Lineas Cubanas

Hi Great work here. Shows you what can be accomplished with a small layout One question and I may have missed this in the thread: The derelict building above on the left...is that a kit or did you scratch build yourself as I am looking for something similar for my layout Thanks Matt

I have been playing around a little bit and mocking up the layout to check a few things out. As a result, I have realised the following: 1) That the light in the layout room is very poor and the layout needs lighting ASAP. I bought some LED Strips so the next priority is to implement a dust cover/roof for the layout which can be used to attach the lights to. Suggestions welcome..... 2) The backscene is proving quite problematic. As I have moved away from modelling Havana, suitable panoramic photos are few and far between. Simply because tourists in Cuba take photos mainly of the Havana skyline or if its countryside, the Vinales Valley, neither of which are suitable as one is too urban and the other too rural featuring mountains. Nobody seems to take a photo of the ordinary....... and indeed if they do in a big enough size....

A bit of an update, I suppose I have removed the "L" Shape baseboard so the layout is now just along one wall. The size of the layout is now 8ft 9" by 18" so calling it a "room size shelf layout" is definitely misleading.....more like a "Cameo" layout now The L shape was just too intrusive in the room and also I didn't think it was worth the effort. Especially as I wanted to curve the fascia and it was offering me up all sort of problems so I have decided less is more The good news I have been working on a track plan. I am going to have to move away from modelling Havana as its just not going to work in the space I now have. This is not a problem really as there are plenty of great prototypes in Cuba. I have also cut and glued down the Styrofoam base and added 9mm ply boards to each end of the layout

First of all, thanks for everybody's feedback, replies and emails It's probably easier if I post some answers all together here: 1) The shelf layout is portable and is made of 3 sections. The layout size is approx 105" by 45" in a L shape. The benchwork is 18" wide but with the additional of the styrofoam base it may be 20 - 22" in some places. In order to work on a section if necessary at a more reasonable height, they can be lifted off onto the chest of drawers below to work on (see photo 3 in post #99) 2) I painted the woodwork grey which is the same colour as the wall and the general tone of the room to improve the atheistic look within the room. If no work gets done on the layout for a while at least it should just look like a grey shelf rather than the desert plains of the Sahara....well that's the idea anyway 3) Regarding the track plan, I have a few ideas but its not finalised yet. I don't "re invent the wheel" so I will be using or adapting a tried and tested one that approximately fits my space...... Here's the plan of my office:

No worries, I appreciate the input I think you are right.....83 can correctly look heavy but not as chunky as 100 The track looks good...what size are the turnouts?

Yes, my preference is the Code 70 but I understand that they are only producing #6 turnouts (with the same geometry as the Code 83 line) and wooden sleeper flex track. I have a feeling I am going to need a bit more flexibility with #5 turnouts and curved turnouts plus I need concrete sleeper flex track To be honest, I believe the smaller the code the better and Code 75 is a minimum standard for me. For some reason my sub conscious associates Code 83 looking as thick as Code 100 which I am sure it doesn't........ I need to get my hands on some to have a look at it!

Currently, I am looking at some backscene and track options....... I am thinking of using Peco Code 83 (North American) as opposed to my usual Peco Code 75 "Finescale" But I have not actually seen any in the flesh......How does the rail look? Does it look good? Opinions on track and backscene choice welcome!

Well, the good news is I returned from the family Xmas Holiday to find that the baseboards were still attached the shelving brackets and I had not suffered the same collapse with the previous layout. I suppose "room" sized shelf layout is a little misleading......its effectively an L shape on just two sides of my study...... Here are some photos to give you an overall idea of what I am working with...... Next Stages are to : - Cut and glue down Styrofoam base - Add 9mm ply boards to each end of the layout

Ha! This is probably the best I can do.......

I have started the 3rd layout in my series of Proto-Freelanced HO Model Railroads : 'LINEAS CUBANAS' This thread has documented so far : my diorama (Canta Rana) and switching layout (Escenas Habanas). I hope to document going forward the final part..... The benchwork has been completed and I am in the process of finalising the track plan. All the layouts are set against a background of rundown sugar mills and tobacco farms in the extremely spartan living of Fidel Castro’s Socialist Republic of the 1990s-2000s. They attempt to recreate images and thoughts of Cuba – the coffee grove covered hills; the splendid colonial architecture; the Yank-Tanks of 1950s America; the sounds of Buena Vista Social Club echoing down the street; and the smell of thick Cuban cigars mixing with the sweet aroma of freshly cut cane. COMING SOON

Hi everyone Just a quick update .....if anyone is still following..... Due to house move this layout is now FOR SALE Please contact me off list if you are interested and want to know more. I can also include any amount of HO scale Cuban Models. The layout appeared in Model Rail's "Ideas for Layouts" 2017 Annual. Here are some quick i-phone photos of the layout left to right :

No, I am not selling up, just looking to reduce the amount of rolling stock and motive power I have. All items are weathered, fitted with Kadee #58s, metal wheels and weight has been added where necessary Passenger Cars (72' in length) Ferrocarriles de Cuba Taino Coach (See photo on post #41) Ex Canadian Budd Diesel Rail Car No 2301 now used as a Passenger coach Sugar Cane Cars End Loading Sugar Cane Cars x 5 weathered and fitted with Kadee 58s Box Car Ex Florida East Coast Box Car used as Power Plant Car on Cai Cuba Libre Breakdown Train. This boxcar was left behind when the ferries from Cuba to Florida were closed sometime in 1960. It is a Branchline Yardmaster kit with added Kadee brake hoses, Kadee #58 couplers, brass grab irons and stirrups and FC decals. Caboose Cai Melanio Hernandez (MINAZ) Caboose. Model based on photo on page 30 in Adolf Hungry Wolf's book "Trains of Cuba" Motive Power Bachman 2-6-0 Mogul Weathered with DCC and Sound (see post #81) (Model based on Cai Australia MINAZ Loco) TEM 4K Weathered with DCC and Sound (See post #7) Bachmann GE 70 Ton with DCC (See photo below)

I have also decided that like any good railway modeller I have far too much rolling stock and locos! A number of people have contacted me off list asking how to get started in modelling Cuban Railways and these locos and rolling stock may be able to help you do just that All items are HO scale, prototype based and may be used either to model the FCC (Ferrocarriles de Cuba) or MINAZ (Sugar Mill Railways) Please contact me off list for photos and a list of what's available An example is below Thanks Matt

Hi all, After a summer of not much working on the railroad, I have decided to set myself a few tasks to kick start me finishing the layout: 1) The diesel railcar depot on the left is too tall and upsets the balance of the layout. This needs to be reduced in size and the lay down area detailed 2) I have decided after much deliberation to remove the warehouse flats. They look fine when viewed head on but from any other angle ........just weird 3) I need to add some life to the layout: people, animals, signs, switch stands, details etc

Ok so as you know the little white building between the two palm trees was bugging me so this weekend I did a bit of re modelling: - I moved the building next to the fuel tanks (so now we only see it from the back and side) - Re arranged the palm trees and added some more foliage. - I have also added the pink building which is to represent a little guard hut/security post for the gates but I have yet to decide on its final position I am actually more pleased with the overall scene than I was before.....

So we are basically back to where we started: I have been staring at this layout now for quite a while so I have kind of lost all perspective with it! Please let me know if you have any constructive feedback There are a couple of things I need to sort: I think the two palm trees either side of the small building look a bit odd or the placement of the building between them is unnatural......

Ok, so I have finished the repairs and this is the progress to date:

Ok, so I have worked pretty intensively since my last post to make the neceesary repairs to the layout. Thanks for all the encouragement. Here are a couple of quick photos of me looking at ways to disguise/repair things: Too many shadows on the backscene! In the end, I decided that the Blue Building (although prototypical) just looked 'unnatural' in the setting and I reverted to my mantra : Keep It Simple Stupid .......leading to the scene below: Let me know if you prefer the Blue Building!

Just thought I would post an update on what's been happening with Lineas Cubanas Two things: 1) There has been no actual work on Escenas Habanas since Mid Feb or so. In fact, I have gone backwards......let me explain...... I had been investigating ways to display the layout at home and settled on using a metal shelf system with twin slot brackets. I calculated the length of uprights needed and the bracket lengths for stability were 3/4 of the width of the layout. Anyway, I just had enough time to mount the layout in order to take the overall shot in my last photo post and the whole thing came crashing down. It was a bit of a mess........as I was displaying it at eye level height .....about 58" off the floor. The backscene was badly damaged as the integrated lighting beam came loose and basically swatted most of the layout including a lot of the trees and buildings. The proscenium arch and wings also took damage and broke off.......I think the electrics are ok though........well, I will get back to you on that. I managed to remain calm. Surprisingly, my 11 year old son was more upset because of 'all the work you have put into it' So in short : Nada 2) In an attempt to get my mojo back...... I have just jogged up to the Titchfield Thunderbolt to purchase a copy of Iain Rice's Latest book on 'Creating Cameo Layouts' Iain's ideas have been very influential on my modelling and I didn't realise he had a new book out. I had a chat with the very nice man who runs the shop and he informed me that there is a 'Cameo Layout' competition so it might be the medicine I need to get the repairs done and continue building the layout I am not sure what the criteria is exactly for being a 'Cameo Layout' but I am off to read the book (which looks cracking by the way) to see if I can realistically enter Escenas Habanas ......although those words 'Finescale' are scaring me.....

Just a quick photo with my iPhone showing the overall presentation of the layout:

Thats Zaza Del Medio in the video, I believe? I have previously designed a layout based on Zaza del Medio and the line running across the bridge over Rio Zaza to Tuinucu and the sugar mill (Cai Melanio Hernandez). It also features the Talleres MINAZ Prov nearby.

The East German DRC are by Sachsenmodelle. I got the original model off Peter Smith. Its been weathered and I have added DCC and Sound. I believe Roco currently make a similar model that comes with DCC and Sound but would require re painting.

Unfortunately, I cannot claim the credit for the weathering on those locos They were done by a friend and if anyone is interested in getting a bit of help with weathering etc Please contact me off list and I will put you in touch with him

Thank you for the compliments Yes, they can be linked together. The first diorama (Canta Rana) really was just a practice, something to test my skills to see if I could achieve a decent representation of Cuba. My switching layout (Escenas Habanas) is intended for exhibitions although I have a lot of work to do on it before its ready! I should probably say its only 6' x 2' (not 8' x 2' as the track plan shows)

Hi Tom Yes, Auscisonmodels produce a model that can be used as EMD Export G8 Loco. I did initially look at the Victorian T Class (Series 1) which I believe comes with DCC and Sound. I would probably go for one of the ERA 1(1955 -1957) models as the Cuban G8s were built in 1960. You can also look at the G12/G8 produced by Frateschi. However, I think this is OO scale so is slightly overscale for HO but is definitely a cheaper option. http://www.frateschi.com.br/web/loco-g12-g8/?lang=en I was very fortunate in that my model was built by a friend in Cuba on a Stewart chassis. I have added DCC and Sound Are you thinking of modelling the FCC and Cuba?