I don't know why, but I always enjoy urban settings more than the mountain, woodsy settings. Being a city boy, I guess it's about seeing things I'm most familiar with on a smaller scale, and thinking, "Man, that looks just like ----." Nicely done, Steve!
I'm close to retirement and think even with all my other interests I have time to try and do my first small layout and this looks simple enough and small enough to be my project. I'm going to change up the buildings and other scenery to reflect something from the early 1900's...Thank you for this
Did you ever build your layout? I picked up the track for this layout. Like you, I might make mine a little different. Would love to see your progress.
I really enjoy watching your videos. You pack so much in a short time. You give good tips so even a beginner can expect to have a decent layout. Thanks for sharing your builds with us.
You are truly an amazing guy, Steve. You have provided countless hours of enjoyment because I watch your videos over and over and over. Thank you very much for the great entertainment---!!!
Really enjoyed this build. At 17:56 thought this was a brilliant idea on how to paint such small items with the painters tape to hold them. Also the "rust" you applied looked excellent and really brought the appearance of old rusted materials to life. Excellent video - very impressed.
That steeply-sloped street looks so realistic and, for some reason, it's something you often see beside a railway. Don't often see anyone model one though; maybe because road vehicles will roll down the hill.😁
Envious of your quality and quantity I have lost momentum so many tymes on larger N scale design layouts 3-4 square feet looks very attainable Thanks for your success Steve A.
Thank you for the detailed how to. I wish I could go back 2 months and build this for my grandson for Christmas. He loves Pop Pops trains but lives in a very small house. I’d already planned on Kato Unitrack & N gauge. I’ll be subscribing. Thanks
My favorite things on this layout 1. That will fit just about anywhere 2. Even though there are two switches, I get a sense that they are going off to various places for a purpose. 3. The back even looks good too. I like that I can go all the way around it and different stuff 4. The tall buildings hide the train. It is really hard to tell that it is primarily a loop. It looks bigger than it is 5. The graffiti on the wall makes the layout looked lived in, for lack of a better term.
This is still my fave micro layout. I might use similar trackplan with swamp/logging theme and engine repair shop on longer siding. So much going on in such a small place and the underpass/ factory exit loop is genius.
Have started working on a model based on this. First model for me and is a little big, so half is going to be this and planning for the other half to be a village scene, divided by a river.
Truly inspirational! I'm learning so much from your videos and now I'm going to build some n scale and z scale layouts! Maybe even t scale! Lol! Thank you very much for you videos!
Obviously my skill level wasn’t like this when I started out but I’ve had probably 35+ active years in the hobby (25 years since I picked it up again as an adult) but learning and getting better is part of the fun too.
Thank you for sharing your unique tricks, love the videos, would like to see them a little slower for the wiring if possible and for our OLDER eyes LOL. I did do a 4x4 about 10 yrs ago, then I needed the room 😢 I’m sure N scale has come a long way since that time. THANKS AGAIN STEVE!
Hi very nice! Just an idea, on small places a shunting type of train is maybe more intresting than a long train runs around and round. Anyway congratulations and thanks for sharing!!
And incredibly well produced layout. I like the buildings, the composition and the simple trackplan. My top item for critique would be the long vehicles combines with the tight radiuses that make it look toy-ish. Same for the short sidings.
Haré una maqueta parecida a esa . Sencilla. 2 circuitos con un escape y entrada al patio y taller de locomotoras. 2 vías en el patio y 2 en los talleres. Vías flexibles , curvas y rectas Atlas código 80. Desvíos #4 manuales Atlas o Bachmann. Las vías son Kato . Pero serán Atlas y Bachmann.
A very inspiring layout, some excellent building tips and well planned. Nice one. Look forward to more of these. Will catch up on your previous content.
Amazing layout, many thanks for your video and website link! Getting into this hobby and wanna start small. I'm already blocked by unavailability of some pieces... Have to order from 3 different hobby stores and still missing a few parts including 20-010 and 20-070 (building the 20x36).. I know it's not about the destination but the journey but availability of tracks is definitely a hindrance.. wanted to go for flex track to avoid that but seems it's also an issue there...
Hi Steve, Brand new subscriber here. This was a very nice build of a neat little N scale layout with some operations possibilities. Being an apartment dweller with a small layout myself, I look forward to more small layout builds. On a side note, have you ever considered using Evergreen Scale Models Canopy Glue or Microscale Micro Kristal Klear for gluing the windows into your structures? Both products dry clear and will not fog the clear plastic windows like what happens with plastic cement. I've read some folks are using Mod Podge instead of Canopy Glue or Kristal Klear and are having great success with that product. Cheers, Rich S.
Another amazing mini layout Steve. Love all the layouts you have made. A couple of questions.. How long did it take to build that, I know you had other things going on at the same time. How many hours in it and approx. cost. Thanks for sharing all your skill. Stay well.
Probably $500 and change for cost. I had like 25 hours of video I took of the building. But it was likely more than that, probably 30 hours total I guess spread out over a few months.
Steve, don't you still have to plug in the AC cord from the controller? If so, wondered why you would go to the trouble of of installing the button when the controller is right there? I have been able to follow any of your techniques and learned a lot. Sometimes I wish you would slow down a bit on the wiring as that is where I tend to get lost. Maybe it's just me! Thanks.
The controller can be plugged in to an AC wall adapter, but also contains 8 AAA batteries, so you can run the layout for many hours with the batteries by themselves. The push-button is for layout visitors (this layout was built for a client) so they could come up and push and hold the button to watch the train run around the layout. This way the controller could be hidden away on the backside, either in its little docking place, or several feet away so the desired speed and direction could be set and not messed with. I'll try to do a better video on the wiring of a future layout sometime.
@@StevesTrains To me wiring is a trick, can DCC be used if maybe you wanted to run 2 trains or just the power pack that you’re using (the battery option is really cool, I’ve never seen this before) but again it been at least 10 years since I’ve messed with my N gauge.
Gidday Steve, I noticed at 3:36 you're using a Rokuhan Controller. I looked on Amazon and it says that those won't work for N scale?..how did you get this controller to work for this N Scale set up? Thanks for your time.
It works fine for n scale and you could even run an HO loco that didn’t draw too much current. As long as it isn’t a sound equipped locomotive it is no problem to run an n scale locomotive. It just won’t have as high a top speed as a regular controller would. A dcc sound equipped locomotive may not run, however.
Finally, a model railroad that will fit in a semi truck sleeper cab.
You prove time and again that ANYONE can have an operational model railroad. Great video!
Thanks!
The level of detail and creativity on this is off the scale! Love the roof top box 'rust'. Awesome.
I really liked this layout, I was sad to hand it over to the client.
@@StevesTrains those trees were superb too. Very realistic
21:21 Luv the exhaust fan on the building center stage. Those kind of realistic details really make the layout come alive.
These changing track train sets has always fascinated me. I have bought so many of them when I was a kid. Would like to buy a big one now.
I don't know why, but I always enjoy urban settings more than the mountain, woodsy settings. Being a city boy, I guess it's about seeing things I'm most familiar with on a smaller scale, and thinking, "Man, that looks just like ----." Nicely done, Steve!
I'm close to retirement and think even with all my other interests I have time to try and do my first small layout and this looks simple enough and small enough to be my project. I'm going to change up the buildings and other scenery to reflect something from the early 1900's...Thank you for this
Did you ever build your layout? I picked up the track for this layout. Like you, I might make mine a little different. Would love to see your progress.
I’m hoping to start in January!!!
Finally a layout I can build in my camper. Alot of good info, thanks alot!
I really enjoy watching your videos. You pack so much in a short time. You give good tips so even a beginner can expect to have a decent layout. Thanks for sharing your builds with us.
You are truly an amazing guy, Steve. You have provided countless hours of enjoyment because I watch your videos over and over and over. Thank you very much for the great entertainment---!!!
Thanks for watching! The projects are fun to build.
The graffiti on the wall below the road at 21:51 is such a neat touch! Beautifully planned and executed layout. Bravo!
Thanks!
Really enjoyed this build. At 17:56 thought this was a brilliant idea on how to paint such small items with the painters tape to hold them. Also the "rust" you applied looked excellent and really brought the appearance of old rusted materials to life. Excellent video - very impressed.
Thanks!
Top notch and I appreciate the self-deprecation. Your videos are well-paced, informative, and down to woodland scenics earth--yes, pun intended!
That steeply-sloped street looks so realistic and, for some reason, it's something you often see beside a railway. Don't often see anyone model one though; maybe because road vehicles will roll down the hill.😁
Envious of your quality and quantity I have lost momentum so many tymes on larger N scale design layouts 3-4 square feet looks very attainable Thanks for your success Steve A.
This is your best layout yet.
Yep, very good. Will use some of these ideas on my 2 x 4.
This layout and your donation layouts have shown that even micro-sized layouts (though I prefer HO scale) can offer simple enjoyment.
Thank you for the detailed how to. I wish I could go back 2 months and build this for my grandson for Christmas. He loves Pop Pops trains but lives in a very small house. I’d already planned on Kato Unitrack & N gauge. I’ll be subscribing. Thanks
My favorite things on this layout
1. That will fit just about anywhere
2. Even though there are two switches, I get a sense that they are going off to various places for a purpose.
3. The back even looks good too. I like that I can go all the way around it and different stuff
4. The tall buildings hide the train. It is really hard to tell that it is primarily a loop. It looks bigger than it is
5. The graffiti on the wall makes the layout looked lived in, for lack of a better term.
I just found my truck sleeper bunk layout! Oh wait, I just bought an N Scale T-Trak modular layout! Very cool small layout!
Thanks to you my 1st n scale suitcase layout was a success
This is still my fave micro layout. I might use similar trackplan with swamp/logging theme and engine repair shop on longer siding. So much going on in such a small place and the underpass/ factory exit loop is genius.
Beautiful!!! MOST BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!
Thank you! I really liked that little layout.
Well done Steve, and thanks for the tips.
It’s amazing how something so small, can be so cool and creative! Good job man!
Good old model train fun! Basic, small, easy to build and enjoy layout. Nice work.
Love the automotive workbench !!!
Very nice! Thank-you. You clearly enjoyed doing this!
Thank you for putting this together. Awesome job.
Wonderful detail on the building detail. No pun intended.
Great video. I'm starting an N scale.
What a terrific job!!!
This is very inspiring, Steve! Thank you for documenting the process so well!
Very impressive.
I recently got back into N scale, and i have drawn a lot of inspiration from your videos for possible layout ideas. Keep up the great work ^.^
Steve, you are really good at creating layouts.
Have started working on a model based on this. First model for me and is a little big, so half is going to be this and planning for the other half to be a village scene, divided by a river.
Truly inspirational! I'm learning so much from your videos and now I'm going to build some n scale and z scale layouts! Maybe even t scale! Lol! Thank you very much for you videos!
butiful the fences look fine they are just like those tall fences
Beautiful Job Steve I love it
As usual, good scenery and landscaping ideas that I will borrow when I get that point on my N scale railroad. Keep up the good work!
Beautiful job Steve! I’m very impressed 👍🏽
Love this 'little build' thanks for sharing Steve - may be doing something similar myself as my first set
It's wonderful to see but the experience to do this is so high most won't ever be able to enjoy a layout like this.
Obviously my skill level wasn’t like this when I started out but I’ve had probably 35+ active years in the hobby (25 years since I picked it up again as an adult) but learning and getting better is part of the fun too.
Simply amazing what you’ve done with that layout.👍
Wow this is quite a cute layout. Well done
Thank you for sharing your unique tricks, love the videos, would like to see them a little slower for the wiring if possible and for our OLDER eyes LOL.
I did do a 4x4 about 10 yrs ago, then I needed the room 😢 I’m sure N scale has come a long way since that time. THANKS AGAIN STEVE!
Fantastic, now I have to get to work......
Phone drop was hilarious!
Hi very nice! Just an idea, on small places a shunting type of train is maybe more intresting than a long train runs around and round. Anyway congratulations and thanks for sharing!!
And incredibly well produced layout. I like the buildings, the composition and the simple trackplan. My top item for critique would be the long vehicles combines with the tight radiuses that make it look toy-ish. Same for the short sidings.
Kinda hard to avoid in 17 x 30....
Yeah sure… maybe try a video with a short shunting loco and shorter coaches.
Still a wonderfully well produces layout
That's so Amazing...!!! I got a little set up I'm working on...
Beautiful work as usual Steve. Very Inspiring. Thank you.
Haré una maqueta parecida a esa .
Sencilla.
2 circuitos con un escape y entrada al patio y taller de locomotoras.
2 vías en el patio y 2 en los talleres.
Vías flexibles , curvas y rectas Atlas código 80.
Desvíos #4 manuales Atlas o Bachmann.
Las vías son Kato .
Pero serán Atlas y Bachmann.
Love this layout! It looks so realistic and cool!
Again your trees look so realistic =When I build my layout I will be using the type you used====thank you
Very nice presentation and explanation. 🤗
Great work and thanks for sharing 👍
A very inspiring layout, some excellent building tips and well planned. Nice one. Look forward to more of these. Will catch up on your previous content.
That is a terrific layout !!!!!
Looking good! You can even do some simple shunting with those 2 sidings :) Cheers
cool, love it
I’m gonna build this for a project during the summer
Did you ever build your layout? I picked up the track for this layout. Would love to see your progress.
Excellent work sir! I will be using some of your methods on my HO structures.
Wow that's an awesome layout thanks for sharing
Very cool building video. I'm an O Scale guy, but really like this for scenery and building techniques.
i love my super tree starter kit
Awesome. Wow!
Very cool and inspiring! I really want to build something similar to this.
very cool and informative, I also like the addition of the graffiti.
i had to keep watching because i wanted to see an N scale locomotive go up that ramp. wouzy wouzy woo.
That would have been cool actually to have a track loop up there.
Almost the size of my footlocker N gague layout I'm building for my sister Thank you
fun to watch steve, im building the scenic ridge kit due to space these days
That is a solid kit in terms of what you get for the money. I built the WS grand valley (maybe that was the name?) kit many years ago.
I got a Union Pacific 4432 yesterday
Excellent
Do you have any videos on creating/painting a model railroad backdrop?
very cool but I will build mine from layers of sheet foam to reduce wt. and speed things up ,starting with 3in. thick foam board base
That's really cool
Amazing layout, many thanks for your video and website link! Getting into this hobby and wanna start small. I'm already blocked by unavailability of some pieces... Have to order from 3 different hobby stores and still missing a few parts including 20-010 and 20-070 (building the 20x36).. I know it's not about the destination but the journey but availability of tracks is definitely a hindrance.. wanted to go for flex track to avoid that but seems it's also an issue there...
Nice work.
nice layout, well done
Enjoy all your videos! You have any on wiring a layout? Crossovers, switches etc.
Cool!
Hi Steve, Brand new subscriber here. This was a very nice build of a neat little N scale layout with some operations possibilities. Being an apartment dweller with a small layout myself, I look forward to more small layout builds. On a side note, have you ever considered using Evergreen Scale Models Canopy Glue or Microscale Micro Kristal Klear for gluing the windows into your structures? Both products dry clear and will not fog the clear plastic windows like what happens with plastic cement. I've read some folks are using Mod Podge instead of Canopy Glue or Kristal Klear and are having great success with that product. Cheers, Rich S.
Those are all great ideas that I will have to try out. I already have mod podge so will need to try that.
Un cruce de 30 ° , acceso a los talleres y al patio.
Nice little layout! I was wondering what you used to glue the track down to the foam base?
Just tacked it in place with hot glue. The glue soaked ballast helped to keep it in place permanently.
Tight radius curve but it works to good effect.
Nice!
good work
I love your videos!
Another amazing mini layout Steve. Love all the layouts you have made. A couple of questions.. How long did it take to build that, I know you had other things going on at the same time. How many hours in it and approx. cost. Thanks for sharing all your skill. Stay well.
Probably $500 and change for cost. I had like 25 hours of video I took of the building. But it was likely more than that, probably 30 hours total I guess spread out over a few months.
With just enough space you can spot the box car at one of the industrial spurs
Have you ever ran any locomotives on the compact switch and if so what types?
Steve, don't you still have to plug in the AC cord from the controller? If so, wondered why you would go to the trouble of of installing the button when the controller is right there? I have been able to follow any of your techniques and learned a lot. Sometimes I wish you would slow down a bit on the wiring as that is where I tend to get lost. Maybe it's just me! Thanks.
The controller can be plugged in to an AC wall adapter, but also contains 8 AAA batteries, so you can run the layout for many hours with the batteries by themselves. The push-button is for layout visitors (this layout was built for a client) so they could come up and push and hold the button to watch the train run around the layout. This way the controller could be hidden away on the backside, either in its little docking place, or several feet away so the desired speed and direction could be set and not messed with. I'll try to do a better video on the wiring of a future layout sometime.
@@StevesTrains To me wiring is a trick, can DCC be used if maybe you wanted to run 2 trains or just the power pack that you’re using (the battery option is really cool, I’ve never seen this before) but again it been at least 10 years since I’ve messed with my N gauge.
So curious how lomg it would take to do something like this.
What is rotating the layout (and keeping the power lines from getting twisted in the process)?
I turntable designed for artwork (like sculptures and such)
Steve great instructional video! One question, I noticed that you used screws in the foam, does it hold sufficiently or do you need to add glue too?
I always glue everything but use screws to hold things in place pretty securely so I can keep working and don’t need to wait for the glue to dry.
OK Got it - thanks!
Do you ever put skylights in?
Gidday Steve, I noticed at 3:36 you're using a Rokuhan Controller. I looked on Amazon and it says that those won't work for N scale?..how did you get this controller to work for this N Scale set up? Thanks for your time.
It works fine for n scale and you could even run an HO loco that didn’t draw too much current. As long as it isn’t a sound equipped locomotive it is no problem to run an n scale locomotive. It just won’t have as high a top speed as a regular controller would. A dcc sound equipped locomotive may not run, however.
@@StevesTrains Thanks for the reply Steve!...really appreciate it