I LOVE IT! (for you  )

I consider the jump (back) to N scale at least weekly...if I didn't have so many beautiful built HO structures, I would have switched back to N scale already...I miss the panoramic views and potential to have the scenery appropriately dwarf the trains and structures...I also miss being able to sneak in an 10 or 11" radius turnaround. There are a lot more producers of quality N scale craftsman kits now too.

Honestly, if I could shrink the buildings I have now - I'd have all of my track pulled up by nightfall 

Good luck - I'll be following for sure.

John

*I love the mainline and overall track plan. You may already know more than me on this, but I had a terrible experience with Code 55 Atlas track years ago. Many of the wheel flanges were too deep and "clickety clacked" over every molded tie detail (until the inevitable derail). Might just have been my equipment and maybe you plan to standardize wheels for your roster, etc...but just wanted to share my own experience.

**my only "concern" is just my phobia of return loops...I don't care about operation - I just like to let em go round and round through the scenery. I know DCC makes return loop wiring a breeze - but can the turnouts automatically throw somehow...basically, can you put your feet up with an adult beverage or will you have to stay vigilant with your turnout controls? For me (and my phobia), I'd consider having the loops disappear into a loooong tunnel, connecting to one another to 1. avoid the wiring and "loopy" look of tight reverse loops and 2. break up the visible loop and have trains vanish for a little bit. Again - this is just my phobia but when I see such visible tight radii loops, combined with the wiring & turnout management (that I'm not familiar with) - I start shaking

I needed to memorialize this day...if the lawyers will just stop dipping their beaks and we get this done - today is my retirement day. Not technically - as I own a medical clinic and some regulatory stuff won't finalize until February...but today we sign and, starting tomorrow, I don't show up any more   ...it ain't done til it's done, but LET'S GO!!

Mid 30's here this morning, but for the sake of avoiding any jinxes, I'm sticking to routine...heading out for my 5 mile walk, brief workout followed by cold plunge. It's not often that the outside air is colder than the tub of doom.

Tonight, fam heading to the Japanese steakhouse and, I hope, a quiet (maybe even early) night celebrating our plans and hopes for the New Year.

I booked the NNGC hotel for Minnesota...my wife is possibly even coming along this time. Some really nice home layouts and exceptionally nice people in Minn. I was there for a previous NNGC and I spent 3 weeks there at "DQ U" learning how to make Blizzards when my partners and I bought a Dairy Queen a few moons ago. 

Hope everyone is getting or staying healthy and making ambitious modeling plans for 2026.

Looking forward to seeing the Judge up and around...please pass on my best wishes when you can Tom.

John

Yup...the Expo's were great. The PA one was the only one I missed - I think. They were my first encounters with some of the All-Time Mt Rushmore layouts (and people) that I studied for decades in MR...it was quite a thing for me to meet Sellios, Frary, Van Gelder, Tylick, and Dick Elwell, among others...and visit their legendary layouts in person.

Closest thing is the NNGC and I don't miss many of those.

Quote from: deemery on December 20, 2025, 06:35:00 PM

Quote from: cuse on December 20, 2025, 03:13:45 PMProbably can't tell, but the Robot Repair Shop diorama in Dr Jeff's post is all famous movie and TV robots...if you pushed the button, it would cycle through at least a dozen and the robot in question would light up and/move while their voices would play. It was incredibly creative and fun...for example, the one in front is the robot from "Lost in Space" and there were a few from Star Wars and some less well known ones as well.

Take a close look...really fun idea and great execution.

Sunny and 75 here   

"These aren't the droids you're looking for.  Move along."

dave

No Jedi featured, just droids  

Quote from: Philip on December 19, 2025, 08:07:26 AMGreat layout! Wow!

Thanks Philip...it's pretty bare bones at the moment, but the vision is becoming clearer and I'm on track to retire at the end of the year, so I should be out of excuses soon...if the lawyers don't keep d**ing around.

Probably can't tell, but the Robot Repair Shop diorama in Dr Jeff's post is all famous movie and TV robots...if you pushed the button, it would cycle through at least a dozen and the robot in question would light up and/move while their voices would play. It was incredibly creative and fun...for example, the one in front is the robot from "Lost in Space" and there were a few from Star Wars and some less well known ones as well. 

Take a close look...really fun idea and great execution.

Sunny and 75 here   

sorry to hear Judge...keep your chin up and we'll see you soon at the next bull session

John

That is some AMAZING work! Every detail holds up to tight photography. There's too many things to point to - just great!

I love the leaves on the roof...I think that's an underutilized detail that really works, in my opinion. Tom Johnson's Cass River is another masterpiece of fine detailing that really makes use of the windswept leaf piles that look so real. So many of us want to throw tires on the roof   but leave out the leaves.

Beautiful work...I love the wood stain and small details on the derrick. Outstanding!

Thanks guys...I'm glad to be done with the backdrops, although I still may experiment a bit with adding pieces cut out of a prior backdrop to lower the horizon on the far left before I begin any landforms...just a matter of exploring a possibility with what I have on hand. I'm not too sure it'll play out, but I'm going to give it a look before I move on.

Great layout all around...I really like the "sculpted" tunnel entrances and the carpeted fascia...I think I first saw that in a Lou Sassi MR project decades ago...looks great.

Backdrops are in...so many directions I can go next. I should probably get the remaining track support (and track) in place...basically just two substantial sidings. The 3-D scenery will be up and over the "plains" at the bottom of the backdrop image. I also have some mountains on a previous backdrop that I may try to cut out and position over the existing backdrop for a little more depth and complexity on the far left...I'm not certain it will work, but I'll give it a try.

Remaining track-sidings/roadbed...

1. short one over a bridge to a dramatic mine scene at the far left...with a fairly deep gorge between the mine and the mainline curve in front
2. a long sweeping curve connecting the existing HOn3 "high line" to the elevated scene on the peninsula. The river crossing will also show me what I can include, in terms of waterfront industry (if any) when I allow for scenic grades, etc. The entire far right is still unclear...I'm fighting hard, mentally, to keep it simple and without trackage...just some large spaced out structures and lots of nature up to the backdrop.

Both will really help me visualize the landforms to come.

Morning All, 

Nice setup Dr Jeff.

My son is a seasonal driver for UPS, so we've had a LOT of time with the grandkids...and they are a LOT. My wife is absorbing 90% but I'm still exhausted just thinking about chasing around the 2-year old boy of joy. 

Lots going on with the layout - 90% in my head, but some in the real world. I ordered backdrops from TrainJunkies and had it somewhat "customized" to fit my scenery plan. I've already cut foamcore backdrop supports to fit the modular nature of my layout. I imagine that roll will be arriving soon and, hopefully, I'll have time to get it done while still babysitting, pursuing (surviving?) fitness and jiu jitsu, holiday stuff, and (oh yeah) work.

Good news is the last one might be OVER some time in February if all that has been agreed to comes to fruition 

I'm liking the changes I've made to simplify some of the trackwork and focus more on the "scenes" I intend to create...That's NEVER been a choice I've regretted. I'm very excited to share the accelerated construction over the next months and years.

Quote from: IWannaRetire on November 28, 2025, 08:13:22 PMI'm really intrigued by the roundhouse in Post 1024.  I like it a lot.  If I understand correctly, it's from an older layout.  Any chance on more photos or information?  i.e., was it a kit or a scratch build? 

Thanks in advance, Mark

Mark, 

I should mention that your handle is what my primary priority is right now...as it stands, I should (should should should) be popping corks in early February if everything comes together as planned. 

then, I'll have PLENTY of time and, even more significantly, brain space and energy for this fun stuff.

John