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Mt. Coffin & Columbia River - N-scale 23"x41" layout

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  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
  • 6,253 posts
Posted by "JaBear" on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 6:03 AM

mcfunkeymonkey

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 Smile, Wink & Grin, 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."

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 6:20 AM

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

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: San Francisco Bay Area
  • 835 posts
Posted by mcfunkeymonkey on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 2:52 PM

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.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 11:34 PM

This is indeed a sad sight! I really loved this wonderful little layout - did it have to go this way?

  • Member since
    June 2012
  • 2,297 posts
Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Thursday, October 11, 2012 12:18 AM

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 

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: San Francisco Bay Area
  • 835 posts
Posted by mcfunkeymonkey on Thursday, October 11, 2012 9:04 AM

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 :facepalm:
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!

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Thursday, October 11, 2012 11:01 AM

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

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