Liberty Falls Display

These are pictures of a Liberty Falls display that we set up in 1997. It included all the pieces that we had in our collection at that time. We set this up before the 1997 Series was issued, so it only includes pieces available through 1996.

The display was built on a sheet of plywood set on a pool table. The "snow" was model train snow available from any hobby shop. To keep it from blowing away, we mixed it with white glue to make a "snow paste," and applied it to the plywood with flat wooden sticks. Dirt roads were created using model train "dirt," also available from hobby shops, and also mixed with paste and applied to the plywood. Then the "dirt" was sprayed with aerosol glue, and a few "snow" flakes were dusted over it, to create a wintery effect. A number of hobby shop trees -- both deciduous and coniferous -- were also used.

An HO scale train track encircled the display, and also cut through the middle of town, to serve Liberty Falls with train service.

Hills and mountains were made from papier mâché, to create a three-dimensional effect. Unfortunately, this effect doesn't come through very well in the photos.

These pictures were scanned from 4x6 photos, so they aren't as sharp as digital. But you can click on any of the pictures below to see a larger version.

Here they are:

This is a "big view" of the whole thing:

Click for a larger view

This was the main part of town -- the town center. A "hill" rises up immediately behind the Bell Tower. The Park and "Mansion Row" are on the hill.	Click for a larger view
Click for a larger view	We called this "Liberty Falls East." It was literally "the other side of the railroad tracks." Farmer Wilson's ranch is way off in the countryside (his cows stand by a pond on the other side of the road), and we built a mountain with a tunnel for the train to pass through (there's a "forest" at the foot of the mountain, behind the ranch).
We called this side of town the "West End." The idea was that the business district had spread in this direction after the center of town had become crowded. The center road, that leads straight from the Town Center, was lined with businesses. The streets behind it, and curving to the "south," were lined with residences. Off in the distance, the Opera House sits on a hill overlooking town, and Trapper Mike's cabin it still higher on the hill, in the woods.	Click for a larger view
Click for a larger view	This is a close-up of the Town Square. The wishing well is in the center of the square, while the Bell Tower, Courthouse, City Hall, and other government and civic buildings surround the square. The park is on a small hill just behind the Bell Tower and Courthouse.
If you grew up in a small town, you know that one of the centers of your life as a child is "the park." This is a close-up of the Liberty Falls Town Park, with the bandstand, skating pond, and Christmas tree. This was also where the Carousel would go, but we didn't have the Carousel yet -- it was the premium for the year we built this layout.	Click for a larger view
Click for a larger view	One of the great things about the layout was getting down and getting a "street's eye view." As you looked through the trees, and saw buildings behind buildings, the way the residents of a real Liberty Falls would do, the "realism effect" was striking.
This is another view from the street level.	Click for a larger view
Click for a larger view	When you have to use up the last few frames on the roll of film, it's best to take pictures of a pretty girl!