Category: James’ Layout Project Videos
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project— Episode #31: “Best of” Compilation of the Scenic 4×8 Build!
Hey Everybody! Here’s a streamlined compilation of the entire series of videos I’ve made featuring the building of my N Scale 4×8 Train Layout. It’s great to see it progress from concept to reality and I hope you enjoy it. Check out my website, jamesNscale.com for track plans and lots more video of my layouts.…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project— Episode 13: Complete 3×8 Performance Track!
Hey Everybody! I’ve just finished building my 3×8 N Scale “Performance Track” Train Layout, and I’m glad to share what I did! This project took me about 5 months to complete. It’s my second train layout; my goal in building this one was to do all the stuff I couldn’t do with my 4×8 Scenic…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project— Episode #30: Kato Zephyr Passenger Train & BLI Mixed Freight!
Hey Everybody! Just another view of what I’m running on my 4×8, N Scale scenic train layout: Kato Chicago Burlington and Quincy EMD E5A Silver Streak Zephyr 6-Unit Set Broadway Limited Imports CB&Q EMD F3A and F3B with Mixed Freight
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project— Performance Track! Episode #12: Layout Update!
Hey Everybody! Here’s an update to the Performance Track. I decided to change out the Auto-reversing loop modules, added a little cosmetic piece and I’m running 3 trains to show it off. Come check it out!
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #29: BLI EMD F3A and B with Kato Bethgon Coalporters
Hey Everybody! I’ve been really enjoying my 4×8 N scale train layout, and working on improving my ability to express stories on the track using video. For this sequence, I used footage shot with my GoPro 10 HERO and edited with Adobe Premiere. I’m also exploring my layout’s lighting, including the backlight LED strips (I…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project— Performance Track! Episode #11: Silhouette Mountain Background
Hey Everybody! If you’ve been following the build of my Performance Track, you know my main objective in design is a perfect track that’s super easy to keep clean. This layered background of mountain silhouettes fits my needs, and was easy enough for a beginner like me to create. I used Woodland Scenics Styrofoam and…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project— Performance Track! Episode #10: Adding Two Reverse Switches
Hey Everybody! I’m adding two different reverse loop switch modules to my N Scale Performance Track, the Digitrax AR1 and the MRC AD520. Let’s see how these switches work!
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project— Performance Track! Episode #8: UPDATED 3×8 Track DCC Layout
Hey Everybody! Here’s my FINAL version of my 3×8, N scale DCC train layout made with Kato Unitrack with 4 separate mainlines, 2 reversing loops, 6 crossovers and 9 turnouts, almost 1,500 inches of track (125 feet!) in this episode I go into detail on how I plan to build the layout including how I’m…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project— Episode #27: Kato EMD SDP40F pair with 10 Maersk MAXI-I cars!
Hey Everybody! My Kato EMD SPD40F pair are beautiful locomotives that are pulling 10 Kato Gunderson MAXI-I Double Stack Cars. The sets come with 5 cars, and I got 2 sets. These cars are articulated to work as one long car (or two in this case) so while it’s a bit challenging to put together…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project— Performance Track! Episode #7: Baseboard Painted!
Hey Everybody! I’ve painted the baseboard for my 3×8 layout. It looks pretty good for my first try at a project like this— come check it out and thanks for your support! #decoart
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James’ N Scale Train Layout— Performance Track! Episode #6: Priming 3×8 Baseboard with Chalky Gesso
Here’s episode #6, it’s short because nobody wants to watch a video of such an unglamorous subject for too long!
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iPhone 14 Pro Max Ordered
I’ll be using its camera to record train footage, my YouTube Channel and photographs of the layout, including macro shots. I’m very excited but I know with me it takes time and practice to yield good results. I’ll keep you posted!
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project— Performance Track! Episode #5: Plaster Blaster (part 2!)
Here’s Episode #5, posted on September 1, 2022. We’ve caught up!
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project— Performance Track! Episode #1: New 3×8 N Scale Layout
I know that a model train layout is never finished, but I am nonetheless working on a new 8×3 layout, which I began earlier this summer. It’s what I call a “performance track” because this design will allow me to run my trains on flat track at greater speeds than I can on my current…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #26: Kato Chicago & North Western EMD E8A w 5 Bi-Levels
I’ve caught up to mid August with this last video I posted for the Scenic Layout Series! This is just another beautiful video of trains, no commentary. This is the Kato Chicago & North Western EMD E8A and Pullman Bi-Level “400” Train 6-Unit Set.
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #25: My Favorite N Scale Steam Locomotives
No commentary, just video of my two favorite steam locomotives.
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #24: Favorite Trains in Wide 4K Views!
Just trying some new ways of capturing the trains! Here’s Episode #24:
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #23: Kato Southern Pacific “Morning Daylight” N Scale Set
I love this gorgeous Kato locomotive and passenger car set.
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #22: Summer Update 2022!
Look! We’re already up to June 2022 with this blog re-telling of the building of my 4×8 Scenic layout. This Summer Update episode features the work of another videographer, Totemworlds. I hired him and his Canon 90D to take some great footage for me that’s all over this website!
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #21: Running Kato Diesel in a Thunderstorm!
Just a fun, atmospheric video of my amazing Kato EMD FP7A/F7B Milwaukee Road diesels plus the “Olympian Hiawatha” 9-car set.
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #20: My Tunnel with Removable Mountaintop!
This episode gives even more detail on the construction of the double tunnels to allow support for the removeable mountain, one of the best features of my layout, in my opinion. There is no way I would be able to comfortably clean and manage what’s going on under that mountain relying on just the backdoor…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #19: Complete Train Layout and Train Room
Welcome to my most-watched Episode!
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #18: Putting the Bachmann EMD GP40 Diesel to work!
Giving more love to the Bachmann GP40 CSX. It’s the most dependable train in my collection and it’s the one I recommend for everyone. I pair two up in consist to get over my track smoothly. Here’s Episode #18:
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project–Episode #17: Day/Night views running Kato EMD E7s
Here’s an update on the layout, featuring more buildings and lights, including the Just Plug light system and the Kasa Smart LED wi-fi light strip #KL430. This was another popular (relatively) video for me, so people do like watching my Kato E7 New York Central A/B run. Here’s Episode #17:
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #16: Lights Update
This episode features an update on the lighting system for the layout. I used the Woodland Scenics Just Plug lighting system exclusively, and I’m super-happy with the results. As one of my subscribers said, “the lighting really makes the layout come alive” and I believe that’s true! Just Plug also has a handy Tidy Wire…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #15: 4×8 N Scale Unitrack Layout Complete!
Gosh, ANOTHER significant episode for me (that’s why I recorded them! So I can remember all these great moments in my life, when I was building this layout.) Anyway, it was significant because after all that messy construction with plaster and paint, I was able to get all my track back on the layout… and…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project–Episode #14: My Painted Layout!
We’re up to March 3, 2022, when I launched this episode featuring my painted layout with Woodland Scenics Earth Colors™ Liquid Pigments. I’ll be totally honest, I was a little underwhelmed by the lack of vibrance in these colors. I totally get it for a natural look that everyone is going for in building scenic…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #13: Fixing Pre-Painting Challenges
Just a very necessary episode that goes over some of the challenges a modeler has to face before painting a plaster layout. You really get to learn every inch of the layout in this step, and it’s amazing how much of it you can “ignore” until right up to pre-painting when you realize there’s lots…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #11: Plaster Blaster part two
Because “Plaster Blaster” is such a cool title for an episode, it had to be brought back for part two. Of course, plastering the layout was a huge step forward for me, and I was excited to show it off. I was lucky I only made small mistakes and not big ones! Here’s episode #11:
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #10: Plaster Blaster (part 1)
Yes, I came up with “Plaster Blaster” and I’m pretty proud of it. Here’s Episode #10:
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #9: Tunnel Work
I love this episode because it give a really clear look at how I created the structure of the double tunnel system that is kinda perfect in my mind. It’s exactly what I was hoping for, building the tunnels in the corner in the highest elevation of my layout, eventually forming a support for my…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #8: Putting Kato EMD E7 A/B diesel locomotives to work!
Wow, this is a favorite episode because SO many more people watched it than my previous episodes. It’s always nice to see a jump in viewings! Here’s Episode #8:
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #7: Mod Bachmann EZ Track Bridges for Kato Unitrack
I really love this episode, because I was really proud of being able to recycle my awesome Bachmann Blinking Light Bridges and use them on my Kato UniTrack. I used the Bachmann DC controller to power them and it worked out just PERFECT because I was also able to dim the blinking lights when I…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #6: My Roads
This is the episode where I started sub-titling the episode names. This one’s about the roads I chose to build in my layout. They are plastic roads from CMR Product’s Inc. and they’re called “Easy Streets”.
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #5
Just a short episode showing how I discovered U-shaped dressmaker pins to help keep control of wiring in the layout. Keeping track of the Feeder Wires (as well as the wires to the Crossing Gate!) was one of the big challenges I had in building my train layout. I’m usually a pretty buttoned-up guy, but…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #4
It’s with Episode 4, launched on News Year’s Day 2022, that I started appearing in my videos. I realized people want to see the person behind the planning and even if they don’t, I wanted to have a documentation of what I looked like before I lose all my hair haha. It’s great for me…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #3
By now I was really grooving on both building my first layout with my great gear and materials, as well as documenting the process to post on my YT channel. I was working every day on the project, spending at least 4 hours but sometimes more. There was always something to do and I was…
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James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #2
After I posted the first video episode to my YT channel, I got a few hits and some nice compliments. It made me feel good that people were interested enough to respond, even with a thumbs up!! I joined a few Facebook N Scale Train groups and posted a link to the video there. I…
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My YouTube Series, James’ N Scale Train Layout Project– Episode #1
So I’ve caught you up to mid December, 2021 with the story of the making of my first train layout. I developed a SCARM track plan, purchased Kato UniTrack and set it up on my Beginner’s Benchwork table. I got my Digitrax Zephyr controller and hooked it up to a few feeders using Kato’s 3-way…
James' N Scale Train Layout Project 