I'm building an On18 shelf layout, to run when it's too hot in the garage to run the On30 layout. It's also an excuse to build more locomotives and rolling stock.
This is the first build I've done for On18. It's equipped with DCC, sound and a keepalive.
Please can someone help. I made this layout not too long ago, and it's my first go at model trains. Before balasting, it was working alright for a while, but now it can barely move without stalling out.
Im pretty sure it's a power issue as both my engines have the issue, and im losing my mind. Im about ready to rip up the track and start again at this point.
I’m slowly making progress on my little layout:
- The re-railer / bridge that I made from a Kato rerailer and parts of an unlovely flatcar is mostly finished (and even gained nice railings).
- The “valleys” are ok but the transition to flat seems too abrupt. I plan to add a couple of small raised berms at the transition lines to heighten the contrast and to help disguise the transitions.
- I decided to extend the valley on the right side as shown in the pics.
- I also have not decided if this will be HOn30 or N. I have more N buildings and more of my N rolling stock has Arnold / Rapido couplers that will interconnect. My HOn30 stuff is all different brands and none of their couplers have especially nice things to say about any of the others.
- I might do a shallow, round valley in the center, but I don’t know what to put in it.
- I want to do a tunnel / mountain along the left side and back corner but don’t know how tall to make it and what to have on top. The height can be anywhere from 2.5” to 4-5”. I would love to make it something composed of just desert rock formations because it would save me having to do greenery etc, but on the other hand my ability to sculpt convincing stone formations is approx zero (:-)
(I did mention that this is my first layout, yes?)
Kato makes a great many varieties of Unitrack. But sometimes a particular size is missing, or the local hobby shop is out of stock or the big brown truck of happiness is late …
I had a package of 282mm radius 45 degree track, but they were a little too long. And I didn’t want to wait. This whole thing took only 10 minutes to do, including taking the pictures.
The plastic trackbed that Kato uses glues up very well with CA.
I used a razor saw to cut the track off at 2 of the bulkheads. The bulkheads make it easy to sand everything square so it can glue back together well.
Next thread the track stub in place and glue the track back together.
Use a Xuron track cutter to cut the metal tracks flush.
Pop in the Unitrack rail joiner and you’re done!