Santa Fe in California 54 X 26 layout build

[robwill84]

Hi everybody, I haven't been around much lately, but I'm excited to return to N scale and jump into an all-new layout. It's not officially kicked off, but I wanted to post the track plan so far, and get some feedback on what you guys think of it.

Several years ago, I built the N Scale Architect Cal Fame packing building, but due to financial circumstances, ended up having to ebay it. I've got a new one on the way, and I'm going to build an even better version. I plan to scratchbuild a small brick ice house, as well as the culling bins. This building will obviously be the dominant feature of the layout, the other online industries being a couple small transfer warehouses and a collection of smudge oil tanks.

Other structures will include an AMB Santa Fe station, an old house and windmill in one corner, and a Showcase Miniatures Lee King Radiator building. Maybe an elevated tower to guard one of the crossings. I've uploaded a picture of a very small overpass that I would like to incorporate where noted on the plan.

Operations will be laid back, with all trailing spurs. Passing siding will allow a passenger train to be run around, going to get some heavyweight cars and maybe a Model Power pacific. For now I've got a zebra stripe SW1200 on the way, along with a handfull of cars! It's going to be fun!

[nthusiast]

I've been wanting to so something similar (circa late 1930s) and with the Cal Fame packing building too, but finances put plans on hold indefinitely. Looking forward to your build!

[robwill84]

The Cal Fame buildings is really well engineered and fun to build, my biggest gripe with the kit is the printed window partitions on the clear window material are all black. I'm trying to think of a way to correct this, but I can't think of an easy way.

Your comment about modelling the 1930's made me realize that this could easily serve different eras, as these types of buildings changed very little over the years. Swap out vehicles locomotives and rolling stock and it could plausibly be set anywhere from the 30's into the modern era. In the modern era the depot could have been restored. Why not!

[chuck geiger]

Love this...

[robwill84]

Thanks Chuck! I'm experimenting with palm trees tonight, I have a ton of these cheapo trees so wanted to see how I could improve them. I painted the fronds with a craft paint color called, appropriately enough, palm green. Then I cut and applied some Woodland Scenics field grass below the fronds, and added some extra fronds to represent dead ones. Then I used Mississippi mud and khaki craft paints to add some color to the ends of top fronds and all over the dead fronds. Took a little work but I think this will improve the cheapo trees somewhat!

[johnb]

Thanks Chuck! I'm experimenting with palm trees tonight, I have a ton of these cheapo trees so wanted to see how I could improve them. I painted the fronds with a craft paint color called, appropriately enough, palm green. Then I cut and applied some Woodland Scenics field grass below the fronds, and added some extra fronds to represent dead ones. Then I used Mississippi mud and khaki craft paints to add some color to the ends of top fronds and all over the dead fronds. Took a little work but I think this will improve the cheapo trees somewhat!

what did you use for the trunk?

[johnb]

Waiting to see how this turns out. Micro Trains has a runner pack of Santa Fe reefers this month

[robwill84]

what did you use for the trunk?

The trunk was just painted with the Mississippi mud/khaki combo, it was tough to get paint to stick to the slippery plastic so I just dabbed it on. It looks ok, on the next one I might experiment with some different texture, I have some old Life Like "dirt" that is pretty coarse I think it might work to give the trunk a little more texture.

[robwill84]

Got my Walthers SW9 in the mail today, it was very noisy out of the box, so I pulled the shell off to take a look. Wow, those chassis contact tabs are a bad design! Two of them bent out of shape just from taking the shell off, and they're so soft and thin I don't know if they'll even survive another shell removal. I don't know what I did, but with the shell off it ran much better, and continued to run very smooth and quiet when I put it back on so uh... job well done, I guess. I do plan to put DCC in and weather it at some point, so I guess I'll cross that bridge at a later date.

I really like the distinctive spark arrestors, so I wanted to add those. Thought about trying to cut down an appropriate diameter brass tube, then thought to scrounge around in my HO and N scale detail horde and found some SS Limited HO old fashioned metal gas cans. The body of the can was perfect, so I sanded off the top and drilled a hole for a wire to fit into the stack. I also added a firecracker antenna, just filed a groove into a piece of wire. Next I want to tackle all the cab sunshades, and I would like to find some rerail frogs and some chain to detail the chassis, though that is going to be tricky to add with the frame contacts in the way...

[robwill84]

I have all my track and a bunch of buildings on order. In the meantime I'm doing some scenery experiments. This was done with real beach sand from south Texas. I scooped some up from a spot on a seawall where the wind blows extremely fine, clean sand into piles. Got enough for the next 10 layouts in an old coffee can! I sifted out any large debris, then used a plastic condiment container to carefully tap it in place, a little at a time. Then I misted it all down with plenty of 91% isopropyl alcohol, followed by the usual white glue water from an eye dropper. The sand dried only a little darker than when it was loose, I think this will work out well for the sidings, and maybe even the mainline tracks. I have some Arizona Rock and mineral ballast coming, two different shades of "Santa Fe Mauve" so we'll see how that looks when it arrives!

[chuck geiger]

The palms look boss. I made my own years ago with the ones from the party store you stick on cakes. Just used the fronds. Then tried the Luke Towan method on last layout and too big for N scale.

[robwill84]

Those look really nice Chuck, that whole scene is great. Makes me think about what I'm going to do about a backdrop...

[amato1969]

Your experiment/test bed look great!  When I looked at the subject line, I thought "holy cow 54 feet by 26 feet is a ginormous layout" LOL.

  Frank

[chuck geiger]

Thanks Rob, last two layouts were 2x4.

[robwill84]

Your experiment/test bed look great!  When I looked at the subject line, I thought "holy cow 54 feet by 26 feet is a ginormous layout" LOL.

  Frank

Yeah I forgot to add the inch notations and inadvertently created click bait! oops!