And to think that some people go to the trouble of installing Z scale couplers because the standard Micro-Trains (Kadee) items look too big. Who picked the color scheme for that New Haven boxcar? Was there a "Lady" Treble-O set?
here is a quick video...I'm cycling, manually, through the repertoire loaded for this module. Bruce [video=youtube;C2Fg2BeESdA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Fg2BeESdA[/video]
LOL, well there was a time way back in the olden days that N scale looked like something like what you'd expect, out of a Cracker Jack Box. Not pretty as you can see in Russell's pictures. Darn those awful Rapido Couplers. While working between jobs at a LHS. Hey, I got paid to have fun. I didn't get interested or excited in N scale, until a Stewart HO motor, an SP Black Widow, Covered Wagon. with a Kato Mechanism arrived on the property. I'd never seen anything run so smooth in all my life and I had to buy it. Next my boss, brought me a N Scale, SP Black Widow, Cadillac aka SD9 with an Atlas shell and a Kato drive mechanism. I was sold and started the first of my N Scale collection. We used to call if half HO Scale or as Indicated by Russell, who is younger then I am, Grin! OOO Scale. The year, if my recollection is correct 1985. Then we marched the troops up to Boston from New York....oh, that's a different story.
almost 'there' with the "Dari King" module...added a few trees, some more excellent Showcase Miniatures power poles...just a few more details (a public phone booth?) and fascia painting and we'll call this one 'done'. Bruce
Maybe a little bit of Bob Ross' influence? How tall is your backdrop, above the base top? I have been using some Masonite backdrops left over from oNeTrak-ing. They end up being 13&1/4" above. i don't have access to a table saw at present, to do any serious trimming down.
I confess, I don't know who 'bob ross' is, nor his technique... I used a stiff brush, some dark green craft paint (Hobby Lobby) and painted the tree horizon across all the skyboards... then I just 'stipled' the paint into a tree shape in the areas I wanted trees in close proximity...the paint went on 'half strength' in those areas, leaving lighter colors...looked pretty 'tree-y' to me so I stopped right there! I'm not sure about the skyboard height as I didn't cut them...they're the skyboards available from T-Kits (Terry Nathan) they look to be less than 12" above the top of the module, perhaps 10"...I'll definitely want one higher for the mesa module I plan to build...about 14-16" for that one. Bruce
WOW!...I guess the paint adds quite a bit to the illusion...!...I guess I'll be able to get away with a 14" height for the mesa scenery, then. Bruce
Russell, Let me know if you are doing a solo T-TRAK think or if it is a club effort. I would definitely like to see T-TRAK revitalized in the Houston area.
It certainly expands what you have been sharing. For my devalued 2 nano-cents worth, seven inches is just not going to work.
didn't realize it was only 7 " above the top, because it actually works quite well for us...definitely gives us a 'backdrop/skyboard and still allows us to 'see' over them...I'll definitely use taller skyboards where I need them, and even taper the edges of those to flow into the current ones. Bruce
I primarily use T-TRAK for a summer camp I offer at a local railroad museum in Rosenberg for kids. They build and decorate a module and then run trains on the final day of the camp before taking their module home. I have had a few go on to build entire layouts using the concept. I also use them for Boy Scout merit badge sessions. I occasionally set up some of my own modules at train shows with other guys from the North West Crossing group in Houston, some folks from New Braunfels, Austin and Brownsville.
Do you have a documented presentation or outline for that? I think more of us involved with T-TRAK should be doing the very same thing with Boy Scout Troops across the US.
Russell, I would LOVe some info on these 'camps' for the kids...My grandkids live just down the road from the museum and they would LOVE this! Bruce
I usually work with a scout leader who does all the paper work. I help out with section 8.-a.-5./6. shown in the link here. I also make an Operation Life Saver presentation. I am not registered but if you are registered with the BSA you can give the entire course. http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges/woo woo woo-RAIL.aspx
added a barbed wire fence to the areas recently 'static grassed'.... Yesteryear Creations....not too bad ('barbs are oversized) but it looks like barbed wire... Bruce
Denise wanted a small corral for some horses on the Triple D Farm and ranch...so I painted and installed this N scale Architect fence and gate...I like the gate but the fence is far too 'flimsy', and truthfully looks a little small for this type of corral fence...I even added evergreen styrene strip to the posts to give it some 'beef'.... Bruce
