N scale courthouse

Mike’s been in touch with his N scale courthouse:

“Hello AL:

It’s been a while since I’ve been in touch. Presently enjoying your e-book “How to Create a Breath Taking Model Railroad for the Complete Beginner.” Highly recommended.

The last time I showed what I was attempting to do in HO scale with my homage to the Westerns with Old Tucson and Hill Valley from “Back to the Future” (I’ve included a few photos). Shortly after getting that far, I had a complete change of mind and decided to scrap all the HO and go into N scale for a smaller table set and more real estate.

I began with several Bachmann starter sets, but soon discovered KATO almost by accident. I sold off all the Bachmann but the Durango-Silverton (as I had the pleasure of riding that railroad a few months ago), and I went full forward with KATO engines and rolling stock.

Now that I have settled on a layout in n scale (photos included), I am starting to recreate the Hill Valley set at 54 percent the size of the original HO buildings.

First to complete: the N scale courthouse. I can see it isn’t going to be easy, but Winter is coming to offer plenty of homebound time for the work.

Cheers, and thanks for all your inspiration.

Mike

Grand Rapids, Michigan”

N scale courthouse

wild west layout

wild west layout

wild west model railroad layout




wild west train layout

model train polystyrene n scale courthouse

model railroad polystyrene n scale courthouse

moel train polystyrene

N scale courthouse

N scale courthouse

model train shelves

A big thanks to Mike for sharing his N scale courthouse.

You may well remember Mike’s earlier posts – here’s one. They are great fun.

And you’ll remember George’s when it comes to wild west layouts.

Now on to Tony.

“I started the benchwork “L-girder” in April, since I finally retired, for the second time.

The plans for this setup came from “101 Track Plans….” ,Linn H. Westcott…Thirty-First printing (First printing, 1956), Page 35.

It is the “New York, New Haven & Hollywood”.

It took me several weeks and many How-To and Track Plan books before I settled on this one.

Regards again,

Tony”





That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget, the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to stop dreaming and start doing.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

11 Responses to N scale courthouse

  1. Daniel Sichel says:

    Love love the picture of the two courthouses together. A model of a courthouse and the model of a model of a courthouse. When you go into z scale that will be model cubed 😄

  2. Robert V says:

    FANTASTIC JOB! How did you accomplish the Court House/ Clock Tower? It looks fantastic! Well done!

  3. michael halpin says:

    hey mike I am receiving a Back to the Future vibe from your awsome layout.Great imagination!

  4. Dwight in Toronto says:

    Looking great Mike. Seems that you have a liking for long passenger trains … a man after my own heart! And yes, Kato quality and reliability are truly admirable.

  5. Erick says:

    Pretty Kool.!!!! i hope mine turns out that way.

  6. O Sells says:

    Mike, I just love your western theme. I thought about doing that look also. You have done a great job on the N Scale, mine is also N Scale. Show us more.

  7. Nick says:

    Love the theme. Are you going to end a spur at the ravine or complete the bridge? What will you name the ravine? Clayton, Shonash or Eastwood?

  8. Frank says:

    Amazing that someone made the same building in two different scales and they’re both excellent. I love the town in “Back to the Future” and the movie as well.

    If my older brother was still with us, he would have liked to see the photos. It would have meant a lot to him like myself for all those films represented. The 1980’s were a good time for movies and music.

    The video was really nice. The trains looked great rolling past each other. And I love seeing the name Linn H Westcott. I still have my copy of “Model Railroad That Grows” and even today it’s a great book.

    Frank in Orlando

  9. Dave Karper says:

    Disregard, Mike. I looked again and I saw what I missed.

  10. Gary Klein says:

    Hello Al;
    I so enjoy your e-mails every morning. Could you PLEASE tell me how to get in touch with Mike from Grand Rapids, Michigan?? I am doing a Wild West layout & can’t find any Figures, Cowboys, Can-Can Girls, Ladies of the Night, Horses, Etc.
    This is my first layout & it is 5’X8′. I am 76 years young. Never had an Electric Train before Covid. Now I have 3 & Making almost everything myself! Mountains, Buildings, & the list goes on.
    Please help me if you can. Looking forward to hearing back from you.
    Thanking you in advance.
    Gary in Las Vegas, NV.

  11. Chris Whitelock says:

    Hi sorry I do not know how old or new this post is but can I please find out dimensions of the court house so I can make it in N gauge or at least what I should work to to make my own I thank you in advance

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