Having dismanlted and rebuilt my own layout several times, I know well that "Oh brother I gotta rethink this..." moment.
Onward and Upward, look forward to part 2
Have fun with your trains
This layout has been definitely worth it in terms of skillz-building, and as much as I'd love to "finish" it (and sell it), it'd just take more work than I have the heart right now.
And I really couldn't sell it in good-conscience as-is: the trackwork is attrocious. And I want to save the structures for the next project, and this layout is nothing special without the scratchbuilds.
Plus, I tend to get to the point where I've learned what I need to from a layout and then get more excited about starting the next project than finishing this one. As the poet William Carlos Williams wrote: "If the power to go on falters in the middle of the sentence--that's the end of the sentence."
And I've learned:
1) do your trackwork right the first time & make it perfect so everything and their mothers can run on it 2) power your frogs the first time 3) don't spend all that time scratchbuilding structures and creating nice scenery and then use catapult-sized ground throws 4) did I mention have great trackwork and powered frogs? Right now I have a half-decent diorama, but I'd like to have an actual layout I can enjoy running trains on. Which requires kick-a$$ trackwork. And powered frogs.
Thanks to all who made suggestions / comments while I was working on it. Definitely helped!
Hope you enjoy the video (it's in 1080p! so it looks great full-screen!) Cheers!
M.C. Fujiwara
My YouTube Channel (How-to's, Layout progress videos)
Silicon Valley Free-moN
shame to see it go your article helped kick me into gear building my first 2x4 n scale layout.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
This is indeed a sad sight! I really loved this wonderful little layout - did it have to go this way?
Well, 'tis done.Saved all the structures and bridges:[no way the bents were coming out from the water!]Want to know what 400+ pine trees looks like bunched together?You've seen my daughter's and my "Train-in-a-Box" layout [and if you haven't, there'll be a two-part article in the next issues of N-Scale Magazine], well, now see my "Train-in-a-Bag":So it goes.On the plus side, in addition to all the spare structures and trees, as well as all the skillz I learned, I have a heck of a lot more space in the garage & around the workbench. Better get to filling that up with a new layout! [Right after I finish my Free-moN Shoo-fly module: I promised myself I wouldn't start another project until finishing that one!]Thanks for looking.
I've really enjoyed this thread, and the one featuring your switching layout. It's too bad this layout can't be left intact for others to enjoy. Seems like such a waste to destroy something so well done.
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
mcfunkeymonkey Thanks for looking.
Thanks for looking.
Gidday MC, I don't think that its a case of thanking us for looking, but rather a BIG thanks for sharing.
No pressure , but awaiting your next project with bated breath.
Keep Having Fun.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
It's been enjoyable watching it grow. Sorry it has to end, but I know the feeling.
I trust that the demolition will be just as well documented?
Well, thanks to all who helped me out over the past couple years with words of wisdom, advice ("Never play leapfrog with a unicorn!"), and sharing all your experiences to help me learn to be a better modeler while working on this chainsaw.Goodbye Mt. Coffin & Columbia River: Pink foam to ground foam, sawdust to dust.But, of course, there's a video (and in 1080p, too!):watch?v=b T4syB9UUUThanks for looking.
Well, it's time to say goodbye to the Mt. Coffin & Columbia River layout.
After much debate, I've decided to scrap it and start over rather put umpeen kabillion hours and dollars into fixing all the little "arghs!" that I created myself when I was learning how to handlay track. And while the layout looks alright right now, all those "arghs!" make it difficult to have fun running trains.But never fear! All the scratchbuilt structures will be saved, and all the trees (450+) will be transplanted to the next late-1800s / early 1900's layout! And then the chainsaw will finally come out.But before it does, I gave the fascia a new coat of paint, screwed it on, then hauled Mt. Coffin out into the late-morning sunlight for a last photo shoot:[cont.]
Forgot to include a shot of the other side of the Climax, showing a dude blowing his harp as they chug along: The WS Hobo people pack seems to be the only ones with 1900's clothing. If anyone has any other sources, I'm all ears!Thanks for looking.
Thanks for the kind words.I'm really looking forward to finishing this thing soon, just as soon as I finish the couple Free-moN modules I got on the workbench.[As for the photo backdrop: I always intend to figure out Gimp to add some background, but haven't gotten around to it yet ;) ] That said, I took a break from all the Free-moN scenery and finally finished Randgust's fab 18-ton Climax kit I started about a year and a half ago. I hauled the Mt. Coffin & Columbia River layout outside, vacuumed off all the dust & cobwebs that had accumulated, cleaned the track (not enough, as it turned out), and set up in the sun for some photos: It was a lot of fun chopping N-scale lumber (from a toothpick) to pile around the boiler. Yes, those workers are from the WS "Hobo" pack: seems to be the only figures in early 1900s clothing around. And, of course, a video:
watch?v=zsamXrOL3g4&feature=plcp
The Climax ran great on the test track, but stalled a lot on the layout. Really need to clean the track better, as the Kato 11-105 is a bit finicky (especially since I probably tweeked the contact strips more than I should have)(again). But it can creep along at scale 9-10 mph, as it should. And it looks great pulling Chris333's 20-ton wood hoppers from Republic Locomotive Works. Cheers to Randy for a great Climax kit! It was so hot in the sun that my iPhone kept shutting down with temp warnings. Ended up putting an icepack in my back pocket to cool the phone off between takes. You can see the heat waves ripple up the screen at times ;( Sorry about the blue tape and exposed wiring: didn't have the time to put on the fascia. See if you can see the harmonica player at the end. Thanks for looking.
MC --
Having seen your article in the last MR, I looked at your thread with interest. I was a little surprised to find that only the cannery side was even close to done. Your work so far is absolutely fantastic; keep us posted on the progress.
I was also a little surprised, seeing as you're such an avid photographer, that you haven't set up some kind of backdrop that you can use when you photograph. Any thoughts on doing something like that?
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Today I braved the 100+ deg. heat of my garage to build a flatcar tanker using a fab casting from Republic Locomotive Works ($4: no picture in the catalogue but worth the chance!):The flat car is a 35' log flat from N Scale Kits. The tank load is a little short for a flat load (in my artistic composition estimation), so I added a strip of 0.08" styrene underneath before painting.Built the cradle with HO 2'x4' stripwood painted the same boxcar red as the flatcar:Added a brakewheel on some wire, weathered with powders, and:Need to do a better job weathering.Maybe some drybrushing.Definitely need to get Tom Mann's The Weathering Book - great techniques that look amazing.Should have also added some railing/pipes, perhaps.But with a great $4 tank casting, have plenty of opportunity to practice.Thanks for looking!
lone geep Looking Good! Any shots of the other side of the layout?
Looking Good! Any shots of the other side of the layout?
Um....
Well, I haven't really even seen the otherside since I put this layout against the garage wall to clear the workbench for the "Summer Shunting Shelf Project" my daughter and I have been working on since back in June.
When last I took a photo (with the old camera), it looked something like this:
Lots of work to be done back there:Rip out track, rebuild with better turnouts and a runaround, build the mine, scatter all the little details, etc.
I just want to "finish" (get to "good enough" point) the cannery side before turning the layout around.
And to return to the side currently in progress, here's a wider shot:
[What oversized catapult groundthrow?? ;) ]
That right side really needs some details, like a water trough, hitching post and some horses, and/or a bunch of Hank's "works in progress."
Thanks again for the feedback.
Lone Geep
\
Been adding little details around the engine shed and in the shop:I attached some decapitated T-pins in a hollow wall that poke into the foam so the whole shed can be lifted off for more detailing later.Would have loved to put an overhead belt drive in the shop, but I'm getting to the point where I just want to get this layout "done," and I still have the mining scene on the back side to finish!You can see that Hank, in a fit of nostalgia, left his anvil in the center of the shop, even though there's more modern metal-working machines in there.I don't want a large coal tower in front of the service track, so I'm thinking of using some of Randgust's V&T hoppers that accidentally got vacuumed up as the tarp-covered "temp" coal bins, and I'll build a hoist crane & bucket for loading. Haven't finalized that so I haven't glued the hoppers in yet.Will probably put in a water trough & tie post for horses on the right side of the shop, and there'll be some tools hanging on the wall as soon as I figure out how to remove those little flimsy brass things from the sticky pad they came on. On a whim I realized I could rest the camera on the water to get this funkey shot:It's nice to get something done on the layout, even if it's little details, here & there.Other detail suggestions appreciated.Thanks for looking.
I like that type of medicine!!, video as well.
Thanks again,
Cheers, The Bear.
Thanks, The Bear.Fun to share.(Hey, that rhymed there!)
Well, I finally made a video of the layout at it's current state, and with the boxcab running!(Only the rear truck has pickup right now: thank goodness for powered frogs!)But it's still able to do it's job!
First video with the new camera, so pardon the lighting & focus issues.Hope to have some better ones soon.Thanks for watching!
Thanks for posting.
Cheers,The Bear.
Just finished scratch building & installing the Mt. Coffin Cannery Co. ("A taste to die for!"):Still needs a bunch of details here & there and some weathering.Not quite sure I'm liking the single-story: I might build a smaller second-story office off-set towards the rear.Also need to figure out some signs.Would be great to get the faded white "hand-painted" over the doors, but might be too late for that.(any/all suggestions welcome)Tomorrow's supposed to continue the sunny 60+ degree "winter" we're having here in the San Francisco Bay Area, so I'll try to lug the layout out into the sunlight for some better photos.Now I just need to figure out how to model some mounds of fish!Thanks for looking.
wm3798 What a hatchet job! I mean really, that wood sheathing looks like it was hewn with actual hatchets! Splendid work, MC. Lee
What a hatchet job! I mean really, that wood sheathing looks like it was hewn with actual hatchets!
Splendid work, MC.
Lee
Thanks, Lee.Hank had to use a hatchet, as the Blacksmith's shop is empty!
Hopefully sometime this week the shop will get done (with working / lit forge, machinery and lights).
Then Hank will have no excuse not to do some decent work ;)
thank you for posting these pictures.... there is some amazing craftsmanship going on in here!
cant wait until the next installment
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Some more boxcab picts:Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work we go:Thanks for looking.
Over on Trainboard we had a "Build-A-Boxcab Challenge", and I just finished mine (only 3 weeks late!)
So here's the boxcab beast bred in the blacksmith shop of Mt. Coffin:Hank, the hapless Mt. Coffin monkey mechanic who built it out of Climax & cast-off parts, ran out of whiskey so there's still a few more bells & whistles to add.(Namely a bell and a whistle)Could use some more weathering, too.The board-by-board shell sits on a Bmann 44-tonner mech, and just lifts up, so I can build a more modern boxcab and slip it on whenever I want to change eras.But I'm kinda digging it.Definitely adds some 1900s character to Mt. Coffin:Here's the relief train, bringing much needed medicine to Mt. Coffin:It's been a blast to build, & I'm very happy to finally have a boxcab.Not sure if it rocks, but it definitely doesn't roll: front truck pickup strips turned out bent, so until the replacement truck comes from Bmann, this thing won't roll over an unpowered turnout.Hope to have video soon, though.
I've seen people carve directly into the foam, but even after sanding the pink stuff was a little too grainy for me for N.
I think the thin layer of lightweight spackle really adds to the cut-rock texture (and if some chips / flakes off, that's ok too).
As for the bridge, it's just stained basswood wood-glued together with some piano wire & NBW head details. Used a HO A-frame drawing from an old MR, shrunk it & repeated it three times:
As soon as I finish the bridge (guard rails, firebarrels, ladders, etc.) I'll submit a how-to article for publication.
That photo was back in August. You can compare the background ground & tree coverage with this recent photo:
Doing a little bit on the layout each day / every other day adds up (though still so far to go!)Thanks for looking.
Thank you for the description of your carving. One of the folks I talked to earlier, said their method worked better with older foam. One of the companies changed their formula slightly and his method didn't work as well on the new foam. He couldn't remember which company had changed the formula, but it made quite a difference in the way his method worked. Your method would work easily on either.
Richard
Cut stone abutments, very nice. When will you cover bridge construction?