The unfinished house is a Tomix kit that was shipped from Japan with zero shipping charges. Of course, it's a Japanese house, but in the unfinished state it could pass for anywhere.
Been working on the main street asphalt paving on the lower level. I've been using some 1 mm black foam. It's easy to cut and gives an almost instant road. For the trolley line, passengers need a safe and suitable place to board, and discharge. They also need parking. With that in mind, I've been looking for suitable canopied platform kits that are reasonably priced. So, I'm building my own from scratch. The first one built was too tall. Tried shortening the posts and broke the base while trying to reinsert the posts into the base. It's only balsa. Anyway, the picture shows the current state of two new ones. The posts were cut to approx 12' in scale. The ends are pointed to fit into the 7/64" round hole (not yet made). Some simple modern architecture effects were added to the canopy, to provide some visual interest. The posts need several coats of yellow. The wood bases need a yellow safety line on the rail edge. The gray/yellow piece is a short wall to separate the freight station and trolley platform from the working yard.
Finished the trolley platforms without breaking them. Then continued working on its location, and parking spaces. Put in a couple of crossings across the trolley track. Painted parking spaces for the upper level apartments, and lower level merchant's row. They're still not enough so I might spread out the buildings to get a few spaces on the side streets. No structures on the lower level are glued down. Also painted the yellow center line on some of the roads, with some stop bars. The curve at the hill bottom was a toughie as I couldn't find a right sized dish. Wound up free-handing it. With some Jersey barriers to protect the track from runaway cars, it might look decent. Perhaps I could put in an accident scene? Wouldn't want to see the town's car insurance rates go up. More asphalt work ahead as the road will continue around, and to, the cement plant, ending at the Amtrak passenger station. It's now 99F in the garage. Too hot to work.
That looks really good. Try this link for your Jersey Barriers https://talon.games/collections/cav-strike-operations-10mm-battlefield-terrain/products/72605
Thanks for that link. Those are 1/180 scale. A couple of years ago I found Jersey Barriers in 1/160 scale on Etsy. 45 units for $10. I painted them white and, when I clean them up, will place them as needed.
@Numbers Your roads and entire layout look amazing. Can we ( meaning me ) get a NEW overall shot of the layout in it's current state, please! Might want to steal I mean borrow some ideas
Thanks for your nice words. In a few days I should have a lower level road extending to, and around, the cement plant, then ending at the main passenger station. I'll take more photos then. The fine point white Sharpie died on me. It either doesn't write at all or produces a big blob, nothing between. Have to go to Hobby Lobby to replace it.
There's going to be a slight delay in the lower level asphalt work as I've just received some Kato station platforms. These will triple the length of the station. Painting to match the existing platform is underway. Couldn't get the colors to match because there was a custom mixed color involved. Pro Tip: don't mix custom colors. Now also repainting the station platform. By the way, the order was from Amazon Japan. Ordered on 8/18, promised on 8/30, arrived today 8/25. Shipping cost ZERO. Sometimes you do eat the bear. The picture shows a rough location for the platforms.
I have never found anything on Amazon Japan (for train stuff) that had free shipping. The shipping cost is usually listed individually or built into the price. You can tell it's built into the price by the higher price of the item. Can you provide the link? If it's truly free shipping, I'm going to find the seller and see what else they have for sale!
Free is for Prime members. The invoice says: This order contains one or more items sold by the Overseas Amazon Store and shipped from the source country specified in the Amazon Global Store Conditions of Sale. By placing your order, you authorize the Overseas Amazon Store to designate a carrier to clear the package and pay applicable import taxes and duties on your (or the recipient’s) behalf. Customs declarations will be made accordingly. More details are available here. Here you go. https://www.amazon.com/Kato-23-133-Local-Opposite-Platform/dp/B087XGT4FB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LRGQT2EO52YJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tqUMJMnaNNOD4IDj-nxYLoinixq65j4qd5P2Qc9GcVRnyI_dxI6zTRvffgmG1DdNr1zLvM9-MZ0_QZHsPwGrx5hrUd1GL9G6FcemYMERmrxkPxUpVRpS-JnwmZQ4cWDdRIkdpm32_QV7Ka-aed-vBA8UmOqqYeXvDbEcgEPN-1FN8V4R6WK5IrBzTs6TdISD9yiH8QuzwYqPF6Zkj-mAgx_tXzEOqKsSKnkC1a8VusDYcueBb3A1zNwVSBPBQ84AaNAun0UQTn9Ph0q6HK-iZtAmEDrIki-VKwVvqm-H104.fzwsNvXyJ6HmvPnyPTWLoNQlj_ganOSOjtlveMVzV9k&dib_tag=se&keywords=Kato+23-133+N+Local+Opposite+Platform&qid=1724626216&sprefix=kato+23-133+n+local+opposite+platform,aps,176&sr=8-1
Although it says free shipping (for Prime members), the shipping charge is actually built into the price for this one, based on the price. How can one tell? Take a look on some of the more popular Japanese mail order outfits for their prices. Nothing wrong with that if you can only get it from Japan and no one has it in the US. But the danger becomes if you buy multiple items from Amazon Japan you'll be paying multiple shipping charges, extra shipping for each item after the first item!
When I purchased the trolley from Kato, in Japan, the shipping charge was $19 (flat fee, over $150 it's free). Which I thought was fair for the distance. The Kato platforms that I just purchased came to a total of $19.07 (about the same size box). So, yes they could have hidden a similar shipping charge as the trolley.
Next time, if you really want Japanese stuff, look at Plaza Japan or Hobby Search. Their shipping charges are by weight and size and they offer MANY shipping options from slow boat (3-4 weeks) to Global Express via FedEx, UPS, DHL (1 week). No flat fee. With the Yen still on the weak side (it was really weak 2 months ago), they adjust the prices accordingly. About two months ago I ordered from Plaza Japan and shipping was about $40 using DHL Express for a fairly big box that weighed 5.5 lbs. Order was almost $500. Ordered on a Monday, delivered next Monday to the US east coast. I usually go in with two other club members and split the shipping. I could go it alone and use a medium speed shipping but there would be no instant gratification in that.
Here are 6 update photos, as of this morning. The list of what needs to be added is too long to mention. Still, all the track and trains run fine. This is most important. Went to Dollar Tree to pick up some n-scale vehicles. Not many are cars. Working on that. Also ordered some Kato road barriers and fencing. Hard to tell exactly how they'll look from the online photos. Overall look from the left side. Overall look from the right side. The asphalt road is mostly installed. The line painter needs to be fired. He did the curve by placing a bunch of dots, then connecting them freehand. Now working on placing concrete at the end of the road, and on the other side of the trolley track. While at Michaels, picked up a couple of Christmas trees, about 4" high (the pair for $10). They also had a taller one, more suitable for HO, and it was lit. Anyway, one tree will be in a small park area to the left and above the trolley. The other tree will be placed near the church on the upper level. After this pic, the asphalt area between the trolley and mainline got some new parking lines with slightly heavier striping. Got Pasco pens at Michaels. Much much better than the Sh brand and they were on sale (buy 3, get 2 free, plus a 20% coupon). The expanded station platforms look OK after their repainting. All the 3 Amtrak liners can now move passengers simultaneously. The access road for trucks servicing the cement plant is in. Now have to pour concrete in the remainder of the oval within the trolley line. By the way, that turnout is the only #4 on the layout (salvaged from the old layout). Works fine with the short wheelbase trolley. This pic of the middle area shows the Water St freight terminal and Main St. Buildings are probably in their final location.
Thanks for the updated photo's, looks amazing. You can get a pack of cheap cars on Amazon If you need them. Me and a few others here bought them. This is what I bought but there are other options too. Just an idea for you? https://www.amazon.com/Gauge-Plasti...0592&sprefix=n+scale+vehicles,aps,121&sr=8-11
One set of the Kato guard rail and road fence came in. Typical Kato quality and attention to detail. The guardrail will be painted a metallic galvanize (ordered, hope it's good). The road fence is more suitable as a property fence, which will be painted white or black.
