Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
Dave.
I thought that it was just me that was having a problem with Accumate couplers falling apart. I had three cars with these pieces of [censored] installed on them. The first time that I put them on the track, one coupler on each of two of the cars fell apart the first time that they were coupled together.
Needless to say, they were relegated to the scrap heap as soon as I could put REAL couplers (read Micro-Trains) on the cars. I do not have any more problems with couplers falling apart.
I would also like to extend my thanks to you for starting "The "N" Crowd".
Army National Guard E3MOS 91BI have multiple scales nowZ, N, HO, O, and G.
Any other N-scalers getting tired of Accumate couplers falling apart?
In one wayfreight tonight I had two Accumate couplers go afoul. One was on an Atlas hopper and the other on an Intermountain boxcar. Fortunately, I was able to snap the draft gear box back in and keep them together. Both happened on back-up moves as my sons and I were switching industries in Lewisport.
With N-scale Accumate, it seems if it's not the draft gear box popping open, it's the darned trip pin falling out.
Is it just me?
Cooperbrad,
I can help you with the first question, anyway... 14" is a good mainline minimum (it's like 26-28" in HO). 9" is tight... As long as you use short 40'-50' cars and 4-axle diesels or no more than 6-drivered steam, you might be OK. I would recommend (just my opinion) maybe sacrifiing an industry or two to avoid those sharp turns. Or, if you can get them out to 11" you should be fine.
And !
Hello,
I am just moving to N-scale. I have a 4'X6' space and I'm doing my first layout. Looking for some help on a couple of questions:
1) In previous HO scale I made the radius too small and had all sorts of problems. Any recommendations for minimum radius. I see something on the order of 14" for main line, but I have a couple of turns into industries that are more like 9" radius. Will I be forever unhappy with this?
2) Any links/books on painting your own locomotives? I'd like to paint up a special locomotive with my kids names on them (3 boys ages 9,8,6).
3) Any idea where I can get decals made up (I have a logo for the 3 boys I did in power point) and I'm looking to have it shrunk down enough to print as a scale sign for the layout and maybe add to the locomotive as a decal.
Thanks
apartment railer wrote:Oh and i am running code55 with 10'' turn..... i know i need bigger
If you can widen those turns to say 12" or better, you'll be in good shape. I use a 13.75" minimum on my layout and I can run about anything. That will mean rebuilding your table to have 3'-wide shelves instead of 2'. I know that sounds like a pain, but it's "pay me now or pay me later." If you can do it, you'll have much fewer problems in the long run.
Another option is doing a point-to-point layout on that existing shelf. MR has a plan in January's issue for a 10'x12' point-to-point, but it's U-shaped.
Lastly, for carefree operation, I've heard nothing but good things about Kato Unitrack. I'm wishing I'd gone that route myself. The Code 55 is far more realistic, but if operations is your game and you don't mind somewhat oversized rails and ties, Unitrack is the most reliable stuff out there. It comes with the roadbed and ballast, and the switch machines are hidden in the roadbed, so no need for under-the-table or bulky surface-mounted machines. Plus, over on Trainboard's N scale forum, they've shown how good you can make Unitrack look with a little paint and ballast. It looks at least as good as the Atlas Code 80, if not better.
Anyway, best of luck and welcome!
I too would like a chat room for "N" builders. Just took a part my old, old layout and am working on finishing a basement with a Train Room. Hope to have it done before spring soas to start a new layout, 30ft long by 2ft up to 4ft wide. Will post plans as you grow. George
ps Pennsy also ( 40s 50s)
Dewayne wrote: Hi to everyone. I've been on this forum for a short time.Sounds like most of you have more space to work with than I do. My layout is only 39 1/2" x 88". I have cramed about 75' of rail onto this small space. The only way I could get the layout close to the way I wanted it was to use non-sysmetrical radius turns and some flex track.I did my basic layout about 4 years ago. Then it sat idle up until the last two months. I have added a trolley run which covers about 7' of rail. I received the electronic for it last week which will control the stops at the end points, the reversing of direction and the station stops along the route. I am currently working on the landscaping and it's really turning into a headache. I have a lake that is about 3 1/2 sq.ft. in size. It may have to be made smaller to handle everthing I want to place on the layout. Someone was asking about older rolling stock and I suggest to watch eBay. In the last two months I have purchased a lot of rolling stock, loco's and buildings from eBay. I have got brunt by one seller and if I had looked at his feedback report I would not have made a purchase from him. I have placed a complaint to eBay about this seller and I see he has no items currently listed with them. the sellers name is "RC Planes and Trains." I don't know if eBay has pulled down his account or not. I suggest not buying from him.I'll try to post a pic or drawing of my layout at a later date. The layout was created using the Right Track software. I'm not sure how to get it into a pic type of format so I can post it.
Hi to everyone. I've been on this forum for a short time.
Sounds like most of you have more space to work with than I do. My layout is only 39 1/2" x 88". I have cramed about 75' of rail onto this small space. The only way I could get the layout close to the way I wanted it was to use non-sysmetrical radius turns and some flex track.
I did my basic layout about 4 years ago. Then it sat idle up until the last two months. I have added a trolley run which covers about 7' of rail. I received the electronic for it last week which will control the stops at the end points, the reversing of direction and the station stops along the route. I am currently working on the landscaping and it's really turning into a headache. I have a lake that is about 3 1/2 sq.ft. in size. It may have to be made smaller to handle everthing I want to place on the layout.
Someone was asking about older rolling stock and I suggest to watch eBay. In the last two months I have purchased a lot of rolling stock, loco's and buildings from eBay. I have got brunt by one seller and if I had looked at his feedback report I would not have made a purchase from him. I have placed a complaint to eBay about this seller and I see he has no items currently listed with them. the sellers name is "RC Planes and Trains." I don't know if eBay has pulled down his account or not. I suggest not buying from him.
I'll try to post a pic or drawing of my layout at a later date. The layout was created using the Right Track software. I'm not sure how to get it into a pic type of format so I can post it.
That's great! You actually have a bigger layout than I do; miine's just 36" x 80." But that's what makes N scale so great! That same layout in HO would be about 6' x 13.'
Mike:
There are instructions and with about five minutes on a piece of cardboard you'll be fine.
Guy
bnsfncoal:
Those clouds do look sharp and I'm about to that stage.
Do they have good instructions or did you depend more on what you saw at the clinic? I.e, can someone who hasn't seen the clinic do OK?
Mike Tennent
Wow! Your layout looks great! (at least the parts I saw) I love those unit coal trains. Would you mind sharing what color you used for the backdrop, and how you painted those clouds? They look very nice. I wouldn't mind seeing more of your layout either
I'm almost to the track laying stage on my new layout.
Here's a link to my website that has pics and some discussion.
http://www.ironpeng.com/nscalelayout/nscalemain.html
Curt,
Check out Bowser's N scale hoppers. They're based on Pennsy prototypes, but the prototypes were sold to RRs all over (mostly eastern US), and they're offered in paint schemes from the 1910s through the 1960s. All pre-1920 layouts should have a few Pennsylvania Lines or Pennsylvania Lines West hoppers (prior to the full consolidation of the PRR) and you can get 'em from Bowser. Be prepared to swap out the trucks, though. They're beautiful models but roll like a cube straight out of the box.
Thanks P That was what I was expecting. On the round house cars and all my cars for that mater I am planing on switching to MTL Betendorf trucks and couplers. I may get a set of the andrews as well for good measure. I am hopeing to get a Denver and rio grande set.
So a little on my lay out;
It is a layout based in the colorado mountians around the 1900's- 1940's. It is a free lanced line that shares an AT SF and Denver Rio Grand Main line. The town is going to be called "Thunder Valley" and the main source of income for the town is the Thunder Ridge Gold and Silver mine. Main motive power is going to be consolidated 2-8-0, as well as a couple 0-6-0 switchers in town. The Mine is going to have a couple 2 truck Shay Engines to help traverse the 5+% grades up to the mine.
This is going to be the first part of a larger layout and " Thunder Valley" may be devoloped in part 2 of the layout plan. I am going to be reloading the atlas track planing freeware and working on the plan this week. You Have to love when the computer crashes. Any way there is a little of the story.
Talk to you soon,
Curt