Maybank to Radley Jnc in N Gauge

 

by SPAD

 

original page on Old RMweb

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??? posted on Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:25 pm

 

Hello to eveyone at RMWeb. Bit of a 'newbee' to the forum, finding some really interesting stuff out. Some of the layouts are truly inspirational....really addictive!!

 

Thought I would share some pics and info from my newly completed layout, Foxfield Tunnel. In fact my frist fully completed layout ever!! What number this one is I really couldn't say, lost count years ago

 

OK, a breif intro then...Inspiration comes from the fantastic BVE rail sim 'BVE4.net', Maybank to Hammerwich, from which the location is taken from. For those of you that aren't familiar, check out their website. , and also the brilliant Law Junction.

Foxfield Tunnel is a section of diesel mainline between Maybank and Frankley Jnc on the Salford Bridge loop, set in heart of fictitious Staffordshire farmland. The station of Steelhouse Lane to the north and Highgate to the south of Foxfield Tunnel. No buildings and no stations here though, maybe a bit of a cop out on my part. Just wanted to capture the basic rural look, concentrating more on the traction and operational side of things. I decided to set it in late winter hence the light smattering of snow and frost, something a little different maybe? Traction is mostly Central Trains operated DMU's (patiently waiting for the Central 150 and 156's ) and Voyagers, with a bit of freight thrown in for good measure, mainly steel trains to Salford steel terminal.

 

All the trains, headcodes and diagrams are based on the ones available on BVE4.net, wanting to achieve the effect of running it as a 'real' railway.

 

 

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220019 Mersey Voyager on 1V92 0654 Manchester Picc to Reading via Salford Bridge. An overview of the layout looking towards Maybank.

(131.8 KiB)

Signalling is from Roger Murray, in my opinion the best N scale signals around. I'm using CTI control boards to operate the signals via a laptop (another topic there I think!).The grass banks are Woodland Scenics static grass flock, labourious but worth it I think. About four layers of different lengths and colours were used. Might seem strange to then cover it with snow but hey, thats the look I wanted. Trees are all made from sea moss. I think there's probably room for a few more somewhere. The line is on a gentle incline leading upto Foxfield Tunnel. This was achieved by using the polystyrene risers available from Woodland Scenics.

 

 

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170514 on 2S15 1346 Maybank to Hammerwich via Salford Bridge semi fast.

(111.59 KiB)

I've been a little sneaky here and added the headlights onto the 170 using paint shop. The effect looks OK. I'm hoping to attempt to add working headlights to my 158 and 170's given the time and patience. Keep watching this space!

 

 

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220019 Mersey Voyager on 1O27 1654 Manchester Picc to Gatwick Airport via Salford Bridge. This view is of Foxfield Tunnel looking towards Salford Bridge.

(76.89 KiB)

Think I'll leave it there for now. Hope you've enjoyed what I've achieved so far.

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Comment posted by queensquare on Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:37 pm

 

Some very convincing and atmospheric pictures. The scenic work is particularly convincing. I shall be following this thread with interest.

Jerry

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Comment posted by sithlord75 on Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:16 am

 

Ditto to the above. I like the winter look to the layout. What are the dimensions and are there more pics please?

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Comment posted by Stuey on Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:16 am

 

Wow- really nice, what a great layout to show stock off. The sprinkling of snow is really convincing.

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Comment posted by onslaught832 on Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:26 am

 

Very nice indeed ,how did you get the super-elevation on the curve

Cheers Phill

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Comment posted by 50037 on Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:28 am

 

Hi SPAD,

Refreshingly different and looking very well executed , I'd love to see more

 

Regards, Gerry.

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Comment posted by grahame on Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:37 am

 

Fantastic. A real railway in a real landscape - the benefts of N gauge. Working CLSs and scale height trees. Well done.

 

G.

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Comment posted by Furness Flyer on Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:50 am

 

Some lovely pictures there, and very convincing - I was almost shivering looking at the first one

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Comment posted by philhendry on Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:51 am

 

Wow, that's really great. I'm almost shivering with cold just looking at the pictures. Very atmospheric.

 

Phil

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Comment posted by Heavyduty on Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:06 am

 

Very nice!

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Comment posted by Birdseyecircus on Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:36 am

 

That's lovely. It makes me feel cold looking at the pictures. Well done. Looking forward to more pictures.

 

Paul

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Comment posted by bruces on Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:44 am

 

What a great BVE route you chose for your ideas...when i first read the title i was not sure whether it was NWM or something else.

Im not sure but in NWM is that part electrified?

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Comment posted by Chris56057 on Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:10 am

 

Superb work there SPAD, the snow is different but very convincing.

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Comment posted by shanks522 on Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:45 am

 

Fantastic, I've always had a soft spot for winter/snow layouts, beautifully modeled. hope to see some more.

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Comment posted by bmthtrains on Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:47 am

 

Very nice indeed - great to see a different season - its always summer on model railways

 

David

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Comment posted by porkie1978 on Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:30 am

 

Thats amazing... I love the winter look layouts .

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Comment posted by nebnoswal on Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:19 pm

 

The snow effect looks great, great work

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??? posted on Sun Jul 12, 2009 5:12 pm

 

Hello All.

Many thanks for all your comments, they're very much appreciated

 

Thought I'd answer one or two of your questions.

 

Hi Phill, the super elevation of the track was really quite simple. I think I mentioned earlier that I used Woodland Scenics polystyrene risers. Once I was happy with the shape of the curve for the track bed, I used some small cardboard wedges to slightly raise the one side of the styrene riser. Again, once happy with the elevation (being careful not to over do it, its N gauge remember) I glued it all into place applying a small amount of weight whilst the glue set. The banks of the cuttings were then built up the usual way using thick cardboard spacers shaped with the contours of the slopes, then filled with scruched up newspaper and finally plaster cloth layed on top.

 

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158783 on 2S12 1133 Whitminster to Salford Bridge stopper. This shot shows the cant of the rails.

(68.67 KiB)

 

Hi bruces. Thanks for your comments, pleased you like it. BVE4.net NWM is such a great simulator to play. The line which branches off the Maybank mainline at Roundway Jnc, which then goes forward to Salford Bridge is non electrified. We then get the wires at Salford Bridge and then back to non electricfied line all the way to Frankley Jnc. Drive the 150 on the 1426 Maybank to Salford Bridge. Foxfield Tunnel is towards the top of the incline you hit not long after leaving Steelhouse Lane.

 

 

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158783 on the return working shown above, 2M58 12 11 Salford Bridge to Maybank.

(113.88 KiB)

Hi sithlord, glad you like. Some quick dimensions. Basic U shaped baseboards, the main scenic area measures approx 2meters in length x 85cms wide. The two 6 road fiddle yards at either end are about 1.5meters, long enough for a double Voyager set or full length HST. I think having it on a gentle curve also helps give it a larger aspect.

 

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60044 on 6M63 1950 Salford Steel empties to Maybank.

(135.97 KiB)

 

Again, thanks for all your comments.

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Comment posted by sncf_stephen on Sun Jul 12, 2009 5:20 pm

 

Congratulations on a spectacular looking layout. I think the snow really adds to the isolation of the scene.

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Comment posted by Anglian on Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:13 pm

 

I like this. Might there be some brown tones of dead vegetation in a winter landscape?

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Comment posted by pirouets on Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:59 pm

 

As you say, I think the gentle curve really helps with the overall feel of the layout, and I have to say I really like the snow dusting.

 

Your timing of posting has also helped as I am starting to look into replacing all my "bog brush trees" and the picture with the voyager is a very useful reference. How tall are the tree's used in that shot?

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Comment posted by 3chordboy on Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:02 pm

 

love the sweeping curves of this layout, a great illustration of the scale of scene you can create in N. the snow scene is a great addition too. makes this layout very memorable indeed.

 

any more photos or perhaps even videos of the scene in action???

 

Ryan

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Comment posted by Trainsrgr8 on Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:17 pm

 

Love the route on NWM and i love your layout! I have virtually thrashed the BVE 37 up that incline on NWM many a time! Love the idea of the snow aswell!

 

More pictures please!

 

Danny

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Comment posted by number6 on Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:30 pm

 

Life imitates art! Or is that art imitates art? I am no fan of the modern railway but this is superb! Well done on forging a independent path. Look forward to more.

 

Raphael

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Comment posted by onslaught832 on Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:22 pm

 

When I look at models of this quality Spad, It really does make dabbling in N or 2mm all the more tempting .

Cheers Phill

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