Hi all,
I think its about time that I have a small layout at home to use has a test track and to basically 'play trains'. I'm still very new to the hobby and with my dad having a wealth of knowledge and a love for Narrow Gauge, I'm set to learn a lot and develop some skills.
Myself and my dad (John Pollard) are members of the Blackburn & East Lancs Model Railway Society which is home to our layout Llanfair Caereinion.
Running this layout has taught me a lot over the past two years. Last weekend we showed it at our annual exhibition and we where conveniently placed next to the 009 Society stand. I was spoilt with a weekend of chats and advice from the guys who run the stand and what a great set of people they are.
Coming away from the exhibition I am inspired to build myself a layout for my home and this is where it begins.
My family like to spend weekends at Edisford Bridge over here in Lancashire and my layout hopes to envision what it would be like with a Narrow Gauge Railway. This would have model cameos of fondest memories of playing in the river, picnics and taking in the surroundings.
The layout will be a standard size of 4x2'. It needs to be continuous so I can just let trains run and it also needs to have various scenery elements so I can learn how to model them.
I don't want it to be complicated and have multiple sidings, so I aim for one fiddle yard, a run around, a siding and a possibility of extending the layout on to another board in the future.
The layout will have a back scene to the left and through the middle of the layout allowing me to have a country scene on one side and a small industrial scene on the other.
(https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8001/29410927892_970c5254d7_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LNWGcE)009 Layout (https://flic.kr/p/LNWGcE) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
Baseboard at its basic construction is complete and here is a picture to give a sense of scale and composition.
(These are only example buildings and won't be on the final layout)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8582/29521734465_5ea34232cf_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LYJB8P)IMG_4436 (https://flic.kr/p/LYJB8P) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
Very nice. There is a lot to be said for a two-sided layout. I like the Chuckle Brothers "to me, to you" mode of operation it offers. It seems to make more sense than a lone operator having to dodge round to a fiddle siding hidden behind a backscene when the train could be in another scenic area. And then, if there are two operators there is the "to me, to you" aspect for "playing trains" as you say.
Edit: you latest post just popped up. It might be a good idea to mock up the passing loop and check that you have the clearance for two trains (or one to run round it).
Quote from: GraemeD on September 07, 2016, 15:42
Edit: you latest post just popped up. It might be a good idea to mock up the passing loop and check that you have the clearance for two trains (or one to run round it).
I've added some extra length to the run around.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8575/29418587952_ddadd5330d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LPBXgE)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/LPBXgE) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
Sorry to add a note of caution here but I hope that your MDF baseboard top has got some bracing under it and not just a frame around the edge. An unsupported 4' by 2' piece will sag over time and if you haven't fitted any it would be a simple matter to turn the board over and add them (I'd go for 12" centers, so you'll need one running the length of the board and two running across the board) without removing the track rather than once any scenery has been added, particularly as adding the scenery can be a bit 'wet' at times, and as I know to my cost (leaking shed roof) MDF and water do not mix.
Of course I may be teaching granny to suck eggs here, and my apologies if that is the case.
Noted and already braced ;)
Been looking at buildings.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8438/28917572784_7a8e590e8e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/L4m7V7)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/L4m7V7) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
(https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8509/28920008653_c922f363b2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/L4yB1R)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/L4yB1R) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8392/29462162751_830f6c576d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LTthxi)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/LTthxi) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8504/28917574014_5355cce6c2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/L4m8hj)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/L4m8hj) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8006/29462161491_89bce9a7b9_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LTthaz)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/LTthaz) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
Let me know what you think of my first attempt...
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8432/29436689262_87b3de5fec_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LRdJad)My newly painted lineside hut (https://flic.kr/p/LRdJad) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8164/29256033230_bebb8fdf30_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LzfPq3)My newly painted lineside hut (https://flic.kr/p/LzfPq3) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
Coal Depot
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8224/29559318615_a8679a58ee_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/M34eAp)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/M34eAp) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
(https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8480/28936279373_5c192ccc70_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/L5ZZJv)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/L5ZZJv) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
Garage Shed
(https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8577/29525227626_50c97ceb41_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LZ3vwJ)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/LZ3vwJ) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
(https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8869/28933950964_1dfb7d779f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/L5N4zw)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/L5N4zw) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
Looking good! I particularly like the rust on the corrugated iron.
Quote from: GraemeD on September 09, 2016, 11:10
Looking good! I particularly like the rust on the corrugated iron.
Thanks, I simply undercoat the whole roof with Tamiya Clear Orange and dab/stipple Tamiya Orange. Once dry I dry brush Tamiya Light Grey.
Sheds
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8503/28938564694_7836ed9a93_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/L6cH5A)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/L6cH5A) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
Finally got round to painted my Aidan Campbell White Metal Figures:
(https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8072/29529882986_f0805516de_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LZsnpy)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/LZsnpy) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
Quote from: GraemeD on September 09, 2016, 11:10
Looking good! I particularly like the rust on the corrugated iron.
Hear hear! Superb.
Love the style of these switches I have required for the layout
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8325/29569848371_f7575d4b38_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/M3ZcHV)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/M3ZcHV) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
Excellent. Very retro!
Are they the sort with screw terminals or solder tags?
Hi Scott,
I have only just spotted this. I must say it looks very good and also is progressing at a commendable pace!
The buildings are very good, lots of atmosphere there I think.
Looking forward to see it develop.
Frank
Quote from: scottpollard on September 13, 2016, 10:46
Love the style of these switches I have required for the layout
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8325/29569848371_f7575d4b38_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/M3ZcHV)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/M3ZcHV) by Scott Pollard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144333239@N04/), on Flickr
Can you tell me where I can source thee because they are the best ones I have seen? Thanks, Jim
They look similar to the SCI ones here from Rapid Electronics.
https://www.rapidonline.com/Catalogue/Search?filterSearchScope=1&filterCategoryPathROOT=Switches&filterDiscontinued=False&filterCategoryPathROOT%2fSwitches=Toggle+Switches&filterCategoryPathROOT%2fSwitches%2fToggle+Switches=Standard+Toggle&sourceRefKey=g-ETjjlQj&keywords=* (https://www.rapidonline.com/Catalogue/Search?filterSearchScope=1&filterCategoryPathROOT=Switches&filterDiscontinued=False&filterCategoryPathROOT%2fSwitches=Toggle+Switches&filterCategoryPathROOT%2fSwitches%2fToggle+Switches=Standard+Toggle&sourceRefKey=g-ETjjlQj&keywords=*)
Many thanks Graeme, Theye look perfect for what I want