IMPROVE YOUR MODEL RAILROAD. Easy tips to make your layout UNIQUE

www.djstrains.com
Easy things you can do to make YOUR layout UNIQUE
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🕺🏻ABOUT DJ: DJ is a locomotive engineer for CSX Railroad since 1999. He has built dozens of layouts, gave presentations for model railroaders, is a KZbinr, licensed drone pilot, and a great father.

[@MrRickSteele]

One thing I like to do is use "garbage" to make things on my layout. I was living overseas for years so that is one reason. An example taking a cereal box and cutting out the brand name and make a road side sign with it. Also I always saved my wood and plastic "spurs" from model kits and sometimes they make a good looking fence.

[@mikel5295]

I model in HO but N scale has really made leaps and bounds over the last few decades . I definitely don't talk trash about what scale anyone chooses to model in , each to their own and be just enjoy the hobby . Yesterday I attended a small yearly train swap meet in Central Ohio, the place was packed to the rafters with people , I couldn't even move 5" at times but im glad to see this because this hobby is alive and well. I visited the train club as well and I think I'm gonna join because the members and the layout are super cool . Best part of this year's visit to the train show is I actually now am dating a woman who encourages me in this hobby and went with me to this show , held my packages for me while I paid or looked for stuff and she just loved it. I returned the favor to her by taking her out to a very nice lunch . The show didn't have much N scale sad to say but what I did see was some very nice exactrail rolling stock and super nice Kato locomotives for the N scale fans. Like anything in life , this hobby is what you make of it , I choose to love it. I also bought a couple Tangent 86' boxcars , I have been on the fence about these for years due to the price but I made the plunge and I really do like the details on them , dont think I'll be buying these all that often but im glad I got these and I had a good time at the show , that's what realky matters .

[@allenkotlan3606]

She encouraged your interest in the model railroading (any) hobby - marry her. I did, 18 happy years ago. She now brings her knitting into the train room when I work/play.

[@jlwii2000]

Layout is looking nice!

[@djstrains]

Thank you, my friend, hope you’re doing well

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Great video!!!! You make things look sooo easy!!!! Stay Safe & God Bless!!

[@rexcadral3468]

Dude, that water tower and the building behind it with the weathered eave looks amazing. It took me a minute to really appreciate it because it looked so lifelike my eyes just slid right past it.

[@djstrains]

Thanks a ton!

[@4everdc302]

Brick sheet.. nice touch, DJ🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲🙋

[@KutWrite]

Love how your layout continues to grow and evolve. Greensburg is still my favorite, though you know I'm a Connellsville fan. The wallets look cool. You're looking fit and trim, too. Keep up the good work in all respects.

[@djstrains]

Thank you very much!

[@HumancityJunction]

Nick does a really great job. I need to find more prototypical photos for what I want to model to help guide my scenery.

[@djstrains]

He’s awesome

[@richgreene7043]

DJ, you are a talented modeler. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and inspiration. Rich

[@djstrains]

Thanks Rich, I appreciate that.

[@newhavennscale]

Great update dj I hope you get feeling better soon.

[@djstrains]

I hope so too

[@NJP76]

I absolutely agree with you about Model Power kits. I love them. For being so inexpensive, they really are good kits. I also love the DPM building kits. And of course, I scratchbuild and kitbash a few structures as well.

[@steve87thpsap]

Nice way to introduce people into doing things different. You didn’t say but not all buildings have to be changed, just a couple that draw your eye is enough to make a difference sometimes to make it not look like the Walthers layout. Great job.

[@RonMontagueSWRR]

Great ideas. I'm guilty of the basic looks on some,but not all of my buildings.

[@jeffbaker2897]

As always DJ, very interesting vid👍, you & your family have a great Easter & God Bless .👋😎🛤🚂

[@djstrains]

Thanks! You too!

[@georgehasler142]

Thanks again for all your information your layout looks really amazing

[@djstrains]

Thanks for watching!

[@seanthornton1659]

@djtrains awesome video of your layout I hope you feel better soon my friend keep up the good work

[@djstrains]

Thanks buddy

[@johnhood9567]

This is a great video full of useful suggestions. I think one of your most helpful insights is to simply paint kit based buildings in more muted colours/tones. A lot of kits are molded in colours that are just too bright for an authentic look - sun and weather have a real strong effect on colour after only a few seasons! Plus, paint always looks better than that plastic sheen look! I think that's a great tip for someone wondering why there layout doesn't have that authentic feel. I'll just add that modellers who would like to raise their game could go to the art supply store or library and purchase or borrow some books for painters, and read up a little on basic color theory, and methods for colour mixing. These things can be helpful in getting the effect you are aiming at when painting!

[@djstrains]

Excellent

[@michaelnelson9002]

Great ideas. I just scratch-built my first building. I’m pretty happy with it. It was actually easier than I thought it would be. I’m gonna go find the rust video you mentioned because I haven’t been happy with my rust painting. I also have to find a better way to weather wood. Thanks again for the videos. Happy Easter and get well soon.

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Great ideas and tips DJ

[@djstrains]

Glad you like them!

[@qwincyq6412]

It’s great to be able to disguise or change kits that everyone has. Years ago I bought the Crown Pickle Plant and several Heinz reefers. Now I see online that every layout is judged by having that kit on it. So now I have to decide whether to junk it or transform it

[@thomasdecker7631]

Sounds like it adds to your operation. If so, I sure wouldn't junk it. Don't forget that in pst times, vat cars would also come in from recieving stations down the line (maybe off a staging track?) Can provide a nice traffic source. If you're tired of that, it also makes a pretty good looking feed mill with just a little effort.

[@qwincyq6412]

@@thomasdecker7631 good suggestions

[@djstrains]

Transform

[@catap977]

looking good DJ

[@djstrains]

Thanks 👍

[@Boilermaker-Rick]

Thanks for the great tips😊

[@Z-Scale5527]

Good advice. On a side note, the out of service track visible near the end of the video looks great! -Tony

[@stevemccall3383]

Great video DJ!! I used your roof painting trick with the makeup sponges, now its my go to!! Happy rails!!

[@djstrains]

Sweet

[@michaelricks1618]

Great tips for modifying/painting/weathering structure kits. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@djstrains]

Glad it was helpful!

[@williamRuss-v1r]

great video,s thanks for sharing you opened my eyes to many ideas thank you so much

[@djstrains]

You are so welcome! Please see my channel homepage for PLAYLISTS. This way you can find more of what you’re looking for easily

[@TheyMakeItLikeThat]

Your layout looks impressing brother. Keep up the good work

[@bncsystemsshortline]

What a great video DJ! This is what I'm doing with my buildings. Thanks for sharing!

[@djstrains]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@randydobson1863]

hello dj its is randy and i like yours video is cool thanks friends randy

[@GoViaorgohome]

Looks great! And those times can work on Ho scale as well. Keep up the great work.

[@Dr.K_N.Scaler]

Great video DJ!

[@djstrains]

Thanks!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Very cool video about the layout updates and all. Enjoyed watching and have a wonderful upcoming easter Sunday.(Steve)

[@djstrains]

Thanks, you too!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

@@djstrains you're welcome

[@melkitson]

Love some of your handpainted backscenes.

[@thomasdecker7631]

Nice video. Great ideas. Love the church and I immediately thought of one house in particular that looks just like the one you built. Like you, I'm a great fan of the State Line Farm Supply kit. there are hundreds or thousands of similr structures across the country that started life as auto or truck dealerships that are now occupied by fab shops, implement dealers or ? It's a universal building. Layout looks like the Walthers catalog? Guilty- sometimes at least, 'cause they make such good looking kits I'm reluctant to mess with them.

[@stevemckeown4120]

Nice work, cool basketball scene there at the end

[@atsfandy]

DJ thank you for this video.

[@BB63]

Looks like I need to watch your video on building construction. I need it in 0 gauge though.

[@adriengadson3544]

Yep DJ you can cut those cheap Model Power buildings up and use them to make nice stuff. I have a few that I reworked or stole parts for other buildings. That 3 house kit makes great houses when freelanced.

[@rickmiller4202]

Another fine vid, with more great ideas. A-1

[@djstrains]

Glad you like them!

[@schadowolf]

Great video and I love my Ridge wallet as well!

[@djstrains]

The best! Wait until you see new stuff!!

[@openeyes-411]

NICE - good stuff DJ!!!👍👍

[@SweetSunrising]

🐣🌷Happy Easter DJ!

[@djstrains]

Same to you!

[@williambryant5946]

I think you got the steel mill building color perfectly matched to the real thing. Model Power kits are awesome starting points to make some awesome buildings for a layout. Paint them, add details to them, or take them apart and reconfigure them. The options of kitbashing and scratch building are endless.

[@djstrains]

Thanks 👍

[@BillHamblinn]

Great video, as always. Just a suggestion - can you cover how to make a siding or industry track LOWER that the mainline? You know, how it tapers off lower? I run Unitrack and am trying to figure it out. Thanks!

[@djstrains]

It's in one of my videos, lol, but I use a wood shim. You can buy a bag of them for a couple bucks at Home Depot. They get you from flat to a height that matches unitrack basically.

[@michaelnelson9002]

Ridge wallets rock! I’ve got the titanium.

[@djstrains]

They have so much new stuff! Coming soon!

[@markcovey1636]

Where did you get background with the river running parallel to the layout? Really like that look. Great video as usual.

[@djstrains]

Realisticbackgrounds.com

[@josephplankinton612]

Hello DJ, I enjoy your videos greatly. As an engineer with CSX I have a question you may be able to help me with. I was at a Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad track crossing. A mixed manifest was coming with a UP in the lead and two BNSF be hide it. There was a CP dpu in the middle and a KCS of Mexico at the rear. Who’s manifest is it? Why would different companies share their equipment, all the wear and tear plus how could they keep track of them? A maintains night mare and not good competitive sense in my mine. Maybe you have some insight you can share? Thank You Keep the videos coming….

[@djstrains]

Hi. I have answered this so many times in videos in the PLAYLIST: LIFE AS AN ENGINEER. Like this one..kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIa4m5SFbtKto80

[@kelsogray]

Great Video!

[@djstrains]

Thank you!

[@FunWithHOScaleStuff]

Good advice. Thanks.

[@djstrains]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stanleym2679]

Great video, question is there such a thing as having 1 spur with factory on one side a loading dock on other side for team track

[@djstrains]

I have found that if you look, you’ll find a prototype for everything

[@kinnywolf2862]

Great video

[@djstrains]

Thanks!

[@woodliceworm4565]

Really good

[@mikemoreno2444]

how do you make your background with the photos. I looked back thru all of your scenery videos and couldnt't find out how. Is it just a picture and what size is it

[@djstrains]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKusnZ57pKeYn5Y

[@keithmoore5306]

hey DJ your older vid withy the jet-ski's came up again and is my eyes fooling me or is that an actual gato class sub docked on the river?

[@djstrains]

Correct! You can tour it. Uss requin

[@keithmoore5306]

@@djstrains that river is bigger than i thought it was then! wonder how close to combat ready she is?

[@bccarl88]

Where’s the Gun Club and the Bowling Alley?? 😂

[@djstrains]

It’s coming

[@kevinharris1392]

Like to figure out how I can make smoke come off the brakes on my Amtrak coaches when coming in for a stop. Don't know about other engineers,I always liked to come in hot for crew change.

[@djstrains]

Hahaha

[@philstead8756]

If the modern era is hard to model in N scale, what is the era for which the most N scale equipment is produced ? Thank you.

[@djstrains]

In n scale, the transition era is usually the top, followed by each decade after. It is most difficult to find modern figures, vehicles and signs in modern era

[@TheLocutus70]

It's not for everybody, but I'm a stong believer in orange juice to battle a cold.

[@djstrains]

Just finished a carton

[@georgewilkinson1068]

Hey wait a minute, you're an N Scale Modeler?

[@djstrains]

Since 1999. My favorite scale.

[@erniebellinetti7590]

JD, why is your website closing in Feb.2024?

[@djstrains]

That’s, DJ… I am not making any more videos. I made about 400 in 13 years, but it’s time for me to focus on other things.

[@codyrapp7253]

When you recorded your voice were you sick?

[@djstrains]

Yeah, not sure if it’s allergies or sick

[@dodo1opps]

Too many churches...

[@djstrains]

In Connellsvile, there is the church across from Amtrak station. In greensburg, there are 3 churches on one side of the street and another bigger one across the street. Take a look around your neighborhood, guarantee you'll be surprised how many there are. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGSbdo1mqNqZgbs