Hi okane, Thanks, TrainzLuvr goes back a long time (started with a website https://trainz.luvr.net for the Trainz Sim). Since the layout will mostly be railfanning for the grandchildren, does the current track arrangement give you enough visual opportunities for them to engage in (sights and sounds)? I still feel that it's "too busy" with the track, although children do like sensory overload. Though, consider how long you plan to keep this layout for? If not a chainsaw layout, then the grandchildren won't be all arms and legs forever, and will grow up to be old enough to run trains with you. When that happens, you will have two crews (them and the boys from the club) who will want more from the layout than just sights and sounds. Also, do not forget yourself - what do *you* want from it, because this is your labour of love. Along the above line of thinking, I would leave some room for expansion/re-arrangement of the layout, as there are opportunities alongside the walls of your utility room for some elevated single/double track running, or something new altogether. If construction has not begun, then then the benchwork could be built in a such a way to accomodate the future possibilities. I understand what you mean about being able to clean and maintain the layout, so looking at your current plan, do you feel that this current track plan is more maintainable? Just as a reference, for my current layout I opted to build a domino like layout, with 1 ft deep benchwork, track at same level throughout while modulating scenery around it - the inspiration came from Mark Lestico's former N scale Cascade Subdivision.
TrainzLuvr - All good points and certainly many to think upon. Your layout is quite nice and you have planned it out very carefully - looks like you plan to have yours for some time. Chainsaw Layout - that's a neat term and probably correct in my case as the benchwork is quite mobile. For now, we have some relearning to do and perhaps several trips back to the drawing board as we progress. Your comments are appreciated and helpful. Looking forward to more as we move along!
Finally started working on the GreenRiver depot again this week. Finally got enough done to be worth posting a photo. Got the brick sheet installed on the platform and the central tower put together. Right now I'm working on painting the roof parts following a Luke towan video. He used a darker color on random shingles and then tied it all together with an airbrushed coat of a lighter gray. Since this is a railroad structure that still sees numerous steam excursions, I'm going use a black wash to tie it together. Right now it looks kinda like it's got chicken pox. Hopefully when it's finished, it won't.
Alas I didn’t get much done this past week due to having a procedure done on my foot I was in a bit of pain. I did however finish painting a kit so it is now ready to build.
Fire in the hole! Figures aren’t glued in yet. But it is looking good. Who’d a thought that I would find civil war figures in N scale? These are mad out of pewter. Trying to think of a way to remove the bases without damaging the figures.
Staying on task this week, all be slow on task, I got a few more steps done on the grain elevator. Four walls and roof together. Loading sheds together and progress in the silos.
I didn't fall completely off the wagon yet--I managed to vacuum the whole layout! It only took about a half hour, but the trees are no longer surrounded by crumbling white crud on the spring side! No photo, as it would largely look the same. I don't figure I'll repaint the fascia until I'm finished slinging gesso on the snow side.
Since my last update on Saturday I added the specks to the abutments for the WP bridge in the scene I am working on. And added a weathering wash to the pair of abutments for the SP bridge. And beginning to install the abutments for the SP bridge. It's taking quite a bit of tweaking to get it right. While things were drying I finished up all the wiring for the track power through the doorway lift bridge and temporary return loop. Also continued work on the terrain.
Not a whole lot to report after the Christmas/New Years break. I spent part of the break working on the helix and part of it working on ESP32 CS updates (major update and rework of the web interface). I'll have a bit more of an update on the layout this weekend as I'll be back to working on the helix by then.
Not much of an update, but I did get my front to back modules stained blue tonight, in a day or two I will “distress” it to match my other modules. I also worked on my Tram layout and took a quick video of it.
After a failed attempt at putting seats in three N scale coaches. I am reattaching the roofs and putting figures on the running boards and platforms.
Hi Guys: Im afraid I'm kinda late to the party! -- I just discovered this thread a little bit ago. If its ok, I'll join in, but life is going to interrupt (Im due to have a triple bypass in the next couple weeks), so I'll post what I can, when I can -- My layout is an around 3 walls layout in a 10 x 10 room -- on the north and south walls the layout is about 36" wide and on the West wall its 24 inches wide -- the east wall contains the closet and door and its open. My project so far has been to finish getting the foam top on the benchwork, and get the main loop of the layout laid -- so far that is all done, except I have one joint that consistently de-rails my locomotives, so I am going to pull that section up and re-do it Other projects include a grain elevator that I am starting on, and getting JMRI Operations set up and working and actually start running some trains -- I'm hopeful to be able to buy some turnouts and more track. I did make a conversion from code 55 to code 80 N scale track -- its a lot more available, cheaper and a WHOLE lot easier to work with. Another thing that I have started playing with a little bit is using 3m ATG (adhesive transfer gum) to secure track to the roadbed -- its easy to apply -- and pretty economical and it seems to really stick down well So thats where I am at -- we'll see what we can get done TIM
Hi Tim, Just a heads-up that with 3M ATG the track does not remain in place. I've used it throughout my entire staging (12 long tracks, 2 sidings, 24 turnouts) and after several days the track would start lifing up in some spots. Nothing drastic, but enough for me to notice when I press on the track. Granted, there are curves involved but even on the straight sections, or on the turnouts, I've noticed the track losing adhesion to the tape. Originally I saw this from a model railroader on YouTube, though he used it on HO track, and it seemed a pretty good technique. The reason I feel it's not as good for N scale is because of the low surface area that the double sided tape has to adhere to the track (I used Atlas Code 80 even). At the end, I went all along the line, pressed the track and turnouts back down, then dropped some tacky white glue every couple of feet to keep the track down. It appears to be holding now and I wish this worked 100% because I would've used it everywhere else on my layout. I suppose some day if/when I move to HO it will be a viable option, just not now for N.
Hey -- thanks for the heads up -- thats good to know -- what kind of tacky glue did you use to put them back down? Thanks again TIM
Tim, I used yellow wood glue on my N scale track and haven't seen any issues yet. A thin bead down the center and spread it out a bit. Come back with ballast and it is nice and secure Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
I used Aleene's Tacky Glue because I wanted it easily removable, in case I need to change things or rip it all up. EDIT: I only put a tiny blob on the outside every couple of feet on the side away from the viewer, so it's not visible.
