Jim’s been in touch with his 4×6 N scale layout.
“Al,
Attached are 6 photos of my layout and the start of my paint job on a N scale GP-35.
My layout is 4feet by 6.6feet with a yard and round house off to one end with a lift gate to a door to the rest of my garage.
Jim”
(Jim’s layout reminded me of Richard’s: 4×6 N scale layouts.
Now on to Gordy:
“Things I have found useful:
Mix latex paint with wet Plaster / Basecoat, same color of scenery if chipped will not show. When applied, sprinkle fine mixed scenery material (sand, leaves, wood chips, twigs)
Chop up in an Old Blender.
Leave gaps/( loose Joiners) for tracks to expand / contract track gets out Of gauge on curves & switches.
The greatest frustration is to have derailments in an operating Session. (Losing an ore train, with loose iron ore is really bad — worse in tunnels, you can’t reach)
After years of running trains, when we dismantled layout, we found some ore cars inside the tunnels.
Good wiring, 16 ga. minimum Size, clean joints, use 60 / 40 solder with liquid rosin flux, DON”T MOVE JOINT UNTELL SOLDER HARDENED!
Cold solder joints are a railroaders dilemma (and electricians ) use color code – or have fun tracing wires. Same on circuit boards. Engines etc.
Make use of weeds, some bushes makes fine Trees, spray with cheap hair Spray, sprinkle with Leaves, (Model Woodland Scenecs eg.)
Easy way- (Shake & Bake Method ) Put Sprayed Tree, in Plastic Bag with Foliage, and Shake.
Gordy”
“After 40 years of being away from model railroading, I jumped back in on or about January of this year.
I’ve purchased some engines. 15 received so far, and about 50 pieces of rolling stock, more coming.
Not being as proficient as my colleagues on this blog, I bought folding tables, 2 x 2 foam board, the easier to take apart my dear and have raken over a good part of our sun room.
My usable space is 7’5″ x 15″0″ and this is what I have accomplished so far.
Ken”
I love what Ken has done – purely because it’s making a start, and that’s what it’s all about.
A huge thanks to Jim for sharing his 4×6 N scale layout, also to Ken and Gordy.
I know I keep saying it, but I do love seeing what is going to pop up in my inbox each morning.
Please do keep ’em coming, folks.
That’s all for today folks.
And if you’ve decided you’re going to make that start, just like Ken, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet here.
PPS More N scale layouts here if that’s your thing.
Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.
Sisseton-Sioux RR
I am wonder how much more can be taken out or the QUARRY, I like the RAILS and Bridges.
Even though N Scale, what are the measurements of the Quarry, LONG x WIDE x Depth.
THANK
These layouts are serious, not within the usual realms of model railroad. Often thought thought of 3-D backdrops vs the mundane always viewed.
When kid, used to have these books that when opened, everything would pop up 3 dimensional from flat folded pages, how real would that be! True life is exactly as that, appears as different perspective layers. Unpackage a backdrop, mount top edge (maybe 10’ length) and open flat with pop-up, layered sectionals. Fasten bottom and sides perimeters, lightweight cardboard or plastic lithographed.
Watch now, these will be on market in less than a year LMAO. No I don’t need the royalties.
Regards, Rich
Jim, Ken and Gordy….. great work
the making of the train engine & making their own was great & the layout was awesome. congrats to Tally, on his bus to home transformation that was interesting as well. thanks for sharing.
Some BIG scenes on this 4×6!
Gordy
Scale? Your refinery is awesome. Great job all around and Thanks for the tips.
Ken
Please keep us updated. Nice.
Jim
You N guys never cease to amaze and do what an old McGoo eyed, gorilla fingered, curmudgeon cannot.
Big Al
Thanks
Great ideas and pictures today!
My favorite pic of the day is the quarry. It is very realistic. Well done!
As a ret’d RR’er who has been in open pit ore mines in Minnesota’s Cayuna Range, this modeling of same is superb! Indeed, I’ve never seen a better model of an uncommon scene that this one! Gets my vote as #1! (& belongs in MR!)
Very nice. All good stuff. Great tips and layout pics. Thanks for sharing.
Jim AZ
Northlandz, in Flemington, NJ, USA is a commercial HO layout covering an enormous space- it is an hour and a half walk to get through it- using extreme depth illusions of quarries and canyons, etc. I suggest looking at it online if you can’t visit. It has been criticized as run-down and unrefined, but new owners have spiffed it up and have trains running.
Your quarry made me think of it.
i like the mine very nice.
Gorgeous paint job on the GP-35.
All the layouts are amazing and inspiring!
These are serious layouts , very well thought out and detailed . Most amazing indeed . Once again , I just don’t know how you do it . Very impressive layouts , very skilled craftsmanship, inspiring and challenging for us novices.
really good job. the mine is all thumbs up.
Jim’s layout has the John Armstrong touch of an out and back reverse loop with the option for continuous running. This is a plan that I have always like that allows for operations on an island layout.
As a “N” scaler myself, this is one of the best I’ve seen.
Great modeling, Especially the open pit mine.