This weekend was the Copetown fine scale trainshow and RPM in southern Ontario. The N Scale Roadshow was invited to set up a small FreemoN layout and display some of our custom rolling stock, with the caveat that only completely scenic modules could be displayed (we have a number of "under construction" modules that would have been out of place at this show, which is limited in space and attracts a detail oriented crowd). We ended up putting together a very small point to point line which was just enough to showcase what is possible in N, and seemed to get a lot of positive attention from show goers.
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We only had 12 ft of mainline setup, but it was more than enough to get people intrigued by the FreemoN concept.
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We also setup a display of some of the more unique rolling stock that some of our members have built, detailed, weathered or otherwise customized. We had 6 members bring out some show pieces over the course of the weekend, including
@Big Train and
@craigolio1, with all sorts of freight, passenger and motive power equipment spanning multiple railways and eras.
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Both ends of the layout were capped by "End of Track" modules, this one is simply a field where weeds are overgrowing the end of the line. I plan to finish this scene off with some farm fencing, so that the cattle don't end up where they shouldn't be...
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The second EoT module is inspired by the current end of line of CN's Sorel Subdivision. The area has many war time houses, and the industrial lot across the tracks is actually the old site of Marine Industries Ltd., which built all sorts of ships, barges, ferries and freight cars. (I should also mension that this was my first time playing with 1mm static grass for the lawns, and it turned out way better than I was expecting.)
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4 of the 7 modules on display were just "utility 45s", small 45 degree curves normally used to bridge some of our larger modules. Each one is different though, with its own scenic vignette. Shown here are the Union Station flag stop module, which is based on an actual flag stop in the town of Union on the London & Port Stanley Railway, and the creek/culvert module.
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Of course the centerpiece of the layout was none other than
@craigolio1's Rutherford Creek. People didn't believe that this was his first attempt at doing scenery. Pictures really don't do this module justice.
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All in all it was a great weekend showcasing what is possible in N scale, even if we did seem to run out of track fairly quickly...
