Willow Hill

[GEOEng03]

Hi all,
i thought i'd start a new thread for the new layout. Old thread link here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/103279-new-layout-northern-modern-imagense/

Anyway. I have decided to keep the layout based on the ECML, as much as I love watching and feel the magic of the trains running along the Sea wall at Dawlish and Teignmouth, the ECML holds much more appeal for me and allows for me to model electric.

So, as way of update, the baseboards are now in. I have recycled the boards from the old layout in Yorkshire (shows how far off the ground i got it...) to save costs, and because they are still in good enough condition. What you see in the pictures below is a loop around the dimensions of the room, with the typical dims being approximately 10ft (3m) x 6.5ft (2.3m), with a small alcove section that is 4ft wide (1.2m). The door that opened into teh room has been taken off and will be flipped to open into the hallway, allowing access underneath the boars through the door.

General Overview of Baseboard Construction
IMG_20170814_111014995 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

IMG_20170814_111019327 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

View looking in opposite direction at back of the room

IMG_20170814_110931001 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

The alcove, where i am hoping to get 2/3 lines running under hidden cover here - this will hopefully allow partly exposed long trains to be exposed so that it can look partially realistic. Platforms will extend out from the front of the raised station and the tightness of the 4ft area will be hidden. I am just researching radius of track now to see what can be got away with...

IMG_20170814_110924468 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

I plan on using triangle cuts of wood to give me further area to play with at the corners and will also consider widening the station area to have a couple of sidings and perhaps a terminating platform or two for local services.

I will be using Peco Code 75, but haven't decided on dead or live frog yet.

Trackplan will follow, once i have scribbled with it a bit. But plan on the station and then a diesel/electric area on the opposite site. I am even considering a raised single track area for a heritage or DMU running line, but it is all early days at the moment.

There are also some new ECML additions on the way, which will be updated at some point.
Cheers

Edited November 13, 2017 by GEOEng03

[randompilgrim]

All sounding good, a very ample space too! Will be following with interest. 

[Guest FairwayJunction]

A fantastic sized room for a layout. I agree with you on modelling the East cost partly for the fact that as wonderful as Dawlish is, it would be a squeeze however the room should comfortably fit a good sized station. What I have learned from my previous layouts and i'm sure everyone has heard this but less is actually more in terms of track. Too much and you lose the feel realism. Will definitely be watching the progression of this.

[GEOEng03]

Hi all, 

 

Been a while. There has been several changes to the layout and some progress since my last update in August.  Crazy where the time goes, but work can be hectic sometimes.  So, there has been some changes to how the layout flows as well.  The layout baseboards went from a circuit to an end to end and back to a circuit and teh door has now made it back onto its hinges. This has led to an interesting angle that now replaces the door, but i quite like it! 

 

Layout is to comprise of three main tracks, two main line (Up and Down) and a third bi-directional branch. 

 

First image tries to give a overall shot of what is developing.  As you may be able to see, far corner shows a station that will be partially under cover, with three platforms serving the sleepy town of Willow Hill. This swoops around some countryside and will approach 'Willow Tunnel' where there will be a Diesel depot. If you note at the bottom, there is going to be room to store 2 2+7 HST or similar length sets out of the way. This will ultimately be hidden behind retaining wall. Update at a later stage. 

 

IMG_20171107_173238790 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

 

What will become Willow Tunnel - this will lead into what is a undercover area to allow for longer trains to be used at the station, without building a massive station, synfully robbed idea from others on the forum, but makes it more achievable for me to model. 

 

IMG_20171107_173223875 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

 

What will become Willow Hill Station - this needs considerable work, but the track is laid and the platforms are being built. 

 

IMG_20171107_173148595 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

 

Finally, this will become a scenic area and a lead in track for the diesel maintenance area.  There is to be a third track and feeder track into the maintenance area, but i need to pay a visit to get points. 

 

IMG_20171107_173227616 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

 

That is it for now, at least the layout boards have been established and i can get on with sorting the track plan out. There has also been a change from EC to GWR rolling stock. Something about living and travelling in the SW made me want to run the stock. Although, i do get moments when i want to run EC instead! One of the bad points of the hobby... 

Cheers

[GEOEng03]

There has been a change of location and indeed construction for Willow Hill.  After some discussions with the wife and some DIY works to build a sliding wardrobe, I have been given permission to move it to the larger bedroom.  This in part was because the smallest room, took the double bed and unit and was considered comfortable for guests.  So, the old chipboard has been redeployed as loft boards for storage and I have purchased a supply of cut 9mm ply.  Wife works for B&Q, so we get an attractive discount on wood and by doing it this way, it was cheaper than buying further chip for the loft!

 

Now appreciate that some may say that ply from the chain stores is not the best quality, but I wanted to trial the move to ply and the discount and facility to cut to size, made it appealing.  So, the layout is not 2.44m long on two sides, buy 2.2m on the width, giving me a nice loop, without the cumbersome inset that the small room had!

 

This is the pile of supplies that I have to build the layout.  Part of the attraction was making it semi-permanent by it being in sections. should it have to be moved again, then doing it this way, is much better, but will bring the challenges of making it portable...

 

IMG_20180205_102601703 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

 

I had decided that each length should be no more than 1.22m x 0.60m wide, to make them easier to handle and to aid with the flex that the narrow supporting side panels have.  Each will be made into a box, using 150mmm deep side panels and held together using a combination of screws and 'no more nails' - which we found when building the sliding wardrobe (amazing stuff!!!).

 

IMG_20180205_102639550 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

 

IMG_20180205_102618215 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

 

So far, I have made 3 of the 4 length pieces and one of the side pieces and they are slotting together quite well, they might need a bit of adjustment.

 

IMG_20180205_102709049 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

 

Should give me a good useable and uniform area to run up to 6/7 car trains, with some clever modelling to hide longer platforms.  Rolling stock is still the same with HST at up 7 (hopefully) and DMU's.

 

Will be spending time recycling the legs from the old set up this weekend to start getting this together and to allow track laying.  Individual boxes to be held together with butterfly bolts and clips for alignment I think.

 

Cheers

[GEOEng03]

Hi all, small update on Layout Progress

 

Work, modifications to the house and garage and annoying delays due to the developer we brought the house off having to correct squeaking floorboards has meant that progress has been slow, but I am now starting to get the layout pulled together.  Part of the agreement to have this room, was to leave enough space for storage and accessing wardrobe and washing etc.....  so layout is a 2.4m x 2.2m rectangle, with a length of 3.2m along one wall to give enough length for storage (800mm is enough).

 

I have been continuing to build the sections for installation and have now got a J-shape in place.  Ultimate aim is to have a Q=shape (rectangle with a small off shoot to allow for longer trains to be stored. 

 

IMG_20180304_180916433 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

 

IMG_20180304_180905240_BURST000_COVER_TOP by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

 

Picture showing internal construction of sections.

IMG_20180205_102639550 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr

 

Each section will be joined with 8mm Hex bolts tightened with butterfly nuts and there are 25mm holes drilled to allow for cables to be neatly passed through.  Legs are attached with 8mm hex bolts which are 100mm long.  So far, the section is excellent and sturdy. I am sure that there is a better way to build these, but I am quite happy with them, they are strong and are a much better option over the chipboard I have used before.

 

Once the floor has been sorted this week, then can get the remaining three sections in place.  I also have a spare piece of 1.2 x 0.6m section left, which may be used as a smaller depot layout, may detract from the main layout, but would be nice to have a pop at an exhibition layout, one to look at in the future or when I am being sociable watching chickflicks!

 

Cheers