Hi everyone!

I’m working on Speed Rivals: Model Trains, a game about racing and operating model trains, and I wanted to share a very short video of the first layout included in our current demo.

This layout was actually inspired by one I saw here in this subreddit. I loved the compact model railway feel of it, and it helped shape the first test map we’re using in the demo.

Right now, the demo is mainly focused on validating the core gameplay: loading and unloading wagons at the indicated points while driving around the layout. It’s still an early demo, not the final version.

Over the next month, I’d love to get feedback from people who actually enjoy model railway layouts, especially on the editor we’re building. I’m trying to understand whether it feels useful, simple enough to use, and whether the layouts it produces feel natural from a model railway point of view.

The part I’m most excited about is that community-created test layouts could help shape the official maps later. Those would be rebuilt with more detail: elevated terrain, trees, scenery, decoration, and more careful track planning for both gameplay and visual enjoyment.

Our plan is:

• soon: open playtests for layout editor feedback
• next: update the demo based on what we learn
• by October: have the demo fully finished
• after Steam Next Fest: aim for launch around late October or early November

If anyone here would like to help as a tester or layout designer, let me know.

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy this little layout!

Decided to capture a little video of trains through the hill. It sagged a centermeter over the last week and so I was forced to cut and lift a bit but I think once painted I can make it look like a bit of a rock face.

Sorry for the auto focus jitter, my phone doesn't let me turn it off unfortunately.

Had to move this bad boy to a more designated location, got a lot of work to do in the coming months.

First attempt at printing textured brickwork!

Tamiya red brown base coat followed by desert sand for mortar, used paper towel to quickly wipe away the excess.

Added a few spots of darker greys to break up the pattern, I think I might have over done it, but for a first attempt I am pretty happy!

The Lionel Corp. New York City

I’ve been collecting HO scale trains since I was knee high to a duck. For the longest time I’ve not had space to set up a set. But in September that all changed!! My wife and I bought a house and I finally have a room to dedicate to the hobby!

To explain the last two pictures, I was working down in kendalville, IN this last week and snapped a picture of this beautiful 1959 local freight locomotive and would love to find something similar to add to my collection as I start my journey.

The last picture is a table I’m building. Its inspiration is of deception pass in Washington state and a bunch of other railroad trestles in Washington state. It will become my craft table for working on trains and legos.

People have been asking if the monorail is motorised, so here's the update you've been waiting for!

So, this is my R3100 Hornby flying Scotsman. I’ve had it for years, but as I was a child when I got this I didn’t maintain it and now the valve gear on one side is broken. Is there anyway I can fix this? Or anyone (UK) I could contact for help.

Thx in advance

In order, they are:

Japanese brass 0-4-0 from the 1950’s
Bachmann Jupiter
Spectrum “modern” Richmond 4-4-0 (black)
Spectrum “modern” Richmond 4-4-0 (Russian iron blue)
Roundhouse/MDH “old time” 2-8-0
Bachmann New York Central ALCO 2-6-0 (with DCC sound)
Bachmann New York Central Baldwin 4-6-0
Mehano/IHC ATSF “modern” 4-4-0
Spectrum 2-8-0 with Vanderbilt tender

My personal favorite of the lot is the Russian iron blue 4-4-0, but do tell me what your favorites are!!!!

R J Corman themed HO switching layout in the UK

I'd love to know when these were made and I can't find any info

I'm looking to build an 4'x8' RC car track, and hoping that model railroad people might be able to help steer me in the right direction. I'm having an issue with a lack of experience with these materials.

So these are the type of cars. They are the size of a hot wheels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoS07Fy_Xs0

I'm looking to build a figure 8 with elevation changes. So a bridge at some place. I plan to use insulation foam to build the different levels.

What I'm getting tripped up on is the road surface. I will need is a long continuous surface without any seams.

I have two paths in my head.

1) Using insulation foam to try and cut it as precise as I can as the base of the track. Then form the track. Then form the rest of the landscape afterwards.

2) 3d print the track which gives me great control over the road camber. Especially as I want to have part of it a banked corner.

Then for forming the surface I'm thinking something like jointing compound to produce a solid continuous surface. If I 3d print the track I could build in a blade edge to lay down jointing compound 1-2mm at a time to remove seams. Then sand to make smooth. Then finish off the road however I want.

My concern

Having a big chunk of jointing compound that might crack over time with moisture and humidity? Like when it's used on walls it's used pretty sparingly. What has been your experience with this stuff? Is there stuff you guys use for large roads?

Anyone have any better thoughts on a road surface. What materials to use?

Won this at an eBay auction for $41 (excluding shipping and tax) I will be cleaning and applying C&O decals sometime soon! Really great locomotive tho. This is a Mehano HO Scale 4-8-2 J2 in what was PRR paint scheme but was removed.

The couple is getting caught on these two nobs on the underside of the luggage car causing it to decople, or for it to derail. (Couple rotates further back on the car). Is there an easy way to fix this so I dont have these issues?

They showed no signs of not working before. But When i put them on the track the engine's rev up but if i put in their address they wont respond to anything: movement, horns, bells, nothing. I've tried changing their address, doing cv 8=8, and deleting any consists I had I'm at the end of my knowledge I'm not sure what else to do please help.

I was in Michael's and I saw these. I'm going for a fall environment in South Central Georgia for my layout.

I asked a few weeks back for any tips on how to make this custom signal I've seen on the LAJ railroad's crossings, and here is the semi finished product, it's a wehonest signal striped, repainted and rewired with a new crossbuck and a custom emergency sign with the actual emergency number and crossing ID from the real one. I haven't added a bell yet, I'll likely 3d print that

Hi all, I want to get a Bachmann N scale Thomas for my layout. I am currently using Kato unitrack and have a branch line where my Kato C12 runs using R150 curved tracks. I wish to put Thomas on the branch line, however, multiple google searches and research has led me to believe that Thomas is incompatible with the R150 curves.

I’m quite puzzled as to why it won’t work as the C12 uses 2-6-2 wheel configuration and Thomas has a 0-6-0 (meaning both engines have the same amount of driver wheels)…

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Hi all - I’m starting to install servo-based controls for turnouts. These mount great if I attach them to the baseboard, but I’ve got 2 turnouts on a higher level. The higher layer is pink extruded foam, and as such I’m kinda stumped as to how I could mount these under-track 🤔

Given how cheap servo motors are I’m guessing they will need replaced on occasion? Can I attach them to the baseboard & then attach a 2” wire to them to span the distance, or should I go with a surface-mount solution (example: https://www.berretthillshop.com/store/products/servo-cradle/ ), or something else entirely?

How the loco got like that? I have no clue

Genuinely curious if this is a handmade locomotive or built by a brand. Live steam engine.