I hate to make errors on my layout, but everyone probably does. So I made myself a method to minimize scenery mistakes on my N-scale layout. I built a "Try-O-Rama":
It's basically a layout mockup where I can practice scenery methods, built on about 24" of excess white foam I happen to have. I already practiced latex acrylic caulk tracklaying by caulking down a strip of WS foam roadbed and four pieces of Atlas code 80 sectional track that came from some plate girder bridges I had. Since I'm exclusively code 55 and lower, I thought I'd put these tracks to good use. I also used the track to practice my track soldering technique, which I had never done before when I was in HO. After the third try I finally got it right, sliding the tip of the iron back and forth along the rail joiner repeatedly and slightly nudging it with the solder flux, spreading it along when I'm sliding the tip. Unlike my previous attempts, there's no big clump of solder bulging from the side of the rail like some metallic wart!
I even soldered on some wires and ran an Atlas loco plus a couple cars back and forth!
Next I plan to use this module for ballasting and laying ground foam, which I hadn't done in years. I also will make use of the foam "outcroppings" and try out some "secret" rock face methods I have planned (I'll tell you once I've tried them out). I might even make a stab at a street and a grade crossing using the "masking tape border" method.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Good idea. I've done the same thign with a 2x4 chunk of the same foam I built my layout with. I used that to test cuttin in the Tortoise from the top, using glue or caulk to fasten the roadbed, using N scale roadbed to lower the height of a siding, and ballasting (so far).
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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