Thought I'd get some action going on the N scale forum. Is there a layout out there that inspired you too build a layout? The layout that truelly inspired me would have to be Daryl Kruse N scale layout. I remember going to Daryl's site 5 years ago and downloading pictures of his layout. I still visit his website regularly to see what he has achieved. You can visit his website at Daryl Kruse N scale layout webpage Here are a couple of pictures from his website of his layout OK guys what other layouts have inspired you??? [ 12 August 2001: Message edited by: Colonel ]</p>
The Reid Brothers layout is probably the N scale layout that inspired me the most. I was also inspired by having the chance to operate on the Cat Mountain & Santa Fe (although that's HO). The Reid brothers layout came out in MR when I was constructing small N scale layouts in the 80's. The Reids layout was the first N scale layout to be on par with quality layouts in HO. I guess it made me realize that there was no reason why my next layout couldn't be on the same level. There seemed to be an attitude prior to the Reid layout that N scale took up much less space but the trade off was that the modeling quality just would not be able to measure up to HO. This attitude was prevelent amoung N scalers (although they rarely admitted it) as well as those in HO. The Reid brothers layout dispelled that myth. The Reid brother layout also inspired me to use code 55 rail at a time when no turnouts were available. One thing that bothered me about the Reid layout was that inspite of how great it looked, there was just something that still gave away that it was an N scale layout. I finally realized that the N scale give a way was the oversized rails. At that point it became clear that no matter how great your modeling was, if the track was standard code 80, it was goping to be obvious that it was N scale. So in the summer of 1989 I began my layout inspired by the work of the Reid brothers with ME code 55 track and hand laid turnouts. BTW here is a web page that includes photos of the Reid's layout. web page Daryl Kruse
The first N scale layout to inspire me was the Fox River Grove in February 1975 MR. While crude by todays standards it was one of the very first large layouts in N featured in MR and showed that it could be done, very good considering the limited resources and poor quality of N at the time. More recently Lance Mindheim's N scale Monon layout realy raises the bar in N modelling at least to the level of the Rieds and in some ways beyond. It has been feature in a recent MR and some tidbits of it in N scale Magazine.
Several layouts that appeared in the model RR press in 1999 inspired me for two reasons: for operational design and for scenery. Once I decided to build an around-the-walls layout I found David Barrow's Cat Mountain & Santa Fe (HO) and Lee Nichols' Utah Colorado Western (HO) extremely helpful for their linear operational design. For scenery I enjoyed Doug Tagsold's Denver, Front Range & Western (HO) which used many of Rand Hood's techniques. Finally, David Haines' Raton Pass (N) inspired me for its scenery and operational efficiency, especially his yard design.
Also Allen McClellan's V&O and Rand Hood's D&RGW layouts (all HO) inspired me tooo. I wanted that good quality with a small scale.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the MR Clinchfield RR project layout... That's what did it for me and N Scale. I remember following every part of the series when I was a kid... Then one day we went to the mall and found out there was a train show that day. Low and behold, there was the Clinchfield layout. I watched an 80+ coal car train slowly come out of one tunnel, down the main, then back into another tunnel, for what seemed to take forever. I was hooked. Dave D. Los Angeles, CA -Rail Radio Online - Home of the "TrainTenna" Rail Radio Monitoring Antenna- http://eje.railfan.net/railradioonline ---------------------------------------------------------- -The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Photo Archive & E-Mail List- http://eje.railfan.net ---------------------------------------------------------- -The Ashley, Drew & Northern Railfan Page- http://eje.railfan.net/adn ---------------------------------------------------------- -Southern California Trains- http://eje.railfan.net/socal ----------------------------------------------------------
Bill Denton's Kingsbury Branch,http://members.aol.com/wdenton101/index.htm. This layout really made me go wow. The layout is very well planned and built, and really made me open my eyes back in 96. Mike Antkowiak
The first N scale layout in print that really impressed me was the Clinchfield layout in MR. Even then, it was impressive! I was also blown away by Lance Mindheim's N scale Monon- some of his scenery is awesome! The Reid brothers' layout is another example of what can be done in N scale. It was a combination of those three that got me back into N scale.
When I read the topic it was an immediate three, as I read each post it was clear that I was not the only one.... 1. First was the Clinchfield MR project layout, it planted the seed for a move to N scale which occured ~10 years later after good engines bacame available (thanks Kato) 2. The Reid Brothers proved to me one could OPERATE in N scale, and through the Magic of Allen Keller I can prove it to anyone whi cares to sit in front of my TV. 3. Lance' Monon layout... though a "pro" Lance' layout has made me look at my modeling and snapped me out of a recent "good enough" rut. As I wrote of the big three for me I thought of the many other wonderful N scale layouts I have seen and remembered a modeler I don't think has been mentioned. Bernie Kempenski. Not only have his modules captured my attention (and gone a long way to pushing me to doing a module) but I have also marvelled at his photographic excellence. The most direct affect he has had on me is the use of HO structures in N scale, well apart from his companies excellent products! I actually use several of his products in most of my HO to N conversions. Vandy
Probably the layout that moved me towards N scale in a convincing commitment was an N track club layout being displayed at the Lynden, Washington train show. Up till seeing it, I wasn't sure N scale could be my thing. I know that pictures in magazines can exagerate the impact a subject photo. So I wanted to know there was something out there that would be fun to operate and look at. I think they were from Tacoma. Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the club but hats off to them anyway. Also I saw some impressive layouts at the Tacoma N scale show that I liked. Again names don't stick out. The Wisconsin Central layout in MR helped me a great deal in planning. It convinced me flat doesn't have to be bad, effective view blocks and breaks can work well, that I could copy their standards for train length and sidings without having to re-invent the wheel, that effective compression of the prototypical doesn't have to be complex, that junctions to the outside world are effective, that track wiring can be easy with DCC, that lights on or by the turnouts can help with determing the direction of the turnout throw, and the effective use of foam. Not bad for one layout. So although mine won't look at all like the Wisconsin Central, it was indeed very influenced by it.
Model Railroaders Clinchfield series. I used to look in awe at the two page Ad for the Clinchfield. I had thought that is was given away, I wonder if anyone knows what happened to it? Until that came out I do not remember anything approaching the Dick Elwell's or David Barrow's of HO and that guy that does the DRG in HO some of my favorites. After that came out it shown what could be done in N the flood gates opened . I beleve that railroad should sit along side the V&O in any model railroad museum.
For me there were many layouts that inspired me, but for me one small layout plan was the starting point to my first "real" layout for my Maine Central. Many years ago John Armstrong designed a simple twice around layout named the Senic and Relaxed. Atlas published this plan for years in one of their books, "Nine N Scale Layouts". John had designed the simple 6x3 layout to give the affect of distance by using a twice around style. It even included passing siddings and spurs! Simple as it is I have built mine with a highway/railroad bridge, a small mountain with tunnel, and plenty of view blocks. When finished I will be able to run a through train and a local switcher. I can even hook up to an N Trak module. Small lessons learned on this layout will help me when I do the big one, the Mendota to Galesburg BNSF layout
I had forgotten about Bernard's stuff... He is quite good. I really liked the steel mill module, and he is supposedly going to have an article published someday about a paper mill layout he's working on. As far as the Clinchfield goes... I recall an article they had maybe a couple years back or something that showed how the MR people bought the layout back from some store or something that had it for a while, and they refurbished it a bit for the article. After that, it toured for a while again, and then was sold to a hobby store. The WC article series was nice, but I don't know... It just didn't grab me the way the Clinchfield did. Maybe it's the way they do the articles now... They don't seem to have the pizzazz they use to. The WC articles never even covered locos and rolling stock. They still sell the Clinchfield series in a book I believe, which is a testament to it's success. Dave D. Los Angeles, CA -Rail Radio Online - Home of the "TrainTenna" Rail Radio Monitoring Antenna- http://eje.railfan.net/railradioonline ---------------------------------------------------------- -The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Photo Archive & E-Mail List- http://eje.railfan.net ---------------------------------------------------------- -The Ashley, Drew & Northern Railfan Page- http://eje.railfan.net/adn ---------------------------------------------------------- -Southern California Trains- http://eje.railfan.net/socal ----------------------------------------------------------
The two biggest boosts for N scale has got to be Ntrak and the Clinchfield series that Model Railroader did. N scale "came out of the closet" so to speak and a lot of people were educated that you could do something like that in a scale that small. I remember reading that series back in 1978 (I believe that is when it ran) and couldn't wait to get the next installment. It has been my all time favorite series in Model Railroader.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Belmont Shores Club layout, which like the Reid brothers, is an attempt to model actual countryside, only in California instead of Pennsylvania and on a much grander scale. This was to be one of the largest model railroads in the country, and in N scale to boot! Have not seen much about it lately though.
The April 2001 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman carried photos of the large La Mesa Model Railroad Club layout at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. That layout captures the Tehachapi Pass in HO. They have been working on it for the last 20 years. This one came into existance after an arsonist set fire to the Balboa Park building. The article starts on page 52 and runs through ending on page 58. It is quite large. Just think what they could have done in N scale in the same space. The museum is open six days a week.
Regarding the MR Clinchfield layouts whereabouts... I thought after it was used in the refurbish article it was given away instead of being sold, I think Frary did that article but I may be mistaken. In any event the recent if not current owner (which I think was in FL) was concidering selling it. He put one of the 5 car sets of MT CRR hoppers up on eBay several months back and in the ad mentioned that he was selling the entire layout also and to email for info. I bid on the cars and sent an email regarding the layout and other rolling stock. He ended the auction early and I never heard back from him regarding the layout etc so he either changed his mind or got an offer for the lot he couldn't refuse. The Clinchfield series book is no longer in print by Kalmbach but does show up on eBay about twice a month. Vandy
I whole heartedly agree with the Clinchfield. That was the layout that proved that N scale was more than just a novelty. There was a layout several years back in Model Railroader that was quite innovative. I think it was called the Trapp & Garnet Ridge. It was portable and made out of 3 sections that when put together built a hexagon shaped layout. It helped influence me to build a layout that is both modular and semi-portable.
