A model with a Middle Earth theme

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K

Keith

New Member
I work at an electric utility, and I am working on a project with a local university where electrical engineering students will be building an N scale model (about 4' by 7') with a functioning electric grid. The twist is that we are making the model have a Middle Earth theme, so pretend the hobbits and dwarves and elves have an electric grid to power the lights in their homes.

We have the electronic components mostly figured out, and I have found some N scale electric substations and transmission towers, but my dilemma now is finding structures that look appropriate for a Middle Earth theme.

Does anyone have ideas or suggestions on N scale houses, buildings, barns, etc. that would look appropriate in a model with a medieval or Middle Earth theme?

Thanks!
Keith
 
I think what you should do is look for European buildings using Google and mentioning N-scale. Another thing you may want to look into is hydrocal. Typically stone buildings are made from hydrocal.
 


Cjcrescent said:
Welcome to the forums! I would go to Walthers website http://www.Walthers.com and search for Heljan, & Vollmer, N scale buildings, esp farm structures.
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Maybe 6mm (1:144 scale) wargames buildings would be useful? There might even be fantasy stuff out there. N scale is 1:160, so not far off 6mm wargaming stuff.

Hobbit houses are something you might have to build yourself, though they are just round doors in the side of a hill, so not hard to build.

http://www.small-scale.net/yearofmud/2012/12/14/hobbit-house-pictures/


Dwarves would have impressive stone doorways into a mountain. Maybe ancient temples or ruins for wargames would give you what you need.


Some links to get you started:

http://6mm.wargaming.info/page3.shtml

http://www.hovelsltd.co.uk/

http://www.levenminiatures.co.uk/index.htm

Elves? Don't they live in forest palaces or soemthing like that?

What about Orcs and Goblins? You could have a volcano for Mordor.:D
 
Hey Stoker.....I don't recall anyone saying this was a model railroad, only that it was being built to N scale dimensions. And you are somewhat correct that education isn't what it used to be, but I find it's largely because students aren't encouraged to think outside the box and use their imaginations, which in this case they are. Students are turning into little computers, and they go to school and someone plants programs in their heads and they spend the rest of their lives spitting out work based on those programs. And if something comes along that doesn't fit the parameters of the program, they melt down. A power grid is a power grid, whether it's in a modern city, a bunch of mud huts in some third world country, or a bunch of hobbit houses. Each has different requirements, but the design principals are the same. Building a hobbit settlement is no different than designing a settlement for Mars.....they're both just fantasy at this point....so what would be a correct exercise? Designing something that's already been designed by a million engineering students in the past. Technology doesn't move ahead if you keep doing the same thing over and over.

And your point about tax dollars is pretty antiquated as well......yes, most schools receive some tax money, but in this case the school was listed as a "local university", which means it could be privately owned. I work for a major university, and a suprisingly small amount of our budget is tax money. And most of the tax money goes for maintenance and such which is only fair since the state owns the land and buildings. Most of the money spent on education comes from tuition and research grants.

You are corerect that you are free to express your opinions, but why rain on someones parade just because they want to do something that's a little different. I personally would love to see some pictures when they complete the project.
 
I agree with Stoker. I would hope that the Hobbit theme is merely a miniscule side feature of this engineering project. The focus should be on a state of the art, failsafe control of the grid. As far as the Moral Land Grant program from the 1800s, there is an obligation by the Fed Gov to maintain their share of the infrastructure but not to inject a political mind set into the students.
 
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Wow, I never thought my question would lead to a debate over the slide of the American education system!

Just for the record, what we are building is a simulated miniature power grid (using DC instead of AC) that will have substations with circuit breakers, transformers, and switches, along with system loads and generators. We will have telemetry to measure the line flows, bus voltages, and breaker statuses, and we will feed that telemetry through communications devices into a standalone instance of Energy Management System (EMS) software that will monitor and control the grid. This is a senior project, and the students are getting hands on experience with circuit design and power industry concepts, along with communications protocols and EMS software that are used to control the real world power grid.

We are simulating a small power company, but our simulated grid has to power something so that you can see it working, and that's where the model comes in. There's no railroad involved, just various structures and lights so that you can see how what is happening on the physical model matches up with what is happening on the EMS displays. We will be using our system to train new employees on the communications protocols, how the EMS software works, and to use for demonstrations on how the real power grid works, so we want the model to be engaging, especially to young people who are entering the work force as interns and new employees.

We had thought about having our physical model represent real cities, but that's not quite as interesting as Middle Earth. Also, some people might be uncomfortable about a training scenario that blacks out a model of Chicago or New York, but nobody is uncomfortable if we black out Hobbiton or Rivendell.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback! The tip on looking at the 6mm buildings was particularly helpful, and I'll be sure to post some pictures when the model is finished next spring.

Keith
 


I agree as well about the engineering side, the power grid is the main part, but at the same time, what do Hobbits need in their power grid vs. what does a modern city need. It presents something that requires thinking outside the box, so to speak, which is something I think is lacking in a lot of todays education, so I find it refreshing. And this little side trip is taking away from the whole original intent of the post, which was "where can we find n (1:160) scale buildings that would look like middle earth" . We have no info beyond that to be making judgements on the state of their education system.
 
I agree! As a retired aerospace engineer, I object to building a Middle Earth theme power grid. Better they should build a Lunar or Martian power grid. Then everybody can say our college students are looking to the future! BTW, would there be much difference in the deisgn of the POWER GRID itself whatever type community was selected? OK, how about NO structures. Just have the grid! Then everybody will be happy...or not! Oh, and how many ethereal winged characters can dance on the head of a headed fastening device (or to put it in a way that will draw the ire of SOMEbody for the refernce: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?)?
 
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I don't care if the power goes to middle earth or outer space Keith, but post some pictures when you can.
The middle earth theme might make a rather dull subject a little more palatable to some people, I would think the main thing is the system itself.
:)
 
Excuse me? I thought this was a forum for model railroaders, and the original post was a request for availability of structures that could represent a certain setting, NOT a forum over the choice of the setting. While I decry a lot of the aspects of our educational system, IMHO this is not the place for such discussions...unless it pertains to model railroading or prototype railroading, historical or contemporaneous.

Pardon me. I have a "black diamond" special to dispatch from the Southern Illinois coal fields to a coal-fired electric plant, and I have to inform the call boy to roust a hoghead to take out a Burlington 2-10-4.
 
Stoker said:
Senior test? Is that supposed to be a joke? With training based on "Middle Earth" we should all have complete confidence in the upcoming "turn off the power grid and see what happens" test coming up in a couple of weeks. What could possibly go wrong?
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I think you're a little too hung up on the middle earth thing. From your posts it looks like you got a poor (and wrong) impression of the project after a read of the first post, and have slid into a general rant against the current state of education in this village/state/country/etc. From Keith's second post is looks as though the training isn't based on middle earth, but rather, on curriculum that may be useful to senior-level students. Middle-earth is just the setting/backdrop for the project. (It's definitely not my taste, incidentally, but who cares?) Your concerns about education may be perfectly valid, but IMO this thread is not an example of the problem. Anyway, disappointing to see that as a response to a first-time poster.
 
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Stoker I worked at a power generating station in East Selkirk MB for a number of years, we had a Homer Simpson poster in the control room similar to that one.
 
WOW! Hey Keith I forgot to say welcome to the forum. You will find alot of help here as in the first few posts. You posted this in "General Discussion" which is correct and does not require a railroad theme. Keep us posted on how the project works out. We do love pictures and the way the system works will be very educational to all.
 
Tragically, in our time education has become an instrument for extinguishing common sense, individuality, and critical thinking. We witness the results of this on our society and culture every day.
 
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Tragically, in our time education has become an instrument for extinguishing common sense, individuality, and critical thinking. We witness the results of this on our society and culture every day.[/QUOTE]

What the heck! Keith wants to build something and you guys are ripping education. Why can't you give him a hand? P.S. I did a senior project in college and learned a lot from doing it.
 
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