Building a North Pole layout--need suggestions!

[OldArmy94]

Howdy all,

I'm planning to construct a North Pole layout (in On30) for under the tree use at Christmas. Here's what I envision thus far:

A circular layout with a continuous running loop. However, I want to include a spur or two that has operational possibilities. I also want the loop to come out of a toy factory or shop with loads of toys in wood side dump cars. For motive power, I plan to use an 0-4-2 by Bachmann. Some of my scenery ideas involve Santa's house, reindeer and elf figurines and maybe a sleigh loading "dock"?

What other suggestions/ideas do you guys have? Whimsy is really needed so don't feel stupid suggesting something off-the-wall. I am looking for scenery ideas, as well. For instance, how do you effectively model snow? Also, I would love to hear some operational ideas--hey, I want to run operating sessions the other 11 months of the year! :)

Thanks everyone!

[GerFust]

Here are some thoughts on industries you could add... Mrs. Claus' Cold as Ice storage facility (shipping ice cubes to us outside the artic circle), stock cars to move young reindeer (too young to fly) to the north pole from the outlying Flying J Deer Ranch, the Magical Dust Chemical plant, the Laying Your Finger ASIDE of Your Nose Boys Academy, maybe some private care Keebler boxcars, for off-season work (they claim to hire elves, too), Rudolf's Chocolate and Confections, Abominable Snowmonster's meat packing OR ice cream concoctions (depending on your sense of humor), Vixen's Boarding House.

Just a few thoughts,
Jer

You could also have a passenger cars (or any engine) named The Dasher or The Comet. If they are short coaches, you could name nine in all: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen (sleeping car), Comet, Cupid, Donner (dining car), Blitzen (lounge car), and Rudolf.

[Anonymous]

How about puting a red led light in the head light of the engine so it resembles rudolf

[jhugart]

Modelling snow -- if this is temporary, I think you can get bats of a cotton-like fiber that looks, from a distance, like a field of snow.

If this is permament, there's some goop you can make with glitter, matte medium, and some other things that looks great. The recipe was in one of my modelling books, a relatively recent one (like in the last 12 years). I'll look it up when I get home.

Since this is the North Pole, consider that you could have ice cracking open to reveal water. You need polar bears, but no penguins. Throw in a few igloos, perhaps!

[Wdlgln005]

You need a pine forest industry. Make lots of bumpy chenille trees from the craft store in many sizes. Small ones couls be seedlings for the big ones. The big tree with all the pine cones is the father of the forest. Lumber from the cut trees is also used to make wooden toys and furniture.

I understand real christmas trees used to be bundled & loaded into boxcars for their trip south.

[joseph2]

You might want to look at the childrens book "North Pole Express".It might have some scenery ideas.Your idea sounds interesting. Joe G.