Model Train Media | A Happy Junction – N Scale | Activity

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: I scored a Rapido Trains' TurboTrain in CN paint […]

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 20:25:31 +0200

I scored a Rapido Trains’ TurboTrain in CN paint with expansion pack. It’s gorgeous and I’m grateful, I will cherish it the rest of my days.

I think Rapido Trains is hinting at re-releasing this iconic model soon.

I will be staring at my layout for the next several hours…

Happy Friday to you!

– Hububba

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Was blessed with a few gorgeous weather days and was able […]

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:54:50 +0200

Was blessed with a few gorgeous weather days and was able to craft the cherry shelf / drink ledge for the layout. It’s shaped like a siding for fun’s sake! 🙂

I have a few ideas to enhance the ledge…

#1 Create custom labels / decals for the switches

#2 Inlay a compass so that the viewers can orientate themselves; we all rather speak the…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Been foam carving and working with plaster the last […]

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 15:20:02 +0200

Been foam carving and working with plaster the last few weeks. This is my first experience with plaster since intermediate school! I used Sculptamold to blend the foam chunks of the mountain. I believe I captured the feel of the Appalachian mountains just right, can’t wait to see it with trees! The mountain access panel was a chore;…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Hey Friends!I've been impressed with painted rails, so […]

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 02:11:10 +0100

Hey Friends!

I’ve been impressed with painted rails, so I decided to give it a go. I’m using Woodland Scenic’s Track Painter Paint Pen – Steel Rail (was generously donated to the club’s free table). Picture shows half the roundhouse facility done for those who would like to see the comparison.

I’ve been constructing buildings to fill out…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: I joined the local N scale club! The club is known […]

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:39:50 +0100

I joined the local N scale club! The club is known for displaying NTRAK and TTRAK module layouts within the region.

I attended the big kick-off the year meeting / auction this past weekend. Half of the meeting was to handle club business, talk budget, elect officials, meet-and-greet and the other half was fundraising opportunity for the…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Hey!My wife surprised me with 4 Kato Amtrak Amfleet 1 […]

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 04:13:48 +0100

Hey!

My wife surprised me with 4 Kato Amtrak Amfleet 1 Phase VI Budd cars for V-day; not sure if that means I’m the catch or she is 🙂

As shared in an earlier post, I was having trouble with the Bachmann version of these cars on my layout, in fact, I called them a failure. A train of 4 cars would not make it up my inclines and I would have…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Hello Friend!This weekend I hit the local NTRAK […]

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:52:03 +0100

Hello Friend!

This weekend I hit the local NTRAK club’s display and a few modules really inspired me to model.

On my way home I swung by the hobby shop and picked up Woodland’s Scenics B92 Mine Run Coal to finish the Southern Railway coal hopper car kits! I modified the stock plastic coal load by sanding the ends so it sat deeper in the car…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Hope you're enjoying your trains today!Took a break […]

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 05:03:33 +0100

Hope you’re enjoying your trains today!

Took a break from modeling and spent some time running trains and imagining how this fictitious town would appear at the foothills of Appalachia. I’ve placed 2″ blue painter’s tape to simulate a two lane road through town; it transitions into a gravel road providing access to the hillside drive-in…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: How are you? I shifted from left brain to right brain […]

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:43:54 +0100

How are you? I shifted from left brain to right brain this week; feeling young this week. 🙂

I started on the mountain and I’ve had a lot of fun over the past three evenings. The middle “peak” of the mountain is a removable panel (18″x10″) so I can access inside the mountain. I can reach every tunnel portal from within, which will aid…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Hey friend!I spent the weekend dismantling the […]

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:43:16 +0100

Hey friend!

I spent the weekend dismantling the outer mountain pass and replacing what I had constructed with a Woodland Scenics 2% incline kit. I had noticed a few issues with my original attempt, I was trying to go up grade through both curves, the track had a slight camber in the rear curve, and I discovered the rails were rough on a…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: I wasn't satisfied with the long grade going into […]

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 04:45:23 +0100

I wasn’t satisfied with the long grade going into the mountain (on the right) and I wanted to correct it to prevent regrets later…talk about discipline, ugh! I spent a few evenings sanding and testing, sanding and testing, sanding and then realizing I sanded too much! Blunder! I hope to fix with a brand new Woodland Scenics 2% grade…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Hello!I am thrilled to report all the track has been […]

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 02:09:23 +0100

Hello!

I am thrilled to report all the track has been secured to the layout!

The last step of gluing down the track was to detail the KATO viaduct. I don’t care for the new plastic shine of KATO’s viaduct, so I wanted to hit it with a coat of hobby Matte spray. What a difference a coat of Matte can make! Then I thought I could make it look…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: I discovered a new sense of satisfaction while gluing […]

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:27:00 +0100

I discovered a new sense of satisfaction while gluing down the track…It feels like reaching the end of a book or having cooked a steak to the perfect temperature or hitting all reps of a set. I know this is just the beginning, but it feels great to have the track static!

I’m about 1/3 complete, I’m doing about 3 feet at a time, as life…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: I completed testing of my inventory this afternoon, I […]

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 19:19:57 +0100

I completed testing of my inventory this afternoon, I will begin gluing track down soon! I am excited, I’ve never moved beyond this step of the process. I think I am going to use silicone caulk and apply it at the Unijoiners, is that a good idea? What do you think, do have another proven method?

Minimum Test:

DCC 30% Max Power

DC 40% Max…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Hey friends!I'm spending the day running test passes on […]

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 20:31:31 +0100

Hey friends!

I’m spending the day running test passes on the new layout. I am wanted to share a special train with the group, it’s one of my favorite models; Rapido’s TurboTrain in Early Amtrak paint scheme. I hope one day I can compliment this model with it’s northern sister, one in Canadian National paint scheme, love the history of…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Happy Weekend!Captured some video while doing some […]

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 05:03:50 +0100

Happy Weekend!

Captured some video while doing some testing tonight. Enjoy!

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Howdy!So here is the track plan, it's a a single line […]

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 01:20:51 +0100

Howdy!

So here is the track plan, it’s a a single line for continuous running, highlighting all the fun Unitrack bits…turntable, roundhouse, viaduct through town (think L train vibes), small yard. It has a small siding under the viaduct for passenger platform / passenger station. The track is a mix of new and used and it is not run parallel…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: I don't have a model of Lehigh Valley Railroad yet, but […]

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 21:13:13 +0100

I don’t have a model of Lehigh Valley Railroad yet, but I came across this original blueprint from Lehigh Valley Railroad while antiquing; dated 1915. It’s a tremendous accent to the layout and I’m proud to assist in the preservation of this piece.

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Happy Day!The last time the contents of these paper […]

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:40:23 +0100

Happy Day!

The last time the contents of these paper ream boxes had seen the light of day I had setup a point-to-point layout atop a hollow core door featuring a roundhouse and yard. This temporary door layout was used as a DCC learning and testing facility. I had invested in a Digitrax DCC system because it could easily control…

Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale: Welcome! I will be sharing my journey of modeling […]

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 05:56:35 +0100

Welcome! I will be sharing my journey of modeling in N-Scale as I construct a 4’x10′ layout.

I have no experience modeling / model railroading outside of running a small oval train as a pre-teen. I dreamt model railroading would be a retirement hobby, but recently found the inspiration to start now, call it my midlife crisis; way cooler than…