Karakura, N scale.

[Huib]

Hi all,

I got the digital tech done this week. The layout is powered by a YaMoRC multibus central unit (LocoNet, Xpressnet, etc.). The software is iTrain, running on a Raspberry PI 5. The PI is connected to a 13.3-inch touch screen. Control can be fully automatic or done manually, using either the touch screen or LocoNet/XpressNet controllers, the Roco Z21 app, etc.

The set-up looks sort of professional, don't you think? 😉 

Grtz! Huib

 

 

Edited May 18, 2024 by Huib

[Huib]

The next part of the project will be making trees. About 75 of them. I did the first few as try-out and now mass-production can start. Can't wait to have an entire forest of these...

 

 

Edited May 18, 2024 by Huib

[Huib]

The first set of 50 trees is about done. Up next: creating 30 or so pines 😉

 

Grtz! Huib

 

[cteno4]

Nice Huib,

 

what materials and methods are you using for your armatures and flicking?

 

jeff

[Huib]

Thnx Jeff,

 

Here is the recipe.... 😉

 

1. Create the basic shape of the tree from 0.35 mm wire (8 double strains will do)

2. Wrap the base in Fimo (PVC modelling paste)

3. Add fibres 12 mm (2x), 6 mm (1x) and 2 mm (1x)

4. Spray in a dark base colour, i.e. RAL 7013

5. Add the leaves; I used ground leaves from Scenic Express

6. Fine-tune with airbrush and drybrush

 

I will edit a video of the whole process once all the trees and bushes are done.

Grtz! Huib
 

 

Edited May 19, 2024 by Huib

[cteno4]

Cool, thanks. Yes please post the video. I’m always surprised after doing these myself (il like the stranded wire armature method too) and watching lots of videos of others doing it I keep finding new tricks!

 

cheers

 

jeff

[Martijn Meerts]

Those are some good looking trees!

 

[Huib]

Here you go... 35 pines done 😉

 

 

[Huib]

One of my DCC decoders (a Lenz Silvermini+) went up in smoke. I replaced it with a Doehler & Haass DH10C and the Tomix EMU runs silky smooth now. Here is a video... 

 

[cteno4]

Amazing action shot of the magic smoke escaping. Sort of looks like a spirit leaving the departed decoder.

 

jeff

[Huib]

Yep, it has gone to Valhalla.

[cteno4]

Instead of being launched onto the water in the Viking boat, its sent down the rails on a rail car! Fitting.

 

jeff

[Huib]

Here is the video I promised. It is in Dutch, but I am sure you'll have heaps of fun with YouTube's autotranslate option 😉

 

 

[Huib]

Today I will indulge myself with some Japanese city planning...

 

[MeTheSwede]

I watched the tree video with great interest yesterday. Thank you.

 

Good luck with the town. I can't recommend enough spending a lot of time on Google street view if you want to get a really authentic look. There are so many aspects of how a street look that I just assumed worked the same all over the world, but on closer inspection doesn't.

 

 

[Huib]

Yes, absolutely. I am using the Kawaguchigo and Hotaka station squares as references. I have been there myself and shot tons of photos 😉

[MeTheSwede]

As expected you are well prepared. I'm looking forward to videos to come.

[Huib]

The small brother of the big Buddha 😉

 

 

[Huib]

New rolling stock just pulled into the station. Fitting a DCC decoder to this Kato E127 took me nearly a day. But it moves...

 

 

[Huib]

The town is starting to come together 😉

 

 

Edited June 18, 2024 by Huib

[Huib]

Nasty little project: making a set of 6 working light signals out of Greenmax parts. First one is working, five to go and they'll all need a bit of paint too.

 

 

[Huib]

Signals ✅

 

[Huib]

Here is a short clip of the signals working automatically.

 

 

[Huib]

Snack? Anyone?

 

[cteno4]

Nice. A kit or did you lasercut your own? 
 

jeff