Radstock - Midford Tramway at Wellow

[Tim V]

Motor now OK. And here is a mockup of what all this nonsense is about. As you can see, a lot of gubbins is actually out of sight!

 

In this position the tramway train can move onto the top of the diesel.

And here the diesel can move round the back of the layout, under the scenery to the other end where a similar hand operated traverser will get the train ready to go round again.

 

[Tim V]

Spent today building the second board.

[Tim V]

I couldn't wait to see the result, very nice.

Now to sort out the other corner, and paint the boards. I've chosen a neutral grey for the outside, and just white primer for the sky on the inside. Bit of blue along the bottom from a rattle can will probably do it.

[Tim V]

Annoyed to discover that Plumber's Hemp is no longer stocked by Wickes/B&Q, but had a brainwave, went to my garage workshop and found a bag of hemp, unused (!) and a yard of PECO track!

[Tim V]

Filled in the second (scenic) corner, and preparatory to painting, put filler into any cracks that were appearing. Now drying out.

[Tim V]

First coat of paint on the boards, may need a second on the backscenes.

 

Of course, there are some who may say "get on with laying the track", but this preparatory work is essential to do. The baseboards have to last the life of the layout. Skimping at this stage results in extra work later on.

[Tim V]

Progress, the traverser has been bolted down in its final position.

 

[Captain Kernow]

I see you've done your corners, Tim, and they look good, but presumably you can't now remove the backscene, in order to work on anything from that side of the board?

[Tim V]

No, but I don't see that as a problem.

 

Any detailing only counts on the front - it is a cameo layout after all!

[Tim V]

Moved the first board up from my garage workshop to my upstairs workshop.

Trying to get the scenic profiles with CAD (cardboard aided design).

 

 

[Tim V]

Beginning to look OK.

[Tim V]

Busy today completing the wiring up.

Extra switch put in, the power to this side of the board runs through this switch, so the run-around train can only enter the board if the traverser is over. By putting a diode on the end of the line, slows the run round train down. Plus a buffer stop for positioning.

Built the track on the upper level of the traverser, plus a short piece for it to butt up to.

Tunnel mouth in place.

And the traverser at the back ready to run round to the other end.

 

[Tim V]

The second baseboard has been worked on ready for track installation for the run-around track. Plus I've been making more L shaped rails for the plateway.

[Tim V]

I have been building the other return traverser, as you can see, I've made it have a round edge - advantage of having a band saw and a router.

This is the top - note the holes cut our to let the track through - tall hole for the run-around track.

Underneath, I had a bit of fun making those curved braces.

 

[Gordon A]

Making good progress.

Are you going to take up furniture making?

 

Gordon A

[Tim V]

I had a great uncle who was a master cabinet maker, there are a couple of his pieces around the house ...

[Tim V]

Today, been pressing on with the traverser at the near end. I put a wall up round the board, tidies things up, plus a place to put cups/sandwiches/working timetable (!)

tomorrow's job is to complete the track onto the traverser, hope it's cooler in the workshop, 30C when I abandoned it ...

[Tim V]

Today I've been glueing down the remaining PECO track.

i have been modelling in P4 for over 40 years, so my choice of OO stock for testing is limited, those are Hornby Dublo wagons, they must be over 50 years old!

 

[Tim V]

Progress today, a lot of cutting of plywood for the track bases and the scenic profiles.

The intention is to build the track on the workbench, so these bases will be removable.

A trial fit.

You can see the profile of the canal in this picture. Towpath with tramway running along it, on right. Note how the profile of the land carries on through the towpath - the land was there first.

 

[Stubby47]

You can just tell this is going to be a very good layout.

[south_tyne]

Enjoying following this one Tim. The baseboards look superb - would you recommend them? Having had a look at Tim Horn's website they also look like excellent value for money. It is bizarre that we are normally willing to invest so much in stock but not on the foundation upon which our layout is based! Looks superb though.

 

Fascinating prototype too. The Old Maps website is a good resource for OS maps over the years. I use this am awful lot in my professional life at work and it is a fantastic resource for 1:2500 historic maps: https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/

 

Cheers,

David

[Tim V]

The baseboards were worth the money, but were a lot heavier than I was expecting. Would I use them again? Yes without hesitation. Plus the life of the layout is determined by the effort you put into the baseboards. Good, stable, torsionally stiff, I think they will definately outlast this layout!

 

I use the Know Your Place website for old mapping as well as old maps http://www.kypwest.org.uk/explore-the-map/ as it covers non OS mapping as well.

 

Edited for second paragraph

Edited July 14, 2018 by Tim V

[Tim V]

Some more profiles have been cut.

Some recycled scrap buildings are in the farm outbuilding area.

[Tim V]

For a change, decided to review the church. It has deteriorated in storage, so some repairs are needed. Plus it needs a different roof - looks like a lead, not slate roof. 

[Tim V]

One thing that has been worrying me was the creation of curves on the plateway, but a thought struck me, make cuts with a piercing saw in the rail foot, then bend the rails. Keeping the longer lengths that are easier to use.

 

 

The track is being built on the workbench.