Model Railroad Tips on Making a Scene and Scratch Building. EASY HOW TO.

Don't stress out! I show you how I think, and build my newest model train layout. Scratch building is one part, so here is how do it, and you can too, in any scale.
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[@chrisbarr1359]

DJ, you're so right that wanting perfection takes the fun out of the hobby. It also causes what's called Perfection Paralysis where you don't do anything until you're sure it will be perfect and nothing gets accomplished. Thanks for the great, down to earth videos. Take care!

[@ajkleipass]

DJ, you are becoming the Bob Ross of scratchbuilding. ❤ A huge obstacle to modeling is the fear that we won't make it perfect enough. Our internal nitpicker fuels our self-doubt, making cowards of us (to paraphrase Hamlet). We need Bob Rosses to free us to tackle these projects.

[@djstrains]

I try to show that anyone can do it, and the small details don’t matter much. my loader has random stuff attached that serve no realistic purpose, lol.

[@roncrook8656]

DJ, this looks great!

[@IMRROcom]

I think you did a good job on the build, looking forward to the water and sea wall

[@djstrains]

Yeah, I’m excited to see how it comes out too. Maybe in the next week or so.

[@mikehowey4869]

I'm slowly learning that good enough is good enough.This was such a good video on how to scratchbuild, what you built looks awesome!

[@djstrains]

Thanks, it’s great to see people getting into scratch building. I am continually disappointed that walthers doesn't make much new kits in scale, and hardly anything like what I want to see.

[@chiparooo]

Very cool! You've got a talent for being able to figure stuff out on the fly. Great job. Looking forward to more of the layout. Thanks for sharing!

[@djstrains]

I do have a scale ruler, but its wild that if you found out actual measurements of the prototype and tried to do it accurately, you'd need a warehouse for a layout room.

[@melkitson]

Nice one DJ. Starting to come together. Amazing use of old kits.

[@djstrains]

Thanks 👍

[@anthonyborden2513]

Excellent video as always DJ

[@djstrains]

I’m glad you enjoyed it! More to come.

[@admjyandle]

Nice job DJ. I love "how to" presentations.

[@djstrains]

I try to make them as easy to follow as possible. I also film about an hour but try to edit down to under 10 minutes.

[@admjyandle]

@djstrains Details on products being used is very helpful.😊

[@djstrains]

Nearly all my scratch building videos are the same materials. PLASTRUCT AND EVERGREEN. Brick sheet, plain or scribed styrene, styrene strips (some hobby stores have those spinning displays of styrene). Plastruct glue, and a sharp blade, mat, and ruler and you can make anything. My playlist SCRATCHBUILDING STRUCTURES has videos on making a small security shack, to large blower houses and rolling mills.

[@AMX86]

Absolutely RIGHT, take time, improvise, make mistakes and learn but HAVE FUN. I'M 67and find life is too short to frett over too many details, and mistakes.

[@djstrains]

That is exactly the right attitude for modeling.

[@johnkelley9877]

The building looks great DJ! I am impressed with the weathering on the model as it looks like the original one. Thanks for sharing this neat tutorial.

[@robedinger8769]

You rock, DJ.

[@cliffjones6924]

That's what I've learned from you in the past, DJ, don't stress over it because It's Close Enough. So I keep that acronym in my head (I C E) on my layout. Keeps it fun!

[@djstrains]

I’m glad you are using that as a mantra. That’s what modeling is all about.

[@Motherslug-q7l]

Great looking Layout so far 👍🏻👍🏻

[@gregbowen617]

I love what you are doing and must say it is so good to have you back...! Thanks from Melbourne, Australia...

[@djstrains]

Thanks Greg!

[@eriefinishing6378]

Looks great! Awesome video thank you

[@gcorriveau6864]

Wow - I really like how this is coming along. My eventual plan is to 'imitate/recreate/model' an antique tide-water dock and barge facility in my town. Very unique and it's going to be a ton of fun to figure out. Thanks for sharing your expertiese!

[@djstrains]

Sounds like a very cool project.

[@raulgarcia1718]

You brought up a good point. I’ve been subscribed since before you took your break but I use 3 rail o gauge. A lot of the ideas you present help to add touches of realism even if I can’t capture the full impact that n gauge would have in the same space.

[@djstrains]

I hope you enjoy my content, even if it is a different scale. My eyes are telling me that o scale is in my future, lol.

[@skerbs7755]

Nice building! Definitely got my brain going on what to scratch build. Thanks!

[@djstrains]

Glad I could spark some creative juices!

[@BlackMan614]

Your loadout is really nice. Good job. The trouble with all model railroading (N and HO) is the lack of realistic coal mine buildings. It's like they are stuck in 1953. No choice but to build your own loadout. You're going to have to do a video on the loadout construction.

[@djstrains]

honestly, I was just winging it. I had the conveyor from a broken flood loader kit I had bought used a while back. I used random misc parts that dont make sense, but it looks good enough.

[@williamj3843]

The "Looks right" criteria seems like the best approach. The goal is to fit an apparently large scene into the space available. The only thing I'm planning on making exact is loading gauges to ensure clearance. I have been 3d-printing although you may be convincing me to scratch build something from sheet stock and corners. I would consider your riverside scene a complete success. Very nice work! There are some Arduino projects that rotate through a playlist of background sounds and control LED lights. If that's your thing you could periodically make it sound like coal was actively dumping into a barge, ships were passing on the river or things were happening inside the building.

[@djstrains]

neat idea, but above my electrical pay grade, lol. I'm making a day scene, so I dont have to wire lights.

[@chrisklimek7529]

Awesome work!

[@jeremymishefske1754]

Hi DJ! First of all I love your videos. My whole family worked for the Railroad. Mostly the Milwaukee road and Iowa interstate. I even worked there during High School as a machinist helper. But I went to become a Airline pilot instead of railroading. I am a Senior Captain for Delta flying A220. I bought my first engine and some books to start a N scale railroad. I bought a UP GE es4400 made by Kato. It is gorgeous. I also have been plastic modeling for over 40 years. So I scatch build a lot. If you have any question to scratch build things or any Airplane questios or piloting feel free to ask. I am probably going ask questions to you on my layout. Have a great and blessed day!

[@djstrains]

That's a great combination - modeling and flying!

[@jeremymishefske1754]

@djstrains I love doing both of them!

[@kinnywolf2862]

Great layout and video

[@djstrains]

Thank you for watching!

[@treehugger1640]

Thanks for the Vid DJ. I am about to move to a smaller place and have to take down my 18ft x 4ft layout in my garage. This door layout might be something i'll have to try. Thank you for the idea ;D

[@djstrains]

The biggest advantage to downsizing is you stay more focused, more creative and save a ton of money!

[@CSXOhioRailFanPlus752]

Nice Video

[@markofthenorth8918]

Awesome video thank you for sharing

[@djstrains]

You're welcome!

[@railwayjade]

Wow DJ coming along nicely

[@djstrains]

It's getting there. I'm excited to do the water and seawall in the next week or so.

[@ThisWorks4Me]

Great video. I personally like 3d printing frames for buildings and then covering them with textured sheet styrene.

[@djstrains]

Cool idea, I'm still stuck with the old fashioned way of building and covering with styrene! Maybe ill look into a printer in 2026.

[@ThisWorks4Me]

@@djstrains I have a Creality K1 Max. I purchased a larger printer as I'm working on printing a scale model of the Ann Arbor #7 car ferry that ran out of Frankfort, MI.

[@G60syncro]

Don't forget just good old cardboard and masking tape!! All building kits give you the dimensions, some even hvae a 1:1 footprint you can start with... You can guesstimate the size and shape of the finished kit and pop it on the layout until it's done... or maybe you find out it's not the look you were going for and change your mind without committing to anything. I've also used the same trick to mock-up som kitbashes and builds where frankly the walls were treated just like raw sheet material!! It saves you a couple oopsies and you get to see in the flesh how a building is going to look like. Also, hit it with gray primer... does it look good in concrete? Maybe not, spray it in red oxide primer... maybe brick looks better! You can try all kinds of stuff.

[@djstrains]

100%

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

MY biggest tip for anybody mixing colors is to add the opposite of a color if you don’t want it so bright or you want to make it a little darker or lighter, so I’d try to add some purple to the yellow. It’ll tone it down (the saturation) and darken it a bit. Looks cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@djstrains]

Interesting!

[@johnschutt9187]

Very nice.

[@anthonyferguson5040]

Any thoughts on maybe doing a HO layout in the future? Something small, just so us HO scale guys Feel like we fit in more. Over all Great work I love how you say just have fun don't sweat the small stuff, make mistakes and keep going. Reminds me of watching Bob Ross.

[@djstrains]

Honestly, I just dont see HO in my future. I really sold off a lot of my stuff before I moved and I am limited on space, time, and money as it is. I also feel like N scale is such a great scale but it's so often overlooked at hobby stores and especially with Walthers. I feel the HO and O scale guys are catered to, and N scale is an afterthought, so I do my best to promote this scale. Thanks for understanding.

[@anthonyferguson5040]

@@djstrains Well in the end its what makes you happy and you enjoy doing that matters I get that, I would like to do N scale but I always find myself going the HO/OO Scale Direction. I Do Agree if you search any model trains and don't place a scale in the search you will get more hits of HO Scale vs N.

[@rickmiller4202]

So right. I have found plain styrene may need a light high grit sand paper buff, to give it 'tooth' to hold paint. A light touch, just to break up the super smooth surface. Another info filled edition. Also, good enough in N scale means at 2 ft. away you can't tell how precise, or not, it is.

[@khyronthethunderhawg6577]

You subscribe to the Allen McClelland concept of 'good enough'. And it comes out perfect! Very nice work.

[@djstrains]

I try to make it easy, and it makes it look right, even if it isn't perfectly accurate.

[@duanesee7304]

ooo, we're just starting out here. No junk drawers with spare parts... yet!

[@djstrains]

Here's the secret: Buy a building kit. Only use the 3 walls that are visible. Make a 4th wall if you want from blank plastic. Putt all your extra walls, windows, doors, and stuff in separate drawers. It will accumulate quick.

[@SBEARD12345]

If possible could you tell me where you got the barges from please. I may have missed it in orevious videos. Also your videos have helped me design some great english sidings. Thank you

[@djstrains]

3D printed from ebay

[@musiccitymanpresents]

DJ, I see you have your plastic glue bottle sitting in the center of some kind of foam, I am assuming that is to keep it from falling over and spilling while working with it. Is that correct? It is a great idea if so.

[@djstrains]

Yeah, I am notorious for spilling it if I dont put it in a holder.

[@michaelsvestka8040]

;b You guys are HILARIOUS!!

[@simonetaormina7080]

Great video, just what I needed. I’m building a large layout with a dock very similar to the prototype you’re showing, can you tell me where that dock is ? I’d like to get some more pics of it , I’m struggling as to how to lay it out. But I do have that same retaining wall. Any help would be great thanks

[@djstrains]

Its all here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3OTq3qXZ5xmfKs

[@tech42long35]

Really enjoyed .. Great stuff.. great narration. Thanks Dj : )

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoyed it. I started filming the next step.

[@dirkmontgomery5983]

It's called happy mistakes

[@tonykane8866]

Dude i have watched you for a while . When u had that bad separation. U had got a house and started a new lay out. What have missed why did u move again

[@joshuamurphy150]

He got married is doing competitive dancing and started up a dance studio.

[@djstrains]

married to Kelly 2001-2015. divorced in 2015 so I bought a small house nearby. Sold house in 2024 and moved in with Teresa. We did convert a basement into a studio, and I have the furnace room for a workshop. Wasn't planning on doing a layout, but figured I had room for a door size layout.

[@djstrains]

wedding isn't until October 2025. We did compete in a beginners bachata (latin) comp in Toronto, just to say we tried a thing. Took 7th, and that may be it for now. Just enjoying life.

[@wayneeverett8357]

I don't like it I do it again ! With an N scale 3' X 8' doesn't have enough to keep one busy. Doing it twice or not using it at all and just getting another model will keep you busy ! And keep it fun !!

[@damianvasile8929]

First

[@djstrains]

you win the internet for today.

[@bipboop0110]

And another channel ruined by gibberish AI translation... I've been following you for a long time, but that's goodby then.

[@djstrains]

What are you talking about? I have no control over the fact that YOU TURNED CLOSE CAPTIONS ON! Turn them off with a click! Geez!