N Scale Layout ACTRR

[8138arron]

what a fantastic layout mine is so simple but u have inspired me to make it bigger I wish I could see it with my own eyes, great job

Arron

[mrfifer]

@8138arron Arron , Thanks , but this layout is now gone and the new ACTRR is about 80% complete.

Thanks , Mike

[mrmartyman7]

Your layout really looks good Mike,

really detailed well and the video was really great.

[mrfifer]

Thanks Marty , I am kinda slow right now with the heat here.

[TheHockeystar98]

Sweet Layout Dude. I'm going to start a N scale layout soon and when I see vids like this one I watch it a few times to get Ideas. Once again Nice layout

[mrfifer]

Thanks and so glad you are folowing along.

Mike

[hughgareth]

Absolutely wonderful. I am seriously considering building a layout , but when I see some of these beautiful layouts on you tube, I feel more than a little intimidated.

Maybe I should just bight the bullet and get on with it.

Very well done and thanks for sharing.

[mrfifer]

Thanks Hugh , It is not the quality of a layout , but rather the fun derived from constructing one that matters.

Start to have fun !!!!

Mike

[bannanapancake]

@hughgareth my first one was terrible, but you learn alot as you go :)

[MrTraindude]

Hi Mike! Very nice! What is the overall size of the layout?

-Mike "MrTraindude"

[mrfifer]

It was 8' X 19.5' but is now gone and being replaced by the New ACTRR.

Thanks , Mike

[Sunesson55]

I really do love the little lake at the beginning of the video. How do You do it?

[mrfifer]

It was made from a piece of wavey shower door glass and was on a slide track so it could be pulled back for access.

Thanks , Mike

[Sunesson55]

Very nice lay-out! I am very jealous. I have to realize that I have much to learn about how to build a lay-out!

Greetings from Sweden

Thomas

[mrfifer]

Thanks so much Thomas. I have torn this layout out and am working on the new one.

I hope ,above all , you have fun during the learning!

Thanks , Mike

[rwcorleyze]

Hey Mike - it's Rick Corley. Looks like the Unobtanium mine is different. I"d like to talk with you about the ore car feed

[mrfifer]

Thanks Rick , I got your email and will try to round up more pics!

Thanks Again , Mike

[trackspike64]

how much do you run the trains

[mrfifer]

I run them about 2 hours a week on average.

Thanks , Mike

[cmitchii]

what are your mountains made of

[mrfifer]

Thanks , The mountains are built up of some newspaper and some are foam with sceen wire on top and covered with wet news paper then towels with plaster.Also many rock castings.

Thanks , Mike

[cmitchii]

very nice

[littlejohnstudios]

Very Nice N Scale! Great Job

Windle J

[mrfifer]

Thanks Windle, It has been my release to my own version of the "Real World".

[mizzou126]

A masterful diorama. Congratulations!

David

[mrfifer]

Thanks David. The fun never stops , as I am installing a new turntable (but slowly)

Mike

[bmwcolin]

Mike, it was nice to meet you the other day, we really enjoyed checking out your layout and shop. You have an amazing layout! Thanks,Colin

[mrfifer]

Thanks Colin , We hope to see you and Heather in the future and hope your dad has fun with his layout.

Mike

[Cgooch41]

who is that playing the music,, good song to listen to while working on the layout.

great job on the layout!

[mrfifer]

The song is called Two Lights by Five for Fighting.

Thanks , Mike

[ernieinjax]

Absolutely amazing! Is this in your home? I've got a 4' x 6' HO layout that I built with my son. It's pretty cool and we've enjoyed it. I'm thinking about dismantling it and starting an N Scale layout. Did you completely plan this out on paper before you started. I'm having a hard time coming up with a "master plan". I'm looking for some nice action and some realism for the new layout. Any pointers from others would be a big help. Thanks in advance, Ernie in Jacksonville, Florida

[mrfifer]

Thanks Ernie , Please go to our web site and we have a contact # there and I will be able to share all I know with you!

Should only take about 3 minutes!! LOL

I have planned all the layouts on paper first but they all need tweeking of some sort.Try the 101 track plan book and take the parts from different layouts and weave them together. That is what I do. Biggest tip is , build the layout in a climate controled area.

Thanks , Mike

[UPSD70M]

Looks great Mr. Fifer!

-UPSD70M (nscaler711)

[mrfifer]

Thanks so much. Layouts are fun to work on and I have truely enjoyed this one.

Thanks Again , Mike

[mrfifer]

hakataru , Thanks and glad you like the layout. I do know these games and the figures and painting is pretty cool!

Thanks , Mike

[hakataru]

Wow!

You could make your own store! For people who like making train sets and stuff, But also do you know how kick ass this would be fore like axis and allies wargames and flames of war? search those into the search bar to found out what those are if you dont know but man thats reaaaalllyyyy cool.

[145neverlost145]

Im just getting back into it, and you have given me some great ideas. Awesome layout!

[kamodeltog]

very very nice layout lots of details.

[mrfifer]

Thanks So much. It has taken some 15 or so layouts and about 28 years to get a scale and layout I am happy with.

Thanks , Mike

[trackspike64]

whats the radius of ur helex

[mrfifer]

It is 17" inner and 18.5" outer and 4.75 turns and rises 9.75".

Thanks , Mike

[willhibdon]

hey this is a cool vid evertime i see it mike

[mrfifer]

Thanks Will , Glad you like it!

Mike

[pacbelt]

It's awesome everytime I see it Mike!

One of these days soon I gotta get out to your store and meet you and Robin. I'm building a seperate N scale layout along with my HO Pacific Belt for my GF.

You do damn good work!

[mrfifer]

Thanks , Glad you like it and hope to see you here in New Mexico some day.

Mike

[weavernutz22]

what did you use for all the terrain features?

[mrfifer]

I used a combination of wadded newspaper , screeen wire , and stapled cardboard strips.

Thanks , Mike

[weavernutz22]

nice...i did the same for my layout, i also used woodland scenics, but it costs so much

[jesusdlagarza]

awesome i wish one day i have one like this ;)

[mrfifer]

I hope you are able get the realestate and start building!!

Have Fun , Mike

[FlyingZebra34]

a wow, beautiful layout. i wish i had the money and room to make something like this

[mrfifer]

Thanks , I hope you are able to find the space and funds as well. You can really start out small and enjoy it as much.

Thanks , Mike

[dropkick420x]

Thanks for the great video of your beautiful layout. Job well done, certainly an inspiration to the rest of us N scalers.

[mrfifer]

Thanks , Glad you liked it!

Mike

[kelvintwt]

wow! awesome layout :D

[mrfifer]

Thanks Kelvin , Glad you liked it . Try to check out the other one ACTRR Makes A Train.

The quality is a little better (I think).

Thanks , mike

[michaelmohrmann]

Thanks for post the video on this awesome layout and for providing me with someinspiration for my own N scale model railroad project. I really do appreciate it.

[mrfifer]

Michael , Thanks for the kind words.

Mike

[motorcyclerd]

Incredible train layout. It has evolved since I last saw serious train hobbyists as a kid. Had a neighbor who made his trains from scratch.

I just wish I could afford your Rd400.

[mrfifer]

Thanks , I enjoy the hobby as well as fixing up motorcycles. As far as the RD , I just have 1 too many bikes.

Thanks Again , Mike

[indycar101]

Very cool video & music of your rail road! Thanks for sharing! Chuck

[mrfifer]

Thanks Chuck , Glad you liked it.

Mike

[allforononeforall]

Truley wonderful layout.Whish I had the talent.

[mrfifer]

Thanks , glad you enjoyed it and hope you will give it a go , you may be surprised at the talent you do have!

Mike

[fergusontea]

Very nice, Mike! I've seen pictures of your various industries and so on as you build them but this gives a good idea of how it all fits together. :) - mike

[mrfifer]

Thanks Mike , glad you can get a (if not crummy video)overview.

Thanks Again , Mike

[JohnnyNCindy]

I really like what you've done, but I'm wondering just how big is it? I never find stuff that that at garage sales.

[mrfifer]

John , the room is 8' X 19.5' and the staging yard (under the center loop is at 0" elev. and the rest of the layout slowly climbs to 9.75" at the upper entrance to the double track helix. The 4.75 turns takes a train back down to 0".

Thanks , Mike

[rwundrock]

Very nice layout!

[mrfifer]

Thanks Bob , and thanks for the great tour of your layout as well.

Mike

[Sabod22]

Hello, Very nice layout. I was wondering who manufactures or what models were used to kitbash the house on the hill at 2:02. Thanks!

[mrfifer]

Sabod22 Thanks , That house is actually a cast resin ornimentain house I purchased at a garage sale and just touched up paint and weathering. Same with the house straight ahead at 2:10.

Thanks Again , Mike

[tacosandtrains]

Kato modeling exellence.

[mrfifer]

Thanks T&T , I have mostley Kato Intermountain and Atlas locos. None have been detailed or weathered as yet. I have all the parts and not all the time.

Mike

[TomTrains]

thank you! omg its looks incredible

[TomTrains]

what did you use for water, it looks g8

[mrfifer]

Tom , The lake is a piece of shower door glass and the river is Inviro-Tex resin with cotton balls emersed for the rapids with a final drybruching of white acrylic for foam.

Thanks , Mike

[TomTrains]

nice set

[mrfifer]

Thanks Tom , glad you stopped by!

Mike

[deah12345]

about how much did you spend on this set? btw its awesome!

[mrfifer]

Well if you are a model railroader , you are kinda a pack-rat. Lets just say it is cheaper than Drag Racing a motorcycle. Thanks , Mike

PS owning your own shop helps!

[jimsmodeltrains]

Great scenery. I particularly like the backdrop with the storm and clouds on it! Was that an Anasazi settlement I saw under the overhanging cliff? Excellent layout.

[mrfifer]

Thanks Jim , I kinda modeled something like Mesa Verde on that cliff side. My thunder storm is there to feed the lake and boost the river as well.

Thanks Again , Mike

[trackspike64]

yeah thats the way i want to wire mine also ..i thought that was how u did it whe i saw the control pannel very good job

[trackspike64]

do u run dcc and if so what brand

[mrfifer]

Yes sir , I run Lenz with 1 LH100 and one LH90 and an XPA Phone adapter. I can also throw a single main switch and run all DC (if desired)

Thanks , Mike

[trackspike64]

How much do you run your trains with such a nice layout and whats the size ..looks like it takes up a big part of a basement

[mrfifer]

The layout is 8' X 19' and I run it about 3 times a week. It is still under construction and I have a car card system in place but do not operate on the layout yet.

Thanks , Mike

[trackspike64]

awesome layout is that a 6 turn helex or more

[mrfifer]

Thanks , It is about 4 3/4 turns and 19" radius on the outside track and rises 9 3/4 inches.

Thanks Again , Mike

[mrfifer]

The song is called Two Lights by Five for Fighting.

Thanks , Mike

[Tcostello105]

great5 video what song is that

[mukke25]

What a great layout and train room you have, great video thanks

[mrfifer]

Thanks Guys , There are a lot of stills on our shop site at fiferhobby . com . Click on the horny toad in the upper left corner of the front page.

Thanks Again , Mike

[colvid]

Great layout and scenery construction!!!!!

[mrfifer]

Thanks Colvid , Glad you liked it.

Thanks , Mike