VonRyan Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 So it's been quite awhile since I was last on this site. Since I've been here last, narrow gauge modelling and UK modelling have taken a back seat due to various troubles. While dealing with all that, I've also done everything from get a job (which I lost due to budget cuts) to get a second job (only part of the year), to go flat broke. Anyhow, here I am at the ripe old age of 19 looking down at my latest creation... an actual layout! Some quick background: The base of the layout was built by a fellow over on another forum who then quickly decided it was too small for his needs. I asked what he planned to do with it, and without ever answering the question, he said he'd give it to me. I never even asked. So, a few months go by and after he got some things in order he sent it along to me. That is how it looked when it arrived. It was built with a backdrop, which wasn't included, but that didnt matter to me. The layout is only 11"x17". I have no idea what the minimum radius is. The rail is Micro Engineering code 40. The roadbed is Masonite. Now I'm about to just slap up a lot of photos without going into detail too much about them other than the major points along the way. The photos will be in the correct order. The initial remodeling of the landforms and adding some new ones. The layout will have no backdrop as it is designed for very close viewing. Adding another hill and reshaping the riverbank. Not to mention the first train over the line. A stock Marklin 2-6-0 that I refurbished from a set. It is not going to be canabalized for narrow gauge. I'm actually trying to sell the set to help fund the purchase of my WWII reenacting kit. A quick size comparison with a 9v battery. Adding the large hill in the center. Painted the track. Tamiya rattle-can. IIRC, it is "Brown". Removing the wooden bridge abutments and supports. The plan is to keep the wood deck but add stone abutments and steel girders. First work on the contours of the landforms using sculptamold. It takes some getting used to compared to plaster, but it is an excellent material. The planed dirt road. The black outline is going to be a small loading dock for cattle and goods. I should also add that the turnouts are non-functional. Now before I continue with more photos, I should probably add that after that last photo was taken, I embarked on the greatest journey of my entire life. I got to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting the UK, and of course I had to make every moment count, so the first day in I visited The Model Railway Club in London to meet up with some I know from another forum, and then I scooted on over to Kings Cross to watch 60009 'Union of South Africa' glide to a stop in Platform 1, and I also got to watch her leave the station. Then, early the next morning I caught a cab from my hotel to London Euston where I boarded a train to Birmingham New Street. From there I changed to a DMU set bound for Northern Wales. My destination: Tywyn. Yessir, I really outdid myself on my first trip to the UK. Not only did I visit the Talyllyn Railway, but I also had booked a Driver's Experience with a specific request for it to be aboard Dolgoch. The supervising driver said that she is the most difficult engine to drive, but I don't see what he is on about. Afterall, Dolgoch is far easier to handle (even with an unusually long train) than PRR 643 (a standard-gauge 0-6-0 tender engine). It was certainly money well spent. Yup. That's me on the footplate, waiting for the down train at Brynglas. There was a young fellow who, as I describe him, was the "Guard's Assistant" and he lent me his greasetop hat to wear. Certianly made the experience that much better! Even the light rain was an added bonus to me! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonRyan Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 Anyhow, while I was in the UK I had to stop in a model shop. There were none in London that I could find, and since that Monday (the day before my flight home) was bank holiday, I decided to just hop on the Southern Railway out of Victoria station and head down to Ford to "The Engine Shed". As soon as I walked in the door I knew I was in for it. Needless to say, I went in with over 100 pounds and I walked out with only 10. I should also add that I also picked up a Graham Farish LMS 20ton brake van as a gift for my friend. I bought the 7mm 5-plank because I just couldnt leave without it. The detail is simply incredible. Anyhow, that ballast was purchased with a purpose in mind. As soon as I got home and caught up on some lost sleep, I got out the scenery tools and set to work... And the engine you see on there now is a Marklin 0-6-0 I picked up for only $60. It also happens to be one of the newer ones that has a 5-pole motor in it. It runs well for being geared so high. It will soon be kitbashed somewhat to look like a Hunslet 2-6-2, but it will remain an 0-6-0. From there, I started a summer job as a maintenance assistant at a summer camp. Since I had 24/7 access to the maintenace shop, I used my scarse downtime in the evening to get some more work done on the landforms. Namely, carving out the road and shaping it in with sculptamold. And that is how the layout currently sits, excpet now all the white and pink has again been painted "Medium Brown" (Duncan Paints). I'm currently working on figuring out the bridge abutments and support column for the larger of the two bridges. I already have the smaller one figured out. I'll try to update this thread as soon as I update it's primary thread over on The Railwire. But just in case you want to see it as soon as it happens, or read through all the details of how the layout has blossomed, here is the link: http://www.therailwi...p?topic=32771.0 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonRyan Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 The most recent work is the creation of the bridge abutments. What I have come up with is a heavily cut-down Woodland Scenics retaining wall. It should work quite well for what I'm going for, which is based off of a bridge on the Tralee & Dingle Railway. Only real difference will be that my bridge won't have the railings. Until my next burst of progress, Cheers! -Cody Fisher Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson Jackson Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 This is shaping up to be a nice little layout, look forward to further progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonRyan Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 It's been a surprisingly fast process. Afterall I only received the layout on April 28th. Once it comes time for the greenery, that's when things will probably start to slow down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonRyan Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Ok, so for the bridge, I'm going to be using either an old resin gondola made by Camden & Amboy models or the sides from an Eastern Seaboard Models gondola. The ESM gon cost me $20, but it broke and it's out of my US modeling era. The C&A gon is in my era, but was free, but out of production. Plus the ESM gon has better rivet detail and the external posts are closer together, better lending itself to get its sides cut up for being turned into a bridge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonRyan Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 Ok, so the girders are cut. What started as these: Are now these: Just some quick trimming is needed before an official test-fit can be done. I'm also working on cutting the notches in the abutments to accept the girders. The girders are going to be going into the abutments like so: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VonRyan Posted June 11, 2015 Author Share Posted June 11, 2015 I really must bring this thread up to speed. I had totally forgotten that I had a layout thread here. But don't fret! Progress has been made since my last post. I'll be posting plenty of photos sometime in the next couple of days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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