The dollar store vehicles were 21 cents per, and the wheels turn. I'm sure these more expensive units come with more options standard, like navigation and a large screen.
I never saw any N Scale vehicles at the Dollar Tree. I'll have to look next time. Oh the ones from Amazon have Apple Play and Google Play, NOT! Actually just cheap generic cars to fill a layout Even GOLD ones, which is weird but I still use them
Just received the set from Amazon. The gold ones look weird. Might have to repaint that one. Here in Texas, it appears that most cars are white, black, gray. Occasionally, blue, red, copper. At Dollar Tree: the scale is not specified but it is close to N.
I’ve seen gold cars. It’s not a common color but I have seen them. Edit: I have the same cars and will use the gold ones as is. I think they look cool and add some color to a scene.
Landscaper has made considerable progress laying down sod. Nothing quite like an instant lawn to perk you up. Some more asphalt needs to be paved. I'm very pleased with the way the grass mat turned out. There isn't a whole mess of it in one place, which is good, and it's a good color contrast with the Unitrack and asphalt. There are many seams and joints in it. They're all candidates for vegetation. The trolley platform is glued down but not the Amtrak station. Its concrete work is complete. Does need some planters, bushes, trees, benches, people. The Christmas tree is temporary (as is the one by the church). Also installed are the switch ID numbers. They're simple push pins. This is a station view from the opposite side. Also complete is the sand/dirt paper area around the cement plant. Most of the materials used have been easy to deal with but not this dirt paper. It's like a rough sandpaper (should have used that) with loose dirt. Had to do considerable clean up with the powder it left behind. Now looking for some N scale hopper truck trailers. A backhoe is now on site to deal with future messes. Close up of the freight station and nearby switch tower. The weight is on it until the glue sets. Placing a few vehicles gives the scene some life. The roller is being hauled up the hill on a flat bed. The trucks are from the dollar store.
They are switch numbers, just numbered push pins that are easy to see. The guys in the switch towers have computers. Me, not so much. Plus, they're a memory aid for my grandson (ahem). Prototypical? Not a bit. Yes, most are Amazon cars. A few others from the dollar store.
With so much narrow road, there's going to have to be some type of guard rail. Of common use is Armco's W-Beam type. Kato makes one in N-scale that looks quite similar: 23-213 Guardrails And Road Fences. The road fences, upon a quick examination, look more like an ornamental type. More on that in the future. Anyway, as guard rail is typically galvanized steel, a coat of metallic paint is in order. This is the first time I've tried this brand, and any metallic acrylic. I think it's going to work. By the way, guard rail also comes in Cor-Ten steel, which is a natural rust brown color. The picture shows the flat back side of the rail. The front side reveals the W shape. In the US, the vertical posts are either square wood or I Beams. These look round.
Pick up a box of 'Diamond Square Toothpicks'. Cut them just past the rounded ends. Cut to length. Paint or stain them. Should make some decent wood vertical posts. JMO
Started getting some much needed rain today. Taking advantage by planting some trees and bushes around the passenger station. Have had these for over a year from a Plano train show. Will get more. Going to move the airplane gas station in favor of a green park area in that triangle. Also have some grass tufts but not sure how to use/arrange them.
The gas station is out, the park is in. I thought this would be a good place to try Kato's ornamental fence. One can enter from either end.
The HOA required that new homes have at least one pink Crape Myrtle tree. They'll look better once they fill out.
Today was Tree Day - planted a bunch on the upper level; behind and around the apartments, the church, and along Arbor Road. Moved the gas station to the other side of the tracks; installed the F type barriers on both sides of the trolley track; striped a couple of spaces. At the west end of the tunnel, placed F type barriers and installed guard rail down Arbor Road. Have now used up all the F type barriers. It'll be guard rails from here out. Still have plenty of trees left. Trying to figure out how to make some of the track sides more weedy.
Landscaping continues with smaller trees and weed tufts. The weed tufts are experimental as it's all new to me. Just trying to arrange them so they look somewhat logical and realistic. Started by placing them to hide all the seams in the grass mat, and went on from there. The top of the wall on the east side needs a lot of attention. Have to try and figure out how to make it work with a backdrop. To have room to work, the painted backdrop will be the last thing installed. Changed the trees in front of the church to bushes. Installed more cars and guard rails. Also put in a few benches with sitting figures. N scale is tough on these small details.
Received some even bigger trees. Had to work them in. Have so many that now I can suggest groves or a small forest. Tried to mix up the tree types to look more random. Painted the top of the wall on the east corner with some blotchy earth colors. Put some grass powder on the wall and other locations. Just dabbed PVA with a finger and sprinkled the leftover bag droppings from various trees. Got more trees today so there will be some more droppings to place. Planted all the grass tufts on hand, with PVA. I really like these tufts as they are various random-like shapes. More will be coming soon. I planted many where water/moisture might be running down the wall, and some ledges. I tried to suggest the wetness simply by lightly brushing on English Ivy acrylic paint on the seams between the wall panels. Still to do is more benches and people, and a sky backdrop. Thanks to everyone for their kind words of encouragement.
I'm now prepping to get ready to work on the backdrop. The right side is going to be tricky. When I first started this layout, I was going to go with DCC, with the hardware going on a shelf extension on the side, not the front. So, I screwed and glued a shelf for this purpose (see pics below). The shelf is made of 3/8" plywood, extending about 1' under the hollow door. It is glued to the door (on the bottom) and screwed into the door edge (on the bottom, and on the side through a furring strip). I boxed it with furring strips that are nailed and glued to the plywood. Naturally, this will now be hell to remove. I've decided to use it as a storage area for cars and locos, after I glue down some track. Another problem is that, since the door lifts, anything on that shelf is going to fall off. Anyway, that furring strip on the side (with 5 screws) is a problem because it's thicker than the masonite backdrop. Right now, I'm gluing new furring strips to frame the side to bring it even with the bottom strip. Being attached to pink foam, screws are useless. The PVA glue will have to do all the work. Perhaps I should have used Liquid Nails. I'll give it 24 hours, then remove the clamps, see how strong it feels. The backdrop sky will only extend 6" to 7" above the upper level. That's all the room available.
