Deciding On A Layout

Knowing that I wanted to use KATO Unitrack for my model railroad track I went and visted the website at katousa.com to see what kind of layouts they have. I wanted to use as much space as possible on top of my bar, yet if need be, be able to move the layout and re-use the bar. I brought my youngest son (now 12) down to take a look and get his opinion. I was not into just doing a switching layout, I wanted to enjoy watching the train go around, but also play with some switches occasionally. I came across a layout called “Manning Oaks” and thought it would be perfect. The layout was designed to fit on a 36”x72” board and that would fit perfectly on my bar. It provided 2 full loops where I can watch the trains go around and some turnouts to be me more involved with the layout.

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Starting The Benchwork

I am not much of a woodworker and I knew cutting plywood and 1x4’s with my limited tools would be very tedious. So I needed to come up with another way to build my benchwork. I remembered back to one of my previous layout attempts and that I purchased a hollow door from store. That door back then was only 30” wide so I needed to see if could find one that is 36” wide. Sure enough my local Home Depot sells 36”Wx80”L for around $38.00, I thought that would work perfect and save me some time. So now the trackboard is set and I needed to think how I was going to wire the layout. Having the board sit right on top of the bar would not allow me to do my wiring underneath the board. I decided to purchase a 1x4 abd cut 4” blocks to use as legs. I figure the blocks just being used as legs my cuts do not have to be perfectly straight, a jigsaw would work. My next issue is my bar top is made of tile. I thought the wood block would probably easi...

Ballasting The C&NW Layout

After watching plenty of videos on YouTube on ballasting N scale and specifically KATO Unitrack, it was now time to get it done on my C&NW layout. Growing up and attempting previous model railroads, ballasting was always an issue for me, but with the help of the internet, I think I finally got it right. There are plenty of YouTube videos on it now and I elected to go with the following approach. Items needed: Ballast White Glue Isopropyl Alcohol Scenic Cement Baby Spoon Craft Paint Brushs Eye Droppers Steps: I applied Elmer’s Glue-All full strength (white glue) on the edges of the Unitrack and a little on the trackboard. With a craft flat paint brush, I spread the glue evenly. I used a baby spoon to distribute the ballast over the edges of the track. The baby spon allowed a bit more control to apply the ballast. With a fine paint brush, I cleaned up any ballast that was built up on the ties. With a wider flat paint brush, I brushed up at an angle any ballast on the track board...

2017 Lowell Smith Disney Christmas Car

Back at Trainfest in November I met Lowell Smith in the vendor area and loved the cars that he designs and sells. Back in 2010 he came out with the Disney Christmas Train line and each year reveals a new car at the Walt Disney Family Museum. These cars sell out very fast and I was lucky enough to be able to purchase the 2011 ‘Mickeys Good Deed’ and the 2013 ‘Bambi’ cars from him while there. The 2017 car was releasing on December 2nd and I knew I had to get my order in right away or I’ll miss out. Well I am glad that I ordered when I did. My car finally came in the other day, and when I went back to his website this morning, the car is already Sold-Out, along with every other year. It will be challenge to find/collect my missing years. Here is the 2017 Disney Christmas Car ‘Donald Duck’.

Coloma Rails - N Scale Model Railroading

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