Hi my name is Jeff. I am not completly new to the train hobby. I build a layout when i was a kid. But since i am from the Netherlands this was a Dutch style layout. Years went past without spending time on this hobby. I am a RC modeller, planes to be specific. Raising a young family etc all came first. 3 years ago the train bug got me again. It got me on youtube, where i was viewing an American layout. When i saw those amazing diesel locomotives from different times i knew i wanted to build a layout again. Since i am not located in the US it is hard to build prototypical. So i settled to trying to build freelance but with as much of an prototypical thought to it. Also i decided to build a hybrid between a fixed layout and an modular form. So that i have a solid base to run minor operations but an option to extend with Freemo like modules. I am also a scenery type of guy and a nature lover. So i wanted mountains, pinetrees, forrests etc. Through about 6 months i googled different type of american locations. Searching online for interesting places is easy but difficult as well. Easy to find locations but difficult to choose a base hahaha During this quest i found a dealer of Walthers Trains in Germany. I saw number 8100 Norfolk Southern GE ES44 in DCC with sound...i fell in love with the scheme. So i bought it with 3 cars to get me started. Since i bought the Norfolk Southern, i thought i would look to find locations matching there routes. In one of my searches I came across pictures of the Montana Rail Link. I love the scheme with blue and black. I instantly fell for the scenery. Why didn't i choose this railroad company. But i love the 8100. So i needed to find something to make it right in my mind. Luckily i found pictures and video's of NS rolling through Bozeman. There was my connection to use my 8100 one Montana based freelance layout. Maybe a passing through intermodal, or something. I working in it hahaha I joined here to find inspiration, maybe some help and maybe i could help others as well. I build my own electronics, do the programming as well. I am also on instagram @blackfoxfpv. I am into 3D printing and designing. Making my own boxcars for example. I want to build a lot by myself. It gives me great pleasure. Thats why i also started to build my own turnouts. Number 6 from fasttracks. I build my own mould to help with this.. I use code 83. And plan to keep this code for all my trackwork. Thats it for now. Gr. Jeff
Welcome aboard, Jeff! As someone who is trying to model something outside of what is readily available to them as well, I feel your pain! It sounds like you already have a ton of skills, this is a fantastic place to glean even more ideas and inspiration, as well as learn from other members.
Very nice locomotive and the Nickle Plate Road scheme is awesome. I have 2 of the Kato DCC No Sound GE ES44DC CSX locomotives and they are my favorite at this time. Any overall layout photos?
@in2tech I am still in the progress of the design. Trying different options in Anyrail. A great process but it also makes a decission hard to make hahaha
Welcome to TrainBoard! I and another forum member, Dan Raitz, have Van de Grift ancestors from New Amsterdam. So, let's hear it for the Old Country!
This is what i am working on at the moment. The grey base is the fixed part of the layout, with different connection options to smaller modules, tan/sand color. Example 1: Example 2:
Welcome to the TrainBoard Jeff. As a new board member myself I think you will find many threads to inspire you in your modeling.
Welcome to the board. My fathers parents came from Holland 1924. My mothers came back in 1700s from Holland and Belgium.
