52 track plans in HO and N that fit a shelf, a desk or one wall, plus everything you need to build, wire and finish them.
What you get
Every plan drawn to scale in HO and N, from a 2' x 3' desk layout to a 12 ft wall. Each one comes with a Layout Card, numbered turnouts and a complete track list.
From measuring your wall to the last tree: shelves and brackets, laying track, DC wiring and the move to DCC, scenery for shallow spaces. A test checkpoint closes every stage.
20 shallow buildings that stand against the backdrop: depot, diner, warehouse, garage, row houses and more. In HO and N, with cut lines, assembly steps and a version to color yourself.
Over 300 vintage signs, billboards, station boards, timetables and road signs. Every name is invented, so your town has its own story.
One simple loop with a siding, built even with the track from an old starter set. Clear steps to have a train running by Sunday.
Two growth stages for every plan: a shelf becomes an L, an L becomes a full wall, and you keep the track you already laid.
From a desk to a full wall: how a small layout can fit in your home.
Images show how small layouts can look once built. Scenery, buildings and colors are yours to choose.
52 track plans, a build guide, 20 buildings and 300+ signs in one kit.
Plans for a desk, a coffee table, a single shelf, one wall, a corner or a portable module, from 2' x 3' up to 12 ft. Every plan comes in HO and N, drawn to scale, with a Layout Card, numbered turnouts and a complete track list.
A complete guide from measuring your wall to the last tree: mounting shelves and brackets, portable boards, laying track, DC wiring and the move to DCC, scenery for shallow spaces. A simple test closes every stage, so problems get fixed before they get covered.
20 shallow buildings that stand against the backdrop: depot, freight house, diner, warehouse, garage, row houses and more. In HO and N, with cut and fold lines, step by step assembly and a grayscale version to paint or color yourself.
Over 300 printable vintage signs, billboards, station name boards, timetables and road signs, sized for HO and N. Every business, town and railroad name is invented, so your town has its own story.
Every plan uses standard track and common turnouts, so you can build it with the two-rail HO or N track system you already have. Plans work with DC or DCC, and the guide shows how to upgrade later if you want to.
Bonus guides
Included freeOne simple loop with a siding, planned around the track found in a typical starter set. A short shopping list, a weekend timeline and clear steps from Friday evening to the first train running.
Two growth stages for every one of the 52 plans: a shelf becomes an L, an L becomes a full wall, a module joins another. Each stage keeps the track you already laid in place.
Start with the plans: 52 layouts in HO and N, each one ready to build.
Pick a plan by the space you have, then build from an exact drawing in HO or N.
20 low-relief buildings in HO and N that stand against the backdrop and take almost no depth.
A step by step guide for shelves, desks and portable boards, written for first-time builders.
Vintage signs, billboards and station boards in HO and N, all with invented names.
Two bonus guides come free with every Builder's Kit.
Trains running by Sunday night.
Start small. Never start over.
From a desk to a full wall: how a small layout can fit in your home.
Images show how small layouts can look once built. Scenery, buildings and colors are yours to choose.
Plans for a desk, a coffee table, a single shelf, one wall, a corner or a portable module, from 2' x 3' up to 12 ft. Every plan comes in HO and N, drawn to scale, with a Layout Card, numbered turnouts and a complete track list.
A complete guide from measuring your wall to the last tree: mounting shelves and brackets, portable boards, laying track, DC wiring and the move to DCC, scenery for shallow spaces. A simple test closes every stage, so problems get fixed before they get covered.
20 shallow buildings that stand against the backdrop: depot, freight house, diner, warehouse, garage, row houses and more. In HO and N, with cut and fold lines, step by step assembly and a grayscale version to paint or color yourself.
Over 300 printable vintage signs, billboards, station name boards, timetables and road signs, sized for HO and N. Every business, town and railroad name is invented, so your town has its own story.
Every plan uses standard track and common turnouts, so you can build it with the two-rail HO or N track system you already have. Plans work with DC or DCC, and the guide shows how to upgrade later if you want to.
Bonus guides
Included freeOne simple loop with a siding, planned around the track found in a typical starter set. A short shopping list, a weekend timeline and clear steps from Friday evening to the first train running.
Two growth stages for every one of the 52 plans: a shelf becomes an L, an L becomes a full wall, a module joins another. Each stage keeps the track you already laid in place.
Straight answers about the kit, the plans and your space.
Yes. Every plan has a difficulty rating, and Build It Small walks you through each stage in plain language, with a simple test before you move on. If you want a quick start, the bonus First Weekend Layout gets a train running in a single weekend.
It's fully digital. You get PDF files right after checkout, and nothing is shipped. The books on this page are mockups that show how the pages look once printed.
If you model in HO or N, yes. Every plan comes in both scales and uses standard track and common #4 and #5 turnouts, so you can build it with the two-rail track system you already own. It works with DC or DCC.
Less than you think. The smallest plans fit a 2' x 3' desk, many fit a single 4 to 8 ft shelf, and the largest use up to 12 ft of wall. Each Layout Card shows the exact footprint and the room you need around it.
Both. All files come in US Letter and A4, with measurements in feet and centimeters. Read them on a tablet or computer, print at home, or take them to a copy shop. Buildings and signs print best on matte cardstock.
The kit gives you the plans, the guide and the printable buildings and signs. Track, trains, power packs, wood and tools are not included. Every plan comes with a complete track list, so you know exactly what to buy before you spend anything.
You're covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If the kit isn't what you expected, write to us from the Contact page within 30 days and we'll refund you.