N-scale project [Archive] - ModelRailroadForums.com

Shamus

02-12-2005, 01:31 PM

Hi Folks, apart from my 0n30 Cooncreek & Tumbleweed Springs, I am in the process of making a 6'x3' N-scale logging layout. This has four levels with a few switchbacks as well.
Here's the plan and a photo of how far along I am.
http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/npn.jpg

http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/cc22.jpg

This is the trestle bridge going up to the top level.

http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/cc21.jpg

Shamus
http://www.paultemplar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/0n30layout/logocc.jpg (http://www.cooncreek-and-tumbleweed-springs.co.uk)

leghome

02-12-2005, 04:27 PM

I wish I could get my scenery to look half that good on my N-scale layout.

CBCNSfan

02-12-2005, 05:30 PM

Paul, any chance of you spending your vacation over here? My train room is cool in the summertime:D and I have lots of un-scenic area for you to practice on :D
I'm just blown away with the detail in the trestle picture, and the layout isn't bad either :D
Excellent work, wish I could do half as good. Thanks for the closeup it gives us people who are all thumbs something to aim for.
Cheers Willis

Lady_Railfan

02-12-2005, 05:50 PM

Holy Smokes, Shamus. Your C&TS is awesome enough, and now you come up with this! I agree with the others --- your work is truly inspirational.

sushob

02-12-2005, 06:15 PM

I'm jealous! :D Phenomenal (I probably spelled that wrong) work!

mushroom2

02-13-2005, 05:46 AM

Where the heck do you have all these layouts?
And where do you find the time to make them look so dang good?

Sheesh, there he goes again, putting to shame my 4x6 oval of track on styrafoam :D :D

Seriously, great work Shamus.

Shamus

02-13-2005, 10:15 AM

Well thank you kind people, As I am retired "Cough" I have lots of spare time to do my modelling in. Only got 2 railroads, the 0n30 one and this tiny one in N-scale.

Sure I'll spend a vacation at your place Willis, just pay my fare. LOL

Cheers
Shamus

http://www.paultemplar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/0n30layout/logocc.jpg (http://www.cooncreek-and-tumbleweed-springs.co.uk)

CBCNSfan

02-13-2005, 02:56 PM

Sure I'll spend a vacation at your place Willis, just pay my fare. LOL

Hey!! it's your vacation :D
Cheers Willis

Shamus

02-15-2005, 06:07 PM

Been busy scratchbuilding structures "camp cars" made out of cardboard with computer printed wood and shingles. Also making some HUGH 5" Tall Timbers LOL

http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/cc23.jpg

http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/cc25.jpg

http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/cc26.jpg

Shamus

http://www.paultemplar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/0n30layout/logocc.jpg (http://www.cooncreek-and-tumbleweed-springs.co.uk)

KenKzak

02-27-2005, 09:13 PM

Shamus,

Great looking layout!!
I think your On30 Cooncreek is fantastic. Is this part of the Cooncreek "world" too?
Is the section of groundlevel oval at the top of the diagram behind the mountain, or under it? Is it sceniced too?
What's the ruling grade?
My Greentop & Oberon is already "vertically challenged", one climb is around 3 1/2%.
I think switchbacks are great and the GT&O will have some someday. If I can ever finish the current module and move on to the next.

Ken

Shamus

03-10-2005, 06:09 PM

Hi Ken,
Thanks mate, my grade on the N-scale is around 5% and this little critter can push fout flats up it no bother. Yeah, I like switchbacks myself having a hugh one on my 0n30 layout Cooncreek.

http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/cc43.jpg

Cheers
Shamus
http://www.paultemplar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/0n30layout/logocc.jpg (http://www.cooncreek-and-tumbleweed-springs.co.uk)

Keith 55

03-12-2005, 07:04 AM

Shamus

03-12-2005, 11:04 AM

Shamus, is that the new version Bachmann switcher?
Heard it's quite nice.
Do you have any Atlas Shays, or are you waiting for the next bug-free production run?
Do you use photo backdrops, and if so are they your own pictures?
What are the 6 winning Texas Lotto numbers for Saturday, March 12, 2005? (PM me, please. I'm serious, I'll play the numbers. 5 different numbers between 0 and 54, and a bonus ball # also between 0 and 54)

I still can't decide if I want to build the San Antonio & Rio Grande (SARG) or the Texas Hill Country (THC) N scale railroads. Picking just one fictional SP branchline is hard for me, and both is too much.
Keith

Hi Keith,

I will not be buying any shays for this N-scale layout, as I shall be selling it soon, complete as is.
As for background, I made my own . Here what I did.
---
Making N-scale back scenes.
Probably the most important part of this operation is “Good computer skill levels” to complete the jobs in hand. You will need some sort of imaging program one that can re-size and have the ability to erase and eliminate what is not required on the printout.

Step #1 is to obtain a suitable photograph with trees with either mountains or a town scene. Or you can just use trees only.

Step #2 once the desired photograph is in the imaging program, find out its size. For N-scale I used a total height of 5” maximum and a length of 22” (2 A4 sheets required for each printing job)

Step #3 what I did next was to make a blank photograph using these dimensions and then saved it. Now work can start on the making of the back scenes.

Fig1 shows some trees I cut out, these trees actually were photographed on my 0n30 layout, and show the cut out around the trees.

http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/fig1.jpg

As I only required the tops and part of the lower half of the photo (Hidden from view on sky) I didn’t bother to cut this off, just printed it out.

Step #4 once you have cut out all the parts of the photograph not need, save it. Now hopefully you’re imaging program will have the facility to place a “Magic” wand inside it.

Select the magic wand tool and left click into top left of picture, now hold down shift and click into every available clear part. When finished go to SELECT and inverse the picture then save the selection from the SELECT button. Go to EDIT and copy the picture. Now minimize the picture. The reason you saved the picture was to be able to use it for another background later, just click on SELECT at a later date and re-load it.

Step #5 Remember the blank image you made, well, now is the time to bring it on to the screen. Now go to EDIT and paste the image you copied, and paste as transparent selection. Once the picture is in, use the MOVE T(Good computer skill level)OOL and position the picture properly. NOW go to LAYER and flatten image. Now save the blank photo page with the new image in it. (Your choice of name)

Step #6 Okay, that’s one part of it done, if you place the photo at the right edge or the left edge, you will notice that these is still plenty of room for another image to be placed. All you need do now is to copy and paste again, and the second set of trees will come along side the first set.
Now save it.

Step #7 well, that’s the first part completed, all that remains now is for you to look at the photo and see what need to be altered using a “clone” brush in the imaging program. What this brush does is to literally clone parts of an area, so it’s a simple task to see which area’s are in need of touch up and fix it. If your doing this for the first time I would suggest trying the clone brush on some old photo first to get the hang of it.
If you printing out town scenes with trees behind, I would suggest you printout the town scenes first. Then printout the trees using “Epson transparencies paper” Once you have printed the trees and cut them out, place the town scene in front and carefully glue the two together.

All trees should be printed onto “Epson transparencies paper” so when the trees are cut all around, and placed onto the sky background, they will merge well into the sky.

Well, there you are homemade back scenes; here are a few photos from my N-scale layout with back scenes I created.
Shamus
http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/cc40.jpg

http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/cc44.jpg

http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/cc43.jpg

http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/cc41.jpg

As for the lotto numbers, OKay LOL

3 7 12 17 50 51 9

If it wins, 1/2 please LOL

Shamus
http://www.paultemplar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/0n30layout/logocc.jpg (http://www.cooncreek-and-tumbleweed-springs.co.uk)

Keith 55

03-16-2005, 07:49 AM

Shamus, that was a great how-to on backgrounds.
Not surprised that you zeroed-in on my only real question.

In this digital camera age, I hope the painted puffy clouds on blue latex walls go the way of the Dodo.
Modellers, if you're unable to do this yourself or in cahoots with your friends, there are companies that sell photo backdrops, although I would much prefer to shoot my own at the actual locations I want to portray whenever possible.

palain

03-16-2005, 11:34 AM

Very Nice!

modelbob

03-27-2005, 06:23 AM

Duplicate image for "Featured photos" thumbnail.

chrismoore93

03-28-2005, 03:57 AM

Shamus,
Great layout. I remember (I think) being on your website for the Cooncreek & Tumbleweed springs. One question do you prefer On30 or N scale?
Keep up the good work,
Chris Moore

Shamus

03-28-2005, 11:15 AM

Thanks guys.

Chris, this little N-scale layout was just a breather from my 0n30 which I still prefer. This layout has 4 days to run on Ebay now. After that work starts again on my 0n30 Cooncreek & Tumbleweed Springs.

Cheers
Shamus
http://www.paultemplar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/0n30layout/logocc.jpg (http://www.cooncreek-and-tumbleweed-springs.co.uk)

sushob

03-28-2005, 02:21 PM

This layout has 4 days to run on Ebay now.
Mind giving us a link? I can't seem to locate it, and now I'm curious :D

Thanks in advance!

modelbob

03-29-2005, 05:01 AM

Here's a link to the layout. Be aware it's in the UK, so the Fedex bill will be a bit steep if you're here in "the colonies" :)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5965092796

Shamus

04-02-2005, 10:20 AM

Thanks folks, this layout was SOLD on Friday 1st April on Ebay.

Shamus

http://www.paultemplar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/0n30layout/logocc.jpg (http://www.cooncreek-and-tumbleweed-springs.co.uk)

jpguest

06-11-2005, 01:53 PM

How did I miss this post? This is great Shamus... what is the next layout going to be?

Regards,
Jason

BrandywineBob

07-24-2005, 05:52 AM

Shamus,

Some of the best work I've seen. Great detail.

Brandywine Bob
Brandywine Valley & Broad Run Railroad

Dan Vincent

07-26-2005, 04:38 AM

Shamus,

That is one fine looking N-scale layout.

I was wondering, since you are comfortable with On30, what made you choose N-scale over HOn30?

With your penchant for cobbling-up On30 locos and cars from HO stuff, I would think you would have carried that over, using N-scale locos to make all kinds of neat HOn30 power.

Just curious.

Shamus

07-26-2005, 06:22 PM

Hi Dan.
I was into N-scale 20 years ago and just thought I would have another crack at it for fun.

Shamus
http://www.paultemplar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/0n30layout/logocc.jpg (http://www.cooncreek-and-tumbleweed-springs.co.uk)

Dan Vincent

07-26-2005, 06:40 PM

Midnideflyer

07-31-2005, 04:49 AM

Very Nice looking layout !!!!!!!!!!!!

Shamus

07-31-2005, 09:04 AM

Shamus,

I have a lot of N too and have not ventured into HOn30 yet.

Thought about making a dual purpose layout with plug-in buildings to change scales. Tunnel portals would be the main problem.

I was just curious because of all your great narrow gauge models in On30.

Dan

Hi Dan,

The plug in buildings is a nice concept, but as building sizes differ quite a bit from scale to scale I doubt it would be viable. Also Track widths would be different.

cheerio

Shamus
http://www.paultemplar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/0n30layout/logocc.jpg (http://www.cooncreek-and-tumbleweed-springs.co.uk)