Category: Layout Planning

Benchwork, Layout Planning, Product ReviewLeave a comment

More than Just Tiger Woods

traiNmaster

As you can see, I am progressing on my first layout. The track plan is ready with some modifications once I get the frame done. My track work will be based on Oliver Bachmeier’s HO-scale track plan. The other structures and landscapes will be entirely different. I do not intend to replicate Oliver’s layout in N-scale. However, I do find his track work interesting as it incorporated a helix (or to be precise, nolix – a stretched version of helix), turnaround track and fiddle yard underneath the top visible level but within the same 2,3m by 1,0m frame. I do … Continue reading More than Just Tiger Woods

Benchwork, Layout Planning6 Comments

Eureka! Tilt-Table Layout Contruction!

traiNmaster

Another challenge that I faced is how to construct my layout that can be easily stored and transported. Most people have a basement, room or even an attic to spare, even for a 4 by 8 foot layout. Yet, I will be constructing a 100cm by 226cm layout using IKEA IVAR frames (equivalent to 3,3 by 7,4 feet for those using the non-metric unit of measurements). I could not put my layout on a flat (normal) position due to lack of space in living room or even any other room. With the remodelling of my apartment living room, some spare … Continue reading Eureka! Tilt-Table Layout Contruction!

Layout Planning, Product Review2 Comments

American vs European N-scale Passenger Cars

traiNmaster

Now that I have my ICE 2 trainset and Amtrak Superliner Phase II cars unboxed, I could make comparisons between the two. Earlier I had compared the American Dash 8-32  and European Class BR 185, both in HO-scale. While this comparison of N-scale passenger cars is not a like-for-like but it makes an interesting note. The Amtrak Superliner dining car is a bi-level car with a height of 31mm above the rail (or 4,96m scale height) while the ICE 2 intermediate coach/wagon is 24mm above rail (or 3,84m scale height); a difference of 7mm (or nearly 1,0m scale height) Lengthwise, … Continue reading American vs European N-scale Passenger Cars

Exhibitions/Fairs, Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

The Fun of Model Railroad Planning

traiNmaster

I could not think of any other hobby that is so multi-disciplinary and multi-facet. Could you? Come to think of it, even at the most basic level, this hobby involves some conceptualization and design work, carpentry, electrical and electronics, mechanical works, landscaping and painting and etc. I have quite some reference books from my earlier days of planning for a US-based layout but have since acquired some German railway books (it also helped me to improve my Deutsch). With my new Billy shelf, I have now a proper place for my books and within easy reach. As I am also … Continue reading The Fun of Model Railroad Planning

Benchwork, Layout Planning2 Comments

The Challenge of A Tilting House

traiNmaster

I lived in an old but modernized house (Altbauwohnung) near Frankfurt. Most of the houses in my area are of these types. While the owner has done wonderful job in modernizing his 3-story house, one of the challenges I face is uneven floors at every part of my apartment. Even in the living room, different corners have different degrees of tilt (I don’t think the house is of any risk of collapsing; else, it wouldn’t be fit for occupancy) I have taken some measurements from a spirit level app on my smartphone (showing inches of rise per foot) This means … Continue reading The Challenge of A Tilting House

Benchwork, Layout Planning, Product ReviewLeave a comment

New Home for Collections

traiNmaster

It was a quiet Christmas in Deutschland. Unlike in Malaysia, where the streets and shopping malls are crowded with people and decorations, Christmas in Deutschland is a rather private affair. 2 weeks before Christmas, I bought quite some stuffs from Ikea and this was the only time I could fix them. The new BILLY book shelf was a welcomed item to the home. I could now take out my collections – models and reference books and have them properly shelved and easily to reach. Model railroad magazines, reference books and planning materials, both German and American railroads. Finally BR185 and … Continue reading New Home for Collections

Layout PlanningLeave a comment

Track Clearances: NEM102 vs NMRA S-7

traiNmaster

I always wonder what are the differences in track clearances or loading gauge between the European and North American model railroads (and also in reality). Visually the American locos are larger and taller compared to its European counterpart. This photo (HO models) shows that. For those who want to run both the North American and European models on your layout, these measurements will help you. If you are sticking to European (or American), then it is good to know what the other side of the Atlantic have (just to satisfy your curiosity) The above dimensions did not take into account … Continue reading Track Clearances: NEM102 vs NMRA S-7

Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Turnout Planning with Peco Template and NEM103

traiNmaster

PECO has finally updated their turnout templates and I managed to download all the N-scale turnout templates in code 55 (3,47MB) and code 80 (1,93MB). I intend to use mainly PECO turnouts but am open to try others such as those from Fleischmann and even at a later stage handlaid tracks from Fast Tracks. You can download the 1:1 templates here. An example of a code 80 template below. To print correctly, make sure there is no sizing of the printing (Print > Properties > … ) Once printed, the ruler on the right side allows you to check with your ruler … Continue reading Turnout Planning with Peco Template and NEM103

Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Lucky Draw Win: “DB Netze Infrastrukturprojekte 2012” Coffee table Book

traiNmaster

One advantage of working for Deutsche Bahn is you have information about trains and its operations (only publicly available information are published here). DB Projektbau GmbH, a subsidiary of DB Netze (railway infrastructure company) published a coffee-table book about their infrastructure projects in 2012. I won this book through an internal lucky draw. This wonderful book (in German/Deutsch) is available for Eurailpress from 48 Euro. A good book to have if you want to follow the construction guidelines of tunnels, bridges and right-of-ways of DB. Definitely an idea book for my N-scale layout. Continue reading Lucky Draw Win: “DB Netze Infrastrukturprojekte 2012” Coffee table Book

Layout PlanningLeave a comment

NEM Standards for N-scale Modellers

traiNmaster

Looking for the N-scale measurements of various NEM (Normen Europäischer Modellbahnen) standards? I made JPG files of them here. Feel free to download and refer. Note: depending whether you are using code 55 or code 80 tracks, with or without cork roadbed and extra under-layers, these measurements below are always from the top of the rail. So if you have a 3mm cork on your plywood base, and using code 55 PECO tracks (3,1mm), you can add 6,1mm to these height measurements (if you are measuring from the plywood base) SO: Schienenoberkante (top of rail) NEM102 defines the clearance (loading … Continue reading NEM Standards for N-scale Modellers