Bloomfield

[Andybw]

Just started a new layout - 'Bloomfield'.
I was quite a way into an end to end but found it frustrating that I couldn't watch the trains. Now building a 4' x 2' roundy roundy.
Base is 5cm piece of foam insulation braced by a 4mm ply frame, covered with cork as I find that easier to let wire in tube workings in.
Plans fairly self explanatory - scenery will rise in height towards back scene and will have road overbridge as on scene break and rocky valley with water feature as the other. Happy with track layout





Next job sort out WIT for points, paint under track, fix track down and get power working. Hope to get that far before I go on holiday on Friday!

[Jeff Schumaker]

Looking forward to further reports on your layout.

Jeff S.

[Tom Haythornthwaite]

Looks great.  How will you make the river? 

[Andybw]

Looks great.  How will you make the river? 

Still working on that, but inspired by Ted Polet's 'Nixnie'. Not sure mine will look that good though!

[Tom Haythornthwaite]

If you're thinking of http://www.009dutch.nl/archive/2015/album/2015gvtnixnie/images/IMG_0037.jpg, I think it's more or less the gold standard.  But how will you get the depth?

[Andybw]

If you're thinking of http://www.009dutch.nl/archive/2015/album/2015gvtnixnie/images/IMG_0037.jpg, I think it's more or less the gold standard.  But how will you get the depth?

It won't be as deep as that, reckon I can get away with 3cm below track level and I may put a slight incline at that point. Another detail to work out!

[Gerhard Novak]

You have a 5cm insulation board below - so you can carve quite a bit out I suppose! Looking forward to your progress!

all the best
Gerhard

[B.Meldon]

You may have problems with the 009 couplings locking on the reverse curves. The tighter the curves involved the worse the problems will be.

Also I have always found that soft board type base boards do not give a firm enough fixing for the track and they can often distort at the joints with time resulting in uneven track that will cause running problems. I use 1/4 (6mm) plywood for the trackbed.

Brian Meldon

[Andybw]

​Got some more work done since a little break for hospital visiting. Temporary bridge over what will be a small stream. Wire for turnout control added to points, not other end yet.

Temporary bridge over stream by Andy Williams, on Flickr

And a quick video after temporarily connecting power to make sure it all works.

IMG_0849 by Andy Williams, on Flickr

[Andybw]

You may have problems with the 009 couplings locking on the reverse curves. The tighter the curves involved the worse the problems will be.

Also I have always found that soft board type base boards do not give a firm enough fixing for the track and they can often distort at the joints with time resulting in uneven track that will cause running problems. I use 1/4 (6mm) plywood for the trackbed.

Brian Meldon

Not had those problems in the past, Brian, but I'll keep an eye on things at each stage and adjust as needed.

[Jeff Schumaker]

I'd say it works very well.

Jeff S.

[Andybw]

Thanks Jeff

[Elmgate]

However, I would sort out that stuttering on the front points, or you will be forever cursing it - especially as you were going quickly in the video, so at "normal" speed, the locos will always stop!  :)

[Andybw]

However, I would sort out that stuttering on the front points, or you will be forever cursing it - especially as you were going quickly in the video, so at "normal" speed, the locos will always stop!  :)

Sorted straight after video. It was an old point I was using and just needed a bit of cleaning. Likewise with the track at the back.