Ken,
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.
Dave--
Thought maybe that was it...
Does make for striking railfanning photos. And thanks for advocating N.
I use the airbrush tool in Paint Shop Pro 7.
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
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?
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 Vollmer wrote: My apologies for the repeat post, but as I've been told, I'm now an unofficial MR Forums N Scale Advocate.
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?
Dave,
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Okay...! Anyway, as I was saying...
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
Looking good Dave!
I can't think of a better representative for N scale!
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.
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!