Thesmudge Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 (edited) Hello all, just over a year ago I moved into my new house, this meant I had to dismantle the original Badger's Cross layout. However, the move and new house has allowed me to have a bigger space for the next layout Badger's Cross 2, the layout is situated in the back of my garage which is easy to get to compared to the old layout in a loft (which was either very hot or very cold and difficult to move around the beams). The new house has required a lot of renovation which took up most of my time up last year. The garage too needed are large amount of work doing to it, I divided the space into three rooms, train room, machine shop and double garage. This started last year as was work was squeezed in around house jobs. Whilst the house was being renovated the garage became a dumping ground for lots of 'stuff'. I first had to move fixed benches and work tops that the previous owner had installed out of the train room area. Once out of the way I started to add in the dividing walls. The bench I moved from the train room was then added to wall in the machine shop area. Edited July 28, 2017 by Thesmudge 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesmudge Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 (edited) Once the stud wall was completed I added wiring to it, I then plaster board and painted it white. The train room was now an empty space which I could now start to set about adding in base boards (all reclaimed wood, the base material is old exterior ply wood 18mm thick and very solid). In the machine shop end I have a useful work bench for all kinds of projects. I even added in an extraction unit for spray painting, I was given the old cooker hood and fed the exhaust out of the roof. Music sorted for those long days and evenings spent tinkering. The other end of the shop has a mill, lathe, band facer and pillar drill. Edited August 31, 2015 by Thesmudge 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesmudge Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 (edited) The layout room base boards were completed for the lower level, the plan is to have two levels accessed by two helix's. The trains and rolling stock will be left out on the lower level fiddle yard, this will keep them out of the way from damage (and means it's easier to work on the scenics) and hopefully dust free. I have made a number of different plans for the layout, the design is still very much fluid and will change again once I start to lay the track. One thing that has already changed from the designs is that the helix's now are wider and therefore fit differently to the designs. The reason being I wanted to run third and fourth radius curves, there is room for second radius on them if I feel the need to add them in the future. Edited August 31, 2015 by Thesmudge 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesmudge Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 (edited) With the lower level design fixed I started laying track. The helix's are made from 9mm MDF and all of the levels were cut then drilled at the same time so that they match up. I am using M8 threaded bar for the supports, this allows very accurate adjustment to each level. The helix is very sturdy once completed. I am soldering a copper bridge between the track joins on the helix to ensure continuity throughout its life. Edited August 31, 2015 by Thesmudge 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesmudge Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 This last post now brings the thread up to the present day. This weekend my brother and I did some more work on the layout and this was the first time we have had any real trains running. He brought down a few to carry out some testing, at the same time I started to build helix number two. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesmudge Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 I spent a few hours on the layout today, added a couple more levels to the helix and more boards to the top level. I ran out of track and nuts so I will wait for more to arrive in the post. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Andy7 Posted August 31, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 31, 2015 Great work brother. Second helix not far off completion. Cannot wait until full loop testing can happen. Will book in the next weekend with you soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted August 31, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 31, 2015 (edited) Just found this via Andy's repainting thread Apologies for the well-worn phrase. "Will be following this with interest........." Cheers, Mick Edited August 31, 2015 by newbryford 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitbull1845 Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 (edited) What an impressive project, with this layout and the quality stock to go with it. I'm with Mick, I too am FWI.... Edited August 31, 2015 by pitbull1845 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack374 Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 ^^^ Ditto to both previous posts, looks like a fantastic layout in the making with top notch stock to run on it. Looking forward to seeing this develop, Jack. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus 37 Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 That Helix is certainly an impressive bit of workmanship. I too will be following along with interest. Cheers Marcus 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Brown Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 I also found this thru Andys thread and will be following. Looks like it's gonna be a cracking build. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Wil follow this now.. cheers neil. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold fishytrains Posted September 3, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 3, 2015 Glad to see you are back up and running. Mike 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongRail Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 If your last layout was anything to by this should be some layout. Like the nice solid baseboards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesmudge Posted September 4, 2015 Author Share Posted September 4, 2015 Thank you all for the very positive and warm comments. We plan for the layout to better Badgers Cross the original, it will be a larger layout with greater scenic areas that we plan to add greater detail to over the coming years. Tonight I manged a few hours straight after work with a beer in hand to help, the new track and screws arrived this week. I added the turn to the helix, screwed down boarding around helix and then started to lay the three tracks which will form the station. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium njee20 Posted September 4, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 4, 2015 Layout looks good, and good to see the Rocky Mountain and the Stumpy hardtail! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesmudge Posted September 4, 2015 Author Share Posted September 4, 2015 Layout looks good, and good to see the Rocky Mountain and the Stumpy hardtail! Good spot! I love my bikes, plenty of trails and riding around here. What's your stead? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted September 4, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 4, 2015 For me. Trek EX8 - mostly Gisburn Forest.................. Cheers, Mick 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegleg90 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Nice work on the 2 Helixes, what radius' are you using for them? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesmudge Posted September 4, 2015 Author Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) Nice work on the 2 Helixes, what radius' are you using for them? The two radius curves used are 3rd and 4th. There is space to run a third rail of 2nd radius. The board size is 4x4 (1220mmx1220mm) and the track just fits this board size. Edited September 4, 2015 by Thesmudge 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesmudge Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 (edited) I have worked hard on the layout this weekend and have acheived a lot. The structure for the base boards is finished and a few pieces of board have been laid. Before I can lay the rest of the base boards I need to first install all of the surface mount point motors on the lower level fiddle yard and secondly install a removable panel on the lower level infront of the door to make access to the room easier. This I can foresee being a time consuming and slow process, I plan to take my time to do it right, therefore during this time I plan to install a slim line track loop over the majority of the layout so that I can start to run trains and test the track and start work on a few areas of the scenics. Edited September 6, 2015 by Thesmudge 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Andy7 Posted September 6, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 6, 2015 (edited) Awesome progress, really can't wait to have a play now. As you always say do it right, and only do it the once. Week Thursday till play day! Edited September 7, 2015 by Andy7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 More impressive build work!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrighty Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Cannot wait to see this develop, loved the old layout i'm sure this will be even bigger and better! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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