I thought I'd mention that John had to come up with this column under a very short deadline due to my late withdrawal. I was somewhat blindsided by the ethical requirements of my new job and had to withdraw precipitously and regretfully from my position as N Scale Columnist. I recruited John to fill in for me because I know he will do a great job. He is an excellent writer, modeler and is building a neat N Scale railroad in his basement. He is also into NTRAK and the NMRA, having been officers in both organizations. For this column he didn't have a lot of time to prepare, so he went with an introductory piece. As he progresses on his layout I am sure he will have excellent insight to offer into N scale. In fact since my latest project is in O Scale, I am sure John will be able to better track the N Scale community than I would have.
As for me, writing articles for payment is not allowed under the ethical rules of my new job as a defense analyst for the Congressional Staff. However, I am still permitted to write books and pursue my side business at Alkem Scale Models.I continue to support the MRH effort wholeheartedly and if I find an idea that I think is worth sharing with the community, I will submit it to Joe for publication gratis.
I am a long way off from that point! Especially since my recent emphasis is on finishing a book on Steel Mill modeling due to the publishers in June this year!
If your new book is anytrhing like your last one, put me down for a copy right now! I am not into steel mills but who knows what this could lead too. Many years ago (1977-78) I was the controller of a structural steel fabricator located in the South Bronx. I have always thougt putting that company on my layout would be a good idea.
Structural steel is made from various components put out by the various steel manufacturers and these aren't just I beams, H beans and what not. The fabricators cuts these things and makes them into assemblies that later become part of the finished structure. In effect this is what is done to make the tramework of most buildings these days.
This kind of business can easily be fit into many layouts without taking anywhere near the room occupied by the massive buildings of the modern steel foundry. All you really need is enough space to house a modestly sized factory building two or three stories tall.
because I work for the Executive Branch in DC doing strategic planning and program management for marine species. Our rules aren's as strict as yours, but then again, some of our rules aren't all that modern either.
More to the point, I hope the new job won't cut into your modeling time too much. Your O scale project looks really fascinating, and I'm sure we'll all benefit from it.
If need be, we can help John keep up - but you are right he's probably ahead of us anyway.
Philip H. Chief Everything Officer Baton Rouge Southern Railroad, Mount Rainier Div.
"You can't just "Field of Dreams" it... not matter how James Earl Jones your voice is..." ~ my wife
Maybe this is far too late but looking at your figure 4 track plan (which I beleive is the best out of all of them) I would have sujested that you may want to bring the Yard LDE out into the isle some so access can be made behind the Yard and the wall. This may mean making the milton "bulb" loop a little smaller.
From my own experince the yard area is never big enough. And access from both sides is always a plus. Even if I am to late with this idea others may find it usefull.
I have modeled in HO and in S but if I were twenty years younger I would build a layout for N scale. MRH is the primary cause of this as the layouts and the N videos show how much can be done. I drool over the amount of action achieved in a ten by ten room and I envy the benefits of running equipment so small but so good that nobody worries about discrepancies. S scalers are in a constant struggle dealing with wheel flange size. N scalers just run trains.. The equipment available and the quality of the equipment makes building in N scale more and more appealing. I also envy the fact that you can run a unit train of 100 cars, every car carries the same number, and nobody complains!
Art, I really believe that the N scale is really gaining momentum. Up in the D.C. area there are several large groups that model in N scale and one of them they just model Japanese bullet trains and they are awesome !
I have a shelf N scale layout in my office at work. But at home it seems that my layout are getting smaller but the scale is getting bigger, I model On30 and O Scale.
I bought "N" Scale Trains in the first month or two it came out in mass at the hobby shops back in Los Angeles in the 60's! At that time I wanted to scratch build structuresand after about a year beside the fact the trains didnt like staying on the tracks I just didn't have the fun I had with "S" scale and "HO". I traded 130 some cars and 5 engines for 2 Brass Narrow Gauge engines in 1969.
Now "N" scale is fun to run But, I like to Build Models -scratch Build, Kit Bash and detail models. "N" scale is just too small to think about building them or be able to say I built that engine because at age 56 I can hardly see the the little suckers and I'm not a jeweler I'll stick with HOn3. That's as small as I want to get. All the power to all you that model in "N" Scale or "Z" for that matter.
N-Scale isn't that small and one doesn't have to be jeweler to appreciate it. I am 60 and have worn glasses for most of life so I can see what you are saying about eyesight. But once you look at anything mre than 3 feet away, one won't notice alot of things even on HO Scale locomotives or on an HO scale layout.
Have you ever taken a look at "N" gauge equipment from 1969 with the giant wheel flanges the way out of scale couplers and the fact that every box car had no open doors and the details were just not there. Up till 2004 I had better than 20-20 vision and at 5 feet I could see the lack of detail and I just didn't like that each type of car used the same number. I see that now 40 years later there is alot of difference since the 60's and the detail has changed alot. But the fact that I own more than $60,000.00 worth of HO, HOn3 and HOn2-1/2 scale equipment has me saying that I prefer HO. I do use a few "N" gauge Steam Engines with HO Cabs and HO Piping to simulate my HOn2-1/2 mine equipment.
I do give the guys & Girls that build the smaller scales alot of credit for doing what they can with their Modeling skills and I have been to alot of Train Shows (more than 70) and always spend hours watching the really long "N" Trains and the many Modules and all the fantastic work on the modules. I still will always BUY HO scale Trains because there is alot more of it in every aspect of the Hobby and it's where my head is when it comes to model railroading.
When i came back to the hobby last summer I noticed how much N-Scale had changed over the years. It is just amazing what has been accomplished. But what is more amazing is Z-Scale.
The list of possible topics is pretty broad and suggestions are more than welcome. I agree that N scale is getting better all the time. We'll get to the "Why" of that, I'm sure.
Issue 3 will discuss freight cars (probably in WAY too much detail) and the future is wide open.
Please let me know what you would like to hear about. I've modeled in O, HO, HOn3, N, Nn3 and Z, so am clearly unable to focus for extended periods of time. However, an article at a time might work.
but one thing I'd certainly like is detailing maintenance, trucks, couplers, etc. in N scale. What trucks and couplers work best in what situations, the best way to maintain them, weight them, etc. I know there aren't as many options in N as there are in HO, but I've been curious about maintaining a solid fleet of N scale rolling stock. Perhaps it isn't much different from HO (and in some ways it obviously isn't), but more detail in N scale specifics would be helpful. It also would provide some more general non-scale specific information for a wider audience.
Loco maintenance would be another good subject, but I think this could be done in more general terms, not in a scale specific column.
I am no expert but I've noticed that most N-Scale freight cars do nt have enough weight to always track properly. This is especially the case if the car has an open top and has no load on it. That is the one thing that frustrates me whenever one of locomotives has a long train behind it. Let it go through a turn and you are bound to get a derailment unless to you do something to add extra weight to the car. This is an important subject that needs to be discussed.
Comments
N scale column
Chris,
I thought I'd mention that John had to come up with this column under a very short deadline due to my late withdrawal. I was somewhat blindsided by the ethical requirements of my new job and had to withdraw precipitously and regretfully from my position as N Scale Columnist. I recruited John to fill in for me because I know he will do a great job. He is an excellent writer, modeler and is building a neat N Scale railroad in his basement. He is also into NTRAK and the NMRA, having been officers in both organizations. For this column he didn't have a lot of time to prepare, so he went with an introductory piece. As he progresses on his layout I am sure he will have excellent insight to offer into N scale. In fact since my latest project is in O Scale, I am sure John will be able to better track the N Scale community than I would have.
As for me, writing articles for payment is not allowed under the ethical rules of my new job as a defense analyst for the Congressional Staff. However, I am still permitted to write books and pursue my side business at Alkem Scale Models. I continue to support the MRH effort wholeheartedly and if I find an idea that I think is worth sharing with the community, I will submit it to Joe for publication gratis.
BCK
Bernard Kempinski
Thanks Bernie, I am sure it
Thanks Bernie, I am sure it will be excellent!
I would love to see a video sometime of an operating session on YOUR layout!
Chris
“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.” My modest progress Blog
long way off
I am a long way off from that point! Especially since my recent emphasis is on finishing a book on Steel Mill modeling due to the publishers in June this year!
Bernard Kempinski
Long way off
If your new book is anytrhing like your last one, put me down for a copy right now! I am not into steel mills but who knows what this could lead too. Many years ago (1977-78) I was the controller of a structural steel fabricator located in the South Bronx. I have always thougt putting that company on my layout would be a good idea.
Structural steel is made from various components put out by the various steel manufacturers and these aren't just I beams, H beans and what not. The fabricators cuts these things and makes them into assemblies that later become part of the finished structure. In effect this is what is done to make the tramework of most buildings these days.
This kind of business can easily be fit into many layouts without taking anywhere near the room occupied by the massive buildings of the modern steel foundry. All you really need is enough space to house a modestly sized factory building two or three stories tall.
Irv
I know of which you speak
because I work for the Executive Branch in DC doing strategic planning and program management for marine species. Our rules aren's as strict as yours, but then again, some of our rules aren't all that modern either.
More to the point, I hope the new job won't cut into your modeling time too much. Your O scale project looks really fascinating, and I'm sure we'll all benefit from it.
If need be, we can help John keep up - but you are right he's probably ahead of us anyway.
Philip H. Chief Everything Officer Baton Rouge Southern Railroad, Mount Rainier Div.
"You can't just "Field of Dreams" it... not matter how James Earl Jones your voice is..." ~ my wife
My Blog Index
Changing the Guard article-track plan tip.
Hi John;
Maybe this is far too late but looking at your figure 4 track plan (which I beleive is the best out of all of them) I would have sujested that you may want to bring the Yard LDE out into the isle some so access can be made behind the Yard and the wall. This may mean making the milton "bulb" loop a little smaller.
From my own experince the yard area is never big enough. And access from both sides is always a plus. Even if I am to late with this idea others may find it usefull.
Mark
Mifflinburg, Pa
N the new HO?
I have modeled in HO and in S but if I were twenty years younger I would build a layout for N scale. MRH is the primary cause of this as the layouts and the N videos show how much can be done. I drool over the amount of action achieved in a ten by ten room and I envy the benefits of running equipment so small but so good that nobody worries about discrepancies. S scalers are in a constant struggle dealing with wheel flange size. N scalers just run trains.. The equipment available and the quality of the equipment makes building in N scale more and more appealing. I also envy the fact that you can run a unit train of 100 cars, every car carries the same number, and nobody complains!
Art Armstrong
N the new HO
Art, I really believe that the N scale is really gaining momentum. Up in the D.C. area there are several large groups that model in N scale and one of them they just model Japanese bullet trains and they are awesome !
I have a shelf N scale layout in my office at work. But at home it seems that my layout are getting smaller but the scale is getting bigger, I model On30 and O Scale.
Nick Biangel
USMC
I bought "N" Scale Trains in
I bought "N" Scale Trains in the first month or two it came out in mass at the hobby shops back in Los Angeles in the 60's! At that time I wanted to scratch build structures and after about a year beside the fact the trains didnt like staying on the tracks I just didn't have the fun I had with "S" scale and "HO". I traded 130 some cars and 5 engines for 2 Brass Narrow Gauge engines in 1969.
Now "N" scale is fun to run But, I like to Build Models -scratch Build, Kit Bash and detail models. "N" scale is just too small to think about building them or be able to say I built that engine because at age 56 I can hardly see the the little suckers and I'm not a jeweler I'll stick with HOn3. That's as small as I want to get. All the power to all you that model in "N" Scale or "Z" for that matter.
Dan
Rio Grande Dan
N-SCale and scratchbuilding
N-Scale isn't that small and one doesn't have to be jeweler to appreciate it. I am 60 and have worn glasses for most of life so I can see what you are saying about eyesight. But once you look at anything mre than 3 feet away, one won't notice alot of things even on HO Scale locomotives or on an HO scale layout.
Irv
Have you ever taken a look at
Have you ever taken a look at "N" gauge equipment from 1969 with the giant wheel flanges the way out of scale couplers and the fact that every box car had no open doors and the details were just not there. Up till 2004 I had better than 20-20 vision and at 5 feet I could see the lack of detail and I just didn't like that each type of car used the same number. I see that now 40 years later there is alot of difference since the 60's and the detail has changed alot. But the fact that I own more than $60,000.00 worth of HO, HOn3 and HOn2-1/2 scale equipment has me saying that I prefer HO. I do use a few "N" gauge Steam Engines with HO Cabs and HO Piping to simulate my HOn2-1/2 mine equipment.
I do give the guys & Girls that build the smaller scales alot of credit for doing what they can with their Modeling skills and I have been to alot of Train Shows (more than 70) and always spend hours watching the really long "N" Trains and the many Modules and all the fantastic work on the modules. I still will always BUY HO scale Trains because there is alot more of it in every aspect of the Hobby and it's where my head is when it comes to model railroading.
Dan
Rio Grande Dan
N-Scale has imporved alot
When i came back to the hobby last summer I noticed how much N-Scale had changed over the years. It is just amazing what has been accomplished. But what is more amazing is Z-Scale.
Irv
Issue 2 N Scale Article
The list of possible topics is pretty broad and suggestions are more than welcome. I agree that N scale is getting better all the time. We'll get to the "Why" of that, I'm sure.
Issue 3 will discuss freight cars (probably in WAY too much detail) and the future is wide open.
Please let me know what you would like to hear about. I've modeled in O, HO, HOn3, N, Nn3 and Z, so am clearly unable to focus for extended periods of time. However, an article at a time might work.
John
Not sure if its valuable to others
but one thing I'd certainly like is detailing maintenance, trucks, couplers, etc. in N scale. What trucks and couplers work best in what situations, the best way to maintain them, weight them, etc. I know there aren't as many options in N as there are in HO, but I've been curious about maintaining a solid fleet of N scale rolling stock. Perhaps it isn't much different from HO (and in some ways it obviously isn't), but more detail in N scale specifics would be helpful. It also would provide some more general non-scale specific information for a wider audience.
Loco maintenance would be another good subject, but I think this could be done in more general terms, not in a scale specific column.
My two cents.
Dave
Building a TOMA HO Scale '70s/80s era
GMT-6
Most N - Scale Freight cars are too light
I am no expert but I've noticed that most N-Scale freight cars do nt have enough weight to always track properly. This is especially the case if the car has an open top and has no load on it. That is the one thing that frustrates me whenever one of locomotives has a long train behind it. Let it go through a turn and you are bound to get a derailment unless to you do something to add extra weight to the car. This is an important subject that needs to be discussed.
Irv