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Kato N scale – Mike’s

Mike’s been back in touch with his Kato N scale layout:

“Hi Al:

Delighted to see a pix of my first n scale attempt in your recent post. Reminded me I haven’t sent any updates.

After scrapping all the Bachmann track and moving layout to another room with all Kato products, I got started on a new DCC layout still incorporating my Hill Valley town from Back to the Future.

I last added a new main line route up and over from outside to inside loop.

Wish I had more time to keep going, but I’ll keep you posted.

All the best.

Mike

Grand Rapids, Michigan.”

A huge big thanks to Mike for sharing his new Kato N scale – really looking forward to seeing this one progress.

I’ve put a collection of Kato layouts together, and I’ll be adding Mike’s very soon:

Kato track plans.

Now on to Brian:

“Hi Alistair,

As always, my submissions are not incredibly fancy, but relative to folks like me in temporary apartment living may be of some benefit.

My most recent addition is lighting for the village buildings and houses. I spent three dollars on a Christmas light set and drilled holes through the base and slid one or two lightbulbs into each of the buildings from underneath.

So nothing fancy, but a whole layout lit up for three dollars and an hours worth of work.

Brian”

Brian’s lighting is a simple solution, but it’s one that’s often used because it’s so cheap and easy.

The next step is toying with a few LEDs – and Bob’s post will point you in the right direction for that:

Model train LED lights.

That’s all for today folks. Thanks to Brian and to Mike for his Kato N scale update.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

PS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

N scale diorama – Janni’s

Janni’s been in touch with his N scale diorama:

“Ηi Al

John is my name.

I’m writing from Greece…

This is a small diorama that i made a few months ago. The purpose of this is to place it in my work place. I have an ophthalmology clinic and I think that something like this can occupy my little patients (and not only them).

Best regards

Janni Bellas”

A big thanks to Janni for sharing his N scale diorama.

It reminded me of Henry’s post: Model railroad dioramas.

And Peter’s: N scale train diorama.

Now on to Jim:

“Hi Al,

After creating my Truck Terminal, I realized that I needed something different than the trucks that I had to use.

I thought that I needed some flatbed trailers for my trucks. After checking online, I realized that this could get expensive. I looked at the enclosed trailers that I had on hand that came with the flatbed train cars and realized that I had several trailers with Road Names that didn’t fit in my layout plans. So I started with this enclosed trailer.

I started checking what I could do and figured out that I could remove the body from the trailer with a small screwdriver, which left me with a flatbed trailer frame.

Then I used a Sharpie Silver Permanent Marker to highlight the tire rims and the complete body of the frame, most flatbed trailers are aluminum and this looks like it. I also highlighted the Cab details that would normally be Chrome.

Then I decided that I needed a deck material, so I found a piece of Balsa Wood that was the same width as the trailers length. So using a Square that also was the same width of the bed and cut a couple of strips. I colored them with a Maple Colored Furniture touch up pen.

I realized that I needed Freight Loads for the trailers. I saw a Video on making freight loads using blister packs, diluted white glue and tissue paper. All small parts and items are packaged in plastic in the shape of the item and attached to cardboard for sale.

Remove the blister pack and coat with the diluted glue and over with the tissue paper, leave the wrinkles for realism. Cut to fit your trailer, paint and make some tie down straps. I also made some other freight loads with other parts and materials that I had on hand.

I added some Red Warning Lights to the trailer loading platform since I do have a Helicopter on my layout and this is what I ended up with.

I hope that this helps someone else.

Good Luck. I hope that yours turns out as good as mine did.

Jim”

Thanks to Jim, and to Janni for sharing his N scale diorama too.

Lastly, Robert from Wisconsin has asked a very good question on the forum, about starting a layout. Can anyone help?

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

PPS More N scale layouts here if that’s your thing.

How to scratch build a bridge

Hall of Fame Rob has been back in touch, this time on How to scratch build a bridge:

“Hi Al,

I have decided to scratch-build a bridge for my layout. This is something I have been thinking about for quite some time. I thought about it when I was building this part of the layout several years ago.

This will be a 3 or 4 part series since there is so much to cover and it will take a fair amount of time. The first video talks about where the new addition will be going. The second video talks about the drawing I made and how it is helping me to build the bridge itself.

Part 3 isn’t made yet so we’ll all have to wait a week or so.

I am building the bridge from styrene plastic. It is easy to work with and comes in many scale-sized structural shapes. I have been working with this material for several months now and find it is easy to build with.. remember the London Underground cable system? That was all styrene.

The picture with the plastic arch in it is me testing the placement and size of the bridge.

Thank you for all you do for us, Al.

All the best,

Rob”