Jersey City Industrial Railroad Micro-Layout

[Philip H]

Legs? It's only 24 x 48 inches. It's a tabletop layout. So a lazy susan would do the job.

Perhaps a handsome custom built job, but certainly not the plastic crap they sell in most stores today.

[Lemosteam]

Seriously not hard to make in any diameter.  Just need some 1/2" ball bearings and a router with a 1/2" ball nose bit and some scrap corian...  largest pre-made metal unit I have encountered is a 12" diameter.

[luis_lopes]

While I was tweaking the plan just a little (no changes to the track, just playing around with buildings), an idea came to me: instead of two layouts done in different eras, I'd make the layout look different according to which way it's facing. So, when viewing it from one side, it's the 40s, and from the other it's the 70s.

Thoughts?

That would be a great modelling exercise. You need to be sure that in every angle you could see from each side, the eras are not mixed. I would be thrilled to see it come to life!

[peteski]

While I was tweaking the plan just a little (no changes to the track, just playing around with buildings), an idea came to me: instead of two layouts done in different eras, I'd make the layout look different according to which way it's facing. So, when viewing it from one side, it's the 40s, and from the other it's the 70s.

Thoughts?

Perfect!  Sort of like models of boxcars with each side decorated for different roads/eras.

[avel]

What ever you plan to do, I can't wait to read about it and look at the photos of your progress on this layout.

[pwnj]

While I was tweaking the plan just a little (no changes to the track, just playing around with buildings), an idea came to me: instead of two layouts done in different eras, I'd make the layout look different according to which way it's facing. So, when viewing it from one side, it's the 40s, and from the other it's the 70s.

Thoughts?

Wow, I think that'd be pretty challenging (aka: FUN!).  So, for example, signs would have different eras on opposite sides, buildings could be more weathered/rundown/maybe abandoned on the 1970s side, track differences could include things like switch motors vs. throws with targets (hmm, where ever would you get something like that?!), garbage around the tracks, etc.  I think the biggest difficulty would be using creative scenic divides and view blocks to avoid anachronism.  Regardless, this sounds freakin' awesome. 

[DKS]

I'm thinking this just might work. My thought is to build a removable backdrop for the layout that would wrap around three sides, thus more or less limiting the viewing angle to one side. With an almost solid row of buildings running diagonally across the middle, I think there will be sufficient view blocking to keep the eras pretty well segregated.



I'm thinking of doing the 40s setting when viewed from the top of the plan, so that most all of the building fronts will be relatively new, and doing the 70s setting when viewed from the bottom of the plan, so that the backs of the buildings will be decrepit, which I think will offer ample opportunity to represent a really seedy part of town.

To switch eras, flip the layout around 180 (leaving the backdrop stationary), and swap out all of the rolling stock.

BTW, I've started selecting structures to bash--I've got all but 3 or 4 buildings accounted for.







I've also ordered all of the track.

[Philip H]

hubba hubba!

[pwnj]

AWWW YEAH!

[Dave V]

Aw, snap, Dave, where'd you get two of the Walthers Vulcan Manufacturing kits?

[PRRATSF]

Its Threads like this that keep me coming back. How a simple idea can blossom into an outstanding concept. looking forward to seeing how this one progresses. With DKS in charge it should be an interesting ride.

Sam

[wazzou]

I think it would be really cool to have another spur along side the pair of Vulcan buildings running through the lot where the church looking structure is.  I envision a loading dock with the rail full length in the pavement so that the dock can have trailers and trucks parked at it also.  I think it would require a tighter than available turnout, but not unusual to see a tight radius in a setting such as this.

[Frisco Larry]

In the last photo there is a tan three story building with a semi-circle feature on the cornice, is that an old Magnusson Bank building?  And the gray two story building on the left end of that same group of buildings, I don't recognize at all.  What is it?

[DKS]

Aw, snap, Dave, where'd you get two of the Walthers Vulcan Manufacturing kits?

Actually, I think I have four or five of them. I've spent the last year accumulating structure kits, some I've gotten from little mom and pop hobby shops and most from eBay.

Its Threads like this that keep me coming back. How a simple idea can blossom into an outstanding concept. looking forward to seeing how this one progresses. With DKS in charge it should be an interesting ride.

Thank you!

I think it would be really cool to have another spur along side the pair of Vulcan buildings running through the lot where the church looking structure is.  I envision a loading dock with the rail full length in the pavement so that the dock can have trailers and trucks parked at it also.  I think it would require a tighter than available turnout, but not unusual to see a tight radius in a setting such as this.

There is another siding, at the top leading off to the right, where there will be a scene similar to what you describe.

In the last photo there is a tan three story building with a semi-circle feature on the cornice, is that an old Magnusson Bank building?  And the gray two story building on the left end of that same group of buildings, I don't recognize at all.  What is it?

I was wondering how long it would be before someone commented on the old Magnuson Bank kit. I have a couple of all of that series, most of them original issue. The grey one you don't recognize is a great little resin kit from Willmodels. He makes three kits, and I wish he made more.

[MichaelWinicki]

The grey one you don't recognize is a great little resin kit from Willmodels. He makes three kits, and I wish he made more.

+1