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Post by cnw1995 on Feb 14, 2022 19:16:57 GMT
A back story sure livens up a layout. I like your use of foam as well as your clear 'givens and druthers' about accessibility, wide curves, etc. I too started out in N scale - with a 3 by 5 folding table where I built a realistic Thomas the Tank Engine layout using engines and rolling stock that I purchased (a long time ago) from a hobby store in Tokyo's Ginza. I finally moved to the King of Scales - N just got too fiddly and I anticipated it getting worse. My unsolicited marketing slogan contribution: 'For the best quality and service, ship Border Line!'  |
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Post by firewood on Feb 15, 2022 3:03:22 GMT
A back story sure livens up a layout. I like your use of foam as well as your clear 'givens and druthers' about accessibility, wide curves, etc. I too started out in N scale - with a 3 by 5 folding table where I built a realistic Thomas the Tank Engine layout using engines and rolling stock that I purchased (a long time ago) from a hobby store in Tokyo's Ginza. I finally moved to the King of Scales - N just got too fiddly and I anticipated it getting worse. My unsolicited marketing slogan contribution: 'For the best quality and service, ship Border Line!' Thanks Doug - N scale hit my patience wall quite quickly. Your slogan suggestion is very much appreciated and will be submitted to the marketing committee just as soon as he gets back from ice-fishin'. It's always a constant battle to be noticed among the big name railroads. Dave
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Post by Adam on Feb 15, 2022 11:28:44 GMT
I couldn’t even imagine working in N scale. I would likely go crazy and blind after too long.
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Post by firewood on Feb 16, 2022 5:12:52 GMT
I couldn’t even imagine working in N scale. I would likely go crazy and blind after too long. I've been accused of both!
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Post by firewood on Mar 6, 2022 1:12:48 GMT
This week I decided to break out the green and orange - I re-discovered my stash of Marklin HO overhead wire and tried it for looks. Just in case anyone was wondering, this is the little-known Eastern Electric Division of the Great Northern. Careful observation of the photos will reveal the fat-finger catenary support method. It looks like I'll use Plastruct supports for the bridge catenary - the rest of the electrified section will use Don "Scalerail"'s dowel and brass rod support method. The poles will likely be set into plywood bases let into the layout foam structure. Dave [PS - The upside-down photo shows right side up when clicked]   |
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Post by dlagrua on Mar 7, 2022 12:50:50 GMT
Looking good. Nicest looking 027 track that I have seen in a while.
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Post by ptc on Mar 7, 2022 16:29:46 GMT
Really nice project.
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Post by firewood on Mar 7, 2022 17:14:56 GMT
Looking good. Nicest looking 027 track that I have seen in a while. Thanks Dennis - For ties I cut up a mess of scrap pine from an old shoe-rack. The track bed is that silicone-rubber liner sheet for kitchen drawers. So far so good. Dave
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Post by firewood on Apr 8, 2022 15:55:10 GMT
Some holistic medicine on the layout this week: I encased some untidy wiring in off-the-shelf plastic looms, and worked on some more cliff-carving with my trusty serrated kitchen knife. On the rolling stock side, I started mixing in the Menards' cars I re-gauged and they're behaving themselves so far. The problem was mostly under-gauge wheelsets.
Dave
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Post by ptc on Apr 8, 2022 21:08:20 GMT
Good work, Dave.
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Post by Country Joe on Apr 9, 2022 23:35:31 GMT
Looking good Dave and the train is a smooth runner. 👍
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Post by firewood on Apr 10, 2022 2:57:32 GMT
Looking good Dave and the train is a smooth runner. 👍 Thanks Joe - the Williams 4-6-0 is very smooth I find. It doesn't balk at anything and has a nice speed range - thinking of getting another one for a project. I like the looks of this one too much to change it. Dave
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Post by firewood on Jun 13, 2022 22:27:34 GMT
For a train to travel between layout spots that are supposed to be miles apart is a challenge but hey, we're running 3-rail . I need a transition between my semi-urban passenger station area and the curved bridge section - see the yellow circled area on the layout sketch below. For the passenger station side, I figured an elevated spur "track to nowhere" that sits ahead of the tunnel entrance - maybe as a streetcar spur or merchandise dispatch terminal. The sketch shows the elevated spur in red. My original plan called for an elevated loop, so no massive re-design. A conversation with a friend about the Othello Tunnels in Hope, BC produced an idea for the bridge side of the tunnel. The area is a hiking trail now, but the location is dramatic - the combination of tunnel bores and concrete gives lots of visual "busy-ness" for a layout. I think a small version of the galleried tunnel would work. The rough tunnel gallery mock-up is shown with a hopper car at the tunnel portal 'gallery' and another on the elevated spur. Construction mock-ups - ain't they ugly? Dave    Attachments:
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Post by firewood on Sept 30, 2022 4:48:01 GMT
When it comes to structures on the layout, I don't have a lot of room for them. As I've said here before, many of my layout buildings will be low-relief style incorporated with scenic dividers. Looking around for something a little different, I found the Clever Models range of card kits. They're drawn up and sold online as printable files. I stocked up my printer with #60 cardstock from Staples and downloaded one of their free samples to try out. The results look good so far - I'm presently cutting out the roof components and adding interior stiffeners. You can really add a lot of depth by insetting and layering the windows and doors - a window half-open here, a door ajar there. The photo is Clever's Silver City tool shed, part of a larger building complex which is mostly low-relief. These will work well in my mining area along the back straight of the layout. Dave  |
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Post by Adam on Sept 30, 2022 7:37:36 GMT
I’ve seen some YouTube videos showing card stock buildings and they are impressive. Great idea!
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