What did you do on your layout today? (N scale)

[gavino200]

On 8/23/2018 at 6:52 AM, Waisneed said:

I upgraded my viaduct to four track shinkansen style. Just missing side platforms ans the correct catenary hangers now. But those will have to wait.

 

Waisneed, how well does your Doctor Yellow run compared to your other Shinkansens? Mine is the slowest by far of all my Shinkansens. I love everything else about it, but the speed has always been a disappointment.

[nscalestation]

44 minutes ago, JR 500系 said:

Oh wow amazing fleet of police cars there! Each time I see that mini Couper, the more I like it!

 

I really need to get a couple of those models of Mini's myself.  A cousin in Takachikawa has one so they totally fit in with a Tokyo scene.

[gavino200]

5 minutes ago, nscalestation said:

 

I really need to get a couple of those models of Mini's myself.  A cousin in Takachikawa has one so they totally fit in with a Tokyo scene.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Herpa-1-160-N-PKW-Set-Mini-Cooper-TM-065252-003/123342173084?hash=item1cb7c4339c:g:TD0AAOSwV01bh~wn

[railsquid]

25 minutes ago, nscalestation said:

 

I really need to get a couple of those models of Mini's myself.  A cousin in Takachikawa has one so they totally fit in with a Tokyo scene.

 

Tachikawa?

They're not uncommon, there's even a garage specializing in Minis a couple of minutes from Chez Railsquid.

[Pauljag900]

Next part of the layout is this area at the rear of the layout,a farm and a church will reside along here

 

[Pauljag900]

made a start with the groundcover.

the church is where the white paper is at the mo.

 

[Lina_Blue]

6 hours ago, gavino200 said:

 

Waisneed, how well does your Doctor Yellow run compared to your other Shinkansens? Mine is the slowest by far of all my Shinkansens. I love everything else about it, but the speed has always been a disappointment.

Didn't notice any excessive slowness with my Dr. Yellow in comparison with my E5, H5 or JR 500.

 

I was operating in DC (Analog)

[Pauljag900]

I had to order a power supply for one of the Kato controllers and they had this church for £4 !! After assembling it I realised why they re so cheap 😂😂

it ll do till I place an order then I ll probs get a Tomix one.

 

 

I m sure a couple of coats of white paint,glazing,lights and a bit of weathering will improve it no end,here s hoping!,😂

[serotta1972]

16 hours ago, gavino200 said:

Two new Japanese police cars arrived today, to bring my total up to six. I need to buy another ten or so Japanese units so I can retire and sell off the American cop cars that are still being used on the layout. 

 

 

When you decide to retire your American Police cars, let Paul know. He’s wanting some and I’ve been looking when I go to train shows.

[Suica]

The quality difference between the JP and US police cars is just amazing.

[gavino200]

52 minutes ago, Suica said:

The quality difference between the JP and US police cars is just amazing.

 

Isn't it. In fairness these cop cars are made by an amateur and sold on ebay. They're really not very good, although they've been fun to play with. They don't have any decals or printing. The "shield" is just a fairly irregular shaped blob of gold paint. And the glass parts are just flat paint.

 

But I was never impressed by the quality of American models. Especially reliability. We started by buying American stuff at local stores. Then online stores. It wasn't long until I realized that the Kato products were far superior to anything else on the market. And shockingly usually cheaper too.  So I became a "strictly Kato" customer. Then while searching Kato locos, I came across an E5 Shinkansen and it blew my mind. 

 

After switching to DCC I hit a barrier trying to convert a Japanese C-62. Searching for a solution I found this forum. That was a genuine "through the looking glass" moment for me. A whole new world. Japanese prototypes are just so amazing. And the personality of this site is much better than any other train site I had found. There was no turning back. These cop cars and a few small houses are now the last remnants of the layout's American roots apart from some US trains that I occasionally run.

 

Btw, if anyone actually wants these things and would be willing to swap some Japanese cop cars, I'll make you a good deal.

 

 

Edited September 1, 2018 by gavino200

[Khaul]

I have worked on the making the Tomytec houses to look a bit better and integrating them in the layout. The houses are not glued on yet, and there is quite some weeds to put around, but things are starting to take shape.

 

Last week there was no road here. I did not like the crack in the house with the blue roof.

 

There is road now. There is also some parking space in front of the shops, and a step to come in comfortably. And a new late between the houses and the shops.

 

The crack is, sort of, gone.

 

The road.

 

Opposite view.

 

The rail side.

 

I got a table top tripod so I can now take photos with quite some of depth of field. I think it shows. I may not need a macro lens after all.

Edited September 2, 2018 by Khaul

[Khaul]

I was brave and finally glued down the houses and the shrine. I fixed the Tomytec kits a bit before gluing them down. I sensed I could spend the rest of the year on that so I took a decision to move on. I also filled the gaps with grass and installed interior lights. Only a couple of photos today.

 

[bill937ca]

Trams have resumed operation and the addition to my layout is coming along.  The balsa and styrene plaza base is complete. I plan to build a Faller fountain for the plaza. I would like to find an HO scale statue for the plaza too.  Right now there are six trams on the layout, five in the photos.  These trams are a mix of Modemo, Arnold and Tomytec.

[Pauljag900]

35 minutes ago, bill937ca said:

Trams have resumed operation and the addition to my layout is coming along.  The balsa and styrene plaza base is complete. I plan to build a Faller fountain for the plaza. I would like to find an HO scale statue for the plaza too.  Right now there are six trams on the layout, five in the photos.  These trams are a mix of Modemo, Arnold and Tomytec.

Looks superb bill👍👍😀

[Lina_Blue]

Because of reasons: All lighted E231-500 Yamato Line.

 

[gavino200]

1 hour ago, Waisneed said:

Because of reasons: All lighted E231-500 Yamato Line.

 

 

 

It looks great. Are those regular Kato lighting kits?

[Lina_Blue]

3 minutes ago, gavino200 said:

 

It looks great. Are those regular Kato lighting kits?

 

Yup, Regular 11-212 6 packs.

[JR 500系]

7 hours ago, Waisneed said:

Because of reasons: All lighted E231-500 Yamato Line.

 

 

 

That looks great! I think your platforms wont be needing any lights!  🙂

[Pauljag900]

 

Painted the cheap church and wired all the lights up.Some scenic stuff arrived but still waiting for stuff before I can do anymore.

[Lina_Blue]

Many thank yous and my gratitued to @gavino200 for the pantograph replacement parts.

 

Now my H5 can operate with full power again!

 

[Drunkenclam]

On 9/3/2018 at 9:16 PM, Waisneed said:

Because of reasons: All lighted E231-500 Yamato Line.

 

 

 

Because you can 😄

 

[nscalestation]

On 9/1/2018 at 8:57 AM, Suica said:

The quality difference between the JP and US police cars is just amazing.

 

That is for sure.  I really like the TomyTec vehicles and even use them on my American prototype modules / layout when ever I can.  When the Fairlady Z's came out I bought the large box so I could get enough 240z's to fill an open auto rack.

 

Edited September 7, 2018 by nscalestation

[Pauljag900]

Did a bit more to the farm and church module,just waiting for some wedding figures,hedge for around the church and a small duck pond which will fit onto the small area on the left.

 

[Drunkenclam]

So taking a leaf from Pauljag's example. Splitting it up into little diaramas. Now my week on call is finished. I've got the knife and glue out. And started by the station entrance footbridge.

 

 

As this is right at the front by the controllers, I'm a little unhappy about how empty the Tomix building is. So started making some escalators to fill in the void between the front and back doors. Using my favourite building material. Coffee Shop wooden stiring sticks.

 

 

 

Once dried. I can send them down a little. Add some texture to create the steps (black cable ties) and paint the sides silver with a black band for the handrail.