There’s just something about miniature worlds — they’re just so relaxing to look at and ponder. Think you don’t have ample room for a model train layout at your place? You may not be thinking small enough. [Peter Waldraff] knows a thing or two about hiding train layouts inside of furniture (that’s one solution), but this time, he’s built a track in plain sight that’s meant to sit on the bookshelf. The whole thing is just 5.5″ x 12″.
This N-scale layout was three years in the making, mostly because [Peter] was waiting for just the right little powered chassis to come along. For the layout, [Peter] started by creating custom flexible track by removing pieces with a sharp knife. He glued down the track to pink foam and used nails to hold it in place while the glue dried. He also built a wood frame around the base to stabilize it and hold some of the electronic components, including a switch made from an old ballpoint pen.
Then it was time to start decorating the thing, beginning with a couple of buildings made from more pink foam that are both lit up with LEDs. Eventually, [Peter] added a bunch of details like streetlights, animals, and garbage cans that really make the layout pop. As far as the engine goes, [Peter] picked up a Tomytec TM-TR02 on eBay and built a trolley out of two broken cars. [Peter]’s build is something you just have to see for yourself — fortunately for you, the build and demo video is after the break.
Like we said, [Peter]’s usual territory is hiding train layouts in end tables and coffee tables and the like, so it’s nice to see what he can do given different constraints.
If you are into miniatures, check Tokyobuild. It’s mind blowing.
It’s worth a look at “carendt.com” on the Wayback Machine – there are various versions over the years – Carl Arendt ran the site for many years featuring small-layout designs and builds in several different scales. The layouts weren’t generally as small as this one (the smallest operating one was the size of a shoebox I think), but the range of designs was incredible.
Wow, that’s cool but I have to ask is if the neighbourhood would have enough passengers to justify a streetcar?
It’s a 15 second city ;)
I had thought Z gauge was the smallest, but recently I found out there’s a T gauge which is half the size of Z gauge. It’s 1:450 scale, 3mm gauge.
I understood the Title to mean that this is the smallest N scale layout, not the smallest layout.
As someone who has a box of N scale track, railcars, and a couple of locomotives sitting unused, this inspires me to think small which increases the possibility of actually having a working layout.
When looking at possible buildings, people, and automobiles for my model railroads, I use my own “Rule of thumb”.
I don’t limit myself to such items made specifically for model railroads, so I am open to acquiring toys, or Christmas village sets, or other knickknacks. For instance, if the height of a door 🚪 on a building is the width of my thumbnail, it is N scale, twice that is HO scale, and twice that is O scale. People, autos, and animals are scaled accordingly.