The Model Railroader staff’s N scale Red Oak layout features many interesting structures built from wood and plastic kits. Associate editor Steve Otte shows some of the structure highlights on the layout and provides some painting tips. Editor Neil Besougloff also plugs in a power pack and runs the Zephyr passenger train to test out the layout’s track wiring.
Building the 3 x 7 Red Oak N scale model railroad part 4
By Angela Cotey | January 19, 2015
| Last updated on November 23, 2020
Placing structures and testing track
Once again, David, thank you for answering my question about MRVP. I understand that MRVP is a separate and different organization from MR magazine, and I do wish I could subscribe. However, another $27 a year, on top of the MR subscription just takes away that much more money that I can't spend on the layout and / or trains. Model train equipment (engines, cars, track, etc.) are expensive enough that I have had to skip over things I wanted (Athern's N Scale Big Boy, for example) because by the time I saved up enough to buy them, they were no longer available. Life is a matter of choices, and I prefer models to videos. Sorry! Maybe if I win the Calif. State lottery! LOL!
Hello again Peter,
Sorry to hear you are not an MRVP subscriber yet.
Just for clarification's sake, MR Video Plus is an all-new product, with its own staff, and for the most part, its very own stories, layout visits, and regular series. While Cody, Neil, Dana and the others appear in MRVP videos from time to time, our subscription video website is a very different animal from Model Railroader magazine. And, if it wasn't its own product, the videos we make for MR Video Plus would never have been made as part of the regular MR subscription.
The good news is that if you are already a subscriber to one of our other tracks titles, including Model Railroader, Trains, Classic Trains, Garden Railways, or even Classic Toy Trains, you can get a subscription to MR Video Plus for just $27 a year – about the same price as most of the new ready-to-run freight cars on the market in HO or N scale.
Think about it, and if you want to see what you've been missing, for just $4.95, you can try it for a month first.
Best wishes on your modeling endeavors,
David
Thank you, David and Steven. Your answer to my question was very helpful. I'd really love to watch the episode of Cody's Workshop for more clarification, however, I'm not a subscriber to MRVP. Being retired and on a fixed income, I have to be careful on how I spend my limited hobby dollars. My choice is in buying rolling stock and related layout supplies, not "how to" videos. Besides, I feel that all "how to" videos SHOULD be included in the price of the magazine subscription. Wish I had an unlimited hobby budget, so that I could buy many of the products I've missed, but such is NOT the case.
Hey Steve! Nine rings times six segments equals 54 segments, not 72. (1:50)
Hey Peter,
In addition to Steve's response below,Cody answered your question last month in MRVP's Cody's Workshop episode 22 as well (and he even shows your comment). Check out his demonstration at about the 11 minute mark in the program, and thanks for writing us!
David
To Peter S. Sparaco from California: We cut both layers of foam all the way through before applying them to the layout, when it was still easy to push a vertical knife all the way through. We agree, it would be difficult to cut that slot vertically once it was glued down to the plywood!
Guys. Asked this question before, but didn't get an answer, so, I'll try again. My question is how do you cut a slot through two layers of foam insulation accurate enough to support the backdrop / view block?
No discussion of what structures/industries to add. No demonstration of the building of even one structure. Nothing that even comes close to the headline.
According to the article "Small town railroading in the 1950's" the speed limit for passenger trains through the depot area in Corning, Iowa was 80mph. Freighters had a lower limit…
The layout is looking good! Lots of great info and insight. I just have one question/observation: The train you ran to demo the layout, do you realize you were running it at about 100 scale MPH? I have watched a lot of videos here and on you tube and it seems that everyone has to run them too fast! Now, out on open tracks, this passenger train might actually reach the occasional 80+ MPH but would never run that fast through town or by the station.
I have an HO layout that is set in the 40's and I seldom run my passenger trains 60 mph and they always slowdown passing the stations.
My 'long haul' freights may also reach that 60 MPH speed but 45-50 is more common.
The "short line" and switchers seldom break 30 MPH.
You go to all the trouble of detailing buildings, and in my case, locus and rolling stock as well, and then run the trains at non-protypical speeds.
Just an observation
Is the RED OAK wired for DCC and you can test the track with DC? I am working on my layout now and I wondered after I wire for DCC can I test it on DC. In case I made a mistake I will not harm my DCC controller.
Why has no one posted about how awesome it is to see trains finally running?
I like to place my structures on the layout as I go, also. The provides a chance to check how things will fit. I have moved buildings that didn't work where I thought they would. One I swapped out was too close to the backdrop when assembled. Another was too big for the grade of a mountain road. A second advantage to placing structures as you build them is that it is a great motivation to see progress.
Where can I find dimensions for the bench work?
I assume that the edge of the door is also 1" frame. Wouldn't it be possible to arrange the L-girder so that the flange is on the outside, and flush to the edge of the door, allowing for several more screws along the edges, to fasten the door more securely to the frame?
Looking forward to seeing the manufacturers for the laser cut wood structures in the magazine article. Thank you for the video
On the Red Oak why did you use electro frog instead of insulation frogs for the turnouts?
I like the way the wiring is to the side, but please show how you get the track wiring over to it. One brief shot seems to indicate you just cut a slit in the styrofoam and let the wires come through to the edge that way. Is it that simple? How would you handle additional wiring (by adding a new industry down the road) after the scenery has been put into place?
Gee, Neil, thought I was watching a Lionel train running around the layout; or do you just like running in Warp 8?
Some really good ideas about the wiring conduit, especially if there is no frame underneath the door.