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Happy Birthday, N Gauge - 50 years old in 2010!

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  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Quebec
  • 983 posts
Posted by Marc_Magnus on Friday, February 5, 2010 1:27 AM

Hi again Lee,

An aerial shot of my now working project nearly finished, a kitbash of a Nscale Walthers ice house and platforms.

The ice house will include all the details for connecting her to the platforms.

I also modified in the same time this Walthers ash pit whith a new house to get her a less modern look.

See more pictures in the WPF february 6-7 post.

Marc

 

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Posted by David K on Thursday, February 4, 2010 5:43 PM
wm3798

Great story.  Any more out there?

It's not a 'great story,' but I got my start in N in 1967 with a Postage Stamp Train. Even though I'm modeling more in Z these days, I've not forsaken N by any means.
  • Member since
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  • From: On the Banks of the Great Choptank
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Posted by wm3798 on Thursday, February 4, 2010 3:35 PM

 Now that's irony!  Your eyes aren't up to working on the N scale trains you saw while watching Mr. Magoo!

I wonder if the younger readers will understand why that's funny!

Great story.  Any more out there?

Route of the Alpha Jets  www.wmrywesternlines.net

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • 384 posts
Posted by Redore on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 3:01 PM

Around about 1966 or 1967 Aurora had commercials on "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Story" on TV.  That year they advertised their "Postage Stamp Trains" and that's where the bug bit me.  Too bad now my eyes just aren't up to it and I am in HO.  Lots of memories, though.

  • Member since
    May 2014
  • 46 posts
Posted by Two Truck Shay on Saturday, January 30, 2010 9:59 PM

How will Model Railroader be celebrating?

By doubling their content from one to two pages per issue!

  • Member since
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  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Saturday, January 30, 2010 9:34 PM

Though I'm in HO, I've been watching and admiring N-scale for a number of years, and it's remarkable to see the growth of the scale.  And really gratifying to see the number of N-scale modelers who have produced layouts that are the equal of any other scale in detail and concept. 

Cute story about N-scale.  My Department Chair where I teach is an avid N-scaler.  Two years ago he came into my office with his Kato "California Zephyr" to show me.  We set it up on my desk.  Ran it during lunch period.  Amazing train.  This year he came in with his "Coast Daylight".  I grinned and said, "Just leave it here, I'll take care of it."  He stared at me, then cracked up.  "Not on your LIFE!"   

Believe me, you N-scalers often get absolutely astonishing things before we HO'ers do.  Tongue 

So, Happy B-Day you people, and a great many more.   Beautiful scale, and it's just growing, growing, GROWING!  Wink

Tom Big Smile

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Saturday, January 30, 2010 8:50 PM

 Seems the one photo rule is shot to pieces, so here's some of my favorites off of my photobucket.

(these last two are my first layout I got close to completing and also were taken back when both my camera skills were  lacking and I didn't have an airbrush (the NW diesel is factory paint)

 

 

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
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  • From: On the Banks of the Great Choptank
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Posted by wm3798 on Saturday, January 30, 2010 4:29 PM

David K, the excavator is a brilliant work of engineering and imagination... Great stuff here... and yes, I can vouch, it's all N scale!  Who else has some N scale modeling to show?  I'd like to see some more N trak modules, too!

Lee

Route of the Alpha Jets  www.wmrywesternlines.net

  • Member since
    May 2007
  • From: Troy, Tx
  • 36 posts
Posted by SOO_N Scaler on Saturday, January 30, 2010 2:12 PM

Here are some from me,,,Njoy!!!!

 adios fer now, Wyatt

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Westcentral Pennsylvania (Johnstown)
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Posted by tgindy on Saturday, January 30, 2010 8:31 AM

wm3798

1960 is the year

You've come a long way, Baby!

I've been good friends with N Scale ever since N's 12th Birthday Party!

Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Newport, NC
  • 52 posts
Posted by Iain42 on Saturday, January 30, 2010 8:15 AM

My first couple of photos I did not take, and the layout was not mine, but the trains are.

 DS4-4-1000

And now a shot of some of my stuff on Vollmer's layout:

And, of course, we can't get by without some N narrow gauge:

Scratchbuilt Nn42 Dismal Swamp RR flat car.

There's just something about sailing. Maybe it's the pretty girl serving as a bow ornament.
  • Member since
    January 2007
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Posted by David K on Saturday, January 30, 2010 7:42 AM

In the town of Newton on the WR&N IV:

A scratchbuilt fire escape:

A working barber pole:

A functional excavator:

Here's a video of the excavator working: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QsdXoTmmTM

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Posted by David K on Saturday, January 30, 2010 6:59 AM
These are from Rick Spano's Sceniced and Undecided: . . . . . . . . http://scenicedandundecided.net/
  • Member since
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  • From: Quebec
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Posted by Marc_Magnus on Saturday, January 30, 2010 4:06 AM

Hi Lee,

I beleive some pics I didn't have published yet of my Maclau River.

Some scratchbuild details in Nscale....(working ladder for my roundhouse)

Happy next coming 50 years Nscale.

Marc

 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Under The Streets of Los Angeles
  • 1,150 posts
Posted by Metro Red Line on Saturday, January 30, 2010 3:46 AM
I've been a model railroader for nearly 30 years, but an N scaler for the past three. Switching to N scale has finally made me truly happy in this hobby.
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 30, 2010 3:19 AM

 Are you sure this is N scale?

Unbelievable - I am deeply impressed!

  • Member since
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  • From: On the Banks of the Great Choptank
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Posted by wm3798 on Friday, January 29, 2010 11:20 PM

 Enough powlabbering... More Pictures!

Not only can you buy more now in N scale... there's some pretty good modeling to be done as well!  More!  MORE!

Lee

Route of the Alpha Jets  www.wmrywesternlines.net

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Calgary
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Posted by cx500 on Friday, January 29, 2010 10:41 PM

Sir Madog

Celebrate? I think, the correct would be "Mourn"!

N scale has come a long way in those past 50 years. Arnold was not considered to be a serious competitor in the market of model railroading. Only after Trix/Minitrix and Fleischmann/Fleischmann piccolo joined in, N scale started to grow rapidly in Germany. In terms of detail and quality, N scale has now reached the status which HO scaled had in the late 80´s - and that´s pretty dang good!

 

Actually, for a time I think N-scale almost surpassed HO in terms of detail.  Well perhaps the level of detail was the same, but in N-scale the moulding had to be much finer.  Now, of course, we are blessed with much higher quality HO products too as manufacturersin that scale also adopted the newer production techniques.  Now if only we could eliminate the sloppy errors that still occur in painting layouts and such.

John

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Posted by CAZEPHYR on Friday, January 29, 2010 10:33 PM

Thanks Dave for those great pictures.  Your PRR N scale certainly has great scenes.

 

CZ

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
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Posted by Dave Vollmer on Friday, January 29, 2010 10:18 PM

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

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  • From: On the Banks of the Great Choptank
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Posted by wm3798 on Friday, January 29, 2010 4:48 PM

Right On! Lord Zox!  N trak has been takin' it to the streets for almost four decades!  Now train shows also have those "Johnny Come Lately" HO and O scale modules, I've even seen G and S gauge represent.  Follow the leader!

And how about this little world traveler...

Yup, N Scale is truly the "universal language!"...  Keep those pictures coming...  Represent!

Lee

Route of the Alpha Jets  www.wmrywesternlines.net

Zox
  • Member since
    November 2009
  • 6 posts
Posted by Zox on Friday, January 29, 2010 4:29 PM

Let's not forget that N Scale also made modular railroading popular. Train shows would be very different without it...

 

Rob M., aka Zox Meade Area Railroad Society (MARRS): http://www.marrsweb.org "It is said a Shaolin chef can wok through walls..."
  • Member since
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Posted by David K on Friday, January 29, 2010 3:56 PM
A few more, just for the heck of it... . . .
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Posted by CAZEPHYR on Friday, January 29, 2010 3:53 PM

jecorbett

I just opened my new issue of Classic Trains and they are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the end of steam on major railroads. Big steam was going out as real little steam was coming in.

I don't celebrate the end of steam on railroads, but I know what you mean.  It is hard to believe that I took my last pictures of steam in the late fifties, but looking back, a lot has happened since those days.   At the time, I stopped watching trains for almost ten years or so until I heard that a special train was running from New York to Salt Lake City Utah to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the Golden Spike.   The Golden Spike Train behind the NKP 759 really got me interested in railroads again.

Yes, it is hard to believe they are all gone.

CZ

This is the 759 at Moberly Mo in 1969 on its way to Kansas City that day.  Not exactly N scale, but one to one.

 

 

  • Member since
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Posted by flight2000 on Friday, January 29, 2010 3:40 PM

Couple of more N Scale items I've done.

eNjoy!! Big Smile

Brian

  • Member since
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Posted by absnut on Friday, January 29, 2010 3:25 PM

 

 

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Elmwood Park, NJ
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Posted by trainfan1221 on Friday, January 29, 2010 3:15 PM

Great pics, everyone.  I model in N but don't have the capability of posting anything so I will just admire everyone else's work.

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Posted by Chris333 on Friday, January 29, 2010 3:11 PM

A few more N scale pics:

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Posted by wm3798 on Friday, January 29, 2010 3:10 PM

 That's called "networking", Bruce!Big Smile

Route of the Alpha Jets  www.wmrywesternlines.net

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