Is your layout prototypical or free lance?

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DeaconKC said:
Mine is freelanced, following John Allen's Gorre & Daphetid in N scale. And I'm having fun!
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Doing some quick math...if you are modeling terrain anything like JA did--floor-to-ceiling--you've gotta have some impressive vertical drops. In N-scale feet I mean. If there isn't an N-scale Alex Honnold lurking around there somewhere...there should be!
 
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After 40ish years I am just starting the journey again. As has been said, I will just want to run trains so whenever I learn enough to make a permanent ish layout it will be freelance but I want to include aspects of my life within the scenery which will be both happy and sad memories. With that said, anyone know where I can find n scale single engine prop planes? Pm me to keep this thread clean. Yes I have looked. No I have not found anything close.
 
You might keep an eye open for some of the vintage Bachmann "Mini-Planes." They were typically about 3"-4" in size, regardless of the aircraft, so the scales varied*. The ME-109, for example was made to 1:140 scale, while the Spirit of St. Louis scaled out at 1:90. I would guess at least half the model planes you'll spot on any given N-scale layout or module might be mini planes...and 1:140 might just be "close enough."

Haunt Ebay...and perhaps even swap meets.

[* They are sometimes sold in the original boxes, and the scale is listed on the back--many sellers will put up a photo of the back for that reason.
There is probably a data-base which lists them too (I have a dim memory of it)].

As far as including aspects of your life goes...I know that's done by many. It's done by me, certainly, because if I hadn't lived this life in this time in this place, my proto-freelance scheme wouldn't exist at all.

Eric Brooman's Utah Belt is a well known example of that: It melded his interest in SP with a healthy dose of D&RGW tiger stripes...but in black, not Aspen Gold. And voila! A model railroading classic was born. It's believable enough I'm sure there have been one or two modelers who were surprised to learn it never was real at all.

But it's sure real enough in HO.
 
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My VTR/GMRC layout is Proto-lance. I’m focused on modeling a particular section of the Green Mountain Railroad but I’m also adding in some fictional elements and operations as well.

I’m also combining operations from the 40s and 50s with that of the modern day so that I can utilize more of the industries found along the Green Mountain Railroad since the stretch of line I’m modeling is only about 12 miles.
 
Hi ! Mine is freelance and a southwestern flavor with a few scenes borrowed from California or New Mexico and inserted into the miniature landscape. This without any scrupulosity.
 
Snowman said:
You might keep an eye open for some of the vintage Bachmann "Mini-Planes." They were typically about 3"-4" in size, regardless of the aircraft, so the scales varied*. The ME-109, for example was made to 1:140 scale, while the Spirit of St. Louis scaled out at 1:90. I would guess at least half the model planes you'll spot on any given N-scale layout or module might be mini planes...and 1:140 might just be "close enough."

Haunt Ebay...and perhaps even swap meets.

[* They are sometimes sold in the original boxes, and the scale is listed on the back--many sellers will put up a photo of the back for that reason.
There is probably a data-base which lists them too (I have a dim memory of it)].

As far as including aspects of your life goes...I know that's done by many. It's done by me, certainly, because if I hadn't lived this life in this time in this place, my proto-freelance scheme wouldn't exist at all.

Eric Brooman's Utah Belt is a well known example of that: It melded his interest in SP with a healthy dose of D&RGW tiger stripes...but in black, not Aspen Gold. And voila! A model railroading classic was born. It's believable enough I'm sure there have been one or two modelers who were surprised to learn it never was real at all.

But it's sure real enough in HO.
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Wow memories, memories ! Eric Brooman's Utah Belt fantastic scenery was one the layouts that inspired me. Showing off desert to sierra scenery. UB 1 or 2 were both great.
Before him there was another great one, David Barrow's Cat Mountain & Santa Fe.

Very impressive too, not freelance, are Jack Burgess Yosemite Valley, Joe Fugate's Siskiyou Line and Mike Danneman' N scale
D&RGW Moffat climb.
I have been fascinated by them and they convinced me of the importance of the scenery as the jewell case for the trains.
 
davidone said:
How do build your layout, prototypical, combination of proto, fantasy or something else? I am enjoying what I do how about you?
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This question assumes one has a layout. I don't. I have plans for a pike with a layout set in Pueblo Colorado.

Inspired by the V&O, I went the freelance route back in the 1970s with my Pine Ridge and North River. I came up with back stories, a made up geography requiring the railroad engineers to grade the track through the area. Made a layout design from that. I developed logos and paint schemes for locos and cars. Standard station and other track side structure designs, the whole 9 yards. Spent probably 10 years on it. What happened? I found myself making more and more concessions to either era, or geography, or occasionally even common sense. With each self justification for whatever it was I "wanted to do at the moment" the freelance became less and less V&O like and more and more like a little kids "train board" clown show.

So I switched to prototype. Couldn't decide which so I switched prototypes several times (CB&Q -> GN -> NP -> Hill Lines (there goes the slipery slope again) then finally back to my roots of AT&SF. Modeling in Pueblo prototypically also gives me the presence of D&RGW, C&S, C&W, Mopac, and Rock Island.

I've only made 1 concession that puts me into the "protolance" category. In my world, the 1880 "Treaty of Boston" went in more in favor of the Santa Fe and they got to keep the hanging bridge of the Royal Gorge that they built, but Rio Grande still has trackage rights. This way I can bring the transcon passenger trains through Pueblo.
 
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Iron Horseman said:
This question assumes one has a layout. I don't. I have plans for a pike with a layout set in Pueblo Colorado.

Inspired by the V&O, I went the freelance route back in the 1970s with my Pine Ridge and North River. I came up with back stories, a made up geography requiring the railroad engineers to grade the track through the area. Made a layout design from that. I developed logos and paint schemes for locos and cars. Standard station and other track side structure designs, the whole 9 yards. Spent probably 10 years on it. What happened? I found myself making more and more concessions to either era, or geography, or occasionally even common sense. With each self justification for whatever it was I "wanted to do at the moment) the freelance became less and less V&O like and more and more like a little kids "train board" clown show.

So I switched to prototype. Couldn't decide which so I switched prototypes several times (CB&Q -> GN -> NP -> Hill Lines (there goes the slipery slope again) then finally back to my roots of AT&SF. Modeling in Pueblo prototypically also gives me the presence of D&RGW, C&S, C&W, Mopac, and Rock Island.

I've only made 1 concession that puts me into the "protolance" category. In my world, the 1880 "Treaty of Boston" went in more in favor of the Santa Fe and they got to keep the hanging bridge of the Royal Gorge that they built, but Rio Grande still has trackage rights. This way I can bring the transcon passenger trains through Pueblo.
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Beings this will be my last layout it will be about me running the road names I have loved and bought thru out my life. Yes it will have scenery but it will represent the places I have lived, traveled to and even a representation of my time in Vietnam with the army. My favorite railroads are the UP, SF and Norfolk Southern so one of them will running at all times. I also only run modern era models like Athearn genesis and scale trains, the older stuff has been given away except for a few favorites but they are not up to today's standards to run.
I have never allowed anyone to tell how to build my layouts though some tried! My time now is to have fun, nothing else matters. Can't wait to get started next month. The way I do it is not for everyone but whatever you do Make sure your having some fun.
 
davidone said:
How do build your layout, prototypical, combination of proto, fantasy or something else? I am enjoying what I do how about you?

Dave
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Fantasy, because I'm making it up from my imagination.
Although I get a lot of my.... "ideas and inspiration" ......from so many here at ModelRailroadForums. So many great looking layouts, I wish I could thank everyone by name........ Anyways thanks to everyone here at MRR..........

Also, I look at some You-Tube videos.
 
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