NYC/ACY Hiles Tower - New London, Ohio in N scale

[dem34]

I’m just updating this post for any NYC modelers following this build. Just got an email from Showcase Miniatures that they now have tri-light type-G in N scale! They even have a custom LED that fits into the signal housing just like their recent Darth Vadar signals https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/n_scale/n_scale_century_foundry_signals/562.html

Always the day after you finish a project right? Hehehe

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I’m just updating this post for any NYC modelers following this build. Just got an email from Showcase Miniatures that they now have tri-light type-G in N scale! They even have a custom LED that fits into the signal housing just like their recent Darth Vadar signals https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/n_scale/n_scale_century_foundry_signals/562.html

Oh *****.

[btrain]

Always the day after you finish a project right? Hehehe

Haha, pretty much. Next thing you know, someone will release an Armstrong pole line-side kit in N scale. I know there’s an HO scale version made for the British market.

[btrain]

Oh *****.

My thoughts exactly, I’m glad I don’t have to butcher some Atlas signals for a mast.

[btrain]

I had an excellent time at Ohio N scale weekend these past three days. It was again a great meet-up of both new and old faces along with several people here in the Railwire. My thanks to Central Ohio Ntrak for being such great hosts and for allowing a great variety of layouts and vendors at the show. If you live within a couple of hours drive of Columbus, I'd definitely recommend attending next year. There isn't one vendor trying to get rid of a basement full of Tycos or a Lionel club member going ham on the O scale whistle, I can promise you that fellow N scalers.



Here's a shot of a beautiful train that caught my eye on the Free-moN layout. I'm happy to report that the layout had probably doubled in size to a considerable footprint this year compared to last. There was much excitement about the growth and adding on more modules next year. It's good to see this modular style becoming more embraced here in Ohio. I'm already cooking up modular plans in my brain that may show up on this set up in the future.



Here's the Hiles layout set up in one of the two buildings. I did operate it for a spell in the center where I have enough room for my gut and me. I ended up getting a slight case of motion sickness from being in the middle, not from following trains around, but twisting my head quickly and chasing down derailments at the start of the show.

Below are more photos of the layout that don't need much explanation.















Hope you all enjoy the photos and thank you again to everyone that came out. There's still more work to do on the layout such as putting down the lineside interlocking pipes and Showcase Type-G signals. All of that will have to wait until Ohio starts to look, well as melancholy as this layout does.

[muktown128]

I agree, the show this weekend was enjoyable.  I was there Saturday morning and had a good time looking at the layouts and checking out the vendors tables.  I was looking forward to seeing your layout at the show.  It was nice meeting you and chatting about your layout and Pennsy steam locos. 

Scott

[EL3632]

Here's a shot of a beautiful train that caught my eye on the Free-moN layout. I'm happy to report that the layout had probably doubled in size to a considerable footprint this year compared to last. There was much excitement about the growth and adding on more modules next year. It's good to see this modular style becoming more embraced here in Ohio. I'm already cooking up modular plans in my brain that may show up on this set up in the future.

That's my train! Thanks for appreciating it and taking the picture! I was very impressed with your layout for the brief amount of time I spent looking at it. The detail and overall realism is superb. I am glad to hear you are thinking of making Free-moN modules, we would love to have you in the layout!

[SAH]

This photo is just too good NOT to post.  Photoshop out the 2x2 legs and Brian would look like John Q Public, holding up his layout, rather than a barrel, with his overall straps.     Really great work and fun to see it live after watching the build via photos.  More layouts at the meet this year.  Still an enjoyable, laid back event. 

[w neal]

Nice!!! Glad you had fun friend! Both of you.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

He should be smiling. His layout kicks total a$$!

[btrain]

This photo is just too good NOT to post.  Photoshop out the 2x2 legs and Brian would look like John Q Public, holding up his layout, rather than a barrel, with his overall straps.    

Thank you again for all your help! And you just saved me money for my Halloween costume this year! 

[btrain]

Here’s a short video from the weekend.

[aquaper]

Loved seeing your layout and talking to you about NYC stuff.  Looking forward to seeing the signals installed when you come back next year.

[btrain]

In preparation for Altoona N Scale weekend, I've spent about two weeks adding signaling and details to the layout.

Putting in signals was nerve-racking since I'm more of a scenery guru than anything close to an electronic mastermind. Hearing how fragile magnet wire is, and the fear of putting on the wrong type of resistor and blowing up every LED on the signal mast, made this a project I put off until the last moment. The truth is with a few online resources and frequent testing of components; the results were very satisfying.

Putting together the mast was a cakewalk using Showcase Miniatures signal heads and details, with K&S brass tubing and Evergreen styrene strips providing much of the structure. I also used Plano Model Products #202 mesh to create the signal maintainer platform.



The part I dreaded the most was next, which was installing the LED lighting. Thankfully these lights from Showcase had some specifics as to what the feeder voltage should be, and with the help of this website: https://www.make-it.ca/led-dropping-resistor-calculator/ I was able to figure out what resistors I should get for wiring the red lights in parallel on the mast and AC&Y home signals (those will be later rewired to show a restricted for the diamond via a toggle switch). The top right signal on the mast was the three light LED set up from Showcase for these signal heads. That was hooked up to a Logic Rail Signal Animator with an NCE BD20 providing block detection. The signal system itself is powered by aDC 12V supply.

Two of the most important things I learned from building these signals is to test, test, test, and that magnet wire can take a few dings, but do not get too cavalier with it. Having a breadboard hooked up and ready to test components calmed my anxiety about whether the LEDs would work or if I had bent the wire too much and kinked it. While magnet wire can be a royal pain, I learned that using super fine grit sandpaper helps remove the insulation, and using 30 gauge wire sodered to it assists with routing the wire to the signal power supply BUS wire.

The only problem I ran into with these signals is that the BD20 is too sensitive to the current draw from the feeder when the layout has more than one engine running due to the layout's small size. So before the next show, I'll have to solder some resistors to it as it says in the manual.

The other thing I wanted to complete before Altoona was to add skirting, that way no one would know I f I was wearing pants or not inside the layout.

I found some cheap black polyester fabric at Hobby Lobby it's their DT-7696-7P. I hot glued clothes pins every four inches. When it was finished, it really cleaned up the look of the layout.



Now I'm back after the show and it sure was a whirlwind experience that was well worth the drive! It was amazing to meet and talk with so many fine folks here on the Railwire, such as Ed, Lee, Doug Nelson, and many, many others. And to see in the flesh t-trak and Free-moN modules that have long inspired me here was just phenomenal! I was even lucky enough to be invited and see Todd Treaster's layout, which was an eye-opening experience. So thank you to everyone who stopped by the layout and to the Altoona Association of Model Railroaders for setting up a first-class event. If you're on the east coast or in my part of the midwest, be sure to mark your calendar for next year's dates.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It was awesome seeing this in person.

And, ya know, meeting another 

Hopefully the All Day Railfanning Playlist has not offended your sensibilities too thoroughly.

Looking forward to hanging out next year.

Also, any of you who haven't seen this layout, DO IT. It's an absolute gem. It's a brilliant concept incredibly well executed.