3' x 2' Tabletop N gauge - SOLD

[jamest]

Hi all,

I was not going to show this one online but, as usual, what started as a quick project has grown into something else!

Background - I am thinking about new projects, possibly in O gauge. To generate some more cash I thought I could combine some of my excess 'inventory' (or crap depending on your viewpoint) and sell that on too. I have some track and a large radius point in N left over from my earlier attempt in the scale for my Son's Christmas pressie. I also have some spare ply and softwood so I thought I could knock something up for someone to buy and continue.

I went with a previous arrangement of a back-scene down the middle of a 3' x 2' board with end caps of ply making a 'I' profile. This enables me to stand the layout on its end to help with storage. I was going to have a loop and a siding but decided to invest in a £3 second hand point and introduce a loop so that two trains can be managed with one controller in DC. I've also added feeds to the loops if DDC is required and all the track needs to be live.

So here is the basic structure:

I wanted to enable the layout to be stored vertically or horizontally:

 

 

Fiddle yard/non-scenic side:

 

Scenic side:

 

 

I have blased the track with sleeper grime and ballasted with fine grey ballast:

 

So I have primed the wood, laid the track directly on the ply, sprayed with sleeper grime on the scenic side (curved point) and ballasted. The plan was not to go much further than this and let whoever wanted it do the rest........but

I sold all my N gauge rolling stock I had previously a few years ago to fund some OO stuff. Although I tested the wiring integrity with my trusty light-blub and crocodile clips, I thought I needed a train to test it - after all I could always sell it with the layout....right? So I bought a Dapol class 153 in northern livery second hand from my local shop for £45. Its a lovely model, DDC ready, with working lights, and a lovely level of detail (in my pretty uniformed opinion).

And fatally I started Playing.....I mean testing.....the loops.

So I was bitten by N again and decided to finish the layout, and......maybe....sell it!

I'm a little disappointed I sold my N gauge stock now - note to self - I must keep things longer before deciding what to do with them!

I have moved on to the end but to avoid a mammouth post I'll update this over the next few days.

 

Regards,

James

Edited December 17, 2016 by jamest

[ColinK]

Interesting. You could make a chest of drawers with several layouts that size.

[jamest]

Hi again,

 

Hmmm yes Colin, you could have a series of layouts in a drawer set-up - but think I'll settle for one for now!

 

More updates - remember this is much further on in reality, but I want to record it in a step by step fashion in case it is vaguely helpful for others....

 

I wanted to switch the hidden point from the front - cheaply. I got a 'rod' from my kids old tent that we were chucking out and used some solid core wire from some old electrical cable (the same stuff I used on Bratton Lane). The wire has the added bonus that it is strong and stiff without being too stiff - it will absorb the force from any enthusiastic point changes. I did clear a hole underneath the tie bar hole on the front point but I decided to leave it 'Hand of God' operated - I did muse over interlocking the mechanism in some way, but I want to cover it and forget it - so I want it as simple, robust and reliable as possible.

 

 

 

 

I like to use scalescenes papers but the road needs to knik a bit - I know some have the ability to muck about with pdfs on the computer but I need to rely on the manual method of cutting slight angles and using the 'polygon approach':

 

 

I decided to have the right hand bridge off the back-scene to add a little depth. I wanted to see how the undergrowth worked around the entry point but another option was a pedestrian bridge in parallel to the road bridge. Here is the road bridge in place, the 6mm ply was a direct substitute for the scalescenes card deck - I just covered it in concrete paper:

 

 

 

Over on the station side I've created the pillars to support the peco girders, and the platform surface that fades out under the road into a subterrainian station:

 

 

 

The stepped walling under the surface is to cover the wooden support but also suggests a hidden staircase.

And here is a overall view - just three feet long!

 

 

All the best,

James

 

 

 

[jamest]

Hi all,

 

Time for another update.

 

Next was the pavements and dreaded double yellows:

 

 

 

Those photos are a little cruel as the light shows up the joins a little more than is normally obvious. I've also added the retaining wall to the upper section, ready to place the polystyrene bank against:

 

 

 

 

 

Next the rough polystyrene shapes are added with pva and allowed to dry, before cutting to shape:

 

 

 

 

 

I decided to add a 6mm mdf sheet to the front of the layout contoured to the terrain shape after I had shaped it with a knife - mainly because I was not exactly sure what would look right before I cut it.

 

Regards,

James

[jamest]

Hi again,

 

Plaster bandage next - I then painted the white landscape with a wicks brown tester pot. I was going to use normal scatter for the basic ground cover as I thought all my Noch grassmaster stock is more suited to OO and would be too long for N. I then remembered my sample Noch fibres - they are shorter but a little 'green' for my liking - but I thought I could tone it down with scatter etc.

Some of the White plaster bandage staining will be removed, some covered and some left as white staining on the brickwork. So here is the basic covering - you can also see the front fascia board in place in the same profile as the hills:

 

 

 

 

I then added the various scatters and bushes from my scenic box. I'm working on the basic rule that a short tree, bush and scrub in OO roughly halves to become a tall tree, large bush and bush in N - get what I mean? I'm pretty confident in OO now but I'm still learning what looks 'right' in N - after all this was supposed to be a learning exercise in N.

So here are my efforts to build on the base scenic's - I tends to blob pva around and throw things on it. If it is too fine I spray with hairspray, scatter, and then spray again after it has set for a bit - and then hoover up the stuff propelled around the conservatory!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not finished with the green yet but it is getting there.

I will run over the track with sleeper grime again - and leave the wider ballast grey. I wish I had put some thin cork around now to create a shoulder and better define the track work.

 

Regards,

James

[Boco_D1]

That's a nice looking little project you got going there.

[jamest]

Hi all,

 

Time to bring you up to speed....

 

I have made the scalescenes high street, cinema and department store. They took a while, but look go and are very flexible - but after making the first lot I did not fancy making more, so I cheated a bit, and bought some easier metcalfe kits.

I was a bit worried about the footbridge on the right but I''m pretty happy with the end result - the black railings are actually shutters from the high street kit. I have finished off the walling with capping and added bushes to cover gaps, etc.

I have also produced a lid so that it can be packed away safely and offer the card kits increased protection. I thought the 'complete' set of a simple layout, controller and box would appeal at this time of year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the overall view with lid open:

 

 

 

Closed lid:

 

 

Back view:

 

 

I've really enjoyed working in N gauge for a change but I have decided to move the layout on to provide funds for a new controller (my Hornby select needs an update). So I plan to offer the layout for sale with a DC controller and possibly the 153 as 'train set'. The layout will store vertically or horizontally and can easily be set up and closed. The one thing I should have put more thought into was the weight - if i do this sort of layout again I will use less softwood and do the frame in ply to make it even lighter - because I started without a clear plan I added wood here and there for support which all adds up at the end. Its not too bad - and it is sturdy - but it could be lighter.

 

All the best,

James

[Revolution Mike B]

That's some of the best modelling I've seen for a 'throw it together' layout James! You've made a better job of that than some of the 'exhibition quality' layouts I keep seeing out on the circuit.

 

Awesome stuff.

[jamest]

Thanks,

 

As I said in my first post - I was unsure what to do with this experiment when finished, but since there are always new ideas in my mind I think I'm going to offer this layout for sale.

 

My local shop will kindly put it on display but I thought there was no harm in offering it on here first.

 

The layout is for sale as seen, with a DC controller and possibly a Dapol DCC ready Northern Rail class 153 DMU if desired.

 

The layout is currently wired for DC with the points isolating the sidings - but feeds are soldered to the sidings and can be simply connected up with choc blocks if you want the layout to be DCC or 'all live'. Ideal Xmas present for the space starved modeller, or first 'set' for someone (ok, sales platter over).

 

Thanks for looking.

 

James

[deltic9014]

Hi James

How much would you be asking for this layout? 

[jamest]

Hi Deltic,

 

Thanks for the interest - I've sent you a PM.

 

Regards,

James

[vulcan product fan]

Great work mate such amazing detail for such a small space .

[jamest]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the interest and kind comments - the layout is now sold and handed over to its new owner today.

 

Regards,

James

[RBAGE]

Stunning work from such humble beginnings.

 

Top job.

 

How long did it take? You should give demonstrations at exhibitions. Kitchen drawer layout in a weekend.

[toolongtoremember]

Having seen this I am greatly inspired to start my own!  

[toolongtoremember]

So this took me an afternoon using left over bits from building my other layout weston Town. I will make this layout portable so I can take it on public transport as a self contained suitcase sized box.

[jamest]

Hi,

 

That looks like a solid start - I'm glad the layout provided some inspiration.

 

If you start a new thread let me know - I'd like to follow your progress.

 

All the best,

James

[toolongtoremember]

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/141590-3-x-2-n-gauge-made-from-leftover-materials-from-weston-town/

 

That's the new thread. 

 

Thank you for your kind words  

[OliverSR]

Hi all

A bit late to the party but I was the buyer of this layout and own and enjoy it to this day, having modified it to make it suitable for my London Underground stock and naming it Lammas Lane.

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/121014-lammas-lane-n-gauge-london-underground/
I came across this topic after being told the layout looks just like @toolongtoremember’s layout on their YouTube, so it’s a rather small world.

I originally found this layout on another forum and never knew it had a topic here till now.

OliverSR

[toolongtoremember]

On 19/08/2021 at 18:23, OliverSR said:

Hi all

A bit late to the party but I was the buyer of this layout and own and enjoy it to this day, having modified it to make it suitable for my London Underground stock and naming it Lammas Lane.

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/121014-lammas-lane-n-gauge-london-underground/
I came across this topic after being told the layout looks just like @toolongtoremember’s layout on their YouTube, so it’s a rather small world.

I originally found this layout on another forum and never knew it had a topic here till now.

OliverSR

Thanks for that! That thread was a very interesting read, I really liked to see the divergences we have taken from the original plan.