davidprentice

Hi Am I alone in noticing a quality problem with the newest Mk3 DVT from Hornby - R4996 in Intercity Swallow? The issue I have is that the spring-equipped doors to the drivers cab are (perhaps like me?!) very fussy. You push them in and then they are a total pain to get to reseat properly, without looking like they are left ajar. It's an issue I've not had before on the doors of either HSTs, DVTs, 08s, 60s, etc. Be interested to know if others have had the DVT issue... or the same door issue on other recent stuff? Having also recently had a bad experience with a Hornby HST, I'm increasingly minded to try to resist buying any more stuff as the quality just doesn't seem to be what it was. David

Just a note to say the R3679 Network Rail HST I received had replacement body shells already fitted - but very poorly. To the extent that not all of the screws were properly seated. A warning for anyone buying these that it is definitely worth inspecting them on arrival, especially if you aren't likely to run them for a while.

Struggling to process all the comments - but have made some further amends. I've moved the loop into the top left corner, and have the fiddle yard tracks accessing the loop. I've also indicated where the entrance way to the operating well is. If I go with the ramp idea, then I will likely have these on hinges so that they can lift up out of the way, perhaps with the scenic layout on hinges too, so I'm not having to crouch down to get in/out! As others have rightly pointed out, I'll need to think about the interference re baseboard frame and point motors. Also, I'm perhaps most nervous about the 3-4 points in the top left of the board - since these are probably some of the least accessible. I'm not sure if points tend to fail fast, rather than randomly, if so, I should be ok, as don't anticipate getting on to the scenic level for some time, so would have plenty of time to see how they get on. On the lift, I'm minded to keep it in situ for now, and then perhaps make a final call on whether to actually make use of it, once I've (eventually) got started on the scenic level.

Quick update to show the ramp line running into the reversing loop. This frees up a little space and also means trains can leave the fiddle yard from either end and get onto the ramp line. Likewise, anything coming down the ramp line can either go direct to fiddle yard, or do a quick reverse. I expect I'd keep 3/4 car DMU/EMUs in the sidings on the right hand side. From here they can quickly get to the lift... or continue on to the ramp line... I figure I can probably tidy up the top left hand corner with the reversing loop.

Forgive the quick and dirty nature of the below - but it's a bit of a quick update. I've shrunk the layout, to give myself approx 50cm at one of the layout to gain access to the deepest sections of baseboard. The added advantage is that on the scenic level, I'll have an alterantive point of view, which I'm sure will add some interest for me (even if it means crawling under the boards to get there!). I've also kept the lift for the moment, but also added a ramp line, up to the scenic level. On the basis of a 2% incline, expect this will take between 1.5 and 2 laps of the layout to give me 40cm clearance. If I were to 'ditch' the lift completely, I'm trying to think what I would do differently to use the space.... though I do feel wedded to the lift (partly sunk costs... and partly the fact that it will be quicker to move a 4-car train than sending it up a ramp) but also I like the idea of having the 'upstairs' of the lift inside a loco/DMU shed, and magically having 166s, 168s, 220s, etc appear. The ramp line will be single track, but at perhaps the half way point, I may have some point work that peels off and provides a 'down' so that trains don't have to reverse down the line... and so that I don't have to have a reversing loop on the scenic level. EDIT: P.S. Would welcome thoughts on whether it's better for the ramp line to enter/exit at the reversing loop rather than where currently located... Might ease operations as would allow me to route trains direct to the fiddle yard or else to route for reversal.

@gordon s, I've contemplated this possibility. My intention is to ensure that the scenic layout "up top" is modular and removable, in order that I can gain full access to the fiddle yard and do any repairs etc as needed. I may also try to work into the trackplan every effort to keep complex trackwork to the fore in order to minimise the need to remove the top section... Will see how that goes! I'm also minded, once I've settled on the final fiddle yard track plan, to look at how I might further segment the fiddle yard boards to make them smaller and more removable... Will see how feasible that proves. The separation is approx 40cm.

Great idea @H2O - and I can't quite believe I hadn't thought of this. Since I intend to make the lift platform itself blend into the 'scenic' part of the layout 'up top', it would be a shame to not incorporate some sort of through line so that I might still be able to make good use of the fiddle yard and perhaps get trains ready to appear 'upstairs'. Will try to incorporate both your suggestions in an updated track plan shortly. @RobinofLoxley you are right about the need to get the stock lift to land neatly in place, the same place, each time it goes up and down. Coming down, so far, there seems a reasonable degree of consistency. I certainly intend to make use of some guides to help get it to the same place each time. Will figure out how to the same 'on the up' once I'm there. I'd like to use some sort of bolt and perhaps a funnel to help guide the bolts into place each time. Will have to search the ironmongery stores for something that looks fit for purpose! On the point of curves onto and off of the loco lift platform, I'll try to avoid, but according to Anyrail, the space available necessitates this for now, but will see if I can make a few modifications to avoid this - as I agree, it's adding complexity on top of already a quite complex mechanism. And would be very annoying if it didn't pan out. Will try to get an updated trackplan uploaded later.

@BR Blue, thank you, I'm struck by the "less is more" point. I have followed Everard Junction for some time and I know that when he re-did his layout, this was something he was very keen on trying to do. I'm hopeful that having a pretty big fiddle yard might help me keep a "less is more" focus on the scenic area. @Peter-C, yes, been to Oxford quite a bit too. I'm mostly using "Oxford" as an excuse to run Thames Trains/FGW/GWR/Chiltern/Virgin/Intercity/Cross Country stock. In my head, 'Oxford Junction' is a reimagined 'Oxford' and 'Oxford Parkway' - bigger and better than both (hopefully)! If I'm really lucky I'll find some backscenes with an Oxford skyline in them... I'd also like to work in some of the Goring stretch as countryside. Today's update: more bracing, more spider proofing, and got one end of the fiddle yard framework pretty much sorted. As you can see, will need to make a few tweaks to ensure the lift (at bottom) lines up perfectly with the adjoining boards. As suggested, have setup a track layout/design thread in the appropriate forum (can be found here) to figure out how to make best use of this space and decent running. Already had a few excellent points raised, i.e. having a through line for when the lift is in the raised position, and taking steps to ensure that the lift starts/stops in the perfect/correct position each time. I'm only sorry that I'm waiting for track to be delivered, or I might have (impatiently) started laying some tomorrow!

I'm posting the layout build over here (Oxford Junction - OO Gauge), but would welcome thoughts on my fiddle yard layout. The space itself is approximately 5.35m (17ft 6in) wide and 3.5m (11ft 6in) deep. The fiddle yard will be beneath the main scenic layout, and access between the "upstairs (scenic)" and "downstairs (fiddle yard)" will be via the three-track 4-car long lift, marked in grey below. This allows a total of a 12-car train (so a decent freight or HST) to be transported in one go (granted it will need to be de-coupled into max 4 car segments). I've built the lift itself and am happy with it. What I am now keen to do is make the most of the fiddle yard itself. As you can see, I've tried to ensure that I have enough storage and have a reversing loop. Welcome thoughts on how to improve running and also efficient use of the space. At each end of the fiddle yard, I've left a yard of track extending into open space. This is simply for potential future proofing, e.g. further expansion. I should add, that I'll likely build perhaps the 4 or 5 of the 10 storage lanes initially... as I'm not sure I'll need them all, at least for now, and could do with pacing myself in terms of build costs! Thanks in advance for all thoughts and suggestions!

Some more progress today, extending the baseboard frame, adding the adjustable feet to the legs, and generally making the space more spider-proof, i.e. sealing up some of the cracks and crevices where the blighters seem to lurk. I don't want to find any trains covered in cobwebs!

Hoping to make the most of the bank holiday - and off to a good start today getting some of the other framework put together so that you can see the beginnings of the fiddle yard level. The furthest board in the photo below will see (hopefully) three lines from the loco-lift turn into one (ambitious, I know), and the track will then circle around and on the left-most board the single track will expand into an approx 10 lane fiddle yard, that will loop around behind the camera. I've also got some adjustable feet that I may yet add to the legs of the board, depending on how level or not I find the whole enterprise.

Thanks @RobinofLoxley. Yes, you are right would be stacking trains. I'm increasingly of the view that the trackplans above are going to look wildly different in time. I will probably get a layout planning thread running to help with more of that side of things and keep this one focussed on the build process and progress. On which note, I've figured out how to upload a video of the inaugural loco lift rising - and falling!

Just a quick update to report that the 12V DC power supply arrived today and have connected up to the linear actuator and it worked brilliantly, transporting the inaugural train - a Bachmann Class 168 of Chiltern Railways - up and down a few times without any issues. Will figure out how to do a video on here and then post that later.

Not a huge amount more to progress, beyond getting the actuator attached and adding some bracing to the underside of the lift platform to help keep it to a good shape, and to help distribute the forcefrom the actuator. It is also becoming clear to me that the layout i have planned is quite the monster and that the development of the scenic level will undoubtedly be quite tough, as I have a layout up to 1200mm deep and at about 1100m off the ground. It basically means I'll have no choice but to build a modular/removable scenic level, so that I can do much of the work and then slot the items into place. I'm a little nervous about this, as am conscious that the tolerances on trackwork aren't enormous and so will have to think carefully about how the trackplan interfaces with the modular layout. Oh well, all fun for another day. Hoping to make some solid progress on the fiddle yard level next week.

Finally made some progress on the loco lift today - with the results below. The frame for the lift is pretty good. After cutting the timbers to the required lengths, I put it together using some metal brackets and screws to speed construction. The lift itself currently runs on two 45kg-rated ball-bearing drawer runners. The drawer runners can extend, I think about 500-600mm, but the linear actuator (not pictured below) has a maximum of 400mm, and to be honest anything above 400mm and the scenic level (the upstairs!) of the layout starts to become too high to be properly enjoyable. Next steps, include adding a bracing-frame to the lift platform as there is a little bit of warping, and then adding the linear actuator. The first train to grace the lift was my Virgin Voyager - pictured below.

Just a quick update to say that I'm hoping to now make some good progress on the loco lift - utilising the linear actuator, the guide rails, and newly arrived 12mm birch plywood. Pleased to say that at 130cm long and 15cm wide it easily accommodates a 4-car DMU. In this case I've tested with a Bachmann Class 220 Virgin Voyager. The intention is to have two tracks, but it could take three - and the upshot of that would be the ability to accommodate up to 12 cars... and therefore a full-length HST! The intention is that the lift will make use of a total of four guide rails (beautifully smooth drawer rails rated at 45kg, so very solid). One at each end and then two approximately where shown below, with the linear actuator located in the middle, providing a total rise/fall of up to 40cm. The plan will be to then have this allow me to take trains from the lower fiddle yard up to the main scenic layout, and back down. For this reason, in time the lift platform itself will be ballasted and weathered etc. I still need to source the 12V DC supply for the actuator, but there are plenty out there. Been great to finally get some of the trains out. This Bachmann hadn't been out of the box for close to a decade, so looking forward to making some progress and being able to give it a good leg stretch on something other than a rolling road once I've got a functional loop up and running. The hope is to make some real progress on the new layout, frame, and lift, this weekend. Fingers crossed!

So the last year and a bit has been quite unprecedented. Since my last post a few things have happened - and among them, my modelling space has changed, and I now have a slightly smaller, but still more than adequate space of 5.3m x 3.5m (17ft x 11ft). Following another house move, gone is the converted double garage, sadly, but I am now rejigging plans and would welcome thoughts and any tweaks anyone is able to offer on the below, which I have produced in AnyRail. The plan is for a top baseboard that consists of the scenic sections, with a two-track loco/train lift that will allow trains to move from the top scenic level down to the lower fiddle yard level. It will likely seek to emulate the general era and feel of the original layout above - 90s/2000s/to present. I've opted for Code 75 streamline rail, at least for the top level, and may utilise Code 100 streamline and/or setrack for the fiddle yard for added robustness and/or speed of build. The top level is still a work in progress, but will incorporate from the top left: a town scene atop some 'tight as i can make them' curves, and to the right will be an (abridged) mainline station scene consisting of six platforms, comprising a fast up/down, a slow up/down, and then a couple platforms to serve a small TMD yard in one direction, and that will connect with the twin-track 4-car lift and some sidings to the right. Moving clockwise around the board, will be the general approch to the station (haven't got this right yet, but want it to have four lines running in, turning into the six lines through the station. Continuing clockwise, will likely have a scenic break of some kind in the bottom right corner (tunnels perhaps?) to then open out into a countryside scene with the 4 lines running through, followed, perhaps by a scenic break in the bottom left corner, and then into a more industrial looking section with a TMD in the foreground with a headshunt. The twin-track 4-car lift is intended to be about 4ft long, with an electrically operated linear actuator coupled with some guide rails, enabling this section of track (presented on the top level as a pair of sidings ending in some buffers) to rise and fall by approx 400mm, between the scenic level and the fiddle yard. I considered building a helix but frankly can't face the idea of it - and also considered a long gradient allowing trans to move from one layer to the other, but again couldn't quite face trying to incorporate that, so in the end have settled on a four-car lift. This means that most DMUs/EMUs will be able to just drive onto it without issue (158, 159, 166, 220, etc) and that other trains (up to loco + 7 coaches) can be split in half across the two tracks and be moved in one go. Full length HSTs (8+2) or other long trains will be more of a pain, but I may just learn to moderate the length of my trains! Welcome thoughts on this approach. The fiddle yard plan is a bit further along in AnyRail, but I suspect has some significant room for improvement - not least I think I might be trying to cram in too many tracks too close together, and could probably make a more efficient use of the top left hand corner. I am basically keen for the lift to come down to this level, where the train or loco can either use a reversing loop and/or run into one of the (currently 13) storage tracks.

Thanks Iain - much appreciated.

Good to hear! Do you take any steps to moderate the hot and cold when you aren't using it?

P.s. I should add I have found this quite helpful: https://modelrailwayengineer.com/model-railway-shed-insulation-security-heat-cold/

Hi Thinking about using a large and pretty decent summer house in the garden to house my DCC layout. Putting aside security issues, is there any problem with leaving DCC kit out in temperatures and humidities of something slightly better than a garden shed? Anyone got any good tips or know of any helpful threads on this point? I tried searching but without success! I should add that the Summerhouse is double glazed and insulated, so probably more akin to a garage conversion. Hope that's helpful Thanks in advance Dave

Some pretty keen pricing from Colletts Models sees Hornby R3808 Cross Country HST at £224.99 (3 remaining currently) and Hornby R3769 Network Rail HST at £219.99 (18 remaining currently). Worth noting that the Cross Country Mk3s seem to be available for c.£27-£28 at quite a few places - see Rails, Derails, Colletts, to name a few.

Bit of a bargain, I believe, Hornby Virgin Mk3 First Open (FO) 11074 Era 9 Model Train Coach for £23.39 via: https://www.365games.co.uk/model-kits/Hornby-virgin-mk3-first-open-fo-11074-era-9-model-train

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