No. But I have known a couple of fellows who worked in this size. Fabulous stuff. Always enjoy seeing photos.....
I have visited quite a few Sn3 layouts on YouTube and this one in particular captured my interest: PART 1: RIO GRANDE SOUTHERN WITH BILL SCOBIE - YouTube I particularly like this one as I love the Rio Grande Southern. This You Tube link will lead you to many, many Bill Scobie Videos done by Chris Lyons up in Canada. I wish I could see a full track plane of bill's layout as I know only that it covers most of the Northern portion of the real RGS. I like the Sunrise RGS name on the sides of the tenders and K-27 Mud Hen locomotives. I have been modeling the Northern Pacific in HO for 31 years and if I were to strat over, I would model the RGS in either HOn3 or Sn3.
I was a die hard Milwaukee Road modeler for about five decades. (Major family and friend/employee connections, but not just limited to this one company.) Along the way I modeled some in On30, (just not enough space in my home, for what I really desired to create), and also HOn30. I had followed the Hayden & Frary efforts since the late 1960's/early 1970's. I finally sat down and thought about it one day. The rigid confines of a prototype had become too much. The attraction of something so whimsical as HOn30 were calling. And I have not looked back since then. What am I suggesting? Maybe you could sit down and think about it in the same way. Perhaps it is time to boldly strike out in a new direction!
Your suggestion is certainly not a new idea to me. I have thought long and hard about tearing out my old layout and starting over in Sn3. I like Sn3 as it is what I would call a "Modeling Scale". In other words, most items needed would have to be scratch built, built from kits; or, kit bashed as there is not a lot of stuff available for this scale that is "Ready to Run". This fit's squarely in my Wheelhouse as I am a model builder at heart. My problem is, that at my age, I doubt I would get too far down the line before I might have to give up this hobby, all together! So, the long hard thinking I have done over this question has pointed me towards only being interested in the Rio Grande Southern, D&RGW, Sn3 and Narrow Gauge in general. However, thanks for your consideration BoxCabE50!
It seems like a really good scale for fitting a lot of Narrow Gauge into a smallish space. I have seen so many awesome layouts in this scale over the years. I even occasionally day dream about doing something in this scale, but the same issue comes up with S scale as with many other scales as the locos cost a lot of money. I just glanced at the auction site and the cheapest brass steam engine was over 1000.00 dollars. I am a notorious cheap modeler, but even for those with a pocket book: 1 loco 1500.00, sound decoder 200.00?, DCC system 300.00-ish? 1500.00 just to get started and never mind track and rolling stock and all the other things. If you are doing a narrow gauge layout you are most likely into some scratch building, or kit bashing anyway, so why not go for a scale with cheaper motive power? I see so much being done more cheaply and creatively with on30, 35n2, Gn15, and my scale 55n3. If you prefer RTR then On30 sets can be found on sale all over the web. A loco + cars + track + power, for much less than an S scale loco. And don't forget the most important problem, having to say: Hi Honey, I just spent $1500.00 on a toy train engine.
One of the biggest fears I have with Sn3 is that the biggest supporter of this Scale and Gauge is PBL. PBL is a wonderful producer of Sn3 kits and other equipment for Sn3 and also sells Brass locomotives for this scale, obviously produced for people a bit more affluent than I am. PBL is celebrating it's 40th year as a producer of Sn3 products. PBL is not the only producer of kits for Sn3; but, the rest of the producers are very, very small operations. My concern is that the owner of PBL might decide it's time to retire and sell the company, and it would be hopeful that someone would take over the business and continue operations as successfully as the current owner. Or, the owner of PBL might simply cease production and sell off his inventory and equipment, if a suitable buyer can's be found. PBL just purchased a new injection molding machine, last year and this should be taken as a good sign about the owners intentions. Still, I find the fact that Sn3 is so dependant on PBL to be somewhat scary and I am not a risk taker! My current Scale/Gauge is HO standard gauge, there are many, many producers of equipment in this scale. This fact makes me far more confident in the future for HO!
My age and health conditions would also have some folks stopping to think, or turning away. But I am persistent!
Persistence is one thing, selling off what I have and scraping the rest and starting over, is quite another!
I like Sn3, a fellow modeller i know does too. but on this side of the pond it so scarce and so expensive it prohibitive. O is really too big for anyone unless they own a state, and over here arguably HO is too big but Sn3 seems to fit nicely in the middle to me.
Been there, done that. Not much fun, yet the re-start afterward was well worth the enjoyment brought....
Ok, I know I said why I can't do it. But it's no reason for some of you not to post some images of your Sn3 models I love seeing narrow gauge layouts.
My father has a large collection of Sn3. I've built some of his kits too,flat cars,Gramps tank set etc. Its an ongoing venture & tbh a nice scale to work in. Ill see if i can post a pic of his scratch built Ophir loop trestle. Anyone out there have any Sn3 for sale? Thinking of selling my Nn3 & converting lol.
