Liberty Island (リバティ島) - My first N scale japanese layout

[gibet_b]

As I said in my layout planning topic, I started to build it ! My choice is the last layout I thinked about :

 

 

It's inspired by the kind of layouts who was popular in France in the 80's, made popular by Jouef's catalogs of plans : geometric shapes, tracks parrallels to the sides, looped. It was my goals.

 

The layout is planned 😉 to be build on a top structure that I made for my T-Trak modules. The size is 170cm x 80 cm.

 

First, I moved my previous N scale layout, Else-Ouere, to my attic. But I kept the base and put the top structure on... the top 😉

I glued 30 mm foam, because I wanted to be able to add relief. And I glued down the tracks :

 

 

Then I built a console to put the Kato controller and the switches for the turnouts. It's so fun to play with ! 

 

 

To be continued !

[gibet_b]

Hello,

 

I've made some tests of ballasting on under tunnel portions. It's not ballasted between the rails, because I tried some years ago, and it's a pain in the ass, and it's difficult to not mess up with the turnouts.

 

 

And I talked about this projet in my last video ! English IA dubbing is available :

 

 

Edited March 19 by gibet_b

[cteno4]

Very cool you are bringing some japanese railroading to France this way with the videos and i assume an article?

 

jeff

[gibet_b]

1 minute ago, cteno4 said:

Very cool you are bringing some japanese railroading to France this way with the videos and i assume an article?

 

jeff

 

Yes, absolutely ! An article is on the way.

[cteno4]

Figured looked like a good serial article along with the videos. Going to be fun of a blend of the old Jouef layout and japanese theme.

 

Are you planning on doing a bunch of japanese buildings? Would be fun to show the range of japanese buildings from the sankei laser cut kits to, green max assembly kits, to tomytec pop together, to premade Kato and tomix buildings. Each are a different building experience, benefits, drawbacks, and look and would be great to showcase them all with a comparison.

 

going to be fun watching this evolve! Will be a nice example for beginners as well with all the videos.

 

cheers

 

jeff

[gibet_b]

On 3/19/2025 at 4:30 PM, cteno4 said:

Figured looked like a good serial article along with the videos. Going to be fun of a blend of the old Jouef layout and japanese theme.

 

Are you planning on doing a bunch of japanese buildings? Would be fun to show the range of japanese buildings from the sankei laser cut kits to, green max assembly kits, to tomytec pop together, to premade Kato and tomix buildings. Each are a different building experience, benefits, drawbacks, and look and would be great to showcase them all with a comparison.

 

going to be fun watching this evolve! Will be a nice example for beginners as well with all the videos.

 

cheers

 

jeff

 

Serial of articles, I don't know for this project, but videos, sure. The video above have been welcomed by the viewers ! So I plan to make a series of YouTube Shorts to give news about this layout to our subscribers.

 

And yes, I definitely plan some buldings from differents sources : I have alreasy have GreenMax kits, I ordered a Tomix preassembled train station, and I will make some with 3D prints, cardbox and other stuffs.

[cteno4]

Try one of the sankei kits, they are very nicely done and the best of the lasercut kits. Assembling them is very zen and fun.

 

jeff

[gibet_b]

10 hours ago, cteno4 said:

Try one of the sankei kits, they are very nicely done and the best of the lasercut kits. Assembling them is very zen and fun.

 

jeff

 

Thanks for the tip, I will do.

For the time being, the kits I love the most are Metcalfe ones. Very british, but what a pleasure to assemble...

[mr bachmann]

The metcalfe kits are lacking a plastic spruce containing , guttering , soil pipes , rainwater pipes , tv Ariel 

good kits to build and strong .

[gibet_b]

14 minutes ago, mr bachmann said:

The metcalfe kits are lacking a plastic spruce containing , guttering , soil pipes , rainwater pipes , tv Ariel 

good kits to build and strong .

Yes ! But it's easy to add if the modeler wants, and their kits are not expansive for the quality.