Jim’s been in touch with his modern N scale buildings:
He’s made a that all important start and his N scale buildings are bringing the layout to life:
“Here are some pictures of the layout I am building.
I decided on N scale because I have limited space in my retirement home and the more popular HO scale wouldn’t allow me to have a very interesting layout in the space I have.
I decided to use an old hollow 30” x 80” interior door since I already had it.
I found quite a few interesting layout plains for this size door.
The first photo is a plan view of the entire layout with the mountain remote for a clear view of all of the track with the turn-outs.
I have managed to install 9 turn-outs, a reversing loop, a small switch yard with some industry along with a little town within this space.
I purchased Woodland Scenics Town & Factory kit which has 13 assorted buildings, and have started building a few of the buildings.
I am kit bashing some of them, and here you can see I have opened a couple of the doors on the factory and added LED lighting, some interior features and workers.
So far I have installed all of the track work with ballasting, installed the turn outs, ruffed in the mountain with tunnels and the terrain.
I used two inches of foam insulation for the base, then used foam and plaster cloth to built the mountain and track risers.
Here you can see I have used masking tape to test my plan for road and building locations.
I plan to have operating crossing gates with blinking lights, paved roads, grass and trees and street and building lighting.
I will keep you posted with my progress
Jim”
A big thanks to Jim and his N scale buildings – he’s made that all important start.
Now on to Bill.
“Greetings Al
Hope all is well for you and yours.
I’ve been installing a scenic divide on my O/ON30 layout here these last few days and I’ve got it painted and starting to do a little scenery and rock carving.
I’ve attached a link to the video showing how I paint and do my plaster work.
Keep doing all you do for the hobby!!
Thanks!
Bill in Virginia”
A huge big thanks to Bill.
If I’m not mistaken, his last post is here.
Thanks to Jim too for sharing his modern N scale buildings.
You can also see more of his stuff in the Hall of Fame.
Please do leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your backdrop and rockface tips.
That’s it for today peeps. Keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you get going on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
PPS More N scale layouts here if that’s your thing.
I’m saving things to use for my dreamed-of N gauge and thought the stuff in the desiccant packets might be the right size to use in various places. It feels tiny and I was wondering if anyone has anyone used it for anything?
hi Jim, thanks for sharing this terrific video it is truly very great . for sometime now I’ve been wondering just how to texture my hills and mountains .I don’t have much foam laid down yet, but due to your video I can now with great confidence can start to texture what I’ve done to this point . your video on texturing has been very informative and helpful . thank you thank you very much for sharing your great video. I look forward to seeing more of what you’re accomplishing .. thanks again on a job well done. val in Utah!
hi al, please accept my sincerest apology, the comments I just posted were meant for bill in Virginia, somehow I got Jim’s post mixed up with bills video please accept my sincerest apology. to bill, your video on texturing was truly tremendous and very welcomed .thanks much val in Utah!!
Looks great. I hope mine comes out that good.
My first N scale layout was quite close to this. However, I used a 60″ x 36″ board.
I had only done Lionel “O” gauge before and was not happy with the N gauge (Mid- 60s).
25 years later, I began collecting HO rolling stock, steam locos and buildings waiting for the time I could build another layout.
Short story: Finally, 2011 I began to build!
I really enjoyed and am thankful for Jim and Bill’s input today.
The video on your backdrop painting and initial work on the mountains is so good.
Bill did you figure a way to suspend your other layouts?
Dick (little r) from Hardin Mt USA
Jim-
Great job in a small space- thanks for sharing!
Great Job nice looking Mountains
Love when old doors become Railroad Empires
Awesome video “how to” Bill. Thank you for sharing.
Great start! I love seeing how different modelers use small spaces. I’m looking forward to seeing more progress reports.
nice layout, simple, easy & small
Jim, great layout. Also, mountains don’t look like they are standing up in the middle of nowhere.
very nice terrain, and good layout.
Great track design.