122 replies to this topic

[Northpoint]

Good day to you all.

I have decided to enter my current project into the contest. It started about 6 weeks ago with the usual "what can I put on this piece of plywood?" - said piece of plywood only 66 inches by 9 inches.

Having purchased a Hornby class 153 "bubble car" in Wessex black and gold colours a few months ago, the West Country came to mind.

The layout portrays a small halt in the country surrounded by trees with a small (you've guessed it!) china clay operation in the background.

However, here is the difference - it supposes that the branch is a remnant of the old LSWR lines in Cornwall.

This is what inspired the idea in the first place:



I spent much time trying to configure how to squeeze a main running line, station and sidings into the small space. It finally dawned on me that the running line and sidings didn't necessarily have to be connected and this made it a lot easier to get it all in.

Here's the trackplan:



Photos of early construction and progress:













Still much to be done and I'm waiting for the weather to inprove again so I can get some decent pictures outside.

[cnw6847]

looking good, what sort of track are you using?

[shortliner]

Certainly has the "atmosphere!"

[Si_berian_tiger]

A very simple, yet pleasing layout. I must admit I like the simplicity. I'm a bit of a fan of the simpler layouts. They just seem to look better somehow.

[Northpoint]

cnw6847, on 28 July 2010 - 18:26 , said:

looking good, what sort of track are you using?

Hi Richard

The track is code 75 bullhead laid on cork and ballasted. The points are Peco code 75 FB - the two went together very well!

[Northpoint]

shortliner, on 28 July 2010 - 18:31 , said:

Certainly has the "atmosphere!"

Thanks, Jack.

[alcoRS1]

x2, I agree it has atmosphere.

[34008Padstow]

Amazing how much detai you can get into a small space. well done

[Gordon A]

Northpoint, on 28 July 2010 - 21:02 , said:

Hi Richard

The track is code 75 bullhead laid on cork and vallasted. The points are Peco code 75 FB - the two went together very well!

Errrr, the point in your photo looks very much like it has been built from copper clad, and the plan and photos just show the one point??????

Gordon A
Bristol

[Northpoint]

Gordon A, on 31 July 2010 - 15:37 , said:

Errrr, the point in your photo looks very much like it has been built from copper clad, and the plan and photos just show the one point??????

Gordon A
Bristol

Well spotted, Gordon. That was just for trial purposes - when the track was finally stuck down, a Peco code 75 point was used.

Here's a not-very-good picture of it:

[Ramblin Rich]

Well done Nick, you seem to have caught the kind of atmosphere I am aiming for with "Tresarrick" - but you have been able to progress far better than me....
Can I ask what the source is of the building in the left hand corner - it certainly looks to fit in well?

Edited for typos due to sleep deprivation....

[Northpoint]

Ramblin Rich, on 03 August 2010 - 11:09 , said:

Well done Nick, you seem to have caught the kind of atmosphere I am aiming for with "Tresarrick" - but you have been able to progress far better than me....http://www.rmweb.co....efault/wink.gif
Can I ask what the source is of the building in the left hand corner - it certainly looks to fit in well?

Edited for typos due to sleep deprivation....

Thanks for your comments, Rich.

The building is a Bachmann Scenecraft "special" - the Birch Hall Inn - from The Model Centre (http://www.themodelc...in/commerce.cgi). It wasn't particularly cheap but I thought it does the job.

Regarding progress, I'm fortunate in a lot of respects - children grown up and left home; I work from home which frees up much time with no commuting - eg, I'm typing this at 7 am and my wife has just left for work and I don't have to start work until I speak to my office at about 9 ish, so I could spend an hour or so on the layout; my wife is very understanding; plus once I get a bee in my bonnet, there's no stopping me! Also, as many have said before, the value of a small layout is that progress can be made quite quickly.

[Ramblin Rich]

Thanks for that Nick. It has some similarity to The Old Inn at Mullion on the Lizard peninsula (apart from the thatch area) which is why I thought it looked appropriate!

[Northpoint]

Well, the sun has finally come out and I've managed to go in the garden and get a few quick pics.

1) the class 08 trundling through the station.



2) The 153 arrives at the station.



3) 66 245 (or 66 135 if you look closely at the front! ) follows.



More work has been done on the scenery. One idea originally was to not have a full backscene so I thought I would try and simulate trees in the background. The jury is still out as to whether to take the saw to them and just have a low hedge and undergrowth. Any comments would be welcome.

[34008Padstow]

hi nick. this layout oozes so much atmosphere, you inspired me to do a branch line of my own. keep up the great work

regards 34008

[Northpoint]

34008Padstow, on 08 August 2010 - 13:41 , said:

hi nick. this layout oozes so much atmosphere, you inspired me to do a branch line of my own. keep up the great work

regards 34008

I noticed your mention of inspiration on your thread (and I replied) - glad you like it, thanks for the comments.

Keep us posted with progress on yours.

[F-UnitMad]

Just caught up with this...

Very nice, Nick- that's you sorted for Chris's Hagley/Stourbridge Show, perchance..?!?!

From the way you've described it, will it have hidden sidings at both ends, for 'through running'?

[Taigatrommel]

What a difference simply having bullhead rail makes- it certainly adds to the realism. Your backscene is a novel approach too- that could have improved my rather average looking layout a lot!

[Northpoint]

F-UnitMad, on 09 August 2010 - 04:49 , said:

Just caught up with this...

Very nice, Nick- that's you sorted for Chris's Hagley/Stourbridge Show, perchance..?!?!

From the way you've described it, will it have hidden sidings at both ends, for 'through running'?

Thanks, Jordan.

The layout is self contained with a hidden section at each end - behind the pub on the left and through the trees on the right. The hidden sections are long enough to hide the 153 or the 08 and a couple of CDAs.

[Northpoint]

Here's a pic that shows the hidden section at the right hand end.

[Ian Holmes]

It's looking very good. I think you need MORE trees for the backscene

Ian

[34008Padstow]

Love the pic of the 08

[Northpoint]

Ian Holmes, on 09 August 2010 - 11:17 , said:

It's looking very good. I think you need MORE trees for the backscene

Ian

Thanks for the feedback, Ian.

There isn't a lot of room in the depth so I'm a bit stumped as to how to put more. The trees that are there already interfere with the stock on the back siding.

Again, any suggestions welcome.

[Stubby47]

Try using taller trees, with the lower branches cut back to provide the clearance (as can be seen on many roads today where the double deck buses provide the tree-trimming service).

Stu

[Northpoint]

34008Padstow, on 09 August 2010 - 11:25 , said:

Love the pic of the 08

Here's some more pics:





Yes, I know the seat fell over!



... and the train definitely isn't going to St Ives!