrains]

I love seeing your videos you really do some amazingly great layouts have you ever thought about doing a small scale on30 logging layout? I bet you really could do a cool one of those. Cheers, Ken

[@StevesTrains]

At one time I planned on doing a small On30 mining layout, then decided not to. An On30 mining or logging layout would be a lot of fun.

[@limehuzki]

What about a track set inside a suit case you can pack up and go with, but also have a couple places to switch off too?

[@StevesTrains]

My current project is inside a carry case. I have a video from a month or two ago showing how I built the case. Sometime later this year I’ll have a video on adding the scenery to the layout.

[@limehuzki]

@@StevesTrains seems cool from what I've seen so far ^^ although definitely the same idea

[@charlescaldwell5411]

You do a great job with mountains and caves. Have you made a youtube on constructing those ?

[@StevesTrains]

Not specifically, but most of the smaller layouts that have one have a segment in a video on how I did it. Almost all are built from styrofoam covered in sculptamold.

[@giuseppearditi7963]

MOLTO INTERESSANTI I QUESTE Realizzazioni questi plastjco pure se piccoli hanno un effetto molto realistico

[@StevesTrains]

Grazie l'ho apprezzato!

[@haccprof]

Great layout techniques. For Layout 7, what config and how many t-trak modules were used. #7 is a favorite of mine

[@StevesTrains]

In all, I used 4 endcap modules from masterpiecemodules.com, though I have never actually completed one of them and the river module was just built to fit under the Kato double track bridges. I kind of planned to eventually make the scenery more elaborate but then haven't been to a train show in a few years now so stopped working on them for now since that was the primary purpose of the project was for a train show display for kids to operate and such.

[@davidw6936]

I’d love to see you build something in Z scale. Since you like small layouts, it’s a natural fit. You can do amazing scenery in Z.

[@michaelbujaki2462]

I'm in 1/960. That one offers a lot in a really small scale. The smallest layout I did was 55mm x 85mm. It was in 1/1920 scale (almost 1/2000) and is available to view on Tinkercad.

[@michaelgmoore5708]

I want to see how small American flyer S gauge layouts can get using regular Gilbert AF track.

[@pacificsierrasrailfanner]

Love this! I have a small closet in my room full of junk and I wanted to turn it into a sort of Utah based small layout like one of these, any suggestions? :DD

[@whatever6938]

@@TheRealJLFilmsTM it must be exhausting for you to be so full of hate

[@laceandbits]

@@TheRealJLFilmsTM As the rainbow has been used as a symbol for many things apart from gay, from Noah's Ark through to offering cheer and support during the pandemic, how can you jump to conclusions and assume you know this person's reason for having a happy rainbow heart? Possibly because you live in an upside-down world?

[@callmebigpapa]

Very inspirational thanks, liked and sub'd

[@pattyofurniture8059]

These layouts are great. I would like to try to build a version of layout 14. What radius are the curves?

[@StevesTrains]

That layout has mostly 7" radius curves.

[@pattyofurniture8059]

@@StevesTrains Thanks for the prompt reply!

[@jacoblawrence6580]

Great video! I have all of my train things in storage at the moment but I hope to build a layout one day. I am wanting to have a small town but also have rural farmland as well. If you have any tips I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

[@StevesTrains]

I have a video on building a farm scene here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZC7Y2aPpc-FY9U

[@jacoblawrence6580]

@@StevesTrains Thanks. Great video!

[@jeramiahholland8199]

Hey Steve! Do you tend to sell layouts after some time of enjoying them yourself? I want to start with a small layout like your Christmas one you showed in this video but I know I won't stop at just one lol. I plan to build a layout and have it set up at home for awhile before moving on from it to build a new one and was wondering if you sell yours after awhile and if so how do you go about doing that?

[@SkunkMonkey991]

Amazing! Is there a how to book for starters you could recommend? 0 experience here lol.

[@StevesTrains]

If you want to build a simple switching layout, this Lance Mindheim book is the best: amzn.to/3jJtq2a Even if you aren't building a switching layout, it has a lot of fantastic tips for building a layout, from track laying and wiring, to realistic scenery, so it is worth checking out. One of my all-time favorites. I also like David Popp's book: amzn.to/34DcYwg Some of these Model Railroader magazine project compilation books are nice too: amzn.to/3eaVTgi (these are amazon affiliate links).

[@roydrink]

Do you have a video on how you do the powered rotation of the layout? Many years ago MR had an April’s Fool layout that had the same idea with the rotation equally reversed to the train speed so that you viewed the train all the time while the scenery flew by.

[@StevesTrains]

It is actually just a motorized turntable I picked up a couple of years ago off of Amazon. It just has two speeds but if you get the train speed just right you can match the train speed to the turntable rotation speed.

[@bernardsaucier2062]

Steve, you do some fantastic modeling. Where did you learn how to do battery powered setups?

[@StevesTrains]

Thanks! The battery stuff is pretty simple I think. I had many years of college physics and had to learn circuits for some computer science classes 25 years ago, and still remember at least some of how things like that work, though I’m definitely no expert.

[@edgar180]

Great builds. Do you have any micro layout coming up for sale in the future?

[@StevesTrains]

Hopefully eventually. We have been remodeling the house this year so I haven’t worked on layout projects much at all but will be again here starting this fall.

[@plixplop]

Man after seeing all these micro layouts, I have no excuse not to finally do something with all this N scale stuff I've been sitting on for years and years!😅 The ones with the train hovering in place as the layout rotates underneath it look SOO cool and mesmerizing!