Following his recent grand tour, Gerry puts his HO scale Bona Vista under greater scrutiny. In this episode, our host closely examines how his construction efforts align with his established Givens and Druthers. After failing to pass every part of his self-graded test, Gerry invites fellow layout builders David Popp and Seth Puffer to check his math, along with the overall design and operation of the Bona Visa Railroad. Grab your notebook, and be sure to jot down the insightful tips offered to help Gerry, along with any other layout builder, get Back on Track!
Getting to know Gerry
Back on Track host Gerry Leone is just as clever as he is comedic! But even better, he’s a masterful model railroader who’s knowledgeable in numerous areas of the hobby. In his MR Video Plus/Trains.com series Off the Rails, audiences enjoyed learning many of the helpful tips and techniques he used to assemble various layouts over the years. Exclusive Trains.com video highlights much of his previous Bona Vista Railroad HO scale layout, and even examines specific details of his scenery construction in his Spaces to Places series.
With so many of Gerry’s talents at hand, we wouldn’t want any of them to go to waste! You can be sure to find him lending assistance in the construction of several other Trains.com projects, including work on the O scale (1:48) Olympia Logging Co., the HO scale (1:87) Winston-Salem Southbound, and even the N scale (1:160) Canadian Canyons.
If you’re looking to find some of the tools and supplies Gerry uses in his path to modeling success, look no further than KalmbachHobbyStore.com. There, you’ll be able to further examine and directly purchase products he and other notable model railroaders frequently reference in Trains.com videos!
Glad everyone enjoyed this episode! As Mark said, it’s always good to check your forward progress with what you originally planned.
Mark: do a search for “Puffer Bridge Lines” on this site, or look at the listings under “Layouts.” MRVP did a video tour of Seth’s layout a few years ago. Seth’s is one of my all-time favorite layouts. I’m very fortunate that he lives close to me and I get to see it often!
This was a really good episode! Great progress on the layout and checking in with your original givens and druthers is a good way to make sure you end up with the layout that you originally wanted. David Popp offered some great advice that I’m going to apply to my own layout. Would love to see more of Seth Puffer’s layout. I had never seen anything on his layout before. It is super impressive! Love his modeling style!!
Just an excellent video. Thanks to all for putting it together.
Great layout, and a lot of progress in a short time. If you wanted more mainline, why not add a narrow (6-8 inch) shelf at the top that has no industry or towns, just open spaces. There is nothing more realistic than a train running long distances through open country. Of course the helix would have to be expanded.
I Love it, Thanks Guys.
Thanks for the response to my LCC I think:). I did checked out RR-Cirkits.com. After looking thru their website I feel I need to understand more about each brand of DCC systems and terms each manufactures use. I know NCE uses the term Cab buss and Digitrax uses the term LocoNet® and that’s about it.
Thanks again
Bill
Just goes to show how much better planning ahead is than planning as you go (like I did).
Went to one layout tour where the aisles were really tight, so I made my only aisle 60″ wide.
Really looking good there Gerry!
Bill
I sure hope someone does. I think TCS at Amherst train show had a demo set up showing NCE, Digitrax , and TCS WIFI controllers all connected thru LCC to the same track running trains.
I have over the last 5 years acquired 6 DCC systems 3 brands
one Digitrax DSC100 very old but still works with 2 controllers
two NCE with 2 controllers power Cab and Pro Cab
and
three MRC’s 1 advance squared and 2 Prodigy Elite 10A plus MRC 8A booster.
I’m only using 4 of these. I think you can see why I would love to be able to use what I have and not buy more.
Thanks again for your response and all of your (and Trains.com) help for all of us struggling to build something that looks and runs like your BV5.
Bill
Bill — The item for linking different throttles to one DCC system may already exist. Check RR CirKits’ website at https://www.rr-cirkits.com/ . The guy (whose name I can’t remember right now) may have one for sale on the site, and if not, contact him and ask him if he knows who does. He works VERY closely with the LCC group.
And thanks for your kind words about the BV5!
I had the feeling the public and manufacture’s have been and are slow to endorse LCC.
Thanks for the response.
It’s a chicken-and-egg problem. The manufacturers won’t devote the resources to do LCC research and development until they know there’s a demand from modelers. And modelers don’t know how well it works until they see something from manufacturers. Modelers don’t know enough about it to ask for things, and manufacturers are waiting for consumers to request stuff. It’s too bad, too, because LCC has a million possibilities. All we’d need is one manufacturer to come up with a plug-and-play system for LCC signaling, for instance, and the market would open up.
Wow, all in 10 months. Thank goodness for pandemic shut-ins…. I wish I had your fortitude and drive to get tit down although I too am making some progress.
David’s ‘critique’ is awesome and he does make some points, specially about the upper deck. I will likely apply those to my upper level when the helix is completed. His point about the curve being close to the edge, to me not so much for the derailments area but an operator brushing a shoulder against something and knocking it off as well. Maybe just a piece of clear plexiglass along there will along viewing and safety too without the additional space David suggested.
Ahh, passenger trains – run freight my man!! LOL
everthing looking good
Thank you, everyone! It’s great to get feedback from another modeler, especially when he’s an expert layout designer!
Great episode, your layout is inspiring.
David is correct you have made a lot of great progress. I just found a video on Introduction to LCC from the 2016 NMRA National Convention – Indianapolis, IN (I almost attended). I think I herd your voice ask about two blocks connected thru WIFY. Any way it’s been close to six years now and I was curious if you have any LCC or any though about LCC on your BV 5.
Thanks again for all you have done for this great hobby.
Bill
Bill — The interview you saw was indeed me talking to one of the LCC developers. I have no LCC modules on my layout at present because I don’t plan to signal it. However LCC has a lot of other uses, so I won’t rule something else out. Unfortunately manufacturers have been slow to develop LCC-specific products, mostly because they don’t know what we modelers want. If there’s something specific you (or anyone) would like to see, drop Walthers or Digitrax or NCE — or whomever — a note asking them to consider it.
Terrific episode and some well deserved positive feedback.
Gerry The layout is really coming along. The suggestions that were given will help your interchange. Thank you for showing us your layout. Looking to the next instalment…
Excellent episode, with a ton layout design and operating information. Really enjoyed it.