Helge, I didn't realize your layout is as large as it is. What track did you use - Peco? My favourite engine is the Stiesel.
Well Rick, I did not realized it either before you mentioned it The tracks and turnouts are Austrian made of the ROCO Co. 95 % of the tracks are flexible type. So, you liked the Stiesel. That is an old (toy) steamer - Fleischmann Piccolo - that I got from a friend for almost 30 years ago. I was tired of this toylike European steam locomotive so I converted it to a diesel engine which gave it the name Stiesel. It is an old layout that I started to build 1988, but some parts are built already in the 70´s for example the engine shed and the Iron Hill mine.
Great photos everyone One day i hope that my layout looks that good! As it is now it is only a door with an oval of track, i havent got enough track to complete it. But, i have started scenery in one corner, and painted the track that will be visible. its probably easier to paint the track before you lay it down.
When I read the News groups and see all the HO guys take shots at N scale as a "Toy scale" its clear that these guys have never seen the quality of work we have here. Well done guys.
Helge you make layout building an art! Great work! Daylight99, the "O" scale guys used to tease us "HO" guys like the "HO" guys get to tease you "N" guys now! That's just part of the fun of our hobby. Now you get to tease the "Z" guys, see? All in good fun.
I spent a LONG weekend years ago at a show in Southern California and of some 12 layouts in this room we were the only N scalers their. As the weekend went on the "friendly" jabbing went from joking to all out bashing and as more of the groups in the building saw what other were doing they smelled blood and jumped right in, it was the worst modeling weekend of my modeling life and I felt completely humiliated. I guess because of this I fail to see the humor in “teasing”, this is one of the reasons I also never down play the work of others, I have been their and its not much fun.
Bob- I can't imagine anyone who could make fun of your modeling or layout, no matter who they were or what scale they were in. Your work holds up to the best of prototype- specific modeling in any scale and you would have to have hints (coupler type, specific commercial items only made in N) to determine from pictures what scale your layout is. HO guys may still try to dish it out, but they are just showing their ignorance. I don't hear of a great number of N Scalers getting out of the scale for HO; but I sure hear about HOers getting into N now that our stuff runs so well out of the box and the prototype variety is getting so good. Just consider the source and keep fighting the good fight.....we will pervail. Model Railroading is Fun, Charlie
This happened when I was part of a N Trak club and long before the Orange Belt Lines was built. I look at it this way, if you see someone's work that you know could be better you can A: point out the flaws and make the person feel bad about their work. B: You can say nothing, (say something nice or not at all) C: You can offer help and ideas to make his or her modeling more fun so they can build on what they have already started. A: is NEVER an option.
Without realizing it I took this topic in a different direction, I apoligize. Here's one to get things going in the right direction again. Its 1943 and the west bound Chief is passing the Santa Mesa tower. Who can find the crow
Beautiful shot of a beautiful train on a beautiful layout. Even though I model modern, I'm impressed. BTW, its interesting how far we've come since HOers looked down their noses at us N scalers. As a whole I think there is new found respect for our scale! Daryl
Bob, we have all had experiences with hot headed know-it-alls, regardless of what scale we choose. Good natured teasing can be fun, but it isn't teasing when a guy starts down grading another guy! That is criticism! We call that "Flameing" now days, but it hurts just as bad. Even though I have been in HO scale since 1937, I have friends that enjoy N scale, like Craig. He can attest to my loyalty to his skills in working wonders in N scale products. To look at the detail both of you have achieved should convince any gauge nut that you can hold your own in the craftsmanship department! Guys at that club meet, show their jealousy by rageing loud and long, when really all they accomplish is blowing hot air. That tells us how much their opinion is worth ( a F;RT in a high wind!) Try to keep in mind that guys like that are very very insecure. When they are around someone more skilled or better looking, or has more money, they feel the need to tell the whole world they measure up to at least the same, if not better. In my 72 years, I have noticed that the ones who yell the loudest need help to wipe their own butt. I am not interested in wiping it for them, so I know what condition I am leaving them in, when I turn and walk away snickering! I don't carry a chip on my shoulder, it might fall off and damage something on my layout. I was sensative for a number of years, but then I began to turn the tables on them. At one club, a hot shot started berating one of my new locomotives I was test running. I had a micrometer in my pocket, so I whipped it out and measured a handrail on my engine, then I straightened up and asked him right in front of the whole crowd, "Now let us measure your engine and see how much better yours is to scale than mine!" He of course crawfished like crazy till some of the others began to snicker, then he got mad! Needless to say, he left without allowing any measurements to be made! Modeling in N scale does not make you a little squirt any more than modeling in G scale makes them a Big Shot! The Big Shot has to brag that he is the greatest. You don't have to, we know it by the proof of your craftsmanship, so we will brag for you!
Bob very nice picture and layout. Usually H0 guys really treat us N scalers as kids playing with toys. I've seen plenty of H0 layouts at conventions and private ones as well. On most of them the trains don't run as smooth as on my N scale layout. Locos and cars are rather jumping along the track than running. Also most of these guys run their equipment way to fast. But they still think their work is worlds apart from what we do in N. I had quite some visitors seeing my N scale layout. One of'em told me that only H0 is the only accurate scale. Well, didn't reply. Just showed him the door so he could leave.... Keep up your good work and post more pics please. (maybe you should color-correct them prior to posting. they look a bit too yellow)
The establishment (HO) has been seriously challenged as of late. With modelers like Bob Russell, Bernie Kempinski, the Reid brothers and a lot of you (I don't mean to leave anyone out) who have done unbelievably beautiful work, it's challenged those guys in HO. There are artists in HO like Paul Templar, the late John Allen, Tony Koester who are secure in their art and offer only praise and constructive advice. But when you consider how many "average" guys are in HO who don't have the talent of the afore mentioned, then you start to see the jealousy come out and the cheap shots.
Southern California IS yellow! That's why they call us the "Golden State" [ 10. October 2002, 16:39: Message edited by: espeeman ]
Always a pleasure to visit your layout, Bob. The crow on the pole takes scenery to a new high. I must remember that one when my layout progresses to scenery. Now filthy pigeons, however. -- John Adney, Marion, Iowa
SR&WF news. As I promised in "High balling" I add here some pics from the nearly finished Cold Spring. Just click on the link below the station The rest of the pictures you will find through this link
