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  • SouthernRegionSteam

    Coastguard Creek - 15 months of planning!

    By SouthernRegionSteam

    Hold on to your socks - this is going to be a lengthy one! (In fact it's so long, I've now split it into 2 separate posts - the next will be up soon...)   I think it's fair to say that you are all long overdue an update on Coastguard Creek. Due to other commitments, no real progress has been made since the last post way back in March 2021; almost 15 months ago! If anything, things went backwards for quite a while, as I kept finding more and more inspiring locations that I really wanted
    • 8 comments
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A modular layout in a rented apartment!

So the layout developed........

The advantage of this method is that over the years, new pieces could be added as they were constructed. In time, two more tracks were added, allowing four trains to circle at once. Passing loops were constructed in the station, giving a 6-lane station. I also added a junction for sidings, and built the sidings approach As you will see, I didn't go for any scenery apart from platforms. I also chose not to ballast the tracks (yet) as I was concerned that ballast would come loose when th
A modular layout in a rented apartment!

Making the boards

In order to make the tracks precise standard spacing at the end of the board, I used two double track level crossings, one at either end of the piece I was constructing. The level crossings, as the track, were mounted on plywood with the softwood supports The construction method was as follows: 1.   Make the softwood support. Drill holes and install furniture nuts on one side 2.   Bolt the supports to the jigs (the level crossing pieces) 3.       Cut the plywood for the piece
A modular layout in a rented apartment!

Board Construction

The boards have the standard track spacing (67 mm) perpendicular to every join, so in theory pieces can be connected in different ways, and most importantly, a roundy-roundy layout could be produced quickly, then more sections added as they were built.   Joining the boards needs to take into account 3 factors: 1- Physical alignment of the rails - to prevent derailments 2 -holding the baords together (they are easily knocked by children dancing around 3 - electrical conne
A modular layout in a rented apartment!

The intial plan

I started with a simple double track loop (double track - I have two boys!). It was simply first and second radius Hornby curves, with a set track crossover. The tracks are 67mm apart, (as per the Hornby standard) and the straight section is 2*167.5 = 335mm long - enough to accomodate the crossover. On the plan below, the dotted line is the track centre. Each board is 2*67 = 134 mm wide (actually cut slightly less to allow adjacent boards to be added (see later).  
Coastguard Creek - New Forest Coast

Bramble's Boatyard - Refining layout plans

Last blog entry, I showed a few of my latest designs - all drawn to scale; including one (BB12) which looked set to be, more or less, the final design. Throughout the comments on that post on RMweb, useful changes were suggested, and some implemented to form BB13. However, I'm going to skip straight to the later version (BB14), posting sketches and 3D designs, explaining what's good and what's bad, and explore ideas for further improvements, which will result in plans BB15 and BB15b Edit: And BB
Barry Ten's Blog

A revamped Duchess

Back in October I reported on a revamped Hornby Princess, using a Comet chassis under the body of an old tender drive model. Keeping on the same theme, toward the end of the year I also embarked on a similar upgrade to a Princess Coronation - aka Duchess - from the same source.   Here's the loco nearing completion:     The basis of this model was an even older specimen than the Princess, which was a relatively recent 1990s release. This one goes back to 1979! The or
Barry Ten

Barry Ten in LMS/BR

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My version of Boscarne Junction

Starting to plan

After enjoying SolRail last November I've been contemplating my next layout that could replace Tredethy Wharf as an exhibition layout. Some of my ponderings can be found at the following here on my revamped blog page. What follows is the result of those ponderings... It was way back in 2008 when I was first contemplating building a layout of Boscarne Junction. That one was going to be a fictional take on the junction using some what might have beens. Why fictional? Well it was going to be my
Yan

Yan in Layout Planning

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Netherport - GWR 1908 7mm (mostly wagons for now!)

GWR 4-plank with straw load - ABS kit

For my 1908 GWR setting, I can't have too many 4-plank opens - they were around 40% of the revenue-earning fleet. My planned rosta of 20 GWR wagons therefore includes eight 4-plankers, and it is another one of these that is the subject of this post. It differs from the last one in being made from the ABS whitemetal kit (remaining stocks still available from DJ Parkins). It also has a load of straw under a sheet - inspired by Mikkel's similar creation in 4mm scale.     The kit
magmouse

magmouse in Wagons

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DBC90024's Blog

Johnson Street IEMD - layout update - 30th January 2023

Layout update   The layout project has had to go a little slower tthan forst thought at the start of the year mainly due to having a lowsy chest infection which wore me down.   The plan to go out and buy insulators to start scratchbuilding registration arms also had to be put on hold till Mid-february at the earliest with them not being available - I imagine the making tracks team had to snap up a good few for mt3.    The year has also seen some unexpected good and
SWAN HILL

at Swan Hill January '23

January '23 at Swan Hill... Telegraph poles are being fabricated and placed, the signal box is more or less complete with the little brackets under the eaves fitted, an essential bit which was missing from the earlier pictures, and the box now settled into its place on the layout.  It's supposed to work as a scenic break in that it divides the view from the control panel roughly into two halves, terminus one end and 'up branch' at the other end.  The telegraph poles are scratch built using
kitpw

kitpw in Swan Hill

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Fen End Pit's Blog

Clare Maltings and telephone exchanges

In my previous blog entry I talked about using planning records to help research buildings at Clare. These have certainly help but what has helped even more is the advice and assistance from another RMweb contributor. Uax6 immediately recognized two small builds as Type A and Type B telephone exchange buildings and was able to give me loads of information regarding their construction. The 16 page 1950's tender document informing contractors the requirements to build one of these buildings was fa
Fen End Pit

Fen End Pit in Stour Valley

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365 Days of Modelling

Day 19

Day 19 of 365 days of modelling Minimal modelling tonight, other things to do! However don’t be disappointed, what modelling I did involved the 442! It’s now got a coat of yellow which means the paint work is nearing an end. Also had this arrive today, a nice bit of 3D printing from Kim Durose and the Trib Train Auto Trailer cab end, for test building. That’s a job for tomorrow and over the weekend.
Wolf27

Wolf27 in Day 19

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365 Days of Modelling

Day 18

Day 18 of 364 days of modelling The 442 work continues with the final two vehicles receiving red paint along with two pairs of bogie sides from the first 442 build being prepared for mould making and resin casting. Another set of Gloucester fast freight bogies assembled and test fitted under PWA no5 Finally a bit of work in the ferry tank, looking at the end platforms and buffer beams
Wolf27

Wolf27 in Day 18

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365 Days of Modelling

Day 17

Day 17 of 364 days of modelling Not much at all today. Just masking the last two 442 vehicles so the red can go on tomorrow, it’s too cold in the shed to do anything. More interesting stuff to come.
Wolf27

Wolf27 in Day 17

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365 Days of Modelling

Day 16

Day 16 of 365 days of modelling. No work on the 442 tonight, instead it was laying the stabiliser rail on Southgate Park. Don’t worry though, more work on the 442 tomorrow!
Wolf27

Wolf27 in Day 16

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365 Days of Modelling

Day 15

Day 15 of 365 days of modelling Masking and yet more masking. More 442 masking. I promise it won’t be like this all year! Just need to get this done.
Wolf27

Wolf27 in Day 15

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365 Days of Modelling

Day 14

Day 14 of 365 days of modelling Yet more work on the 442, one coach had had the red elements added, took some time to mask it so I wouldn’t have any problems, seems to have gone well. Also sorted out parts for the bogies, which still need to be built. Had some more stuff arrive in the post, three HO wagons which will be rebuilt at some stage to make them more OO friendly and a couple of PEP unit coaches. One is a 313 motor coach for a future test train project and a 508 trailer fo
Wolf27

Wolf27 in Day 14

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365 Days of Modelling

Day 13

Day 13 of 365 days of modelling Success with the 442 paintwork, just need to sort the red stripe without ruining it! Finally fitted the nameplates to 87023, nearly three years since I did the model.
Wolf27

Wolf27 in Day 13

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365 Days of Modelling

Day 12

Day 12 of 365 days of modelling A number of things planned tonight but only one actually happened, spent around 1 1/2 hours masking up the 442 and gave it a coat of blue. Fingers crossed this will better than last time as the time spent masking should ensure the livery elements are correctly placed!
Wolf27

Wolf27 in Day 12

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365 Days of Modelling

Day 11

Day 11 of 364 days of modelling The 442 repaint starts again, coat of white applied to all vehicles and a pair of Stenson Models Gloucester Fast Freight bogies for PWA number 4
Wolf27

Wolf27 in Day 11

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365 Days of Modelling

Day 9

Day 9 of 365 days of modelling. Not much today as I went back to work. The final livery element for the 442 was applied and demasked. I’m not happy with it so it’ll have to done again. Not as bad as it sounds, just some corrections on the placement of the stripes and addressing some raggedy edges and overspray.
Wolf27

Wolf27 in Day 9

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365 Days of Modelling

Day 8

Day 8 of 365 days of modelling. The red on the 442 has now been applied and is being allowed to dry for 24 hours, then it’s onto the blue! The chemical tank has had all its strapping on the barrel fitted and the bogie mounts fixed in place. It’s been placed on the layout to see how it looks with other stock and I’m quite pleased with it so far. Not bad for working from one photo and no drawings.
Wolf27

Wolf27 in Day 8

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