Your vision is flawless and believable. However implementation may require skills you acquired as an Imagineer while working at Disney World. Oh, you didn't. OK, perhaps you had better examine alternative solutions. Your dream keeps your imagination alive, we wish you total success.
The hard part would be the glittering city. The sounds? Recording and editing would take a bit of help but I think it would be viable. Play back starts as visitor enters room. Maybe the step-daughter. Just got a masters in cyber-security and computer forensics. She likes techy stuff.
As mentioned I hope to create a Solstice and Equinox 'recorder'. To that end I practiced today with a few large, (2"X4"), cardboard bricks positioned in the intended window. This photo was taken: In: 42.2832° N, 71.1270° W On Nov. 15, 2019 At 1:30 For December 22, 2019, I will have to look up and calculate: What time the sun will be shining through that window What angle it will be on that day My understanding is it is relatively simple geometry. Any assistance is invited. Notes: The objects generating the 'shadows' / positive or negative space will be much smaller 'N Scale' structures such as a water tank, silos, and / or bridge supports. In the long run I may also use a 'eye of the needle' 'natural rock formation'. Still, this year it will likely be 'place holders' such as cans or paper buildings.
British Railroad Tunnel Alignment "It was reported in 1842[9] that twice a year the sun shines through the tunnel. It has been assumed that Brunel aligned the tunnel so that the rising sun is visible through it on his birthday, April 9. This is not the case. Dates on which the sun has been seen from the western portal are 5 April 1992 and 5 September 1985 (the time approximately 06:34 on both occasions)." Article on this subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_Tunnel#Brunel's_birthday Full article, (about the tunnel): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_Tunnel#Brunel's_birthday Of course this gives me an idea. Maybe I should do this on my wife's birthday, (which not so coinidentally is tomorrow). After all, she is the, 'Commisioner of Land Grants'.
@sams Yes, but since the Shinkansen portion is point to point and I only have 40' to run they might be traveling a bit slower. ☻ I do hope to 'program / automate' them at some point.
I'm still learning about that but If you could do that with other trains running that would be amazing !
While I am researching the subject of automating the Shinkansen my current 'plan' is to: Learn to solder Solder resistors into the feeds Make sure the last 4' is dead / no power At $300 per train set, (give or take), I don't want to risk anything.
@sams It appears you may get your wish. The brother-in-law of the 'Minister of Land Management' visited with his wife. He came up with an idea which will: Make my wife happier Give me continuous running bullet trains Provide visitors with more 'entertainment'. Now there will be 36"s behind the TV and we will push the Couches back 42". My wife gets more 'living space' and I get a continuous run.
Waiting for the wood to arrive I'm sitting here designing / imagineering my 'Excursion Train'. It will run along the front of the layout through the coffee plantations, farms and not-so-modern areas. The FEF-3 will be main source of power and the 'cars' will be an assortment of refurbished whatever-is-in-the-car-shops. Converted Container Home / Well Cars Even as I was dreaming up the above train I thought, what about a container converted to a 'passenger' car? Maybe put these in a well car and well? I wonder if I can do it? Suggestions? Ideas? Concepts? Humor? Any suggestions or which products I might consider for this project or does anyone have a few containers they would like to get ride of for a fair price? I'm sitting here thinking I could even make one from card stock or maybe even a index card. I realize this is a bit strange but ya know what they say, "Idle hands / minds are the devil's tools'.
Sounds like it's going to be a cool layout Grey One. The "Passenger" Container & well car sounds fun. Her is a link to a web page full of free printable n scale containers. Might help with the proof of concept for that idea. https://krafttrains.com/Paper_Struchers_for_Trains/N/Containers-(N)/N_Containers.htm
Guess what the grandson and I are making tonight? Card stock container homes and passenger cars and mobile home containers for well cars. Pics to follow.
My robot says "Danger Will Robinson!": Dangerous Web Page Blocked You attempted to access: https://krafttrains.com/Paper_Struchers_for_Trains/N/Containers-(N)/N_Containers.htm This is a known dangerous web page. It is highly recommended that you do NOT visit this page. Visit Norton to learn more about phishing and internet security.
I went there using 'Opera' on Windows 10. No issues. Lots of PDFs to download. Only one mildly phrased suggestion that if you wanted you could click on links to their 'how to' videos on Youtube and or send contribution directly to them. A very altruistic site.
That's odd. I have Norton on my home PC and it has never flagged it. Here at the office, I have a laptop with Semantic (Norton on steroids) and it didn't flag it and I just tried it on a box with Viper and it didn't flag it. Very odd.
Journal Entry, Thanksgiving Eve, 2019 FEF-3 Completed loop on kitchen table. The goal had been to get trains running by Thanksgiving. Mission Acomplised! yes, I admit it was just one locomotive on a short oval on a kitchen table but I say it counts! Next goal: Framework and approximate track work for 3/4s of layout done by Christmas.
The first post to this thread was October 31 so, maybe I can get the 1st 1/4 framework / foam done in 4 days. ☻ That would count even more. Pics to follow.
Sunday Morning Thinking - December 1st, 2019 This is a family layout, well, that is to say it is in the living room and family participation is encouraged. I've had a week to come up with new inspiration for the layout. I'll put them here both for posterity and responses / ideas / concepts and humor. Grandson Pokemon - My grandson is now, sigh, very much into everything Pokemon. To engage him I have asked what do Pokemon look like? Where do they live? How do you get them. Based on his explanations the layout will now have a 'Pokemon Habitat' with a station stop and a small hospital / hotel, (for recovery from your battles). I was told that was very important. Family Modules While reviewing the 'T-Trak' modules system I wondered if I could create modules that the family could 'scenic' with their own ideas / desires. These modules could be 'slid' / 'hot swapped?' in and out of the front edge of the layout. They could be seasonal or a personal interest and serviced by the 'Grey and Grandure'. Art Colony For my younger sister who lives in New Mexico. She wants it based on an 100 yo olde western mining town. Flagler Fruit Shipping / Rail line - For my brother in Florida. More later as the family expresses their thoughts.
