Ok, there has been some really excellent work as of late here, so I have been motivated to do some upadtes to my layout. First I added my scratchbuilt elevator into the layout. Then I painted the farmhouse white and tried to build a better looking barn/shed. The wife said I needed more color in the layout so I painted that red. On top of that I bashed a few more of those little cement trucks into flatbeds, they are N I think, but they look so close to Z, I figured why not. I hope you guys like em!
I like it Joe, your layout is clean and well detailed. I like your ballast too! Now, when are you going to convert the lower level to Z Scale? -Robert
Joe, That is one nice layout. What vehicles do you use I dont remember seeing these around. It is a pleasant looking layout where you feel like running trains. I need to get started on a layout soon. Kim
I like the improvements you made to your layout. You added the trucks, the old elevator, more trees, and the barn. Dig I get it right. I forgot, you also added the crossing signals.
Thanks for the kind words guys. John, you are pretty close there, very good eyes! I also added the truck loading facility on the large elevator. Henrik, taking those big coffin boxes off the turnouts really makes a world of difference. By all means do it! Just be carefull you do not cut off the clear plastic bar that throws the points. Kim, I think the cement trucks came with an N scale building or something, I could be wrong, I brought 4 of them off a guy getting rid of his N collection at a train show with the thought off bashing them into Z. With some patience you can make them into real nice flatbeds or dump type trucks. Robert, I can't tell you how tempting it is to get rid of all my N and use both levels...I am getting close, very close... Tim, all it needs now is some of your fantastic tractors! I am staying posted and waiting! Chris, I really can't wait to see how your layout turns out, just be sure to keep posting pictures of your progress, your work is very motivating!
Kim, Those trucks used to be sold by Bachman as N scale accessories along with some other vehicles in a blister pack. You can freguently find them at train shows sold as singles. I believe they are probably around 1/200th, much closer to Z than N scale. As Joe said they are originally Cement mixer trucks before he modified them. They can look really good if you clean up the mold lines and flashing cut down the bumper and maybe even put slightly smaller wheels on them. I've got a bunch of them waiting on the workbench. Randy
Thanks for clearing that up with the trucks Randy. I knew they were N scale, but being as I purchased them from a guy at a show I wasn't really sure where they exactly came from. They do work nice though. Bob, thanks for the kind words! Eventually I'll try and get to work on my larger layout, but right now I keep just wanting to make this one look a little better.
Here is a picture of the trucks that I bashsed. On the left is the original looking cement truck. The others I just repainted and cut out the cement mixer and added flat beds. They look good and really fill a void in my layout!
