luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Hi all, this is a new thread of one of my previous topics. As the title suggests I am going to try and build a layout for £100 which is a challenge for any modeller. I currently model for just £10 a month and enjoy (and hate most times) the challenges that it presents me. This £100 layout challenge will be set in a modern image suburb/industrial area and will be dcc controlled or analogue controlled. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Looks like you can afford a diorama of one DCC tank loco on one length of code 75 track, if you buy new, maybe add in a second hand wagon or a Oxford Diecasts car.... I bought 2 X 00 locos and 3 coaches off Ebay for £8.80 the other week..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 That is a great bargain! Probably going to use code 100 though so the flanges on older stock wont clip on the rail chairs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) I like a good challenge against building a layout, be it space, budget, time etc. Here's one contender for a/the loco: http://www.hattons.co.uk/164416/Hornby_R3486_Class_66_66185_DP_World_London_Gateway_in_DB_Schenker_livery/StockDetail.aspx Although not to a strict budget, I am trying to keep the costs of building my future exhibition layout as low as possible. Edited July 13, 2017 by SVRlad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Must say that I've got my eyes on that. Only half the price as a Bachmann one. Also quite like the Hornby sentinel. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted July 13, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 13, 2017 I like the idea of this £100 limit for specific purchases new build layouts. Hope it catches on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 I plan to keep the layout costs around a £100 but I'm bot going to be as strict as some modellers. Might exceed the budget by a few £s but not by loads. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal.n Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Really interested in how this will turn out. Track plan (on other thread) looks good. I assume the platform will be large enough to hold two units so it would give you ability to run 142, 143/4, 150, 153, 156 and 158 units. On a budget, the Hornby class 142 and Lima class 156 are great starting points. At a VERY rough estimate, a class 153 (single unit) is 1 foot long. So the platform would need to be 2 foot long. Good luck 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Well building a layout for £100 is an ever increasing challenge with the price of everything model railway related going up in price. budget model railway really brings the hobby back to its roots. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartynJPearson Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 One of the first model railway magazines I had when I joined the hobby (in 1984!) was about building a layout for £100, so with 30 years of inflation I can imagine the challenge. That said, I have thought that it would be a great exercise if the layout itself (minus control equipment and stock) could be done for that amount as it would encourage a lot of initiative and resourcefulness. And cornflake eating when a ready supply of cardboard is needed!! Good luck and will watch with interest! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Here's one money-saving trick. About April last year I bought a jacket which as it had to survive a long and probably bumpy ride from Lancashire came in a huge square cardboard box. But a year on and among other additions to my layout was a Baccy 16T mineral wagon, which for my future layout would need coal in. So to save buying extra cardboard I cut enough to make a wagon load stand. Being a working member of the SVR, I acquired a lump of coal from Bewdley, smashed it with a hammer and put it in the wagon. It was my first attempt, so perhaps I put too much of too large lumps in, but as my first attempt I'm very proud of it. I appreciate you probably won't have coal for a modern layout, but you could do the same for perhaps ballast or log wagons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 For loco ash in my mpd on another layout, I used real loco ash collected from grosmont mpd on the nymr. Little big to scale so crushed down a touch. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfish Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Hi Luke, it's always nice to see layouts built on a tight budget. Baseboards the main issue I know a couple of modellers have looked at storage boxes or toy boxes. I'm currently in the process of Buiding Arley Station on the Severn Valley for under £100, using a Toy box as a baseboard. All I've done is strengthen it with off cuts of 6mm ply. This is what I've used for the board https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161969839530 Jaymes 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Sounds good. I've looked into cheap tables but all don't fit my needs so I have settled on using re-enforced wooden supermarket fruit crates. These are made up of thin mdf and are a very standard size so very easy to glue together. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted July 13, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 13, 2017 Sounds good. I've looked into cheap tables but all don't fit my needs so I have settled on using re-enforced wooden supermarket fruit crates. These are made up of thin mdf and are a very standard size so very easy to glue together. Which supermarkets use the wooden crates? Only seen cardboard used locally here in Dorset and curious as they read like something I could use for future projects; possibly for stock trays. Saw one mentioned in someone else's post recently too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 I get them from lidl and they normally put strawberries in them. I will go and to a picture of them now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 These are the ones from lidl Just realised that morrisons also use them from time to time. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted July 13, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) I use shelves or table tops from IKEA... Sheep Lanes base boards were £18.00 for both, scenic was 10 and fiddle yard 8. Total cost of layout came in at roughly £150.00. Roughly 12 months work from start to 1st exhibition. Mutton now under construction has cost about £100.00 to get to this stage. Base boards came to £44.00 Stock is extra. Edited July 13, 2017 by nhy581 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Love that name. that sounds like a good idea and not to expensive either. Your layout looks really professional! I would never believe that was built for £150 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted July 13, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) I get them from lidl and they normally put strawberries in them. I will go and to a picture of them now Cheers. Not the one's we normally use, but there are local outlets for both Lidl & Morrisons, so will pop in while strawbs are still in season. Edited July 13, 2017 by john new Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 I really want to exhibit the layout I'm currently planning and it is one of my life goals I've not managed to achieve yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Just looking into other potential baseboards and I seem to remember people building layouts on thick light blue/pink boards of foam. Can any one remember what it is called - it would be very helpful? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewEWS Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) Just looking into other potential baseboards and I seem to remember people building layouts on thick light blue/pink boards of foam. Can any one remember what it is called - it would be very helpful? Is it styrofoam you mean? Certainly meets the thick, blue foam description Edited July 13, 2017 by MatthewEWS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted July 13, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) Just looking into other potential baseboards and I seem to remember people building layouts on thick light blue/pink boards of foam. Can any one remember what it is called - it would be very helpful? Can't remember the name but recall people saying it comes from builders merchants. The key tip I've seen, and logged for my card bases, is use a hardboard insert for things like mounted point motors. The one to avoid is the thinner stuff used for posters and for sale boards etc. Looked to be a useful freebie using up the recycled posters after the event had finished but I tried it and had several problems, adhesives not sticking to it was the most significant. (Corex IIRC) Edited July 13, 2017 by john new Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 That's it! Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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