Silly Shay scale question

I haven't done anything in Nn3 yet, but neither have I done anything in any other scale (well, not since adulthood anyway ). I do have general modelling experience, and this includes fiddling with tiny items. If I decide to go for Nn3, the first thing I'll do is order an 0-6-0 kit from Republic Loco Works, which they say is the simplest to start with. I can always change my mind if I end up disliking it.

The Colorado Central book you mentioned is tempting, but quite an expensive one... Might still get it sooner or later.

I've now made a more refined version of the track plan:

(replaced by below)

Besides expanding on the station area, I've added a mainline. The scene is now the Colorado Central mainline (blue), which is linked to a fictional line (green) connecting some small mining towns. This should add some operational interest. The purple track is the mining set-back track, territory of the Shay. Any future expansion can link to the CC (bottom left) and/or the fictional line (top left).
The light grey bits are hidden and lead to an underground reverse loop and staging (entry upper right corner, track not shown). Next up: building a mock-up. Will keep you all posted

 

Is it only on my monitor that the lines are hardly discernible or at least not showing well? The lettering is fine. Thus, I can't really see different colors except in the lettering.

 

No it's not just you Robert, for some reason XtrackCad makes them vague. I've uploaded a better version now. If you can't see it, then perhaps the old picture is still in your cache and you need to hit refresh.

 

That's nearly a switchback. Great for shay country.

Wolfgang

 

Definitely an immense improvement. The turntable still needs a bit of doing. But otherwise very fine! An interesting layout, indeed. I only wonder whether there is sufficient variety in rolling stock, both engines and cars, in Nn3 for such a diverse setting. But I'm not familiar with that "scene". I only have about half a dozen vehicles in Nn3, more for contrasts sake to the larger ones.

 

I think I'll get quite far with what there is available in kits. And what there isn't, I can always build. I'm not unfamiliar with paints and decals, and an airbrush is something I want to learn to use anyway

 

Same with me. I finally have all the equipment now, but I still need to get started.

Stuff is way too expensive here, so everything has been imported by me, one way or another, so far. Except for the isopropyl alcohol for cleaning purposes. But there too, I think it would have been much cheaper outside of Switzerland.

 

Hi again,

The Nn3 bug really bit, and I have a small update. First of all, I managed to acquire a Marklin 8800, 88051, 8803, and 8895 on Ebay for about 40-50$ each. They will be the mechanisms for the locomotives. Only the 8895 has arrived so far, and its size makes me giggle. I also added some books on realistic planning and operation, and on DCC to my collection, and am still awaiting Abbott's Colorado Central book and Armstrong's Track planning for realistic operation.

Based on feedback and the very handy 10 commandments for yard design, I also gave my track plan another look over, and came up with this:


CC main is blue, my fictional main is green, mining branch is purple, yard is brown. Elevation measurements in cm. I have put the mining branch behind the yard, as recommended, and all turnouts are now in reach. I also wanted to make the layout smaller, which means I have made the hidden loops 10" curves. The exits left and right lead first to some hidden track:



(bit of a vague drawing, sorry) and then to a lower level:




with cassette drawer, reverse loop and staging. Mock ups will have to show if there's still enough room for scenery and if the lower level will be practical with these elevations. Next up: acquiring a kit .

 

So, I see that you have two 0-6-0s and two 2-6-0s in your near future. But, model railroading will...very soon...be taking a backseat to the wonderful reading that is awaiting you. That Colorado Central book is on a different planet than most RR books...be prepared to be thoroughly torn between modeling the 1870s-80s or the 1920s-30s that previously caught your attention.

Here's a few kits that might be of interest to you (and your microscope!)
-https://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/show_item.php?ID=943
-https://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/show_item.php?ID=946
-https://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/show_item.php?ID=947
-https://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/show_item.php?ID=945

South Park freight cars were used extensively on the CC starting in the 1880s...South Park locomotives also showed up. As I like to say, if you model the South Park, you also model the Colorado Central and vice-versa.

Michael

 

Those look to be very nice kits indeed. The site says they can be reserved, do you happen to know a release date for them, or should I mail Marshall?

 

I don't have any clue. Actually, I hadn't even realized that they weren't already on the market. I'd vote for emailing Marshall.

Michael