Tom’s been in touch again with is N scale 3×5. Have a look at what he’s been busy doing.
“N scale 3×5 feet layout.
What I have been working on this past year is bring my plan to life.
Using woodland water I built the rapids and the water fall area.
All my building are card stock and I am presently looking to replace them because I believe I can do a better job framing them.
The other thing I learned is the size of the curves. Being a first timer – I wish I would have used curve track vice bending my own. The reason I would like a greater curve is be because the largest steam engine I can use is the 4-6-0 .
This layout is a light weight all form layout.
Tom”
(All images are clickable.)
Tom’s doing a great job on his 3×5 N scale – although he isn’t using any of the printable buildings from the blog, I know what he means. You need to take your time with them, otherwise they look ‘wobbly’.
If you look how John makes them in his tutorials, they look amazing.
And now on to James:
“Hi Al.
Quick note from another new guy. Long story short.
Worked in a hobby shop as a teenager and loved all of it but the trains stayed with me.
First Lionel as a kid then HO in high school and in and out of it till a few months ago when the isolation began because of the dangers of the virus.
Jumped into N gauge because I could do a door sized layout in the corner of my shop that is normally full of old Brit sports cars (have about ten of them) mainly MGs but just about all of the 50’s and 60’s over the years and that’s a lot of years as I’m now 82 but still kicking.
Railroad wise I’m well along with my mountain style layout with a lot of scenery in that little space.
Keep up the good work. I enjoy the variety of projects on your site.
Best regards to you and fellow enthusiasts.
James”
A big thanks to James and Tom for sharing his 3×5 N scale.
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you stop dreaming and start doing, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
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.
James so far your layout looks like I 95 interchange in north Miami FL
Carry on!
The Critic
Looks Kool!!!!! I hope mine comes out that goods.
Nice work on both parts
Hi James, even at 82 you could manage all that!?!
Could I please know how were you able to cut all those smooth curves on the foam board? Even with a hot foam cutter my hands are not at all steady and the foam gets cut all different angles.
I can see that the track is all Kato but some of the bridge elements don’t appear to be Kato. Have you used anything else, please?
Go James, go!
2 great layouts.
Tom, your buildings look great in the photos! I especially like the house over the creek. Some interesting engineering, I’m sure.
Your layout looks great. Can’t wait to see the upgraded buildings.
James, I really like the way you planned and executed your layout. Some of the bridges looked a bit high but the way you filled in the scenery is great. I particularly like your mountain scene. It flows realistically. I can imagine the local. I live in the Southwest USA.
Mark
Tom your n scale looks great I have Lionel and grew up with my dad having lionel then lionel HO, thenLooks to n scale, So I know how small the people and the deer are, great enjoy the hobby. James great start send photos when done!
I like Tom’s roads (Picture #8) for they look very lifelike. The line between the road and not-road is NOT a straight line.
Very nice, but the first pic’s sure don’t look like a 5X3 layout. Both look wonderful though. I had “O” scale when I had a huge basement. Had to sell it all (at a great loss) to scale down to a town house. I’m thinkin “N” scale for my smaller space. I’m just concerned about being able to work with such a small scale. Everything I’ve ever seen on Al’s site though is great and inspiring.
Well hi again from Heather & Jason, we are moved but not set up again as yet got to do a bit of fixing to out 12foot lay out we had the removals guy damaged it big time I could have done less on my trailer but I was worried about rain so I let him take it for me worst thing I could have done. We still have a heap of boxes to un pack but we do have a bigger area here under the house to go bigger Jason of coarse is rubbing his hands together & planning what comes next I said settle down we have to get this one finished first & he goes well you have more room for the wheel chair here so I give that project to you to finish & I can give you a hand if you need it, I went thanks so it looks like as soon as we can get it into place I will be able to start up again thank god, I hate moving, it takes to darn long now to get things sorted than it did when I was walking but we will get there soon I hope. I have just caught up with all the messages & boy James that mountain job your doing is going to be something to see the finished job well done mate & I love how you all get the water bouncing & dropping off the mountain I only wish I knew how you did it so I could make ours look a lot more real anyway you stay safe & I let you know with some photo’s when we have started our layout again all the best Heather & Jason.
Tom…..great detail…..like the white water rafting……..great detail on your roads…
James……looking good….keep it going
James, I looked at the photos and was taken back by the layout, wow!! I am pushing my late 60’s and my one true love in cars was my beloved 66 MG. To this day I miss her. I remember my kids at the time so small three of them would fit in the passenger seat for short trips. wow your love of them shows thru in you RR efforts Yes it does, to me those tracks will wind thru every place we both wish we could run our MG’s, The bridges, the rails, the scenery soon to come. I really miss that. Oh I have done standard rent a car nonsense, but nothing compares to an MG, thanks for sharing wish you the best years to come……LS
Tom, you have built s panarama of so much in so little space I can see the pictures do it no justice,each picture invokes diarama all it own of the bigger layout, each a microcosm of what many of us have seen or still enjoy sseing of our life. Thanks
This reminds me of the 2×4 N Scale Layout that got me back into the hobby. N Scale provides terrific opportunities in small spaces.
very nice. looks good.
Some very nice work here…. I snapped a couple mof your pics to keep in my stash of ideas….. And at age 70, I am ready to take it on……
Lovely looking layout. Thanks for posting. I have an MGB, and that’s all I can afford to spend on a pet car. Over the years, I’ve discovered that “MG” stands for Mostly in the Garage. Best.
Both are excellent layouts, so kudos to both Tom and James. I have to second what Ms Jackie said about the roads on Tom’s layout…they’re done quite well and the parking spaces look perfect. James has a great track plan which will be great for running trains. I look forward to future updates from both!
You’ve managed to get a lot on a 3×5 platform . You’ve done a great job on the detail and scenes , especially considering its N scale . Very nice layout .
Great start to door size N scale , looks like you’ve gotten a good bit started , keep posting your progress , am eager to see how this one turns out .