jamest

Hi all, I've ballasted the station board and made some purchases on the buildings front. But I still haven't put the two boards together to ballast the join yet - that can wait! I've been debating on the best way to do the platforms and decided to go the scalescenes way. But because I want to use resin buildings I decided to use wood as a support as opposed to the card ribs. First I made a paper pattern of the surface using a coach and a pencil: I then laid out my offcuts of 18mm thick softwood to provide support to the platform surface: Before I took them up to use the pattern to cut out the surface I numbered them to make sure they went back in the same order! I then cut the surface out of a piece of 2mm mountboard - unfortunately I could quite fit the pattern on one piece so the bay surface will have to be separate: Now the wood is screwed down and I am in the process of adding the platform surface to the mountboard. I have planned an overlap of the surface so that I can add the brick facing attached to a 1mm thick piece of card. Roket card glue is essential for this as it fixes quickly and effectively. Hopefully I will post pictures of the completed platform soon. Regards, James

Cheers gents - some good advice there. The kids might learn a few new words if I glue the boards together! Regards, James

Hi Richard, Thanks for the tip - I haven't gone right to the edge, so I could still try that. Regards, james

Hi all, Bit of time this afternoon so I decided to take advantage of the warmth of the conservatory and do some ballasting. As I mentioned in my first post I have airbrushed the track with sleeper grime and now I'm going to apply my preferred fine grey ballast. This will be toned down later with muck and oil. I've also painted the back-scene on both boards with a basic light blue sky colour. I plan to have a signal box against the back-scene at the station end of this board and a engine shed in the siding. Along the back scene I plan to run an embankment with bushes, static grass and the odd tree. I've ordered the Bachmann Scenecraft 'Blue Anchor' waiting room and signal box. I also purchased a corrugated GWR style goods shed and a cattle dock at my local shop yesterday. So the buildings will be mostly 'ready to plant' but I hope to give them tweaks to make them more worn and individual. Here is the ballasting drying nicely in the sun: Cheers, James

Hi Richard, This looks really interesting - the pictures above start to give me an idea of the viewing concept. I will watch with interest. Regards, James

Not at this stage - lets see how we go! The scenic sections are two boards 48" long by 18" wide giving me 8 feet of scenic board. The fiddle yard is basic at the moment and is 40" ish long. Thanks for looking Regards, James

Hi all, My son and I have embarked on a new layout. I started with an idea of a 48"x18" yard scene and then decided I need a run of track to show off my new steam locos! Some of my efforts in the planning stage can be found here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/75783-branch-line-terminusgoods-yard-advice/ The last plan is not quite what I have laid out as I have decided to do away with the industry on the second board and move the loco shed to this position. So I have ended up with a scenic section double the original size with a three foot fiddle yard. The scenic section is split into two boards, both 48"x18" which have been recycled from my previous attempts at Barnstaple Junction. There is some compromise on the platform length, but with operational interest in mind. When the layout was a yard with four points they were all to be electrofrog - as a learning curve for my wiring skills and a step forward in slow running quality. But when the layout expanded I chose to utilise two insulfrog points from the spares box. The track will be code 100 as I have a lot of that around me left over from various projects and when it is ballasted and painted I think it can look pretty good. Perhaps the next step will be finer scale track on the next layout as I seem to have used my stock of code 100 up for now! The back scene will be low so that one board will store under my sons bed - and it will be better to operate from behind and still be able to see the trains. My exhibition layout Braybridge (if it can be called that after one exhibition!) has a nicely blending high back-scene but this is not as friendly in the home environment. The layout will be based in the late crest era so we can run steam and green diesels. I'm not as worried about location for now but I have purchased a GWR themed loco shed. So here are the first pictures with the track pinned and kadee magnets in place - I've also placed a few buildings around to show my ideas for each siding but its only temporary - the goods shed in particular doesn't really look the part. Station board: Scenic board (loco shed in siding): And both together: On the scenic board I have some room behind to store locos - which will be served by the rotary table in the fiddle yard. I hope to get two lines in there: I have a basic control panel (stud and probe) and the connections have been made between boards electrically: So far we have a black Bachmann 4MT, a green 3MT and a pannier tank. I already have a two tone green class 25 and 47. Since the photos were taken I have blown over the track with some sleeper grime ready for ballasting. Regards, James

Hi Andy, Been following this with interest for a while and, as usual, like it a lot. I guess when you are talking decent money for each point you have to plan carefully! There is a lot of operational interest for only three actual points - the fiddle yard arrangement seems a crutial factor in keeping down the number of scenic points. Regards, James

Hi Richard, Have a great Christmas and a happy new year. Cheers, James

Hi Ray, Have a great Christmas and new year. Cheers, James

Hi Ray, Nice to meet you and Darren today (I was the tall one!). Yard Shunter definitely looks better in the flesh! Good luck with the new 08! All the best, James

Hi Richard, Good to catch up with you and meet Matloughe today. Orchard Road was looking as good as ever! Regards, James

Hi Ray, Really looking forward to seeing this in the flesh on Sunday. I've admired it on here for some time. Cheers, James

Hi Richard, Some nice weathering on your wagons - bit of inspiration for me! I also like the little details you have added to your layout - Are you nearly there now? or do you think you'll continually add and remove little details? I'll have to educate my kids better - they bought me chocolates, and when I got home from Cricket last night I only had three left! I will be coming down to Exeter next sunday so I will stop by for a chat. All the best, James

Hi Andrew, Some really great advice on here - many thanks. I've commented on some of your (many) layouts I've seen on here over the last few years (Glen Roy is a real favourite) and I can't believe I never noticed Kingsmill in your E-signiture. I admired that in a magazine I bought (and still own somewhere) some time ago. Small world!! All the best, James

Hi Andy, Excellent work - the track looks so much better for a bit of grass. What do you use? Hanging basket liner? Regards, James

Hi Richard, Really fantastic progress aided by some nice photography too. I like the 'half relief' trees. Can I ask how you produce the ground covering in the siding area? - it really looks great (sort of textured paint - but better) and I'd like to try to replicate something like this on my siding. Cheers, James

Hi, Welcome to the forum. Your plans look pretty good to me - but I'm not an expert on planning! I do live about 6 miles from Barnstaple though - but there's not much railway related stuff at victoria road to photograph now - one building remains (as far as I can see). Its a good step to post on here as I'm sure there are lots of people who can help with prototype information. I've decided to attempt a version of Barnstaple junction around my garage. I don't have as much room as you - but if I did I'd never finish it! I'll watch with interest. Cheers, James

Hi Andy, A definate improvement with the trees - and very well produced. It certainly helps to be able to paint like that. I'm not sure I could produce anything like that, actually I am sure - I couldn't! As said above - the N gauge backscene is a good tip. Cheers, James

Hi, I think the backscene looks the business! Also good advice on the 'sit back for a few days and leave it'. I wish I'd done that a few times!! Cheers, James

Thanks guys - sorry for the delay in thanking you, I've been away for a few weeks. Regards, James

Hi, Very impressive start - the trackwork looks fantastic. I am interested in Barnstaple junction too - you mention books above - could you please recommend some titles? Regards, James

Hi Andrew, I'm a big fan of your layouts - you may remember me commenting on your Glen Roy thread hinting I would like to 'use' (copy!) some of your ideas. Now I've watched this layout progress I can't decide which one to use for inspiration! I too want to have a end to end smallish plank to play on. Can I ask a question on operation (as a numpty when it comes to the real railway!) When you mention the freight runs around in platform one - do you mean that the freight enters on the outside line (nearest the front), stops under-ish the girder bridge, detaches and pulls into platform 1, runs back into the three-way point and along the other line into the fiddle yard, and then pulls back up on the other side via your sector plate? Keep up the fantastic work - and please visit an exhibition near the South West, if you get the offer! One thing we do share is the constant 'up-dating' of our plans - you do seem to have a knack of making it work though. All the best, James

Hi, Complements on a really lovely layout. I'm not an 'expert' but I have trawled various forums looking for inspiration and ideas, and your layout would make anyones favourite list. It must be a real joy to see the trains flow in and out of the beautifully created landscapes and cameos. Thanks very much for sharing it. This is the real beauty of forums - it enables someone in North Devon to share in the enjoyment of your layout too! I'm very jealous of the space and rolling stock collection you have. Its going to take me a few years to build a collection anything like that up - but then I suppose it was the same for you! Cheers, James

Here Here that looks great. I love the scalescenes stuff too - But having built some smaller stuff I can only imagine how long it took you to make that warehouse! The roof over the station looks really good too - its the first time I've seen it on a layout in 'real life' - impressive. I bet you went through a few ink cartridges! (I print them off in work - much cheaper!) Keep up the good work and pictures! Cheers, James