Sharing My N scale Layout about 25 years in the making

[u18b]

Happy New Year.

Chessie System Fan was home for Christmas.
And he saw my file I had created for my home brew railroad.

I've never done anything with it-- that's why the info has stayed in a file.
But Chessie said-- you should share it with the Railwire.
So here it is.

Of course there's a bit of a story behind it.

I'm currently 55 and been modeling in N scale since I was about 28.
So I'm going on 30 years!

And now (drum roll)......
Here is my layout.  It is currently 6' x 6'.  At one time, when Chessie was a senior in high school, mom gave us the entire living room and it was 16' x 6'.  THAT was fun, but this is ok too.




Now, I'm guessing a few of you are shocked--- and that is exactly the point.
People are sometimes amazed that a guy who has published almost 100 articles does not have anything close to a fully decorated layout.

I know, I know.  My real love is kitbashing, tuning locos, and writing articles.

But some of my friends, even early on just could not stand it.

So they named my layout  The Plywood Plains.  Not an original name, but very appropriate.

So I then resigned myself.... well, why not.   Let's just have some fun with this.

So I drew up lettering diagrams for future use when I would make my own decals and create a custom fleet.
The original ones from long, long ago were done by hand.
Most have now been edited into the computer.

And while I have not created a car yet, I share these diagrams with you as my New Years present.

The Plywood Plains is a cut-throat operation that.... well, you'll see.


Lots of photos coming.

I hope you enjoy.

[Chris333]

Saw some of it in your Bi-Polar videos. 

We all figured Kiz would do something like this.

EDIT: Pete's gonna ask why this isn't in the Layout Engineering forum 

[u18b]

Here is one of the hand drawn sheets.




And now, without much more commentary, here are the rest.

[u18b]

[Missaberoad]

I'm curious about the Soo Line U30C 

That looks more interesting then any layout

[u18b]

[u18b]

Of course we need some motive power.

Here is the yard switcher.




And this is the passenger loco.  I actually built this at one time.  Wish I still had it!

[u18b]

And of course, we need some safety cabeese.

[u18b]

Well, that's it.

I'm sure more inspiration will come one day.

Maybe one day I'll actually build some of this.

Happy New Year.

[peteski]

Good job Ron - you're doing better than I am. I don't have a layout at all (but lots of rolling stock and locos - many in pieces).    I also like your humorous take on your roadname.

We all figured Kiz would do something like this.
EDIT: Pete's gonna ask why this isn't in the Layout Engineering forum 

YEAH!

[nkalanaga]

Raise the front cab on the SD7W so it lines up with the rear section and it wouldn't look out of place on a real railroad.  Mexico had a few "kitbashes" that were at least as mismatched, and the C&NW's E B-unit to cab unit conversions weren't exactly "normal".  All you need is an excuse for a double-sized "crew cab" diesel.

Or maybe the Rock Islands EMD-built 750/751, a boxcab, single-engine E6B/baggage unit?  Which later had a second engine installed in the baggage compartment?
MP did the same thing with an E6A, but it at least looked normal on the front of a train.

[u18b]

I'm curious about the Soo Line U30C 

That looks more interesting than any layout

Your question actually fits the thread.

I have a passion for building what no one else has... or what you can't readily buy.
Thus kitbashing.

This is a U30C backdated a bit to a phase 2.

It has the small grill in the high position indicating an oil bath filter, and the aerodynamic flaring at the roof line just past the exhaust stack.

I published this in an article.

Fell on tight times and had to sell off much of my early collection to pay hospital bills.

Big Soo Line guy who bought it had an article published in N-Scale Mag.  And it was pictured there.

He eventually got out of N scale and Bryan Bussey acquired all or part of his collection.

Bryan offered it back to me.
And I was glad to get it back.

Very different from what I commonly build for CSX.

[u18b]

Raise the front cab on the SD7W so it lines up with the rear section and it wouldn't look out of place on a real railroad.  Mexico had a few "kitbashes" that were at least as mismatched, and the C&NW's E B-unit to cab unit conversions weren't exactly "normal".  All you need is an excuse for a double-sized "crew cab" diesel.

Or maybe the Rock Islands EMD-built 750/751, a boxcab, single-engine E6B/baggage unit?  Which later had a second engine installed in the baggage compartment?
MP did the same thing with an E6A, but it at least looked normal on the front of a train.

Nick, what the Mexicans did was the inspiration for this loco.

Instead of lining up the roof, I lined up the frame at the bottom.
Looked good at the bottom edge, and the coupler was at the right height.

[Atlas Paul]

What happened to the switching layout you brought to Columbus?

[Cajonpassfan]

Happy New Year.

Chessie System Fan was home for Christmas.
And he saw my file I had created for my home brew railroad.

I've never done anything with it-- that's why the info has stayed in a file.
But Chessie said-- you should share it with the Railwire.
So here it is.

Of course there's a bit of a story behind it.

I'm currently 55 and been modeling in N scale since I was about 28.
So I'm going on 30 years!

And now (drum roll)......

Now, I'm guessing a few of you are shocked--- and that is exactly the point.
People are sometimes amazed that a guy who has published almost 100 articles does not have anything close to a fully decorated layout.

Happy New Year back at you Ron!
Actually, I'm not shocked, relieved is more like it. 
I always wonder how the more prolific guys manage to work on so many beautiful roling stock or other models while building, operating and maintaining a layout. I certainly can't do it all and tend to bounce back between layout and workbench and wish there was more of me available but then the rest of my life would be out of whack. Nice to see this thread!
Best, Otto K.