CazRail

Cheers Craig, Thanks for the kind comments, and for coming along to the show. Glad it's got Rhys thinking about the hobby again.

Apologies for the lack of updates, it's been a busy few weeks! The layout made it's debut in the Anglesey Model and Collections Society's annual show at Ysgol y Bont in Llangefni yesterday(13/4/24), and was very well received by the punters. (Photo: @JackB95) (Photo: @JackB95) (Photo: @JackB95) The layout ran mostly faultlessly, with only an intermittent de-railing issue on one set of points in the sidings, which is probably an adjustment issue with the point motor. Although up until recently my intention was to sell the layout on after a few shows, it's clear the layout is very much still work in progress. I will, when time and space permits, work more on the layout to bring it up to standard. Overall, I'm quite happy with the layout, and with more work I will be happier with it. The layout is available for exhibitions should anyone be interested, and will be improved before it's next potential outing. Cheers, Caz

Mine arrived this afternoon, just in time for me to have to shoot off on the school run! Had a quick look at it, and she's a beaut. Really looking forward to fire it up and get it rolling.

Still waiting on my pre-order of 001 to be despatched, looking at the photos it's a cracking model. Can't wait.

Another day, another bit of progress. Just the greenery extended towards the bridge this time. Next step is to finish laying the shed road, and once that's in, and the reminder off the ballasting/basic ground cover is down, it'll be details like fencing, signs, lights etc. After that, the more interesting scenics, like trees, bushes, static grass and water!

Ballasting on the branch is now finished, with some more green added. Plan is to finish the remainder of the electronics, including signals, put base scenics down the branch line side, fencing, signage etc, then start on the yard side. This is my first attempt at panting up a bridge, and I'm quite happy with it.

Got my invoice for 66001 today also, exciting times!

Some more progress tonight, albeit only minor, being ballast and a base layer of earth blend added to the branch line on the station. Next job is to finish the wiring underneath the boards, then it'll be time to add signals, the wagon shed and yard lighting. Then, it'll be on to fencing, signs and then the rest of the scenics. Signal wise, I'm planning to install a red/yellow 2-aspect with a right-hand feather on approach to the points(facing), a ground position light on the exit from the yard, and a red/green 2-aspect out of the platform. Thanks, Caz

Work on the layout is slowly but surely progressing, with various parts of the layout being worked on. The beginnings of the platform is now in, and the track in the platform ballasted...

The station looks fab, just needs a 1:76 Rodney on the platform.

The new light boards make a big difference to the model, looks the bizz.

Had a day of progress today, involving some points and point motors. With the 'main line' completed, today I laid two out of three points in the wagon repair yard. I installed the point motors, which took some time as the track is laid on 50mm polystyrene sheets on top of the board. I also ran the wiring, from the motors to where the switches will be. Wiring for the point motors is in blue(+) and yellow(-) to distinguish from the DCC bus, and each motor'r wire run is tied with different colour cable ties to identify which motor they relate to. There will also eventually be a 12v DC bus, which will power signals and lighting. I've also decided to call the layout 'Glanrafon' which roughly translates to 'river bank'.

The issues with the running have been well documented and discussed earlier in this thread, and Accurascale to their credit have been very open and discussed them here too.

Very nice choice. Is this part of a third run?

The bogie sides and the keeper are a single part, the only clips are either end of the bogies.

It's half term this week, to the layout takes the back seat. I will get little opportunities for progress, but will be few and far between. Today however, I managed to paint the lattice girders for the bridge, firstly a coat of grey primer, followed by Revell 9. Cheers.

To release the bogie fame/keeper, put a small screwdriver inbetween the bogie frame and the gear tower at the top of the bogies at the ends. Twist gently, but it may take a bit of wrestling.

That's the challenge at the moment, but I've got a plan to mount the motors at the operating side of the boards and use wire in tube style connection to work them.

Another productive few hours working on the layout today. First job was to build the deck for the bridge, which needed to have longitudinal baulk timbers to support the track. It's built up from a base sheet of 20thou plasticard, two 5mmx5mm lengths of balsa to form the baulks, and some planking from Slaters. Once this was complete, it was a case of fitting it to the landform, and laying the track over it. The track needed modifying aswell, with sleepers cut to go on the baulks, dropper wires soldering on, and a gap left over the board joint to accommodate some DCC Concepts copperclad sleepers. A big feature of baulk timbers are the transom beams and stretcher bars. The transoms are made from 1.5mm laserboard which I had lying about, and the stretcher bars made from brass rod. This will all be painted alongside the track. Once the track was laid, I decided to look at the landform, and started attacking it with my hot wire cutters. It's a good start to the layout, the next bit of tracklaying involves the pointwork, which needs some figuring out. Thanks, Carwyn

Some progress today! Added 50mm polystyrene to the surface today, onto which the track will be laid, from which the terrain will be cut. Then, I had a little play with the track layout, which Ive simplified. Now in the process of gluing some cork and track down using Copydex.

This week, the laser-cut boards arrived from Grainge and Hodder, so work could finally begin on the layout. All pinned together and reinforced with wood glue, the next job is to add 50mm polystyrene sheets for the landform. I will have to think about how to lay the pointwork, as they will be motorised. Behind the scenes, I've started building the shed(railway laserlines kit) and the under bridge(scratch built from styrene).

Mine arrived on Monday, which are 56018 and 56055 both with sound. Very impressed, and very happy. Absolutely worth the wait. Here's my 56018 on the petcoke PABs. Congratulations to Cavalex on producing such a great model, bring on the 60!

Enjoyed watching these videos, would love to see more videos of the layout its self, it's very impressive.

Thanks for the suggestion! Like that, a building a bit like that in Warrington Arpley perhaps 🤔

Having had a few days to mull it over, and following discussion with some friends, I've decided there are two, but not limited to, possible routes at this stage, a Flask terminal, or a Wagon Repair Depot. I've made up a few possible track plans using AnyRail, so thought I'd share some on here. Flask Terminal Each trackplan has a similar idea with the main line, which is single line up to the station. The idea being, it does carry on through a bridge, but is disused. This plan allows the train loco to run round it's train. Wagon Repair Depot These require a shunter to be used, to release the train loco as it shunts the wagons around. These are my ideas so far, but is by no means final. Thanks, Caz