Day 1 the decision is taken to build a new layout
Entry posted by Midland Lad
395 views
Hello All,
Welcome to the first post in this a new blog by a new blog author, who is commencing on his first serious layout...... Scared we all should be.
Before I get underway with this I think it is fair if some background to the forthcoming shenanigans is given as follows. I have been more than active in the hobby for over the last two decades even though I am only in my late thirties, having begun in N gauge, but in the last 4 years moved to 00 gauge as my 'quest' for more detail has developed. Three years ago I joined East Beds Model Railway Society, and have really enjoyed the friendships, discussions, exhibitions with both of the current club layouts (Sutton and Cheriton Bishop) as well as the construction of the new club layout. I have also been quietly amassing 00 models for several future projects, don't we all.....
I have had a hankering to build my own layout for years now, again don't we all, and have a pile of 'finalised' designs ready to go for Cambrian, S&D and LTS layouts, well I'm nothing if not spreading a broad brush in my interests. Sadly though I am yet to posses that air craft hanger of a model room and instead have to make do with a one bed maisonette. Along with all of this I have also purchased two small shunting layouts off of e-bay, Carters Dock and Tontine Street (and its stock) both were exhibition and magazine featured layouts, with the aim of refurbishing them mainly with the removal of the cardboard buildings and the replacement with something nicer..... I decided to make a start on Carters Dock scenically, whilst upgrading, servicing and re-coupling Tontine Street's stock for use on Carters Dock. Things were coming along nicely on Carters Dock, and I had decided to go with Skytrex's range of industrial 'flats' to cover over the back scenes of Carters Dock as well as replacing the 3d buildings. Test flats were purchased last year and early this year and then hacked about at the club to ascertain how neatly they would cut (thank you Bern). All was good, and I set about saving my pennies to be able to place a bulk order late last month from Skytrex........ I happened to mention a few weeks ago that I was ready to purchase said buildings at the club when Mr Crispy Bacon of this parish piped up from in-hailing soldering fumes and noted that only a few days ago Skytrex was noted as going into administration on this forum........ I'm still waiting for the liquidation sale.........
So a tad disheartened and with the rain steadily falling today heralding the end of the summer, I was rooting through my modelling cupboard and stock trying to motivate some inspiration...... (and no Crispy I was not inspired to assemble those red panda wagon kits for the clubs layout if you are reading this) my eyes fell firstly on the 1'x4' modular baseboard purchased by my girlfriend as a Christmas present last year (yes you did read that right and no I didn't ask her for it, she really did spot I wanted this for future layouts.........). My plans for this board had always revolved around a compact terminus for the LTS obviously by adding a few more boards for station throat and fiddle yard. My eyes then fell on a peco code 100 three way point sitting on the modelling desk (used for setting up Kadees) and by chance sitting by it was the pretty jinty in weathered SDJR livery I had purchased off of e-bay in a flight of fantasy a while back. All of this distilled in my usually empty noggin for a few mins and then my brain answered inglenook sidings.
If any of you are not aware of inglenook sidings then do a quick web search. It is a two point, three tracks shunting puzzle which on a temporary basis have really enjoyed before, and even used on the clubs Sutton exhibition layout in its yards during an exhibition....... For those of you aware of inglenook sidings then you maybe groaning, but the way I see it is as follows, it is achievable, will fit into the place I live now, will be sorted by the end of this winter if I put my mind to it and will fit onto that 1'x4' rather nicely. So now to the twist, it will give a home to the solitary SDJR loco liveried loco in my stud, while forcing me to get building and modding some wagons (albeit of pre grouping) in practice for those kits Mr Bacon if you are reading, and can also act as a full scenery test bed for myself using the skills I am learning at the club.
The deal was sealed when I found four lengths of code 100 peco flexi track in the back of the cupboard which I had previously used for testing before Carters Dock and Tontine Street came along. So this blog will be the story of one modellers first foray into building a layout for himself, but to a standard which will be presentable at exhibitions and comparable to EBMRS layouts, actually that is a big ask trust me! Especially using code 100 peco track...... EBMRS use C&L fine scale and hand made paintwork to 00 standards.
Well if you have read this far thank you, and as a small reward please enjoy the two photos, one of the extent of the board and track before laying and the second of the pretty weathered 3F tank which is the inspiration behind the S&D theme.
Regards
Midland Lad
-
2
2 Comments
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now