Eric’s been back in touch with this simple N scale layout:
“Hello Alastair
I am still here and well. I retired from the Fire Department last April after 41 yrs and 9 months. A year flies buy when your playing with trains.
I am sending the small size N scale layout pictures from the beginning. I will update over a period of time.
I named it “Flying By The Seat Of My Pants” due to I got this Thomas the train table and I had to do something with it right?
So I bought some Kato track, 7 turnouts and some supplies. That gave me a good start. It took a while due to many thoughts I had. I didn’t want to move on it to quick.
Beginning the simple N scale layout process.
It was constructed on 1″ foam board. I built up area’s with smaller pieces to make rock / raised areas.
I started doing the cover up of foam board by painting it with Woodland Scenics earth color paint. After the second coat I then sprinkled in the turf in the wet earth color where needed.
I dug out a small lake / large pond in center of layout.
I then layed out the track plan with some changes made to it a couple times. One of the changes was I cut through one of the mounds for a spur.
I then started mounting foam board for the mountain witch will have a tunnel thru it.
Starting laying the N scale track by the plan. I wanted this layout to be busy track wise with minimum of three different routes plus the spur.
After track was layed I then began gluing it in place and digging out the foam where the wires lay for the turnouts.
See part two for the process of building the mountain on the layout coming soon.
Thank you Alistair for all you do for this great hobby.
Eric The Retired St. Louis Area Firefighter”
Simple N scale layout:
A big thanks to Eric for sharing his simple N scale layout. It just goes to show, it doesn’t have to complicated to have fun.
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 scales here if that’s your thing.
A very nice compact layout Eric well done.
Brian – the HOn3 guy in Knysna RSA
Nice layout what are the dimensions of the base board thanks
Nice progress photos Eric. You’ve made a good start on your N-scale layout. It’s good that you’re keeping it relatively simple. My problem is I always start with simple plans and then muck them up by adding more and more complexity. to the point that I never quite make any progress. Thanks for sharing you layout.
You’re having fun. Good!
It seems you have made a great beginning to your N-scale layout. Running trains on it will tell you whether there are problem areas or not. Since you’ve used KATO track, the likely outcome is very few problems, although it is more restrictive than flex track. It looks like a fun project and you are just about at the point where I personally enjoy it the most. That is building the scenery, the buildings and structures around a railroad/railway. Good luck, Rob
good start
Fellow N’er here. Nice layout design. Curious about the wires running along and in to the foam. On my 80×36 door layout, I drill holes at each of my 6 leads. Then drop them thru the holes. I have never thought of running ‘through’ the foam. Why do you do this? Just curious.
very nice. looks good. nice start.