NTS & B Layout in Progress: September 2013

Monday, September 2, 2013

NTS&B Starting Year 7

Wow. Its been 6 years ago since I started the non-Helix part of the layout. Last year saw a little more progress. I extended the mainline yard and subway by 8 ft, and a 3x4 ft platform for Bigville. (with some help from a couple friends). Bigville has started growing with the NTS& B Tower, and under construction City Hall. The new upper loop and bridge are about complete. Part of the year was getting ready for the NMRA national convention, and now the next Piedmont Pilgrimage.

My hopes for next year is to complete an 8x10 expansion which will complete the foot print of the layout. If I don't get started on that, I still have plenty of work to do on Bigville (last building, lighting, stairway), the Mainline Passenger Platforms, and scenery between the layers.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

NTS&B Tower complete

Eventually has arrived (see previous post). The NTS&B Tower is finally open for business. Below are a few pictures of the finished product, and the initial paint masking. The tower started out as a Plexiglas Cylinder that I picked up somewhere while in college. Its first life in my possession was a lamp with Christmas lights in it. Now its a 10 story building with an observation deck on top. The original plexiglass made 6 stories, with various plastic deli containers making up the remaining. Since the deli containers are very flimsy, I made an internal frame from some scrap Gargraves Track. Lights are all LEDs from a Christmas string, with a 2K Resistor always on for dimmer night time viewing, and switchable 470 Ohms to add brightness during day. Building is complete, so now all I have to do is run power to it, decorate around it, create and light 2 more buildings, add street, street lights and small park. add traffic lights, and add small construction scene back in and Bigville will be complete.