As someone who is just starting a N scale SP layout, this is one of the most inspirational videos I’ve seen! My first set of locomotives are SD9Es’ with the gyrolights plated over.
I don’t have an instagram yet, but I will create one and check it out! Seriously, you have the best N scale layout I’ve ever seen. Your use of space, distance between tracks, scene detail, locomotive and rolling stock detail showed you don’t have to sacrifice quality with N scale. It’s amazing how much opportunity N scale provides in a relatively small space.
Excellent work. However I don't see the benefits of code 40 over 55 in N-Scale. Visually, there is a large difference between code 70 and code 55, but less so between 55 and 40.
Thank for the nice comment.As a discussion there are a lot of benefits for code 40. #1 is scale appearance! #2 code 55 is a lot thicker from inside to outside so when frogs and points are not as "THICK" when hand assembling the turnouts and visually looks better, #3 one of my favorites is FILING. when filing all the turnouts in this yard there was a lot of fitting and grinding OMG code 40 is so much faster and easier. There was a fitting with the 3way and the double slip.#4 prototypical railroads ran heavier pound rail on the main line and lighter older rail in the yards and sidings.Thanks again for the discussion anything please feel free to ask.
It's a beautiful layout John, I would like to try my hand at hand-laying track on my next layout. Would it have to a permanent layout, not modular like my current layout?
Beautiful work! The ultimate of tracklaying - N scale code 40! Question: have you had any problems with solder joints breaking due to thermal expansion / contraction of the rails...? Is your layout room pretty well climate-controlled? Again, nicely done!!!
Thanks for the nice comment, in the yard i used "quick stix" and i found these to be the best as far as that subject goes. when everything is ballasted and glued this i think helps as well, on the other side of the room were it's not ballasted i have a lot of problems.Thanks again!! ~JL~,, instagram @nscalesunsetridge
Very interesting, John. I had once found a post online where a guy from the SDSONS club (San Diego Society of N Scale) mentioned they learned "the hard way" that they need to have their longest length of rail be 2ft. I have visited the museum many times, and it seems pretty well temperature controlled to me. I am hoping to be handlaying some N scale code 40 rail soon, and I'm trying to figure out how I'll manage the thermal expansion / contraction. Your comments regarding having things "locked down" with ballast is helpful. That seems to be how they do it as well.
Actually you don't have to change out the wheels on most of the track work, but i did as a standard. Every car was changed to micro trains low profile plastic wheels or fox valley metal wheel sets, you get a much better running railroad with these standards set, also most of the rolling stock is a little over NMRA standards in weights.
Artist use carbon blocks for illustrations, comes in 3H 4H and others, look for them in art supply stores. Rub down on rails after cleaning, youll be amazed.
Marcus, most of my turnouts i used fast track paper templates and rubber cemented pc ties to them then laid the rails directly on to the template, a lot of the turnouts i used flex track method and compared them to FT templates, this way I have nice flowing curved turnouts this equals smooth running trains, always use NMRA tool and specifications
Definitely would like to see MUCH more of this fine pike! Thanks for sharing!
As someone who is just starting a N scale SP layout, this is one of the most inspirational videos I’ve seen! My first set of locomotives are SD9Es’ with the gyrolights plated over.
Thank you for the kind words. See more on insta #nscalesunsetridge. Comment when your there.
I don’t have an instagram yet, but I will create one and check it out! Seriously, you have the best N scale layout I’ve ever seen. Your use of space, distance between tracks, scene detail, locomotive and rolling stock detail showed you don’t have to sacrifice quality with N scale. It’s amazing how much opportunity N scale provides in a relatively small space.
You dont need acount go to pc and type # for pictures only. Thanks again
AWESOME---!!! My hat's off to you John, for having the knowledge, skill and patience to hand lay such small track. Great-looking layout
Love the brass tube trick for the switch controls. I am going to try this on my HO layout.
They also have rc aircraft control wire for larger scales. Thanks for the comment!
Nice work, I love your weathering as well.
Great eyesight and phalangal dexterity certainly helps!
Absolutely gorgeous work!
nice video, please post more. i'm trying hand laying my N-scale track -- sticking with code 55.
Magnificent. Very well done. Thank you for sharing.
Inspirational. I will have to consider hand laying track in n now as an option.
Very nice work
Excellent work. However I don't see the benefits of code 40 over 55 in N-Scale. Visually, there is a large difference between code 70 and code 55, but less so between 55 and 40.
Thank for the nice comment.As a discussion there are a lot of benefits for code 40. #1 is scale appearance! #2 code 55 is a lot thicker from inside to outside so when frogs and points are not as "THICK" when hand assembling the turnouts and visually looks better, #3 one of my favorites is FILING. when filing all the turnouts in this yard there was a lot of fitting and grinding OMG code 40 is so much faster and easier. There was a fitting with the 3way and the double slip.#4 prototypical railroads ran heavier pound rail on the main line and lighter older rail in the yards and sidings.Thanks again for the discussion anything please feel free to ask.
John LaRocca, MDT Okay, thank you! That makes sense.
Hi John, how/what do you use to paint your track and clean the paint off the rails?
What is your track spacing on tangents and in curves? I'm considering handlaying.
I would say NMRA guage plus maybe 5mm. Contact me on insta @nscalesunsetridge. Theres a lot to talk about and I'm glad to help
It's a beautiful layout John, I would like to try my hand at hand-laying track on my next layout.
Would it have to a permanent layout, not modular like my current layout?
Link to the website you mentioned?
www.handlaidtrack.com/
Can you give the website address for the o scale club also. Thanks jt
Beautiful work! The ultimate of tracklaying - N scale code 40!
Question: have you had any problems with solder joints breaking due to thermal expansion / contraction of the rails...?
Is your layout room pretty well climate-controlled?
Again, nicely done!!!
Thanks for the nice comment, in the yard i used "quick stix" and i found these to be the best as far as that subject goes. when everything is ballasted and glued this i think helps as well, on the other side of the room were it's not ballasted i have a lot of problems.Thanks again!! ~JL~,, instagram @nscalesunsetridge
Very interesting, John. I had once found a post online where a guy from the SDSONS club (San Diego Society of N Scale) mentioned they learned "the hard way" that they need to have their longest length of rail be 2ft. I have visited the museum many times, and it seems pretty well temperature controlled to me.
I am hoping to be handlaying some N scale code 40 rail soon, and I'm trying to figure out how I'll manage the thermal expansion / contraction. Your comments regarding having things "locked down" with ballast is helpful. That seems to be how they do it as well.
Did you have to change any of the wheels out to run on code 40?
Actually you don't have to change out the wheels on most of the track work, but i did as a standard. Every car was changed to micro trains low profile plastic wheels or fox valley metal wheel sets, you get a much better running railroad with these standards set, also most of the rolling stock is a little over NMRA standards in weights.
What's a "carbon block?"
Artist use carbon blocks for illustrations, comes in 3H 4H and others, look for them in art supply stores. Rub down on rails after cleaning, youll be amazed.
@@Mastertech6
Thanks for the info!! Sounds like a great system to try out!
John, Did you use the Fast Track tools or did you make your turnouts by scratch / templates?
Marcus, most of my turnouts i used fast track paper templates and rubber cemented pc ties to them then laid the rails directly on to the template, a lot of the turnouts i used flex track method and compared them to FT templates, this way I have nice flowing curved turnouts this equals smooth running trains, always use NMRA tool and specifications
@@Mastertech6 I just saw your response, thanks for the information
AWESOME---!!!