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. 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

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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