What I Have Learned modeling the Oahu Sugar Company in Fn3 (1:20.3) in a diorama style layout using Llagas Creek Track. Set in WWII when the US government has requisitioned thousands of acres of this plantation for defense purposes. The first model engine acquired was manufactured by Bachmann. Featured in several Narrow Gauge Downunder articles.

Thanks are extended to Jim Stapleton and Richard Kilday.

This blog also covers from time to time modeling resources for 1:20.3 and…
Photo by Nicholas Kalis Three Rules for Successful Model Building Rule 1 - Your eye is more critical than that of your visitors or viewers. So? Don't be too quick to criticize your own modeling or to give up on a model. Push through - the model you thought was subpar may just elicit admiring questions from friends and visitors about how you achieved some result. Of course, this is not a paean to…
Project these are two O scale false fronts that I Cut down both Lou’s Café Item 75 and Bill’s Place Item 72 both by OGR to two-stories each Covered all brick with v-groove Evergreen with plastic cement to simulate wood; scored to simulate boards Scratch-built side walls with v-groove Evergreen styrene on a plain styrene base and interior walls interior floors window glazing and styrene roof and…
Product Review When modeling Hawaii, one cannot have too much greenery on their layout. On March 9, 2025, I also installed on my layout the following two products (gifted by Gary Eames): Pampas Grassy Row (3) Summer also labeled as "Green Grassy Row" Creative Accents Packed in clear plastic box CA0365 $11.99/package And Beige Grass Tufts also labeled as Pampas Grassy Tufts - Lt Smr (Late…
Product Review Ditch Weed - Medium Green Creative Accents Bill Lankford Studio CA0222 In a soft plastic clear case $9.99 Another nice product I used in March 2025 is Medium Green Ditch Weed. These are packed about five to a pack and are long. I used white glue to adhere them in areas at the rear of my layout. I recommend this product. Also installed on March 8, 2025 Beech Foliage summer 920-32 S…
Product Review Copyright 2025 Nicholas Kalis Flowering Phlox - Red Creative Accents by Bill Lankford Item No. CA0262 3" x 6 1/2 " single sheet No scale marked Package Marked $ 7.99 Today, I used some of CA0262 on my layout behind my Fn3 Waipahu engine house; I was very pleased with the results. I have at least another bag that Gary Eames donated to me and others, and I intend to use it. No scale…
Project Here is the O scale barbershop for my Fn3 Oahu Sugar Company layout. I removed the mullions from the Grandt Line Victoria Window to give the structure a more modern appearance depicting the 1940s. I used a photo off the internet for the interior which I printed on one label per sheet label stock by Avery and affixed to card stock from a stationary box. I found barbershop signs on the…
Project Photo 1 -This is a photo that shows quite a bit of assembly. O scale commercial storefront no 3565 under construction by N Kalis A quick word - I am using an O scale kit here because my Town of Waipahu is modeled in O scale. Why? To achieve what modelers commonly call "forced perspective" - though technically it is "reduced scale". Forced perspective is more accurately applied to where…
Project When one is modeling the Hawaiian island of Oahu, a layout cannot have too much light particularly as I model mid-day, good weather. I already have strips of LEDS it seems everywhere; I even have what I call LED pucks to light up my O scale Town of Waipahu (mostly false fronts). I noticed that guests are impressed with the bright lighting I have used on my Fn3 layout located in my basement…
Nicholas Kalis May 2024 Helpful Hint This nicely detailed brass toolbox is meant for attachment to my Fn3 tender on my Oahu Sugar Company. I particularly liked the hinge detail on this casting - even its modeled bolts are carefully rendered by its manufacturer. My 1:20.3 plastic tender was more than a kit bashed but less than a technically scratch built project (article in the works). Indeed, this…
Photo 1 Nicholas Kalis Photo 2 Nicholas Kalis Photo 3 - Testors Review Schneider's Just Plain Folk 818 Lincoln Avenue Palmyra NJ 08065 G scale Once the sheen is removed from these model ducks - which come one to a package - they appear quite realistic. Good idea to install these in a group - a solitary one would look out of place. Also, realism dictates that they be installed in a grouping of an…
I should have purchased one of these ages ago. Here I am using it to spray some Dullcote on three G scale ducks. Yes, this stand is much like corrugated cardboard; the clips are included - probably more that are seen in this photograph. I got mine on Amazon. Model Color Clip Base Stand Holder by Ophir
Book Review Scenery for Modern Switching Layouts Lance Mindheim Copyright 2023 All color illustrations 120 pages ISBN 9798862865875 All should know that the author lives within the confines of the Potomac Division of the Mid East Region of the NMRA; indeed, many of us have probably been to his inspiring open houses. I know that my first visit to his N scale layout depicting Indiana really opened…
Review Master Tools/Trumpeter No. 09925 Model Chisel F3 3mm blade size. New tool purchased at Huzzah Hobbies for $ 24.95. Master Tools/Trumpeter No. 09925 Model Chisel, F3 3mm blade size. Bottom line - it is pricey; I must have been in a big spender mood when I purchased it or perhaps, I just did not want to leave Huzzah Hobbies empty handed. Interestingly, it comes with a handy case to prevent…
This interesting fascia doubles as a throttle and car card shelf.
Nicholas Kalis 2024 How To Populate Your Model Railroad With Realistic Plants Price $ 9.99 100pcs “Model Trees Miniature Plants Fairy Garden Trees Model Scenery Artificial Wargame Trees Model Railroad Scenery Diorama Supplies Scenery Landscape” Amazon.com: MOMOONNON 100pcs Model Trees Miniature Plants Fairy Garden Trees Model Scenery Artificial Wargame Trees Model Railroad Scenery Diorama Supplies…
Diorama by Bernie Kempinski displayed at Northern Virginia IPMS show on April 13 2024 Helpful Hint Expert diorama builders know that a diorama is more effective when there is slice of the earth depicted witness Bernie Kempinski's Bocage Hell diorama on display in 2024 . So too model railroaders should employ this technique with their fascias.
Visit The choice of facade for a model railroad is an important one. Anyone making that choice should have "visited" many layouts to understand the various paths others have chosen. In this blog posting, I turn to an attractive tinplate layout to see how its builder addressed the fascia challenge. Here we see the structure of the benchwork does double duty as a facade and an integral shelf is…
Visit The layout skirt to outdo all other layout skirts. Beautiful end product but how many modelers have the skills or funds to produce such a detailed skirt? The pleats here are just wonderful; I venture to conclude that perhaps there is here a family member who possesses the skill to produce such a skirt either from their hobby knowledge or perhaps from their day job. This result seems a bit…
This facade has a lip - it that really necessary? Clearly this layout was designed for operations as the combination desk and holders for car cards and waybills indicates. Recessed knobs for manual control of turnouts are also interesting. All in all, a tidy and attractive presentation.
Peter Vasallo's HOn3 Timber Ridge logging module is out of frame at right. I think many modelers have toyed with the idea of extending their scenery in a way so that the scenery becomes the fascia. Well Vasallo has done just that. If someone is planning a model railroad, one can simply look at what Vasallo has accomplished and emulate his approach if the layout planner enjoys what he is seeing.…
This is O gauge Visit Here we see an interesting use of blue lighting at feet level. Notice the faux rivets on the fascia and skirt. This is a nicely appointed room as we can see from the carpet tile installed. I am not really sure that the purpose of the handles are. Certainly the result of the builder's efforts is a museum-like experience for visitors.
Permission to publish this photo on this blog granted by Tom Conboy otmodelrr@gmail.com on April 13, 2024 Visit Owensville Terminal Here we have an operations-oriented layout with an attractive facade. This is free-lanced HO layout by otmodelrr@gmail.com Note the neat shelf for the controller. Attractive skirt but as with most fabric skirts, I find the pleats - though of an elegant material - a…