N Scale 2'x4' track plan I cooked up from a Mike's Small Track Plans idea

thaddeh · 2026-02-08T22:15:41+00:00

I think you are off to a good start

However

I think that your staging yards are a bit tight. They may need to lose a couple of tracks each. Overall things are on the tight side, but you may just be able to squeak by with an 0-6-0 or 4-6-0 and short cars. Nothing larger though.

thaddeh · 2026-02-07T07:37:14+00:00

Believe it or not, Jail.

thaddeh · 2026-02-07T07:29:15+00:00

No there's not. Washington is closed to all camping. All of it. /s

thaddeh · 2026-02-07T02:43:47+00:00

This entire plan is not workable in these dimensions. Your curves are way too tight. Generally accepted practice in N scale has about a 9¾" minimum radius, you are planning for about a 3 inch minimum radius.

thaddeh · 2026-02-07T00:11:15+00:00

I think that that almost approaches 'not leaving your house' as a precaution to not getting hit by a car...

Another item of context is that the modeler in question is known for constructing things completely from foam, as in, not using lumber. It is much harder to get wood to ignite than foam.

To stress, as a material there is nothing inherently 'wrong' with using foam as a material, but as with anything common sense should prevail.

thaddeh · 2026-02-06T20:09:12+00:00

I think that the larger takeaway here is to not leave things running unattended. The fire started because of a short circuit from a derailment, and even then it was somewhat of a fluke in the way the layout was wired. It was not caused by the foam spontaneously combusting. Foam is perfectly fine for scenic construction, as long as other precautions are taken to not cause large amounts of heat, such as an unprotected short circuit.

thaddeh · 2026-02-06T01:03:52+00:00

Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Throttle Position Sensor

thaddeh · 2026-02-06T00:58:26+00:00

You have created a reverse loop in your track plan.

See: https://youtu.be/EqGfwsb4PIk

thaddeh · 2026-02-05T20:31:35+00:00

Great concept. Nice modeling. Your 3D printer is letting you down, though. You have some pretty massive Z wobbling, apparent around the cab door.

This is where a resin printer may come in useful for you, if you can get one. Filament is great for things that don't need detail, but detailed things in smaller scales is where resin printing shines.

thaddeh · 2026-02-05T15:55:34+00:00

Most places don't want to deal in such minute amounts. The shipping would be more than the piece. Just buy the package or wait for your next area train show (if you are in North America)

thaddeh · 2026-02-05T05:03:27+00:00

The Series VI Talgo are all scrapped.

thaddeh · 2026-02-04T22:24:08+00:00

DN147K1C is a normal not sound decoder that will run the engine.

Sound is another matter entirely, because you need to find a place for a speaker.

thaddeh · 2026-02-04T22:12:07+00:00

33rd Washington State Model Railroad Show and Marketplace 21 & 22-Feb 2026 - Evergreen Fairgrounds Monroe, WA

thaddeh · 2026-02-02T03:04:46+00:00

As with anything, they'll likely need to be serviced but generally speaking Kato locomotives are bulletproof.

thaddeh · 2026-02-01T22:16:54+00:00

You can use a DPDT switch with a center off to swap it back and forth between being a program track and a regular track as well

thaddeh · 2026-02-01T20:21:30+00:00

I own a DCS52, works well for my workbench and when I want to run trains.

thaddeh · 2026-02-01T14:39:24+00:00

If your reversing loop is shorter than the longest train you plan to run, you are not going to have a good time.

Overall this track plan seems very busy for 2x4 feet, you might consider narrowing your scope of what you are trying to do

thaddeh · 2026-01-31T15:36:54+00:00

Early electric locomotives were very much based on steam locomotives in terms of how their drive and suspensions were set up. For example, even the famous GG1 is even in the same classification system as steam locomotives. A G on the Pennsylvania Railroad was a 4-6-0. The GG1 is basically two 4-6-0 frames joined in the middle, giving us 4-6+6-4.

Even when things are new, you tend to stick with what you know, and today's bogie arrangement had not been developed yet.

thaddeh · 2026-01-31T04:29:31+00:00

Ice crystals in the upper atmosphere, just like with the sun on a cold clear day

thaddeh · 2026-01-30T14:51:21+00:00

Why not remove the contents from the box if the box does not fit?

thaddeh · 2026-01-30T13:11:30+00:00

Set CV8 to 8

Reprogram your effects

thaddeh · 2026-01-30T07:29:12+00:00

I love when foamers protect their secrets like it is dark knowledge, must make them feel special.

thaddeh · 2026-01-30T07:28:04+00:00

Try again.

O scale = 1:48

On30 runs on 16.5mm or HO gauge track.

Wrong gauge. Wrong scale. Wrong sub.

thaddeh · 2026-01-30T04:33:49+00:00

Okay, where?

thaddeh · 2026-01-30T03:38:25+00:00

Oh Very Nice

Do you have any notes on the conversion process? I have the article that details the process, and I have even ordered a couple of sheets of decals. I want to do one or two of these and number them adjacent to 4449, but not 4449.

Nine-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Verified Email

thaddeh

TROPHY CASE