Good news- I've transported my N scale HCD layout from Sherman to Muskogee. Bad news- it looks like Hurricane Katrina hit it, even though it was covered over to protect from road winds. Good news, though- it's given me the chance to make some changes on the trackage & legs underneath the layout. Bad news- some of the mainline track got torn up. Good news- I've ordered some more code 55 from Challenger N Scale in Tulsa. Better news- while there, I snagged the N scale GP15-1 and the Athearn 53'flat with the Frisco "Pigs Are Beautiful" logoed trailer. The latter will be part of the scenery, while the flat will go into general service. On the GP15-1, bad news- wrong intakes. Good news- latest copy of N Scale Railroading has an article by LTC Tony Hammes on how he modeled a "proper" GP15-1 by redoing the air intakes. ANd I have another GP15-1 on layaway, and will attempt to get at least one more of the GP38-2s. This oughta give me enough power to run one mainline freight and a local switcher, as the layout is based on the east end of the Ardmore & Arkinda Subdivision. No piggybacks & autoracks for me..... Anyway, the layout will fit into the walk-in closet in my studio apartment and still leave room for my clothes to be hung up.
Congrats on the move. I've never been so successful. When you detail the GP-15 model, it might make a good feature for the Meteor. Best, mike
Great story,brought back memories of taking an N-scale modular layout from Parsons to Cherryvale Kansas. We didn't think about a tarp. I noticed something was amiss when someone that was following me honked and shook his fist at me when passing. I looked in the rearview mirror just in time to see a section of flextrack fly out the back. When we made it to Cherryvale about a third of the track was gone. We ended up having to temporarily lay new flex track to be able to run that day. We set the modules up on the passenger platform and had a little trouble with the wind blowing cars off the track. All in all it was a fun day. Bob Wintle
You Know, You guys have the most interesting stories to tell. I love it ... I can just see the buildings and trees flying off. I just always thought that a move was a good excuse to start over on a "new or better" designed layout. Modular is a little different animal. Yesirssss ... good stories!
I'm not that brave to carve up N scale shells. However, I do have a spare HO scale GSC flat that would make a great article on kitbashing to get a reasonable model of a Frisco woodrack.
Not much progress to report. I did get a pair of banquet table legs from the local Mega-Hardware-Mart, and as soon as I can figure out how to add length to them, they'll go on the bottom of the layout. I already have 1x4 pieces glued & screwed on the bottom to facilitate attaching the legs. Track is on order from my local train pusher (well, Challenger N-Scale in Tulsa, if 45 miles can be considered local). It'll be Atlas codee 55 flex to replace some lost pieces. I also tried my hand at painting track, having purchased a set of Floquil paint pens from Hobby Lobby. I took a piece of Atlas code 80 flex and painted the ties RR Tie Brown, and after it dried I painted the rail sides Rail Brown. The felt tip made it easy and not as messy as using a regular brush. The results were not too shabby, IMO. I already have the rails painted on the track on my layout, but I may consider going back & painting ties. I may also experiment with some gray shades to represent older ties that haven't been replaced in a while (think deferred maintenance). For now, the layout is sitting on to bar stools in the living room of my apartment, until I get the legs put on.
