Early Nn3.

[DKS]

Nah, I'm very happy in HOn3.

In another life, that's probably how I'd go, too.

But I have more irons in the fire than there's room, and not enough time for even some of them as it is. I'm never bored--in fact, I don't even know what being bored is like.

[JMaurer1]

Really wanted to model the SPng in Nn3 but the kits (even when they were available as a kit) were like $50 each without the mech (another $150) and no viable rolling stock unless scratched or cobbled from what was available. Glad I didn't go down that rabbit hole, but it's great to see someone who did. Beautiful layout and I can only imagine the amount of work to bring it to where it currently is.

[wcfn100]

In the real early days, the only Nn3 locomotives available were GHQ static model kits.  My dad spent hours hollowing out the boiler to fit the Marklin mechanism.




Jason

[wcfn100]

Here's a pre-MTL, Nelson Gray caboose.



Jason

[Dave V]

Here's a pre-MTL, Nelson Gray caboose.



Jason

That actually looks pretty great even by today's standards.  The printing is showing its age but a little weathering would conceal that just fine.

[Sokramiketes]

IIRC, MTL may have tooled their own stake-side Nn3 flat that may have been plastic, but that's a fuzzy memory.

I believe Nelson Gray also tooled the stake flat and wood gondola.

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[daniel_leavitt2000]

Dave, you NEED to start an Nn3 page on your N scale site. This stuff is really interesting and totally unknown to me.

[Sokramiketes]

Here’s another of the Nelson Gray boxcars that started the thread.

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[Sokramiketes]

Not sure if these are Z or Nn3, but since they are Nelson Gray, I assume Nn3.  I wonder if they were ever part of the stuff MTL picked up.



Jason

Nelson Gray was tooling Z scale models. Here’s the gon.

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[wcfn100]

Mike, which car is that? 

Jason

[wcfn100]

That actually looks pretty great even by today's standards.  The printing is showing its age but a little weathering would conceal that just fine.

The printing is probably dry transfers.  I don't know if they were available lettered but maybe someone else does.

Jason

[wcfn100]

I believe Nelson Gray also tooled the stake flat

That car looks to also have been available with the stakes cut.

Jason

[wcfn100]

Here's the caboose kit.




Jason

[nkalanaga]

The Nn3 gon and boxcar aren't bad, if you don't mind steel underframes.  The C&S had both with steel underframes, so it isn't unprototypical.

As for the EBT hoppers, yes, those are from RLW.  I did the masters, MANY years ago, mostly because I needed a bunch for my mining road.  Building the end frames is a pain, but for my 1974 railroad bought them used, and replaced the grabs with ladders, simplifying things some.  Honestly, I wish someone would do them in plastic, bought I do get a small royalty payment each year that someone buys one.

[Sokramiketes]

Mike, which car is that? 

Jason

The Z scale gondola.