Halloween Layouts

Silver Lake posted:

More trick or treaters come to my house on Halloween than come to my house for Christmas.

 I think it's been over ten years since I've seen any carolers on Christmas eve.

The last really "good" group in the"1980's" .

    I remember using up two bottles of brandy, and half a bottle of whiskey some years as the caroling groups seldom wanted a soda, coffee, or hot cocoa

Halloween isn't faring much better really; kinda dead ...

  Maybe , I'll finish a new space layout in time, but I usually throw some stuff together for every holiday I'm at home anyhow. Figures that "don't fit" do great on All Hollows Eve; Robbie & B-9 robots are going to have to keep track here..... Soldiers from the 1700's, to the 70's, Cowboys, Indians, and an African warrior mingle.  "Little People" show up, with a bag piping Scott, and his girl. #53 (Herbie the Love bug) stops to let a ballerina," The Tick and Arthur" cross the street, Herman Munster squeezes his horn at them as Grandpas Casket racer screams it's way around them all. 3 Wise Men, a reindeer, and Santa wait patiently..(they crash the party as often as Scooby Doo & Shaggy). Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster,  "Godzilla Jr", The Mummy, and a skeleton have a new mine shaft to play in. And the giant rats & other animals that sprout from eating "The Food of the Gods" can now sip from my new tank. King Kong better not get any bright idea's.

  The Marvin the Martian Mars War Bonnet rocket train, and the alien robots, aren't forgotten.

 Hey, I have a cool idea for a disappearing tunnel

Gilly@N&W posted:

Been doing this since 2009 with inspiration from Jim Policastro. This is a very popular attraction at our modular club displays during the fall. This is the 5th year, and in general it has held up quite well.

 

 

 

Gilly

So this year I am planning on making my first Halloween themed layout.  In fact I would consider this my first real display layout outside of Christmas projects.  I love what Gilly has done here.  

Is anyone else thinking about a Halloween layout for this year?  Would you be willing to set it outside on Halloween for passer's by to see?  If not where would you display it?

I have an engine on order and plan to redecorate some less expensive cars for the theme.  I have a few different accessories already on hand and am keeping my eyes open for more.

To make a small display like this, what is a good starting point?  This looks like it was made from 2" foam insulation.  I love the look but don't know how to replicate the shading on the gray/white edges.

What are your thoughts looking ahead to All Hallow's Eve?

JZ

JZ,

Here are a few shots of the original layout in OGR several years ago. It was the one that Gilly improved on quite a bit with his version.

Like you said, it's just 2" thick styrofoam glued up and hacked on with a steak knife until it looked sort of like rock. The shading on the rock work is done by dry brushing. That is, paint it gray; let it dry; then whisk a brush with just a little bit of off-white color paint across the surface to bring out the highlights.

It's a lot of fun when you get into it.

The original was about 40" x 60" with O36 Fastrack as I remember. It was actually two-sided with a more conventional autumn scene on one side and Halloween on the other.

As far as displaying a layout on Halloween night, some have set up a similar display on a front porch where trick or treaters can see it on their way to the goodies.

Here is the other side that was shown on the cover of OGR that Sean007 posted earlier in this thread:

Jim

Jim P. Thank you so much for posting these pictures!!  I intend to get material for the base before the week is out and get started soon.  With having small children to care for I want to get started soon as everything takes about 3 times as long as expected.

EddieZ,

I love the Lego's.  I have the same haunted house and was planning on using it as well ��.

 I will post progress on this thread as hopefully it will inspire others and I can learn some things along the way!

JZ

This is the layout we use every year with minor changes taking place just to freshen things up a bit. We use backdrops so the garage is as dark as safely as possible. Don't want any ghouls or goblins tripping or falling over anything. Don't know if it's a bigger hit with the kiddos or their parents. The show starts about 6pm and goes til either the candy or the trick or treaters  run out. 

This will be my 2nd year of having a Halloween layout. I keep mine on the sunroom in the back of my house on a 4'x8' plywood table but am contemplating having a second one in the foyer that goes around the candy bowl.  Not quite ready to move outside yet, although may consider it for 2018 if I can find an easy enough to move table.  

The sound effects on the Peanuts Halloween train are great.  For $140, I may buy a second one and kit bash it (spray paint over the peanuts markings on the loco and tender).  

Attached are some kit bashing Items I did on an o scale gondola, some gondola coil covers and some lcl containers I had vinyl lettering applied to.  Also, I had  a rectangle box made with orange spool on a 3D printer to haul pumpkins   They fit nicely inside a gondola   

Our Lego/Train Halloween layout video is up on YouTube.  The trains are running in the last few minutes of the video.  Hope you enjoy.

Eddie

https://youtu.be/RHfOvKk-D5I

Hoping to be painting this weekend

I didn't know that handcars can pull other cars!!! 

Punkrockpub posted:

I didn't know that handcars can pull other cars!!! 

Actually, the handcars can easily pull 2 light-weight cars if you add a little weight to the front of the handcar chassis,  and lube the main gear well (Red N Tacky).

Here is one that forum member Scolba built on a foam sheet. Puts it on his porch

Here's the thread link

You guys have inspired me to set up a small Halloween display. I’ll surprise the wife, and hopefully not need to have any part of it surgically removed!

Smoke Stack Lightnin posted:

You guys have inspired me to set up a small Halloween display. I’ll surprise the wife, and hopefully not need to have any part of it surgically removed!

Go for it!  I did last year and learned a ton.  Had a great time too.  This year I plan on dusting it off and using it again.  I also plant to take it to the Cub scout Halloween party.  I am hoping it's a big hit.  See my thread from 2017.

Been working on Halloween Town on my permanent layout for the past few months.

Its not complete but well underway, pics here:

https://ogrforum.com/...l-under-construction

I'm about to start my very 1st train layout. Which will be a Halloween layout. And yes, it'll be mine year round, my ONLY layout at this point.  I have a 4X8 sheet of plywood for this project to be based on. Does the track and the landscape, scenery, etc... bolt directly to the plywood? Or, is the a 4X8 foam board that goes on top of the plywood before starting the building of the layout?

lots of different opinions and options on how to start.

Some use foam on top of the plywood, some use acoustic ceiling tiles, some use homosote and I assume some use nothing and lots of other options I probably didn't mention.

Also, what type of track are you using? 

Best to use the search feature and read up on peoples thoughts, pros and cons of each etc etc.

I hope to use regular "tubular" train track. Vintage if possible. Any recommendations please? 

IMO, I would screw your plywood to the frame and then put acoustic ceiling tiles on top of the plywood.

I find the ceiling tiles hold screws and paint well, besides deadening the noise/drumming of the engines/rolling stock.

There was a recent post on this with lots of good, various input on different methods used, pros/cons etc.

I think it really depends on the individual. 

I can jump on top of my layout with no issues, other people would consider this a waste of money, it really depends on what you want.

   Last years thread by JHZ563 has more meat on it. This one has been edited severely over time for some odd reason, no debates I recall.. too much focus on toyish, space, fantasy for somebody's tastes?

 New track of any type is awesome to run on. If you insist on vintage you might try Tinmans used & refurbished track.  

  Tube track can be had new pretty reasonably. O is taller, thicker metal, and has fatter pins than O-27", turnouts etc are a bit more costly than 0-27. You can use adaptor pins, force, and pliers to MAKE them play together . Newer and bigger trains often need 36" diameter min..  One cheap priced but good option is Menards O, about $50 for a circle delivered two summers ago . Order online or order at a store. A traditional look, etc etc. Shopping will pay off.

  Ive not used ceiling tile on a layout, but I bet Ive cut and installed a semi truck full. The right tile and it would be ok flat, or cut to a roadbed shape but indoors only... 

I did green foam. With a few 5"x5" support boards to throw under hands and knees it took my 200lb crawls. A palm will dent it under weight. 

  There was 2-4" thick foam, I'd consider that alone. Slightly bulky, but light weight and moisture proof, raised enough the smallest ghost can see, but likely not walk on or grab at.....though a "fencing off" might also be a good idea for outside and not on a table. A plywood bottom is optional on the thick foam.

Ceiling tiles do not like moisture at all. Thick foam could sit alone on a damp lawn.

   I'd try gluing the tile or foam witha soft bonding glue and T pin and/or caulk the ties in place. (removal should be pretty easy if need be) Screws and really any other solid connection transmits the most sound to the wood. The sound is transmitted via air to the floor after that. Carpet is another defense against noise vs a hard  floor.

 The rest is reflective noise off the top. Scenery and soft ground cover actually quiets things up on top.

I used 1x3's and 1x4's for an L-Girder bench work toped with 1/2" plywood and 2x3 legs. This gave it plenty of rigidity to move around the garage on steel casters . The plywood was then topped with  1/2" x4x8 "Sound Board" from Lowes. The same material as the ceiling tiles but a lot cheaper at the time and it holds a screw quite well as long as you don't go crazy and torque it down to tight. Attached with short drywall screws to the plywood, but it will require a good  primer before starting your track work and scenery.

Let’s not get this thread off on a tangent about how to build a layout in general. Start a new thread so the information can more easily be found by others with the same question.

Plus, it would be nice if this thread stayed focus on examples of Halloween layouts. 

Thank you so very much!!! This is very helpful!!! "Sound Board" from Lowes!!! Would you happen to know if it comes in a 4X8 sheets? And can it easily be cut? 

p.s. I like your Halloween Layout!!! It's AWESOME!!! Especially the Bone Trestle Bridge!!! That's very cool!!! 

Standard size is 4' x 8', can be cut easily with a scroll/sabre saw with a fine tooth blade. Essentially a metal cutting blade like a hacksaw. It is a little dusty when you cut it, I used a shop vac to suck up most of the dust while cutting.

Correction to original post, the L girder was a 1" x 6" not a 1" x 4".

Thank you so much!!! This is great & helpful info!!! 

Jim R. posted:

Let’s not get this thread off on a tangent about how to build a layout in general. Start a new thread so the information can more easily be found by others with the same question.

Plus, it would be nice is this thread stayed focus on examples of Halloween layouts. 

Totally agree with Jim, kind of why I was pointing original poster to check out previous threads.

Agreed! Let's keep the focus on Halloween Train Layouts!!! 

I give Lionel credit for jumping onto the Halloween bandwagon, which reflects their understanding that Halloween is now the second biggest holiday (in terms of consumer expenditures) right behind Christmas.  That stated, I suspect Halloween themed layouts are likely to at best remain a limited and short seasonal niche, where the key suppliers to enthusiasts are Lionel and Department 57.      

Hi Dan

I agree wrt Lionel jumping on the bandwagon, it was a good idea. They must be making money on it as the "halloween line" has been out/continuing now for what 15 years? That and MTH also jumped on the money train.

Not sure about the seasonal layout, I've heard of a few in my town that are up or part of the permanent layout.

Department 57 has some nice stuff but the "early" lemax spookytown stuff is also great. I say early because the stuff the last few years seems to have been cost reduced/made smaller.

Ottawa_Marc posted:

Hi Dan

I agree wrt Lionel jumping on the bandwagon, it was a good idea. They must be making money on it as the "halloween line" has been out/continuing now for what 15 years? That and MTH also jumped on the money train.

Not sure about the seasonal layout, I've heard of a few in my town that are up or part of the permanent layout.

Department 57 has some nice stuff but the "early" lemax spookytown stuff is also great. I say early because the stuff the last few years seems to have been cost reduced/made smaller.

 

I noticed that, too. My Halloween layout has Lemax buildings made prior to 2002, and at the time they were quite the bargain for even the large animated-lighting buildings, like Greaves Manor (as seen on the hilltop on my layout below).

I find Lemax works best with O-27 layouts and traditional-sized trains because of their size.

Jim R. posted:

Ottawa_Marc posted:

Department 57 has some nice stuff but the "early" lemax spookytown stuff is also great. I say early because the stuff the last few years seems to have been cost reduced/made smaller.

I find Lemax works best with O-27 layouts and traditional-sized trains because of their size.

 

You could almost use the new buildings on HO. I was excited to see the pumpkin water tower on the website but when I saw it in person I was very surprised at how small it was. Oh well, time to kitbash I guess. 

       It wouldn't be Halloween without an Erie loco                                                                                    Coffin Tender

Skeleton log car

The Cult of Brady

Sheldon beware!                   Somewhere between "Nightmare" & "Beetlejuice" 

Your gonna need a bigger boa..... crane; you'll need a crane

The bat was wired to the caboose; chasing it.

Great photos fellows!!! Very nice indeed!!! By the way, has anyone ever seen an O gauge MARX HALLOWEEN TRAIN? I've heard that they're around but difficult to find. Anyone seen one? 

   I don' recall a Marx version, but the 3rd Lionel 4-4-0 Genral is know by the nickname "the halloween train" due to the black body and orangeish trim and later there was corporately made official Halloween sets of course.

One of my Halloween consists from this morning. General has a hard time with it though.

Ottawa_Marc posted:

One of my Halloween consists from this morning. General has a hard time with it though.

Nice pics, Marc!   I have the same Transylvania Railroad General & most of the same cars as you.  I also have found that the general isn't great at pulling more than about 6-8 cars, especially if they are heaver ones with "aquarium innards," from Lionel or MTH.  (The MTH aquarium cars are really heavy!) 

I also have a Halloween "General" locomotive & tender. And it does pull more than 5 cars. I've got to replace the Smoke Unit in the loco.  Is that a difficult job?

While not really a layout,  I set up my annual Halloween "diorama" today. 

I've always loved my Hearse Boxcar.  It was probably my first custom car.  I also need to pick up a small sloped back tender for my halloween switcher.  I'll be adding little details between now and Halloween.

-Nick

Here is what I setup last weekend at the Saint Adelaide Church fair....