Here is our 2015 version of our North Pole village:
Everything below the top of the arch-under bridge is new this year.
Krylon Colormaster leather brown/satin was a near perfect patch for the Gingerbread Junction set, and my youngest princess detailed the superstructre, tunnel mortar, and piers with white housepaint "piping".
I opted for a train shed, in lieu of another portal, and fashioned this one out of dowels, cardboard, and an old roll of thin multi-wire computer cable.
Snow is a mixture of Flora-craft winter snow + Buffalo snow flakes on the horizontal surfaces, with what seemed like 5 metric tons of glitter wisped onto the vertical faces. Again, common house paint was applied first as the bonding agent. When the sun hits the layout just right, you need a welder's mask.
The 1862 was added this year for the Naughty mine run. The 2 position e-unit is ideal for the run back-and-forth, with the push of a Kadee SPST button.
Gingie is also operated via SPST.
Scrambler81, I like that layout you designed! It looks like you were able to pull a fairly long train through a few straightaways! Great job!
Fifedog, you took some very interesting shots of your setup. It looks to me like the upper level is an oval. At first, I couldn't figure out what the design of the lower level was. Upon closer examination of pic #7, I realize why. I thought the Naughty joined with the North Pole Express inside the tunnel. I guess it doesn't. That makes the caption about using an SPST make sense. How do you keep the Naughty from rolling off the trestle?
All are very nice,,,,,,,,thanks!!!!!!!!!
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
phrankenstign Scrambler81, I like that layout you designed! It looks like you were able to pull a fairly long train through a few straightaways! Great job!
Thank you. The set came with the 4 cars in these pics, and there were 4 additional cars made available shortly after the set came out. They are all on there right now, and there is just enough room to handle the inner loop without the locomotive biting the last car in the butt at the crossover.
phrankie - I put the insulation pins at just the right spot. Top line is actually a tri-oval. 2 LW's (placed just behind buildings inside bridge) supply the power. The top line and coal mine are running together at 8 volts, the Lower line runs at 12, with accessories tied to same.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
This year I made a tiny tiny Christmas theme O gauge oval for my Marx wind up trains to fit on top our coffee table. I bent two sections of Gargraves flex to do it.
Have fun with your trains
Nice setup, Buckeye......although I suspect you caught that cat in the middle of some kind of sabotage! The pic with the kids at eye level with the trains probably parallels what a lot of us remember doing as kids.
vsmith, your design was rendered very elegantly!
Great photo's all! But remember where there is Snow there is Flyer!!!
Great to see AF so well represented!
"....where there is Snow there is Flyer!!!" LOL
It looks like the bridge is out for those drivers!
For those three rail modelers Gilbert used the phrase "Where there's smoke there's Flyer" in their advertising. I modified it for the season!!! HO HO HO. Here a pic from Christmas Past
Sure it isnt "where theres slow there's flyer?" It may be Christmas season, but the friendly joshing between the loyalists of the various companies doesn't have to stop. (AND I MEAN FRIENDLY).
Wow!! Great layouts and photos!
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