N Guage Model Railroad

Busy Beaver Lumber · February 12, 2011, 04:01:13 PM

Is anyone on the forum into N scale Model Railroads or even HO for that matter? Kind of another form of woodworking when you consider what it takes woodworking skill wise to build these types of layouts.

This n scale layout is 4 x 8 in size and I have been working on it on and off for the past 5 years. The frame is built out of 1 x 4 pine and mounted to a metal set of legs with castors so I can move it around to work on it. The layout constuction style is called a "cookie cutter" method because a single sheet of plywood gets a series of relief cuts made in it and when certain areas are raised and lowered you wind up with the multiple elevations in the layout. All the track is layed out on a tar like road bed. Each rail connection is soldered for better conductivity. The turn table is powered by a small electric motor and allows you to store or retrieve a locomotive from any one of the 15 spur tracks. In the photo with the long bridge, there is actaully a river bed that is cut into the framework of the table to provide a third level to the layout.

All the track and switches are wired now and as you can see, I am just starting the undercoat for the scenery phase. This is the portion I like the best. Really like building the models and making my own trees and such. Hard to see now, but I have actually cast a lot of my own rock formations in the scenery. Should show up better once I take the airbrush to them and add the grasses and bushes.

Bill Gaiche · February 12, 2011, 04:13:07 PM

Very neat. I like ridding those old narrow gauge trains we have here in the states. bg

tyb525 · February 12, 2011, 04:45:19 PM

I used to have a huge fascination with trains when I was younger, still do, but wood took precedence over trains. I have a simple double-loop set up on a 4x8 sheet of plywood, no scenery though.

isawlogs · February 12, 2011, 05:05:11 PM

I have a pile of HO scale in three or four different boxes here that was about to get put back together, just aint quite got the time to take it out yet.

Nice layout ya got there, a lot of time to set that up

Ironwood · February 12, 2011, 05:32:59 PM

I like HO, have a bunch here but no layout yet, mostly for the three young boys, although I think Dad is REALLY into it. ;D I have a Shay and a logging spur in mind ;).

Your layout is awsome, that N really allows for some cramming of lines, wish HO where the case. Our house is small, so layout yet, perhaps in a few years.

Ironwood

sawguy21 · February 12, 2011, 06:30:11 PM

Nice layout, model trains are a lot of fun. They can get out of hand though, hard to know where to stop. :D

Ron Scott · February 12, 2011, 07:53:03 PM

Quite a project.

SwampDonkey · February 12, 2011, 08:45:12 PM

Looks exactly like what we had here for train and track. Can't get the same quality as we used to years ago. Some sets are only battery driven, I like the electric transformer the best. But, I have not been into trains for a long time. My brother collects, but he's more likely to just sprawl it out on a bedroom floor.

You have a lot of work into that already, keep going. Looking nice. For now it's got the snowy feel.

;)

PC-Urban-Sawyer · February 12, 2011, 09:28:13 PM

Quote from: sawguy21 on February 12, 2011, 06:30:11 PM
Nice layout, model trains are a lot of fun. They can get out of hand though, hard to know where to stop. :D

I thought you was supposed to stop at the station :D

Herb

tyb525 · February 12, 2011, 09:36:11 PM

Since I've been into logging, I would love to have the time to create a narrow gauge logging railroad with a model logging operation and sawmill.

Busy Beaver Lumber · February 13, 2011, 08:41:49 AM

Quote from: tyb525 on February 12, 2011, 04:45:19 PM
I used to have a huge fascination with trains when I was younger, still do, but wood took precedence over trains. I have a simple double-loop set up on a 4x8 sheet of plywood, no scenery though.

Guys - Thanks for all the compliments on the layout. It does take some time. I would estimate i have somewhere around 500 hours into what is there so far. I know it took me over a week just to wire all the track and switches and almost a week just to lay and nail the track down.

My dad and I were big time into model trains when I was in my teens through my early 20's.

After he passed away, I did not do much with it for about 20 years, then one day I got the bug to get back into it and switched from HO to n scale because I wanted more track in less area.

Ty - If I have any left over scenery supplies, which I believe I will, I will put them aside and give them to you TY so we can get some scenery going on your layout. I do have a sawmill building for the layout and I would love to put together an old style steam engine pulling a log train. The only problem with doing that is that a lot of the n-scale steam engines don't get enough traction to pull heavier loads, so I will need to find some pretty light branches to simulate the logs on the trains. I only work on it a few hours a week, so I imagine it will still take me years to finish it, but that is kind of the fun in doing it. Would not be much fun or much of a challenge if you could throw a layout together in two weeks from start to finish

Ironwood · February 13, 2011, 08:02:18 PM

One of the reasons I like the HO is we have a BIG train shop down in town (about 2 mi at the most) and he buy LOTS of used HO trains, and it is a quick trip down to GRAB what I like. I have bought just about everything used although my Shay was new in box (used) from a guy who never had opened the box.

Ironwood

thecfarm · February 14, 2011, 07:03:08 AM

Wood working skills?Well that leaves me out pretty quick.If it can't be done with a chain saw,I better leave it alone.Looks great.Keep the updated pictures coming.Looks like you have alot more to do before it is done.Try using cedar for some "logs".I'm cutting cedar now for the deer.I just cut the ones that are no good to use for logs.

terrifictimbersllc · February 14, 2011, 09:49:22 AM

Quote from: PC-Urban-Sawyer on February 12, 2011, 09:28:13 PM
Quote from: sawguy21 on February 12, 2011, 06:30:11 PM
Nice layout, model trains are a lot of fun. They can get out of hand though, hard to know where to stop. :D

I thought you was supposed to stop at the station :D

Not always, this one wouldnt.....
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1137542912/tt0477080

Busy Beaver Lumber · February 14, 2011, 05:44:30 PM

Ironwood

HO is definately the way to go if you have the space for a decent size layout. I agree with you that it is much easier to come buy and a usually a fairly decent price. My Dad and I did HO for years. I did not have as much room to devote to a layout as he did.

One thing that frustrates me with n scale is trying to find smooth running steam engines. I love the look of the steam engines, but there is just not a great variety of high quality ones to select from that run well and can pull a decent number of cars. I remeber back when we did HO, I had a few Rivarossi steam engines that ran like a well made clock and could pull quite a few cars. Wish I could find something like them in n-scale

JohnG28 · February 25, 2011, 09:54:20 PM

That's a nice looking layout you have there. I haven't messed with model trains in a long time, had a few HO layouts when I was younger but haven't had my own place or the time in years. I have them all in boxes still and am in the process of buying a house now though. Already thinking of a good spot in the basement. Be a long time before I'dhave something like that going though. Keep us posted when you get more done.

Busy Beaver Lumber · February 26, 2011, 01:29:34 PM

Johng28

Thanks for the compliment. I am putting down more plaster now and one more small mountain, then will begain airbrshing. Will post more pics when I get to that point so you can better see the details in the rock structures

Phorester · February 27, 2011, 08:43:47 AM

Don't forget the logging operation in the planned-for forest, and of course a sawmill on a siding.

Busy Beaver Lumber · February 27, 2011, 12:35:40 PM

Phorester

Funny you should mention that, because I just finished putting together the sawmill model last night and spent some of yesterday afternoon making trees. When it dries up outside, I will go out and prune some small diameter branches to make logs for the sawmill piles.

Stephen1 · February 27, 2011, 12:55:42 PM

Keep the pics coming, looking real good. My dad used to have quite a layout when i grew up, I'm guessing that's how I ended up in the job I'm in now, engineer for VIA rail, just a bigger train set.

Busy Beaver Lumber · February 27, 2011, 12:59:38 PM

Stephen

Will do. I am putting some models together today and added some more mountains to the layout this morning. Lot of work to get all that plater on the layout to get ready for painting and decorating, but a lot of fun. I think I have about 3 bags of plaster on it so far and about a half bag to go. Then I can take out the airbrush and start adding some color

Don K · March 01, 2011, 05:48:49 PM

I always wanted a train and never got one. I can't stand to start another hobby now. Got too many as it is. Look forward to more pictures.

Don

clww · March 01, 2011, 07:39:59 PM

BB-That's a great set-up for your little trains! 8) I started getting train in the early 70s until 1984. 027 Guage Lionel trains, which take up much more space. Someday I'll get them out again.... :