Scarside - 009 the easy way

[Nile]

When attached to the layout the new fiddle yard blocks access to the socket on the end used for point control.

 

To solve this problem I made a plug and socket feed through arrangement, allowing the control box to connect via it. The red & black wires to the right are the track feed and will be wired to their own socket.

 

The pins of the plug can just be seen poking out on the left. The metal bracket is a means of attaching it to the layout. Not very elegant but it should be secure.

[Nile]

The movement of the sector plate is limited by two blocks of wood that act as end-stops. When up against one of these one of the tracks is aligned with the exit track. I've wired up the tracks on the sector plate through two micro-switches so that only the track aligned with the exit track is powered. At the far end are some foam pads in case of run-away trains.

 

I selected the micro-switches from ones with a low spring force, so they don't push against the sector plate. There is just enough friction to hold it in place, but not too much to inhibit its movement when needed.

 

A photo showing what's going on underneath. To the right is the feed through lead, with the new socket for the control panel at bottom right. In the middle is a piece of strip-board to which various wired are soldered, routing power to the tracks via the micro-switches. Left and top are the hinges for the flaps which support the fiddle yard when in use. More on these later. Still to be added is an input for the track power.

[Nile]

The track power input socket is a 3.5mm mono jack socket mounted on a bracket made from leftover bits of plastic. The switch alongside is a polarity changer.

 

This was glued to the inside near the other socket, and wired to the strip-board.

 

That's all the wiring done.

[Nile]

Back to the layout itself and I decided to do something about the backscene and its missing bit at the right end. While I had it removed I stuck some black paper to the back of the church so that you can't see the sky through its windows.

 

For the missing sky I used some from one of the two remaining sheets. My first attempt didn't look right, the blue didn't quite match, this is my second attempt. It still isn't perfect.

 

Something that has been bugging me for a while is the factory building at the other end. I didn't like the gap between the roof and backscene, so I've done something about it. Various bits of Slater's plastikard supported by card stuck to the underside of the original roof. This was the scene part way through construction, improvised jigs holding things in place while the glue sets.

[Nile]

After much jigging and gluing this was the result. It's a bit flimsy at the right end, clearance issues prevent a more solid support. The tallest loco only just fits.

 

No more gap.

 

Painting was a process of using various colours and washes until I got the old and new parts to match.

[Nile]

I recently took the opportunity to set the layout up on the only large smooth flat surface in the house, the kitchen floor, to check things actually line up and work. The layout sits on top of its storage/transport box, with the fiddle yard attached to the end.

 

The view around the back. There is plenty of storage room under the layout. The L bracket is added in the middle for extra support.

[Guest]

Beautiful and really well designed, perfect!

 

- Alex

[Nile]

With the layout siting on its box the fiddle yard also needs to be elevated to match it. I originally thought of using some legs to do it, but I wanted to enclose the space under it for stock storage. So I came up with the idea of two folding flaps that when locked together both support the board and enclose the space under it.

This is what it looks like with both flaps folded flat underneath. Some small magnets are holding the big flap in place.

 

Lifting the big flap reveals the smaller one beneath.

 

The small one is lifted and located into a slot in the bigger one. Some more magnets hold the together.

 

Assembly in seconds, no messing with screws, bolts etc.

[Nile]

My original plan for the lighting unit was for it to be supported by legs at each end of the layout. The fiddle yard is now in the way at one end, putting the leg behind it would move the lighting unit too far back, and I didn't want to extend it. The new plan is to attach the leg at this end to the layout, with the screw passing through the bracket. Some strips of wood have been glued to the backscene to keep the leg vertical.

 

The other leg has had to be extended so that the top is at the same height, its 'foot' will sit on the table top. When this photo was taken the only source of light was from the lighting unit.

[Nile]

One issue I identified during the test above was that anyone sat behind the layout would have the lights shiny into their eyes. Not entirely desirable. To prevent this I've added a strip of wood to the back of the lighting unit. This shouldn't prevent any light from reaching the layout.

 

With that sorted I've finally gotten round to putting the name on the front of it.

 

In case you haven't noticed Scarside will be appearing at ExpoNG at the end of the month.

 

Edited October 19, 2018 by Nile

[Nile]

With the basic infrastructure done I'm now concentrating on adding some finer details. I've added a fence between the goods shed and sheep dock. The posts are old code 75 bullhead rail with holes drilled into them for some E Z line.

 

Looking over the fence into the coal yard I've made a start there.

More on that later.

To the left the interior of the goods shed was looking a bit bare. I started with a crane, made from bits of microstrip.

 

Then added some crates, barrels and sacks.

With the number of wagons passing through here that man (another ex-Airfix figure) is going to be very busy.

Edited October 13, 2018 by Nile

[Nile]

With the goods shed back on its foundations this is the view from the end opening, aided by the ring light on the camera. I might add a light in there later.

 

Over in the coal yard things have moved on a bit. A man is standing by ready to unload some coal.

 

Before that can happen some coal needs to arrive in a wagon. To that end I've made some removable coal loads from insulation foam. After cutting and shaping them to fit I glued a staple in the top.

 

The top was then painted black, covered with PVA and then inserted into the wagon. Cling film between the wagon and load keeps them from sticking together. The coal is then sprinkled on top and left to dry.

 

Some time later I had four coal loads, these ones fit the Peco L&B wagons.

 

The staple in it means it can be lifted out with the aid of a magnet, or two Greenwich magnets in this case.

 

The coal man has lots to do now.

[Corbs]

Looks great as always, but what's really nice is seeing it come to life, so to speak.

[Nile]

The sheep are coming. Some of them are already here, the rest are on their way, in no particular hurry. The shepherd guides them into the pen with the help of his dog. Don't ask for the origin of these figures, they all came together in a bag but are mix of whitemetal and plastic.

 

Eventually some wagons arrive for them.

How to get them into the wagons? A bit difficult as their feet are firmly glued to the deck.

The answer is removable sheep loads.

 

These are Peco (Merit) plastic sheep glued to a clear base, with some thin PVA run between them to bind them together. I later applied some matt varnish to remove any shininess.

 

The sheep are now loaded, apart from those too busy at the trough. They can catch the next train. Those in the wagons may look thinner than those in the dock, but that's because they've been squished together. That's my excuse anyway. First class travel this isn't, just as well they haven't got too far to go.

[Nile]

Went to the Chelmsford show on Saturday and then to John Dutfield's shop. Managed to pick up some more details to add to the layout.

The station platform is now looking quite busy.

[Pokemonprime]

Really a beautifully detailed layout, I'm certainly taking notes on how to build my planned OO9 layout. I especially like the Code 75 rail used for fence posts, I wouldn't have realized they were rail unless I was told. 

[DLT]

Lovely work Neil, a beauty.

Dave.

[Nile]

A few more details added. Bins and bicycles have been appearing around town, like these next to the tea shop.

 

The station building's origin as a cricket pavilion means it is somewhat lacking in the heating department. No chimney of any sort. That just won't do here, it can get jolly cold in Scarrdale in winter. I've made a smoke stack for a stove from bits of brass tube, glued together into a T.

 

Apart from some vehicles that will be added on the day that will do for now.

[Nile]

Scarside has made it back safely from ExpoNG, still a few things to put back into the right places but I'm taking it easy today. This was the scene during a quiet moment.

Lots of people had nice things to say about it, thank you if you were one of those. I didn't spend that much time operating as I had lots of volunteers willing to help. This resulted in some interesting shunting methods. The dead frogs caused a few stalls, the trick is to avoid stopping on them.

Meanwhile I've already started building one of my purchases, a new train for the quarrymen.

[railroadbill]

Excellent layout, just come across this thread. Lots of well explained techniques as well, particularly fixing buildings on pins and using magnets. Peco photo backscene and code 75 rail for fencing, wiring and using servos for point operation, anyway there's a lot here!  Hope it will be possible to see this at an exhibition somewhere. 

Very encouraging for a start in 009...

[Nile]

The new quarrymen's train has arrived, no.3 has stopped next to the water crane to top up its tanks.

 

The train is then pushed back into the loop so it can be run-round. With the two brake vans it only just fits, but this saves a lot of extra shunting.

 

Having run-round it the loco pushes the train back a bit so that the coaches are next to the platform.

 

The driver looks down the line while he waits for the signal from the signalman. The new brake van is behind the loco.

[chuffinghell]

I'm a man of few words.........fantastic!

[James37501]

I'm a man of few words.........fantastic!

 

I echo that comment, what a lovely and completely believable layout - love the scenic work, and the fact that you've reminded me of my childhood with the appearance of two narrow gauge characters!

Looking forward to more lovely photographs of this one!

 

Thanks,

 

James

[Nile]

Season's Greeting from Scarside.

 

As it's Boxing day there are no public trains. Just like the big railway they are taking the opportunity to do some maintenance. The new PW train is seen arriving.

 

One of the few things I've been doing since Expo-NG is adding some details to what was a rather bare patch at the front. Various items from GEM and Coopercraft, plus some other bits and bobs.

 

At the front some wood is being sawn. It took me a while to work out how to make a scale saw, the inspiration came in the form of a jam tart. The aluminium foil tray it came in was just right for the blade, the handle is some thin card cut to shape and painted a woody colour.

[Lu4472ke]

Season's Greeting from Scarside.

 

As it's Boxing day there are no public trains. Just like the big railway they are taking the opportunity to do some maintenance. The new PW train is seen arriving.

184.JPG

 

One of the few things I've been doing since Expo-NG is adding some details to what was a rather bare patch at the front. Various items from GEM and Coopercraft, plus some other bits and bobs.

185.JPG

 

At the front some wood is being sawn. It took me a while to work out how to make a scale saw, the inspiration came in the form of a jam tart. The aluminium foil tray it came in was just right for the blade, the handle is some thin card cut to shape and painted a woody colour.

186.JPG

 

That looks great Nile

Edited December 26, 2018 by Lu4472ke