Hi folks, I need some help re. making an N scale layout into HO. I found a 1995 MR magazine that has a very interesting Nn3 layout that is 18"x36". I am trying to determine what the ratio would be to convert it to HO. I know you can't double it. The layout is a mining scene which has a 6%max grade. What can climb that or would I have to somehow tame that down? If there is interest I will try to photograph it and post or if anyone has some old MR mags it is in the 1995 Great Model RR special edition. Thanks, Paul

I use a mechanic's rolling stool that Harbour Freight sells for about $20. Works great and has a tray under it that will hold whatever you are taking inside the layout without you possibly dropping it. Don't get the round one --- get the one with 4 wheels.

I just thought Len needed a laugh re my wife cleaning the contacts and track. I won't dare show her this site!

Not necessary my wife comes down the basement once a week and polishes the copper contacts for me after she finishes cleaning the track.

Thanks Len now I see what you did. I misunderstood what to do and was deleting the (img) to the left before I pasted the photo designation. Will try harder next time. Thanks for being patient with me.

Jon you asked about my lift out so here are some photos ( hopefully). The bridge construction consists of 3/4" plywood and the use of hard maple locating blocks and rails. The electrical portion uses copper contact pads on the stationary layout and springy copper contact strips on the lift out. Although the photos don't show them the track feeds were wired to the terminal strips you see under the lift out. The lift out was in place with the tracks going across prior to cutting the gap with a cut off wheel on the Dremel. The ends of each track was permanently secured prior to cutting by substituting PC board ties soldered to the tracks in place of the plactic ties. The PC ties were secured to the structure with urathane glue and spikes prior to the gap  cutting. Later on in the developement of the layout I added rare earth magnets to the under structure to pull the lift out in one direction to remove any play in the alignment blocking.

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https://media.fotki.com/2v2HPmQSFx6f34f.jpg

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Boy am I messin' up this thread. How did you do that Sid? Also can you download photos to the Fotki site from the camera?

                                                     

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Another photo showing the soft edge I created around about 80% of the layout by removing the fascia board. It helps bring the model world and the real world together.

[img][https://media.fotki.com/2v2HPkBLGx6f34f.jpg/img]

Thanks Terry but the only thing I see that is different is the " mark at the end of the string of numbers and letters.

Terry just to be clearer ---you don't include the https within the brackets just everything else. Not really clear what to include --there are so many symbols in the photo ID. Is it possible for someone to underline what to include? Thanks, Paul  BTW Jon I have a lot more photos of my layout I hope to show. That test photo was from last year and alot has been added and changed. As you all have gather by now I am not comfortable with computers and such. Sorry.

How did that happen? I didn't see a photo when I posted it.

Trying again

[img][https://images43.fotki.com/v329/photos/3/4102033/16274762/DSCN22822-vi.jpg
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Well that didn't work!

Will try to post photo

[DSCN2282]http://old photo from last year have since expanded[/img]