Model Railroad: Make REALISTIC Towns. Tons of great ideas

[@jorgel.fernandeziii8278]

It’s really awesome to have your daughter by your side helping you and giving you a hand! Always be daddy’s little girl ! 🌊🐺

[@djstrains]

So true!

[@jorgel.fernandeziii8278]

djstrains ; Yours in Fine ! However, mine is in cars, parties, and everything else that doesn’thave to deal with school ! Enjoy it while you have this time !!! It’s precious !!!! 🌊🐺

[@frankhellman6879]

My wife came in as one of your drone shots of a town's main street was on, and she saw the title of your video. Her comment was "Wow, he's a great modeller!" 😆

[@N-Scale]

Congrats on the Daughters Helping hand. Great Job Girl !!!

[@ToddReuterOutdoors]

As a truck driver, I wish those curved intersections were everywhere! Would make those right hand turns a bit more forgiving!

[@CM-ARM]

I bet the highest quality 👌 was when 🤔 your daughter filmed. We all could tell. FYI I'm going to keep this for a reminder 🙂 of the roofs. Thanks 😊 for all you do.

[@tedpennebaker9542]

DJ, your young assistant did a fine job behind the camera. Thanks for such interesting content again.

[@djstrains]

Thanks for watching!

[@esay7403]

Creating split building so you can watch trains going by from “inside”: brilliant idea!!

[@gregbowen617]

You sir are one of the most valuable people in this hobby. You think out of the box and use the drone to show us mere mortals what is actually out there...I love to watch your videos and it’s awesome that you’re including your daughter! I feel for Americans right now given the world crisis. Stay safe and please keep up the beautiful work you do... greetings from Melbourne Australia...

[@djstrains]

Man, you really made me a little emotional this morning. I never imagined receiving such kind messages, yet alone from the other side of the world. Its tough here, I lost a friend to the virus, and am barely holding on to a job. I felt so heartbroken for you guys with the fires earlier this year. I struggle with long flights, so Melborne may never be an option, but I'd still love to visit because you seem like some of the nicest people on Earth. Have a great weekend and be safe and healthy.

[@gregbowen617]

djstrains I cannot imagine what it is like for you to try to hold a job in this pandemic. We are used to fires, but they always have an impact on our lives and they really hit home sometimes. I’m sorry you lost your friend to the virus, we have been very lucky and have very few who pass away due to this. As a fellow model railroad lover, my heart goes out to you for the loss.... please stay safe yourself because you are absolutely fantastic in what you do.... my humble regards, Gregory Bowen

[@dewanes3180]

The curved buildings were really cool. Morgan did a great job filming!

[@stevengibbs1378]

I love that you had your daughter help you and film some of the scenes.

[@woodshop6713]

Google Earth and Google Maps are great tools for aerial views for modeling purposes too and free for those that don't have a drone. Nice video great narration.

[@kaiyack]

There’s a lot of railroad hidden history, that with your background and excellent voice, could make for interesting content! In Detroit, as is probably the case with most cities, there are abandoned right-of-ways that shape property lines and building dimensions-walls built to curve along long-gone tracks. Industry may have left, but from the air, you can still see the path of old sidings in neighborhoods that were once more industrial. Stories to be told perhaps. Heck many towns probably owe their entire existence to the railroad. And the location of service stalls, hotels, saloons, industry and municipal buildings probably all follow a pattern, repeated in some form-from railroad town to railroad town: A track is laid to service a raw industrial commodity. A spur becomes a main line to the next new town west. Crew change encampments become built up. An Inn is built at a whistlestop. A factory rumbles to life. Eventually a town is born. A station is built. Trains service the businesses and people. And then the old railroad town gives way to the new car-oriented city. A new freeway is built just outside of town and the miracle mile is born. Passenger rail service is replaced with bus service. Factories move to over-the-road trucking. Rail facilities are shuttered. Track is removed. And what remains is a rail trail and a plaque dedicated to some far off era.

[@djstrains]

WELL WRITTEN!!!

[@jackkreighbaum783]

I love your drone videos(all the others, also), but it brings some pain, too. I had started a modest layout with home-made DCC turnouts and some background construction when life intervened; daughter and family needed to move in. No contest for space. So, I now do virtual modeling. Thanks, DJ for the modeling tips and train engineering content.

[@gcorriveau6864]

I also have space limitations but for now I'm working on two 2'x4' folding tables end-to-end. I might eventually create an N scale layout or just a very small HO switching "scenario." (TBD). I also really enjoy DJs videos to give me ideas for packing a lot of modelling into a small space. I hope your space works out soon. ;-) Cheers.

[@v4victory665]

loved and appreciate the great video as you always have, keep up the great work. I also love to see you being a great dad to your beautiful daughter. 👍👍

[@djstrains]

Thank you! Will do!

[@jerrysinclair3771]

DJ, I'm sure you will be chasing the boys away very soon...your daughter is going to break some hearts in her journey, but she will always have captivated your heart. Nice video.

[@donscholz7225]

Your video's are still the most interesting for me of most of the model RR ones out there. Thanks

[@djstrains]

Wow, thanks!

[@154Colin]

The curved facade is fantastic to give building a different look. Not sure what magazine, but they showed a torn down building. The interesting part was that it showed the old basement filled with debris. The ability of the drone allows us to study rooftops easier. Keep your daughter involved - the future!

[@austinyingst5902]

Modern archaeology: excellent point. Find long term residents and hear what they have to tell you about local history.

[@georgiasunbelt]

Very informative video DJ...those roof shots were enlightening... green roofs, never would’ve thought. The trains going through town vs around the edge you spoke in your previous video, I’d already taken to heart. Anthony

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@WisenheimerYZTV]

The face in the red background is painted incorrectly. That is the Green Man, which is a symbol of rebirth and represents spring. He's surrounded by leaves, so red would be fall. Totally incorrect representation of the Green Man. They should repaint it green.

[@kimberlywertz3839]

Both you and your daughter are fantastic drone pilots.

[@withamarshview1436]

The photo from 100 years ago was nuts! The noise and pollution from those oil wells would never be tolerated today. Makes me think about the conditions of that earlier era where nuisances and intrusions of all sorts were a part of people's lives.

[@djstrains]

Its a wild photo!!

[@ATAnders93]

One element I’m wanting to incorporate into my layout is a running rail line running through downtown. Columbus, GA still has an active freight line running down 9th street!

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

DJ, an excellent video. I came to a screeching halt with my layout because I absolutely refused to have Walthers catalogue pages on my lay out, moving to the west coast of British Columbia soon so layout is coming down, anyway, please, please, do more of this type of video as you can, great inspiration, in fact, it is your fault (you inspired me) that I tried card stock buildings, the first few were not so good but got better with practice, Thanks, DJ.

[@trainglen22]

Definitely gave me ideas for my upcoming layout. Have to get some Canadian signs for some shops.

[@roberthubal6278]

Our town looks like everybody else. But it's true in reality

[@thelowmein9143]

Tell Morgan she did great ha ha!

[@djstrains]

Will do!! Thanks!

[@mysticrailroad]

Trinity Haven has got to be haunted. If I was a ghost I'd move right in there. All of the scenes look awesome, so your daughter did a great job! Love the videos.

[@jimbos3421]

That was, once again, excellent! In this part of Ohio-Pa. most old cities have these obscure details. All you need to do is look UP, along the roofline to see all kinds of interesting detail.

[@djstrains]

Thanks for that!

[@kents.2866]

Great use of old Photos. I'm building a layout of thr Cleveland Ohio area around 1900. Have to go to picture because some of the city isn't there anymore.

[@philliproe204]

Wow DJ, Your video really inspires me to investigate the area where I will be modeling. Another very thoughtful video of yours! You and your daughter have a wonderful day now! Take care, Phil Westhampton Beach LI NY

[@djstrains]

Thanks Phillip! Have a great weekend!

[@williamfindspeople4341]

As a Pittsburgh guy, model after Pittsburgh yards and service buildings. There are still a lot of old service buildings left in the Bessemer area and Milltown Pennsylvania, my neck of the woods. Whenever possible I take photographs I have photographs of stations that are no longer in existence.

[@richardbedard1245]

Because of all the ideas you've provided with your drone videos, I'm now going to build a second story loft for the soul purpose of building an n-scale layout. Thank you-I think!

[@djstrains]

That is awesome!

[@seanthornton1659]

@djstrains I love watching your videos and keep up the good work my friend

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Very nice video. Glad y'all could make it together.

[@djstrains]

I ask her what does she want to do today? If she's says "I don't know", then she loses and has to do what I want, lol.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

@@djstrains Brilliant!

[@stewsstructures83]

I have been looking through all my various building stuff boxed up. I have not done any thing but scratch builds on my channel but I think I may do a town scene with kits and kit bashing . and add some varience to my channel. Great points in this video that most people dont think about !!

[@vincenthuying98]

Absolutely love this vid DJ. It gives so much more angles to model from. With angled streets in our models, we also become able to enhance the illusion of depth.

[@dennisnicholson952]

How true to say that one can make a layout interesting by including some unusual architecture yet I would suggest not getting carried away with this. Tony Koester, with whom you are most likely familiar, suggests that modeling the more commonplace is more realistic though the unusual has its place. For instance, in the small town, where I spent my boyhood, there was a house called the "chalet" because it looked like a Swiss chalet. (well, sort of anyway)

[@paulkruper9139]

I loved the comparison photos of Versailles. My father grew up in western PA, southeast of Pittsburgh. I really enjoy your content from that area.

[@djstrains]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@avlisk]

The most striking thing I realized from watching these drone shots is that "blacktop" isn't black. It's gray, or even white in certain lighting conditions.

[@Walkercolt1]

Well, yeah! I go out to a parking lot or street with a bottle of black and white paint and mix them to blend-in with the surface...sometimes so well I can't see where I "test painted". I did that to exactly make a good tire color for a model. It matches my left front tire's tread. Cheap-o rattle can grey primer is better for roads than BLACK (way too dark!). IMHO...

[@luvindemtrains]

DJ, you're making me want to move to PA. So much rail history and character. I think when most of us model there are definitely bits and pieces from that state. Thanks for the images and drones.

[@normanrowe2831]

Hi DJ and daughter, as always you present things to help us think differently about the way we model. Thank you for that. The drone shots especially, are truly inspiring. Great stuff, as always. See ya next time.

[@djstrains]

Thanks so much

[@PeterCPRail8748]

Mire great tips. Its always the small details that make a layout exceptional.

[@whatsitaboutwithphilcraig6661]

Great overview of the buildings and detail foliage also the roof detail never thought about it. Thanks for sharing 👍 Watch out with filming like that your daughter will steal the show. Well done it takes a steady hand and nerves of steal to fly a drone over unknown territory.

[@djstrains]

Thanks, will do!

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

That was an amazing photo of Versailles. I didn't know they driled for oil in the area. I thought it was all coal. There used to be cracks in the ground from the burning coal that smoked all year round on the hill overlooking McKeesport.

[@djstrains]

I freaked out when I saw that pic! I had to track it down. Harder than thought. I'm so glad you like it!

[@TheTrainFreak]

Really good video and very informative. I will be adding a town to my layout but that will be a while down the road. 18" wide doesn't leave a lot of space when working in HO scale with a double track main.

[@Lutain1337]

Thank you the ideas keep flowing :)

[@djstrains]

More to come!

[@mxplk]

DJ, this is the first video of yours that I've watched since the coronavirus struck--I've been super busy at work. But I must say that this video is a winner: wise and philosophical, with your voice almost a whisper.

[@YardLimit]

Lot of good ideas. I've been scratch building my buildings which is a lot of work but so much better to look at.

[@djstrains]

Very true!

[@williammorse8330]

you get to play architect and make a statement against all that cold sterile crap (like schools) built in the 70's and 80's........ a very small step toward correcting a building imbalance.... if only on a smaller scale, but still...

[@BoBandits]

Awesome. The overhead is perfect. She looks just like you ;) good work..

[@HillcotMR]

Great idea, thanks for sharing

[@nighthawk9097]

I’m currently building a small N scale coffee table layout and this video gave me more then a few ideas. Haven’t seen off white looking roofs before might add that to one of the buildings, cheers eh

[@ChrisSmith-nm8gb]

Great ideas. Heck, that one roof has fallen in. That would get people’s attention.

[@markjohnson9136]

Great job, DJ’s daughter!

[@djstrains]

Thanks!!

[@johnschutt9187]

Wonderful video. Thank you.

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@theotherroad6654]

Lots of good ideas DJ. I think the best advice is to include at least a couple “not out of the box” builds. On a smaller layout like mine chopping a building to fit a location sure beats omitting it because it doesn’t fit. I knew you would put a bit of “our town” in the video, been past Trinity a million times and never realized it was that big!

[@mattbermudez2876]

Great vid! My son and I always look forward to your videos DJ. Thanks for your efforts!

[@djstrains]

I appreciate that!

[@slorailfan]

Another great video with great ideas and perspectives. DJ, you are getting better and better! You are also coming up with videos that may be unique as well, especially this one. The thoughts on roofs and unsquare bldgs. was great. My favorite moment was the step back 100 yrs. Congrats on figuring out the spot.

[@djstrains]

I am so grateful for you and your kind words

[@westonward735]

Always gets me thinking. Thanks DJ.

[@gmaneis]

Fantastic video, you guys! It's great that you live in an old city rich in interesting structures. Thanks for sharing!

[@Philc854]

The face within a panel on the front wall of that street building is a "Green Man" - a pagan symbol of facundity. It is surrounded my leaves or branches representing a wood (as with your example), hence his full title of "The Green Man of the Woods". It is a common symbol in Europe, especially in Germany and Britain, and often seen carved into panels in churches and over doorways - presumably to ward off evil spirits or the devil. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Man

[@Walkercolt1]

I couldn't help but notice in his real little town Main street, how similar the buildings are to the DPM's and with very small "add-ons" could nearly be perfect, down to the windows. If you only double the "depth" of a DPM or Merchant's Row, it great changes their appearance. Some sheet styrene, a metal straight edge and a utility knife and you're on your way...

[@djstrains]

DPM really nails it, don't they? I wish their windows were removable though. Painting is tricky.

[@CrewsRail]

take a trip thru dunbar, I know not many trains thru there anymore but some great old buildings, and scene options, was there many summers at my grandparents that lived at the end on railroad st in the 80's and 90's

[@djstrains]

will do.

[@LTBROYT6A]

DJ, as always, a lot of great ideas to think about. Barry

[@shadowthejudgehog9081]

DJ’s aviation

[@mapit07]

Great video DJ and really good insights! Thanks

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@craigsummers131]

thanks DJ , as always a very interesting different perspective on things , appreciate the time you take to bring these to us.

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@fogdan]

Awesome!! Well Done!!

[@djstrains]

Thanks!!

[@KerleyExpress]

those curve buildings are really cool looking

[@neilrogers1571]

Definitely the green man of the forest I think the leaves are normally oak leaves Neil UK

[@williamcoulston7788]

Thanks for the shots trying to get a lay out going

[@djstrains]

Any time!

[@kimberlywertz3839]

Great tutorial video. At first I assumed that those buildings along with the street & vehicles were part of a layout.

[@donmerz657]

Lots of neat ideas in this video, and clearly presented for modeling. Well done!

[@djstrains]

Glad you liked it!

[@johnathanlewis2049]

Hi DJ!! Great video!! Love your channel!!

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@jeffreyferretti8222]

I love that you give J-town (Jeannette) some love. P.S. Trinity Haven the old Gillespie mansion is said to be haunted. The inside is absolutely beautiful by the way.

[@djstrains]

We peaked in and it looked gutted. Heard someone tried to restore but quit. The back is worse.

[@gcorriveau6864]

DJ, this was one of your best! So many great details and ideas for creating unique towns, streets and buildings. Almost wish I had a drone to check out my own town ... but I guess I'll go check it out in more detail from ground level for now. ;-) Thanks

[@sparky107107]

some really nice shots. I am sure those were the ones that your daughter took. lol thanks for the look, out side the box

[@dbtech7914]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@djstrains]

Thanks for watching!

[@andrewsmith9575]

Thank you DJ! So many great video's. So many cool idea's! Thanks for sharing!

[@djstrains]

You are so welcome!

[@wstks-fmworldwide5390]

Really enjoying your videos and modelling approach. Used to live in Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill) in the 90s. Great town!

[@djstrains]

I lived in Greenfield briefly while in college 1990-1991.

[@wstks-fmworldwide5390]

@@djstrains We might have walked passed each other in the Lilac Street Giant Eagle!

[@SBCBears]

Another helpful video. Par for DJ.

[@djstrains]

Glad it was helpful!

[@markturner9272]

Great info thanks. I really liked the drone shots showing the rooftops.

[@dwighthitchens9838]

Very cool video. Thanks

[@djstrains]

Glad you liked it!

[@Todaro17402]

Great video. Thinking out of the box helps create interest for the modeler and the viewer. I have to scratch build a lot and I'm a small details guy so this kind of modeling really gets me going.

[@rjl110919581]

great detail video thank you for share

[@djstrains]

Glad you liked it

[@samh3029]

Great topic and an outstanding video. Thanks!

[@djstrains]

Glad it was helpful!

[@samh3029]

djstrains I hope your work is going ok

[@jeffherdzina6716]

Trinity Haven ...just needs some T.L.C. and some really deep pockets, to pay for it. D.J., Great vide...Cough, cough...Your daughter did a great job filming .

[@djstrains]

neighbor said it needs 1.5 million to fix up. Or one box of matches, lol.

[@sonnypruitt6639]

@@djstrains 1.5 mill to fix it up, but what are they asking? I see the for sale sign.

[@evil_me]

I'm glad someone else likes to be different as sooooo many people just have the same ole buildings, trains, rolling stock and scenery! To be honest I am working on a cut-away tunnel with a dragon scene on my o layout, also planning a ufo crash site with aliens! My railroad is also "self-aware" as I have a scene in the works that have the boys putting on plaster cloth, hell my work train has lionel bulbs, motor parts, e-unit and a pcb 😂😎 I'm sorry yall I just do what makes me happy and gets me to smile

[@dougrakoczy6841]

Awesome video! Come down and see us at Esters in millville sometime!

[@djstrains]

I'm there pretty often.

[@williammorse8330]

you keep surpassing yourself, DJ.... you would have been a great history teacher.... I can totally relate to your perspective on very often overlooked aspects of urban landscapes, be they in Pittsburg or smaller towns like Versailles.... you are nailing it with your drone skills.... it was sad to see so many half-empty buildings with character.... we waste so much in our country... didn't know there was a Deutschtown in P-burg.... very interesting.... I spend part of the year rehabbing a house in Rosswein, Saxony and of course have a small layout there on the third floor.... I would recommend kitbashing or scratch building small structures that resonate with us.... I started with cardboard and Tichy Train windows and doors, then went from there..... you can always improve on what you've done.... much easier than with the prototype... thank you, very enjoyable.... your videos and insight are unique and encouraging.... cheers from Bellows Falls, Vermont......

[@robertzimmer8579]

Always interesting DJ, thanks. Bob Z from Erie, PA!

[@timeflysintheshop]

Good video. Thank you DJ's daughter. I have a 13 year old daughter, but can't get her anywhere near the trains. She has zero in interest in it. My 10 year old son is cool with it though. Dj, I have some images from Google maps I would like to send you about some interesting railroad things in Western PA that I thought you might like to shoot with the drone. I don't do Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, only KZbin and gmail. I was also thinking you should make more vids of model layouts in Western PA. There is an HO scale setup in Monaca PA, and a two floor one in Ambridge, PA. The main floor one in Ambridge is HO, and the basement is N! The last time I was there, the N was not finished, but it has been a few years since I was there.

[@djstrains]

email me: [e-mail]

[@jolliemark6294]

Nice ideas DJ, you are right add something different make a layout standout....thanks for sharing....Jack 👍

[@chuckbessels9469]

Great ideas/suggestions!! Thanks DJ!

[@djstrains]

Glad you like them!

[@KevinCofDE]

Gave me many ideas.

[@spencerbass7142]

Good video.

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Justlovedolls2024]

You talked about making the houses/building haunted but what about decorated for other times of the year like winter time or spring

[@djstrains]

FANTASTIC

[@nedmerrill5705]

Great video! I would suggest looking at this video together with reading the book "The Art of Model Railroading" by Lance Mindheim. He implies that the art is to combine the eye-catching with mundane elements. Your drone is an incredibly useful tool; I think it breaks new ground in model railroad research. I would urge you to consider trying to publish some of your ideas into a book or series of articles.

[@djstrains]

Great suggestion! Lance and Pelle are my favorite modelers and also Jason Jensen.

[@georgetompkins5438]

great video. keep them coming. you do an excellent job. thanks for posting

[@djstrains]

Thanks for watching!

[@garyeinsidler3781]

Some great ideas, thanks for your video

[@djstrains]

Thanks for watching!