"Boy's Life" Layout

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Len - 11 Nov 2005 23:15 GMT

I got into a discussion with a gentleman today who mentioned
building a 4'x8' HO layout years ago, based on a series of
articles published in "Boy's Life" magazine. I remember seeing
the articles in my long ago youth, but for the life of me I can't
remember the track plan. All that comes back to me is a vague
memory of thinking it was pretty nifty at the time.

Does anyone know if the "Boy's Life" track plan is still
available anywhere? I'm putting together a 4'x8' layout for my
grandkids, and would really like to check the old plan out before
I make a decision on a track plan.

Thanks,
Len

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The CB&Q Guy - 12 Nov 2005 01:57 GMT

Len,

I've got good news and bad news for you. Yes I remember the plan and I
actually tried building it as a kid but didn't have the skills and Dad
had even less as he worked in offices and banks all his life..AND I
actually have a reprint booklet of the series on the layout from Boy's
Life mag (which by the way, was done by a Mr. Glenn Wagner).

I wrote to Mr. Wagner as a boy of around 10. You may recall that for
the building plans one was supposed to cut out actual photos included
in the magazine of window, signs and doors which you were to glue onto
your built structure. Not wanting to cut up my reprint book I wrote to
Mr. Wagner and explained this problem to him. He actually wrote me
back an encouraging letter and sent photo prints of just the windows,
etc. to cut out for my model structures so I wouldn't have to destroy
my booklet! What a class act, IMO. I still have the reprint book, his
letter AND the photos he sent, BTW.

That's all the good news. Now for the bad. Even though I still have
all of this I have been unable to locate any of it. We moved to this
house several years ago and much of my train related stuff is still
packed away. As I say, I haven't been able to find any of this and a
couple years ago I was looking for it all specifically as another
modeler was looking for same.

I don't recall the name of the layout now, but it was in the
mid-1960's. BTW, Boy's Life did another, different project layout a
couple years later which my brother cut out of the magazine and
eventually gave to me also some years back, but I haven't come across
that either. I KNOW I have all this but darned if I can find it.

Sorry not to have better news. So close and yet . . .

Paul - "The CB&Q Guy"
Modeling 1960's In HO.

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Len - 13 Nov 2005 00:44 GMT

> Len,
>
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> Paul - "The CB&Q Guy"
> Modeling 1960's In HO.

Paul,

All I can say is, "Wow!" And Mr. Wagner sounds like quite a guy.

Sounds like me, sort of. I finally bought a house two years ago
in March, and all of my train stuff is still packed away. At
least I know where that is, but some of my tool boxes seem to
have disappeared into the 'rubble'.

I hope you find your stuff. If you do, all I'm really looking for
is the track plan.

I've been helping the kids build structures using sheet bass
wood, foam core board, and pictures from magazines and home plan
books while we're figuring out the layout design.

Thanks for the help,
Len

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Wayne Maxwell - 12 Nov 2005 17:47 GMT

This may be what you're looking for, or something close to it...
http://www.trainplayer.com/freelayouts.htm

> I got into a discussion with a gentleman today who mentioned
> building a 4'x8' HO layout years ago, based on a series of
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Thanks,
> Len

Reply to this Message

Len - 13 Nov 2005 00:36 GMT

> This may be what you're looking for, or something close to it...
> http://www.trainplayer.com/freelayouts.htm

Wayne,

I suspect that's the later Boy's Life layout Paul mentioned. I
seem to recall the layout I'm thinking of had at least some
elevated track, which the one on this web page lacks.

Thanks for the URL though, as cheap as it is I think I'll check
out that TrainPlayer software.

Len

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Rugurr@webtv.net - 19 Nov 2005 05:41 GMT

When I was in the scouts back in the late fifties that series was a
great inspiration. Although I did not have much skill the different
articles showing how to do things were great. The one I remember was
the wooden model of a concrete tunnel portal.
Rick Larson

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The CB&Q Guy - 21 Nov 2005 05:09 GMT

Yeah, I believe that was the item that called for a so many degree
bevel on the plans. Problem was, at that young age I had no idea what
a bevel was! 8^D

Paul - "The CB&Q Guy"
Modeling 1960's In HO.

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drother - 28 Jul 2010 05:30 GMT

Len,

If your still interested, I see it's been a few years, here's the plan:
http://www.trainplayer.com/Site3/FeaturePages/user_layouts_gallery.html#Boys_Life_4x8
.

You can actually run trains on it on your computer with the software
available from www.trainplayer.com.

Dean

>I got into a discussion with a gentleman today who mentioned
>building a 4'x8' HO layout years ago, based on a series of
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>Thanks,
>Len

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Model Forum / General / Railroads / July 2010

"Boy's Life" Layout