You get 22 free printable buildings with the Beginner’s Guide – and one of them is the fire station:
“Hi Al,
Had a go at your firestation pleased with the way it came out
Bob”
And I also got this in from Daniel, which is very timely:
“Just spent a few minutes with crazy John while I had morning coffee on the porch. Big weekend for us Yanks, ya know. Haha. Video was very enjoyable.
The firehouse was certainly well done, but tell John that the tower is not a lookout, but a very important part of the firehouse….it is where they hang the hoses after use so they dry.
Modern hose materials may not require it as much, but that was the real intended use of the tower.
All the best to you.
Mn Dan
Dan”
That’s all for this one.
You can get the fire station and 21 other buildings all for $9 – but today is the last day.
Thanks to everyone who has or does support the site – you know who you are.
Best
Al
It’s a $216 saving when you grab this $9 deal. And it still comes with my 60 day money back guarantee too.
Fred’s been in touch with his N scale factory scene – a stunning cement plant.
Have a look at what he’s done:
“Al –
I know it’s been a while since my last submission to your website.
I’m in the process of redoing a painted backdrop in the center of my layout because during the last two years of work in the urban section of my layout, I’ve learned how to use “backlit” plexiglass as a base upon which to paint city landscapes with complex lighting.
(More on that later, though wouldn’t it be great to revisit times in your past to renovate what you did as a young man with what you had learned by 76? In essence, that’s what I’m now doing with my layout.)
Anyhow, the previous sand and gravel plant, with recently added cement factory is situated at a crucial place in my layout – between the oil refinery and harbor and another long stretch of coastline that leads to the rural part of my model.
What is a diorama dilemma is the fact that the heigt of two separate horizon lines on the water are dictated by different physical measurements of the depth of the layout at these points, with a certain visual confusion upon seeing them together. (One horizon appears 8” to 10” higher.) So the solution became to visually separate them.
The enlargement of the cement plant helps to do this, sitting at the juncture of the two backdrops as it does.
So more than a piece of detailed industrial modeling, the new sand and gravel and cement plant is designed to distract, to allow the viewer to separate the two sections of the model, without actually doing that with a more obvious physical divider.
But the plant itself is an entertaining exercise in “kit- bashing” and unique design with 3d bits and pieces from Shapeways, other kits, and an N scale model of a cement plant from Walthers:
Fred”
A huge big thanks to Fred for sharing his stunning update – his N scale factory layout and pics are amazing.
What’s more, I think it’s a wonderful example of how this hobby is so much more than making models and laying tracks.
Here’s Old Taz’s fab back story:
“Hi AL
I live down the street from the Zephyr. Dick and I met several years ago and have been close friends ever since.
I was restoring cars at that time. My health went south and I had to quit and sell everything that had a stick shift.
I’m no spring chicken either Al. Some new parts some rebuilt, some added, some removed and some we are watching.
My dad and my wife’s dad both worked as switchmen dowering the WW2. One in Minnesota and in Montana.
When my dad was building the trains longer, to come across the plains, her Dad was taking them Apart to make up shorter trains over the divides. Then vice a versa.
I have been following Al and the rest of you for about five years or more trying to absorb what I can.
The first train I can Remember having, Dad and I had to save five box tops off a chocolate drink mix and send them in with a Dollar. You could order a “A” unit (no motor). Then five box tops and a dollar baggage car and so on. I drank a lot of chocolate that summer. I got the motor for my birthday! No track! That came At Christmas.
That was it for trains till I went to work at The Toy Chest (age 22). Engines passenger cars, box cars, Buildings, track, all N GAGE. My first wife said I was nuts. It all got packed away.
Around 70 I decided I could not restore cars any more. When you can’t feel with your fingers you need to see what your touching.
I met Dick down the block and seen what he had as a hobby. Dick is a close friend we bounce ideas off each other all the time. Mine are better!
Here are some pix of my start.
It started in the garage on a pace of cardboard.
Then to the basement, gluing down my first piece of blue board I dislocated my new right hip.
It all went down hill from there!
Richard from Montana (Old Taz)”
You know how I’m always banging on about making a start?
I think Dick’s pictures above show in spades all layouts start with a single step. Look at how his finished. Amazing.
