Done! (Finally): Woodland Business District Modules (2)
Now that they are finally completed, I’ll kick out some facts, puzzles and costs.
These modules were created because
. 1) I really loved the lighted interiors of the Woodland Scenics buildings and
. 2) My wife had noted that our club’s (New Jersey Southern M.R.C.) last super large N-Trak and T-Trak display (Christmas) layouts had an abundance of plain scenery and too few building modules and
. 3) I was trying to avoid the urge to do a major rebuild of my home layout so this was a stall to see if the urge would go away
These turned out to be expensive modules:
. a) 11 buildings: (10) Woodland Scenics which now list around $80 each; mine are all used from estate sales and eBay so 40% of those costs)
. b) Roomettes ($45) for the buildings without interiors (6) (they also come with 14 lights)
. c) Kato track: 2 packs of 9 3/4 “, 1 pack of 4 7/8”, (2) 90-degree crossings ($21 each) and 4 packs of terminal joiners ($5 each). Fortunately, my local hobby shop (Yankee Dabbler) usually sells at 20%-30% discounts)
. d) Woodland Scenics Plug N Play $116 for 2 light hubs, 1 port sharing; connecting cables, power supply). More on this to follow
The other costs aren’t too bad. I use 1x2 wood with a thin veneer frame, styrofoam, sculptamold (with paint mix) and Patch N Paint, scrap bin cars, parking meters, etc.
I should have painted the inside of the signal tower wall to block the light.
Puzzles:I lost the lighting in 2 buildings both of which had been successfully tested before being permanently glued in place.
. 1) One had a roomette and light installed but was not working when plugged in (tried multiple plug-in ports).
. 2) The other (Dugan Paints) was a used eBay purchase with what appears to be a stock W.S. interior and light but had the plug ends cut off. I successfully tested the light with a power pack but it would not work on any ports when I hooked it up. (Yes, I did try the wire in both directions). I finally gave up trying.
. 3) Bought the streetlights from a Canadian dealer on eBay. They were supposed to run on 3 volts, but I never got any of them lighting up.
Plug N Play:
As much as I love Woodland Scenics products I am not a fan of this system:
. 1) It is expensive; and
. 2) it is not very sturdy.
It will work fine if you just plug once and let it be but the plugs are extremely difficult to get out once plugged in and eventually the receptacles get damaged (sink into the box; crack)
Anyway it is finally done (and I do not know where to store them) and it is time to plan a major rebuild of my home layout.
