NW-Modeling-List Digest, Vol 263, Issue 14

[NW Modeling List]

 >
> I would like to hear from each and every one of you as to whether you
> consider yourself to be in the ?layout? group, the ?contest? group or
> ?both?.  This should help give me some direction for future projects for
> the society model committee.
>
> Thank you in advance for your feedback/help,
>
> Jim Cochran
I became interested when Leadville Designs, who had a fold-up brass /cast kit for an H9 hopper in N scale, tentatively offered it in TT scale, if there was sufficient interest.  There wasn't - American TT has 25 adherents scattered across the continent who all want to model different things. And 20 or so more in Germany who are principally interested in Canadian and Rockies railroading that they'd see on American holidays. So the H9, a N&W-only wagon from the East, was a non-starter.
But it spurred me to research N&W hoppers, and envisioning a coal branchline using some of the 'non-F-6' power that started to appear in the early 80s, low hood GP38-2s, Skunks, just things that would break up the monotony of 13Dip. There were a couple of etches and 3-D offerings that would help.  
I  then realised modelling enticing oddities was unrealistic and delved more into actual N&W locos and stock, and appreciating the personality of a railroad that designed most of its own equipment. 
I wondered if N&W might be one of those railroads where the unique designs meant there could be more 3-D print offerings I could get downsized to TT.  (There's no chance of modelling HO in a small English flat, and I don't like N, so TT it is.)   
However, there were not such 3-D offerings. SCL and Southern have more - particularly given SOU's propensity for rebuilding equipment  -another thing I love.
At the moment, I think I will make a small rake of N&W hoppers and have a couple of locos, with hopes of doing  a small layout which is 'generically' Southern, and also has a couple of SOU locos like a hi-hood GP38-2 and SD35.  
As regards authenticity, that was a world that didn't exist in the N&W era, the two RRs did not mix equipment ; images of the two together usually means it's an NS photo. I hope to include SCL too - years ago I had printed a bunch of Bone Valley phosphate hoppers. 
So a layout would be what the Brits call a 'shunting plank' that can use equipment from 3 roads - N&W coal hoppers,  woodchips & clay from SOU, and phosphate hoppers and boxcars from SCL.
My hopes exceed my skill, clearly. I have no technical drawing skills so 3-D designing is probably out  . . . but I own enough wagon prints to where **something** ought to be possible that doesn't look like its a total fantasy. I think I can make things like an H9, H10 or VGN inherited hoppers. I don't care at all for anything generic that is painted as N&W but isn't. 
Ben Scanlon

   
  
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