James’ N Scale Train Layout Project- Episode #15: 4x8 N Scale Unitrack Layout Complete!

[@vinnylovesretro]

Beautiful layout, love it, inspiring. Amazing how much you can do with N scale with a relatively small amount of space ... definitely thinking 4x8 and N scale for my future retirement hobby :-)

[@JamesTuverson]

Thank you!!

[@jackwatts8089]

James, hats off to you! Wow, amazing! Love the water. Great layout.

[@JamesTuverson]

Thanks, jack!!

[@pathvalleyrailroad9277]

The waterfalls really look good, nice work!

[@JamesTuverson]

Thank you!

[@bkdexter79]

That is a great job!

[@JamesTuverson]

Thank you!!

[@bkdexter79]

I totally enjoy your vids!

[@JamesTuverson]

Thank you, Bruce!!

[@billiestewart5220]

Great Job it looks really good can't wait too see it fully finished.

[@JamesTuverson]

Thank you!

[@elleryparsons5766]

Bridgework And the pond work looks sharp.

[@JamesTuverson]

Thanks, Ellery!

[@christopherhigbee]

I've been watching all your vids. I like how your layout is coming along. Thanks for sharing. 🤙

[@JamesTuverson]

Thank you, Christopher! I’ll keep you posted on the progress

[@lynganddistrict]

James - you've worked wonders and very nearly completed a whole layout in such a short time. I remember only recently it was a blank table! I admire your creativity and work ethic. I'm far from finished on mine and am still trying to find the time to complete the wiring of my point motors for the turnouts! But as model railroaders we are never finished, just as you say in your commentary, we keep changing and modifying the layout. Keep having fun fella! Regards Steve

[@JamesTuverson]

Thanks, Steve!

[@JamesTuverson]

Thank you Steve!!

[@leterguyschroeder4919]

Keep up the great work James.

[@JamesTuverson]

Thank you!

[@nscalefun]

AWESOME!!! Keep up the good work.

[@JamesTuverson]

Thank you! I promise I’ll do my best!

[@elleryparsons5766]

Very Nice Looks Real good.

[@JamesTuverson]

Thank you!!

[@elleryparsons5766]

You gonna Enlarge it Soon.

[@JamesTuverson]

@@elleryparsons5766 lol no, this is all I can handle

[@daveygivens735]

Looking good, James. I'm working on a similar layout. I love the Southwest motif and I'm using a Super chief. -Same challenge for me; the real train ran with 10 cars and 2 locos I think. The trains are fantastic to watch but...I want those lights on the wall!

[@JamesTuverson]

Thanks!! They are 2 eight foot long LED strips

[@TheRobertSterling]

Hi James. Wow, looks great. I have been watching from the start. Keep up the good work. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to seeing more. Cheers Robert

[@JamesTuverson]

Thanks Robert!

[@chuckbessels6084]

Just found your channel…Great job on the layout. Woodland scenics is $$ but kind of worth it in most cases in my opinion.

[@JamesTuverson]

Thanks, Chuck! I agree that WS supplies are premium-priced, but looking at the big picture, Woodland Scenics has put in the R&D and marketing to make a product line that works, with plenty of supporting material for educating consumers on creative uses. They also are extremely responsive to my orders and have an excellent website program that means I get the supplies I need on my doorstep within days of ordering. This matters to me, as I don’t want to wait for weeks for supplies to arrive for each phase in the layout building. All this requires overhead, hence the higher price. For me, it’s well-worth the extra cost.

[@funcarsnow5973]

Super set of videos - well produced and narrated! Thanks for sharing. I've watched them all multiple times and appreciate them more each time. I'm starting in N scale and am working to set up a layout configuration. I realize there's a huge need to plan in detail how to control the locomotives, switches and accessories. Now for my 'Grand Inquisitor' act if I may: 1.Did you change control systems from the beginning and what did you settle on? (Extent of my controls are a single Kato DC controller and 2 switches.) 2. Did the layout software instructions indicate how to set up electrical blocks of track as well as electrical hardware & positions to accomplish the smooth operation you achieved? Again, thank you so much for your generosity sharing your accomplishment.

[@JamesTuverson]

Thank you! What an awesome compliment. I like, read it out loud to my family and stuff. Thank you. Here's my response to your questions: 1) I knew up front I wanted to run DCC, not DC, so I could take advantage of running multiple trains on a single track, running them in consist if I wanted, and exploring sound and velocity settings. So that meant I needed at DCC controller, not the Kato DC one. I chose the Digitraxx DCS52 Zephyr Express: All-in-one Command Station/Booster/Throttle, which handles everything beautifully and I'm going to do a product review on it soon. I highly recommend making the jump to DCC! 2) The SCARM software just handles physical track layout design, nothing electrical. With DCC that are no blocks to set up; the entire track is powered at maximum voltage because loco speed is determined by DCC commands, not adjusting voltage to the loco. The only real challenge is getting feeders all over the track, but Kato Unitrack makes it easier by providing 2 ways to add power: a) a dedicated feeder 62mm track piece or b) a wired "unijoiner" that connects to any two pieces of Unitrack. On my 4x8, I was able to get in 33 feeders for about 100 pieces of track, and that's good enough for me to get smooth operation MOST of the time!

[@richardvacanti9428]

Like the layout a lot, but the water is too dark. It looks black.

[@JamesTuverson]

Thanks! It’s a very deep lake haha

[@richardvacanti9428]

@@JamesTuverson lol

[@fjbesteiro]

You won't have your layout in SCARM?

[@JamesTuverson]

The SCARM file is available for free download at jamesNScale.com