HO Engineer Bill likes the look on this N-scale Unitrack test piece with the faux fur grass berm for our HOn30 project.



The other berm attempts were Sculptamold mixed with my base earth color latex paint. Really messy and time consuming.

My fur grass articles are at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/fur_grass/

Harold

Got out some of my old faux fur "pelts" and found that the faux fur could be butted up against the track to make an effective edge.





Engineer Bill is happy.

Harold

We have resurrected the old On30 layout. It has been expanded to 5x8. Am impressed by how much six inches improves the space. We are going to use Kato HO Unitrack. The benchwork is one piece this time, no sagging. Just added five foot cross members to the old side pieces. Using foam to create the creek below level.

Originally I was going to do the layout in 55n3 using the Kato Unitrack.  Then I discovered that I could get three inch cl to cl with the Unitrack. The 55n3 effort will probably move to modules.





The Kato Unitrack allows the track to be weathered at the workbench. That was one of the reasons I haven't built a layout. Too old to climb all over the benchwork to do the track.





Found that a "dirt" ballast berm could be developed using Sculptamold mixed with latex paint. Here for our HOn30 project.



The new layout page is at:

https://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/new_layout/

Boy, do those new Bachmann Moguls sound great.

Thank you if you visit
Harold

Resurrected the benchwork from the old On30 layout. Splotched some clouds onto the backdrop to cover the defects. Tired of sanding and still not being able to get the paint to match in those areas.



Got a good deal on the package of HO Kato Unitrack for the for the Model Railroader's  Black River Junction layout about four years ago.

Found that the track can be painted to look like narrow gauge track.





What is 55n3, visit:

http://www.55n3.info/

Thank you if you visit
Harold

Haven't been here in a while. Found this in one of my wanderings looking for something else.

HO locomotives translate to small loggers and plantation locos in 55n3 better than any other scale. Always knew there was a loco that would match the HO Bachmann Alco 2-6-0. A good match for the Godchaux #4 2-6-0 sugar plantation loco.





"I see narrow gauge"
Harold

Would be nice if Bachmann would make North American style HOn30. Probably be a good market now with the interest generated with 3d printing like what available on Shapeways. There is a conversion for the N scale Bachmann 2-8-0 so all that is needed is new cosmetics. Would be nice to have a factory job with sound.



This is a similar after market for a N scale Model Power 2-6-0/4-4-0. Isn't really that hard.



Been in and out of HOn30 since the early 1970s. Was N-Scaling and got a good deal on the Kato Carolina Central layout about four years ago. Sure looked like HOn30 with the track spacing. Bought some Minitrains and Shapeway HOn30 cars but health problems caused me to shelve model railroading.

2018 was a good health year so returning to model trains tried N-Scale with an attemept at a "door layout" in N-Scale with standard gauge. Trouble is "I see narrow gauge". Various other odd model train ventures intervened. Got a Myner Models Model Power 2-6-0 conversion working. Runs great after a major D-oh moment.

Found that I could make my Kato track look like HOn30 with little effort.



So the layout is still in track planning stages.



Harold

My earlier article has more instructions.

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/mogul_dcc/

Harold

Designed a direct replacement 1/72 cab for the Bachmann HO 4-4-0 and had a 3d print made.





3d printing is great.

Harold

"Objects aren't  "N, HO...S, O, etc. SCALE". An object is what it measures."

Wanting a engine crew for my 4-4-0 I found some Bachmann Branchline OO Scale figures from the UK.

Things are sometimes better than what the box says. The second guy from the right is our new OO scale Bachmann Branchline figure. The guys on his right and left are Preiser 1/72. The guy on the far left is a Langley Victorian OO.



Sometimes you need little wins in life
Harold

Back to the fun!

The Tichy HO ore car would make a great coal "jimmy". Can be had for $5 a piece on the street.



Always wanted to find a use for these great little cars.

Harold

The question is "Why not S Scale?". Then we lose our C-16, our 1880s 4-4-0, our one evening 1870s box and no evening 1880's box. The HO equipment doesn't translate to S Scale. Can live with the gauge to have that equipment.



Been there done that in S Scale narrow gauge. S is really limited in equipment. The available HO equipment to rebuild to S is shaky. The Tyco ten-wheeler hasn't held up well over time. S scale is very expensive. Just using the equipment on HO track as Sn3.5 doesn't change anything.



Just sayin'
Harold

Bigger 1/72 cabs are required to remove the HO look. That is a cab I built for making the Roundhouse HOn3 locomotive Sn2. Learning a 3d CAD modeling program and have the cab printed out probably would take less time.



Harold

Cleaning up my train room I ran across this Bachmann HO ten-wheeler.

Looked Tweetsie, having a plan already in my bin I printed out a 1/72 scale drawing.



Yep, with a little bit of work we can be in the blue ridges with room to have real mountains.

Harold

We need moguls for early narrow gauge.

The Roundhouse Mogul has two versions the more common high wheeler and a scarcer low driver version which has a 1/72 43" drivers. They mechanically match early narrow gauge moguls .



The boiler is easily lowered and smaller drivers applied. The cab is the right size.



Harold

Our work-in-progress beta Mantua early boxcar conversion, $11 toy train box car to 24 foot 1880's narrow gauge boxcar buildable in an evening.



Finally, affordable and easy 1880's narrow gauge. Wooden cars and iron men!

Harold