I'd posted these in WPF, but I'm thinking with all the recent discussion about the relative merits/limits of N scale, I'd show what I was able to achieve with N in a tiny space. Granted, it's far from perfect, but it's at least the level of detail and operating reliability I ever achieved in HO.
My apologies for the repeat post, but as I've been told, I'm now an unofficial MR Forums N Scale Advocate.
These photos feature all three of my N scale kitbashed PRR steam locos and several of my recently kitbashed PRR/TTX F30d TOFC cars. The layout itself is only 36"x80" in size and is operated with DCC. So, kitbashing is possible in N (to include steam), and N scale gives a realistic trains-to-scenery ratio, even on a hollow-core door. And, prototype-specific modeling is quite posible, just as in HO, as long as one is willing to work.
Let's enjoy some action on the Pennsy Middle Division in August 1956:
The first shot of the day (above) catches an M1 4-8-2 in charge of a string of empty hoppers running westbound, eventually bound for the mines north of Cresson. On the eastbound track is a local pulled by H10sb #8756.
We catch up to M1 #6811 again at Jack's Run (below):
Waiting a few minutes we're rewarded by the arrival of TT2, the eastbound TrucTrain behind a matched set of GP9s (PRR class EFS17m).
TT2, normally a hotshot, must have been held up somewhere along the line, because we were able to make it eastward to Lewisport in time to see her blasting through town.
TT2 clears LEW Interlocking as a PRR class L1s 2-8-2 running cabin light gets a clear signal to run westbound through LEW.
Brought to you by the magic of N scale!
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
Looking good Dave!
I can't think of a better representative for N scale!
Dave Vollmer wrote: ...My apologies for the repeat post, but as I've been told, I'm now an unofficial MR Forums N Scale Advocate...
No, no...this is what I said...
jasperofzeal wrote:...you are the unofficial, self-appointed voice of the N scale group here....
...you are the unofficial, self-appointed voice of the N scale group here....
Do note that I emphasized the important part of my statement. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, I just want to make sure you got all my words correct.
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
jasperofzeal wrote: Dave Vollmer wrote: ...My apologies for the repeat post, but as I've been told, I'm now an unofficial MR Forums N Scale Advocate...No, no...this is what I said... jasperofzeal wrote:...you are the unofficial, self-appointed voice of the N scale group here....Do note that I emphasized the important part of my statement. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, I just want to make sure you got all my words correct.
Okay...! Anyway, as I was saying...
Dave,
At the risk of being labelled an advocate as well, I think N scale allows a more realistic train to scenery ratio than other scales, except possibly Z.
Most HO and larger scale layouts I've seen, including Gary Hoover's old and new layouts, and Eric Bruman's old and new layouts (Utah Belt), incorporate more selective compression to fit the space than is required in N scale. Having operated on both of these layouts(once on each), the compression requires some creative swtiching methods that wouldn't be required in N scale.
As good as both of the above mentioned layouts look in magazines, when viewed in person, they seem crowded. I don't mean to deminish the skill of either modeller, they both have amazing skills, but space limitations require compromises that are easily recognized.
My 10' X14' "L" layout is larger than yours, Dave, but it's only accessable from the front. Scenery blocks the staging yard and mainlines as the trains continue around the loop. I've incorporated only one operating area in the long leg of the "L"
and a railfan area in the short leg.
I've also incorporated a two track mainline. My through freights are all in excess of 40 cars and they don't look out of place. The single town area eliminates the "locomotive in one town while the caboose is in the other" scenario. One thing that always bothered me about most HO scale layouts was the recuring habit of putting massive head end power on a train of 8 or 10 cars.
When all is said and done, space limitations, even in large basement or garage layouts, lend themselves more to N scale than HO. Aside from our limitations in peripheral accessories, vehicles, more realistic spacial representation can and is achieved in N scale.
The above is the opinion of the poster.
Mike,
Your layout is excellent! The track looks so much better than mine; I'm thinking about re-laying my track with Code 55 like yours. The only thing holding me back is the old "if it ain't broke..." saw. I'm worried I'd take it from running flawlessly and looking chunky to looking great and running poorly. But we'll see.
I also love your use of vehicles. Really makes the scenes look alive!
Cox 47 wrote:Dave you make a fine advocate for all scales of model railroading period...Your a craftsman...Keep the photos coming....Cox 47
Blue Flamer.
It's actually ME code 70, but I agree with the axiom. Don't fix what aint broken. Painting the rails effectively hides it's height. The code 80 rail isn't readliy apparent in your pictures.
The key is to use higher camera angles so the rails aren't as noticable. This is a good example.
Looking at the turnouts at the cross over, it's easy to pickout the rail height and especially the rail joiners.
I like this head on shot, it hides the rails really well.
By the way, Dave, I'd kill to have my roads look as good as yours.
Dave Vollmer wrote: My apologies for the repeat post, but as I've been told, I'm now an unofficial MR Forums N Scale Advocate.
Not that I have a problem with your advocate title, and have always thought your work is top notch, but I fear the line of N-scale overload has been crossed. Out of concern for oversaturating all that is N-scale, maybe it's time to give it a little rest?
Bruce...
...huh?
Are you suggesting I switch scales, or stop sharing my work? I'm not going to do the former (my wife would kill me if I switched scales again) but I'm willing to do the latter, at least here at Trains.com. There are other, better forums where there's no such a thing a "N scale overload."
I thought you were an N scale bubba too...? Now, you could be pulling my leg, in which case, I'll blame my lack of sleep from excitement (I'm a Giants fan) for missing the subtle humor.
Dave--
Thanks for posting the pics; by the way, how DO you get the smoke effect so much more realistic than I've seen elsewhere, in ANY scale?
Mike--
I've had some trouble locating n-scale vehicles (I'm constantly on the prowl, and occasionally score a real find); where do you find all these?
Ken,
I use the airbrush tool in Paint Shop Pro 7.
Thought maybe that was it...
Does make for striking railfanning photos. And thanks for advocating N.
Most of the vehicles on my layout are Mini-Metals, with some Athearn C cabs and one of their new IH. The offerings from Atlas are too modern for my layout, I model 1964. Busch has a few that are applicable, but I haven't run across any yet at the train shows.
I'm not ready to take on the cast (paint the windows) vehicles at this point.
Woodland Scenics has started putting out some of their "scenes" in N scale. I was able to score a wrecker for my gas station with one of these.
Finding good vehicles in N is an on going process. the seasch goes on.
Just a note to Mabruce.
I respect your opinion and your work, but I believe we have a long way to go before we over saturate this forum with N scale info.
Quite possibly we might even be able to accomplish something if the manufacturers monitor any of this. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to go to your LHS and find the same quality of layout accessories as the HO guys have?
Again, just my opinion.
YES! YES!!
TOO MUCH N SCALE! TOO MUCH N SCALE!!
Just kidding.
Good modeling is good modeling, in whatever scale one is working. To me, N scale is just too small. From some of the photos in this thread, it clearly isn't for others. I'll stick with HO, where I can achieve moderately good results, and just continue to enjoy the products of those who have mastered the intricacies of working in Nano Scale. So saturate away! As long as it's model railroading, I don't really care what the scale is.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
MAbruce wrote: Dave Vollmer wrote: My apologies for the repeat post, but as I've been told, I'm now an unofficial MR Forums N Scale Advocate.Not that I have a problem with your advocate title, and have always thought your work is top notch, but I fear the line of N-scale overload has been crossed. Out of concern for oversaturating all that is N-scale, maybe it's time to give it a little rest?
It appears that my post may not have been clearly understood. I would never suggest that Dave (or anyone) switch scales or stop sharing work - unless they really wanted to. It's just that I had been noticing a lot of N-centric topics lately, and I feared that our fellow modelers in other scales might be getting a bit weary of it.
I also may not have been in the best of moods yesterday because our beloved PATS lost a heartbreaker of a Super Bowl. And now that Dave has admitted to being a Giants fan, well, I might just have to put a contract out on him or something...
Honesty Dave, your Giants played well. Congratulations.
Now off to therapy...
Bruce, my condolences on your Pats!
But if I may... I would say that for every N scale thread here there's maybe 10-20 more HO threads. If N scale is roughly 20% of the hobby (per CNJ831, I think), then we're still under-represesnted here thread-wise. But no matter; plenty of other forums have N-scale specific sub-forums.
I stay here mainly because it's a good way to keep abreast of everything going on in all scales, and from noob to collector to dabbler to hardcore prototyper. But I also feel if I'm going to take from this site (i.e., the info about what's going on outside N scale) I ought to give back.
If an HO guy is really getting tired of all these N scale threads, I'm not going to lose sleep. After all, here and in the pages of MR, it's just assumed that you're HO unless otherwise specified. Sometimes that gets exhausting for the non-HO modeler.
I feel bad for the S, Z, and O people here because they get even less coverage. But, I'm sure they have their own forums, and I know they have their own publications.
I heard elsewhere (and I can't confirm its truth) that the reduced N scale coverage at MR is due to MR conceding the field to N Scale Magazine and N Scale Railroading. It sounds somewhat plausible. Either that, or the more cynical reason; the big advertisers in MR make their money in HO, so that's what MR pushes. Could be. Who knows.
Things are alive and well in N scale. However, if all anyone were exposed to were this forum and this magazine, one would get an incorrect picture of the vitality of N scale right now. The same could be said for any scale besides HO.
Dave-
Wow, your N-scale layout makes me want to start on a little 21"x21" N scale layout I'm planning.
keep up the good work. Its very hard to tell that your layout is only the size of a door! good job!
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot Visit my blog! http://becomingawarriorpoet.blogspot.com
Dave- those are some great pics! I'm not a steam guy but I like seeing the smoke, it makes the pics more alive.
Mike- Your pics look great too! I would love to see a trackplan.
BTW- since I am also an N-scaler, I would love to see more in the forums.
Craig
Dave Vollmer wrote:We catch up to M1 #6811 again at Jack's Run (below):
Yeah, the smoke is the clincher.
How do you create the photographic smoke?
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Thanks...!
The smoke is using the airbrush function in Paint Shop Pro 7.
Really nice! Truly inspiring work, a joy to behold. What curve radius are you using on that layout?
your photos are really impressive! Thanks for posting them!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Always enjoy your pics, DV.
...and from what I've seen at shows in the Mid-Atlantic region, N-Scale is still very much alive and well, thank you.
No matter how you slice it, unless you have a vast room to work with in a larger scale, you can't beat N scale for it's scenery to train ratio. I shot this last weekend, and in my opinion, it's perfectly do-able in N on even an average size layout...
Look for more threads on N scale, not less. The range and quality of products available grows every day, and there's a lot of people of all ages finding the benefits of working in N. No longer must we skulk about in the shadows.
I'm N with the N crowd!
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
As space constraints and the stress of moving often (I'm active-duty Air Force) made HO less and less practical, I looked at N with envy in terms of size. But I was never quite sure I could do what I wanted to do convincingly in N. But then around 2000 or so, MR ran a few really nice layout features in N scale. Lance Mindheim and the late David Haines had shown me N scale layouts that looked better than most of the HO ones I'd seen. Then I stumbled across Jerry Britton's reproduction of 1954-era Pennsylvania Railroad 4-track mainline operations. I was sold.
So, in March 2002 I switched scales and never looked back.
The debate rages every few weeks about when the "golden age" of model railroading was. I'm convinced that in N scale, the golden age is NOW.
Atlas, Kato, Athearn, IRC, ConCor, and Bachmann Spectrum are hitting the market reularly with new and exciting locomotives that perform (for the most part) on-par with HO, and there are a wealth of small manufacturers making proto-specific cars and structures. Even for us kitbashers, we've never had such a choice of materials in N.
Add to that our two dedicated publications, and N scale is doing just fine these days.
A big boost came along when the prototype modelers started taking N scale seriously. Now I can build a highly-detailed and accurate metal brass, wood, and zinc exact model of a PRR/TTX F30d or a cast-resin and brass PRR X31a or B60b... The possibilities in N are growing every day.
The best decision I ever made in model railroading (after asking for a train set for my 8th birthday) was to switch to N.
Cool! My 2000th post! I need a life...