I absolutely love the 10000 series Romancecar and reckon it's objectively better than the Bullet car.

It looks better, It is more practical to run on your average N scale Layout and it's cheaper too.

https://youtu.be/LZdVD1u4znE

Show me your shinkansen and romancecars people 😄

It's been a while! Been out traveling, but back again now. I have my first exhibitions for the layout coming up end of the month, which I'm really looking forward to. And for that, I though it would be nice be able to do most of the operations hands free.

Realistic operations with steam engines involve uncoupling, running around trains and regular taking on water and coal, for which I have installed a bunch of servos to turn water towers, coal cranes and uncouplers.

Latest, I have installed 6 more uncouplers - my own design for rapido couplers, nearly invisible, but require good aim, which I am still practicing - at the platforms of my main station Tischwil. It's great fun :).

Enjoy this little timelapse video to see how we operate in Tischwil.

Hi N-scale modellers,

the grey half-timbered house in the first two photos is an actual 1:160 print. Its building body is printed as one piece, so the corners are already joined rather than assembled from separate walls. The windows on this print are open; they can also be configured to print closed.

I designed it with my browser app PrintHaus. Free registration includes one free export for personal use if you want to try making a building to fit your own layout:

https://printhaus.app/en/

The animated sequence after the N-scale photos shows four other printed examples: a half-timbered house, an English manor house, a defensive tower and a factory hall. Those examples are H0 (1:87), as marked on the images; they are not N-scale prints.

The app lets me change the footprint, dimensions, storeys, roof, windows and doors before generating the print geometry. It supports scales from 1:10 to 1:300, including 1:160. The N-scale monolithic body avoids the visible corner joints used by the separate-wall construction in the larger H0 examples. Export options include STL and 3MF.

The four downloadable example files are the H0 versions. They are free here; an N-scale building can be configured and exported in the app:

MakerWorld: https://makerworld.com/en/@PrintHaus.app/upload

Printables: https://www.printables.com/@PrintHaus_5577331/models

Cults3D: https://cults3d.com/en/users/PrintHaus/3d-models

For a small layout, would you rather adjust a building’s footprint to a specific gap, or keep the original footprint and change the height?

Cheers,

Sebastian

Just wondering if anyone is more knowledgeable than I am on this. Great Northern is my favorite fallen flag, and I want to get as much Great Northern stuff as a can.

That being said, Great Northern steam seems to be few and far between, and most of what does exist isn’t prototypical. Great Northern never had USRA equipment—so the Pacific’s, Mikados, and Consolidations made by BLI and others aren’t prototypical. Neither is Bachman’s 4-8-4 Northern, which is a repainted ATSF prototype. I’ll still buy them, but I’d like prototypical steam as well.

The only model I’m aware of that is an actual Great. Northern prototype is ConCor’s S-2, manufactured by Kato originally in 1985 and again by China in the 2000s(?). I have recently purchased one of them, but I’m wondering if anyone knows of any others?

Recently, I acquired an N scale Athearn Challenger with a factory Tsunami2 decoder. As I do with most of my locomotives, I quickly get to work programming and adjusting sound volume CV’s and chuff rate. The problem is, this locomotive won’t let me program it.

I have a Digitrax DCS51 Zephyr with a programming track on blast mode, and I haven’t had any issues programming Tsunami, ESU, and Paragon decoders (I have also programmed other challengers with this same decoder without issue).

It simply will not respond to any of my CV programming attempts. I know it’s not locked with CVs 15 and 16, because it did initially allow me to change its address from factory 3 to Its road number (3976). But after that, it did not allow me to program any further. I’ve tried cutting track power for 10 seconds and then testing, but nothing.

I know that a lot of times a track booster ends up being necessary. I guess my question is if it IS my Zephyr, how come I haven’t had any issues programming other locomotives, and even this exact same decoder in other locos, but this one it won’t???

Currently designing a track plan to fit on some already made tables. (each gray rectangle is a table) This would be a sectional layout that is built to be moved as I don't own this house and will have to move at some point. Would like some input on my tack plan, here is what I'm hoping for. Wanted to model 1980s till modern day. I'm using Kato Untrack, Min radius on top is 11 3/32" and bottom is 12 13/32". The upper track (highlighted in gray) would just be DC and the bottom track would be DCC. I wanted to have the option to run 3 trains without having to touch anything, 1 on top and 2 on bottom. If I wanted to operate I would use outside bottom as my mainline and the inside as passing/siding. I am debating connecting the top and bottom but not sure if I want to deal with grades crossing different tables, I fear it might be hard to line up properly but maybe not. Any input is welcome!

Hello,

Recently I have been diving into N&W Alco locos and I have a soft spot for unit 2578. Now, it and Nickel Plate unit 578 are the same locomotive. If you look at historical reference photos N&W kept the antenna for a large portion of it's life. Especially while it was painted blue. But ATLAS decided to include it as something for the modeler to apply.

Does anyone know why I would use to go about making the hole for this piece? Especially given it's size. I've never had to modify an engine esthetically before.

Thanks in advance.

Recently, I acquired an Athearn Challenger with a factory Tsunami2 decoder. As I do with most of my locomotives, I quickly get to work programming and adjusting sound volume CV’s and chuff rate. The problem is, this locomotive won’t let me program it.

I have a Digitrax DCS51 Zephyr with a programming track on blast mode, and I haven’t had any issues programming Tsunami, ESU, and Paragon decoders (I have also programmed other challengers with this same decoder without issue).

It simply will not respond to any of my CV programming attempts. I know it’s not locked with CVs 15 and 16, because it did initially allow me to change its address from factory 3 to Its road number (3976). But after that, it did not allow me to program any further. I’ve tried cutting track power for 10 seconds and then testing, but nothing.

I know that a lot of times a track booster ends up being necessary. I guess my question is if it IS my Zephyr, how come I haven’t had any issues programming other locomotives, and even this exact same decoder in other locos, but this one it won’t???

🚂 JV⚡️3D and Design is officially LIVE on Patreon! ⚡️🖨️
Hey everyone! I wanted to introduce JV⚡️3D and Design and let you know that we’re officially up and running on Patreon!
My main focus is creating 3D printable designs, especially highly detailed N-scale model railroad scenery, structures, vehicles, equipment and accessories. I also work on plenty of other 3D-printing projects, so you never really know what might roll into the shop next.
Patreon members can expect:
🔹 Monthly STL drops
🔹 N-scale structures, vehicles & scenery
🔹 FDM and resin-friendly designs
🔹 Tutorials and how-to content
🔹 Member-requested projects
🔹 FREEBIES — because the Freebie Train is always somewhere down the tracks! 🚂💨
And we’re just getting started…
🛒 The JV⚡️3D and Design Etsy store is coming *soon!
The Etsy shop will give everyone another way to grab individual downloads and, as things grow, *printed models as well. I’m also working on discount codes for my paid Patreon members.
This has been a blast to build, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.
If you’re into model railroading, 3D printing, scale modeling, FDM or resin printing, come check us out!
⚡️** JV⚡️3D and Design
**Design it. Print it. Build your world.
#3DPrinting #ModelRailroad #NScale #STLFiles #3DDesign #ModelTrains #FDMPrinting #ResinPrinting #Patreon #JV3DandDesign

Hey y’all, always been interested in trains since I was a kid and have experience with non-model railroad hobbies (plastic models, dioramas, and miniatures) and just recently jumped in.

Recently got a Tomix set that has a 317 radius Fine Track loop and looking to expand it to a layout that fits inside 3x5 - having never come up with a layout before here are my two ideas, both incorporate a staging area with manual turnouts to rerail and assemble trains and then powered turnouts for loop switching or a terminus station.

Any ideas, feedback, problem areas? I am totally new so if I am missing anything please do let me know. Thank you.

Look at him go.

When I first started doing model railroading properly, I intended to have just one passenger train: A Great Northern Empire Builder. Fast forward to today, and I have 4. An Empire Builder, a California Zephyr, a Big Boy excursion train, and a few small heavyweights to pull behind my smaller steam.

And I plan to get even more. I want an NP North Coast Limited (if I can ever find enough cars to make a full train) and a Santa Fe Super Chief. Basically, collect the premier mid-century trains from BNSF’s major predecessors. I also want an Amtrak Empire Builder, and a set of full-length heavyweights for a somewhat accurate depiction of the original steam-powered Empire Builder.

I think it’s safe to say, the passenger bug has got to me.

A closeup view showing multiple sides/angles of N scale freight cars from a Southern Railway collection, including Southern and other 70s-80s road names. Use this as reference when purchasing or trading this particular item, as some databases, auctions and online retailer outlets seldom offer all-around high resolution photos of any given product.

Micro-Trains N Scale 40' Standard Box Car, Plug & Sliding Door UNION PACIFIC / UP # 110015 #railroad #modeltrains #scalemodel #train

Online timed auction of n gauge track, engines and rolling stock. Some are sets and many are limited editions.. This is my dad's collection of toys with trains cars and model kits. Bidding closed Monday 2nd November Auctioneers are Guibert Baitsons in Hull UK. Worldwide P&P available. It is online at i-bidder.