Scarside - 009 the easy way

[Turnham Green]

Hi, first post. I'd just like to say how much I've enjoyed reading about your super layout. I'm about to build a 009 layout myself (first layout since I was about 12). I will definitely be following your modelling tips very closely as that looks lovely and very close to what I've envisaged. I like all the scratchbuilt elements too, like the cattle dock, (my driveway is a former cattle dock lane with the platform at the end of my garden).

[DLT]

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.

Another option would be to add a chimney breast at each end of the building, like at Llanfair:

 

 

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

Lovely detailing Nile (and I love the saw) but take care not to overdo it.  You don't have to fill every bare patch, it can make the whole scene look too "busy".

 

The whole layout looks great, is there much more you are planning to do?

 

All the best, Dave.

[Nile]

Thanks Dave, yes I don't think I can add much more detail without things looking too cluttered. So maybe a few things here and there if I find something interesting. I might add some lighting if I can find my LEDs, and I'm looking at improving the points.

[Charlie009]

Super work, Neil. I’ve seen quite a lot about how “rtr will ruin 009”, but Scarrside shows exactly how you can use rtr and ready-to-plant buildings to superb effect. Looking forward to seeing more.

 

Charlie Insley

[Richie Kynaston]

Absolutely stunning layout Neil.  Love the detail that you have included.

[Nile]

Hello again. Not much has been happening at Scarside as the layout is basically complete. But there is always room for small improvements and one I've been working on is the goods shed. It has a detailed interior, but as seen below it can hardly be seen in normal lighting conditions.

 

So I've made a lighting strip using some O scale PCB timber strip and 3 tiny LEDs.

 

The copper cladding was cut down the middle to create two long strips of copper. This close up shows one of the surface mount LEDs soldered across the strips, and the current limiting resistor at the end.

 

Temporarily fitted into the shed.

 

This was the result. I had to adjust the exposure as the camera was making it look much brighter inside that it actually was. The lighting is fairly subdued, just enough to show the detail.

[Nile]

Having proved the concept I set about a more permanent installation. The lighting strip was glued inside the roof, the wires replaced with thinner more flexible ones that were painted grey after fixing in place. The connector came from the bits box.

 

This is what it looks like powered up.

 

This socket was glued into a newly made hole in the baseboard first.

 

Then the plug was inserted into it, and glued to the inside of the shed. It's fairly well hidden from normal viewing positions.

 

These were wired into spare pins on the main connector, with an input socket added to the underside of the fiddle yard board. I also added a socket to the control box, so I could test the lights without the fiddle yard fitted. This battery pack is enough to power them.

[Nile]

I'll start this post with some old photos taken at Expo-NG last year.

Because the lighting unit is longer than the layout (by 4 inches), this left a gap at the right end between the support base and the lighting support leg.

At Expo-NG I filled this gap with some pink foam (bottom right in the photo below) to protect the leg from being knocked.

 

I've now made a more permanent solution to this problem, a piece of wood that links the leg to the support base. This is the view from the rear.

 

This is the piece on its own. It works despite the wonky screws, due to hand drilled holes.

 

I've also made something to go on the layout itself, a Langley kit of a Tumbrel.

 

All this work is because Scarside has two outings booked for this year:

 

18th May - SWING , Littlehampton

 

23rd June - Beds & Bucks 009 open day , Barton le Clay Village Hall

Edited April 6, 2019 by Nile
update

[Nile]

What's going on here? Mayday ritual in Scarrdale? Punishment for fare dodging?

 

After a coat of primer they are ready to become a bit more colourful.

 

All will become clear soon, hopefully before Saturday.

[AlfaZagato]

Hopefully not clear.  Clear people would be very disturbing.

[Nile]

Fear not, these figures are now anything but clear.

 

So what's this all about then, I hope you are asking. Amongst the coaches I could run on Scarside are some open sided Glyn Valley types, but without passengers they look odd. So I had a look around and found buried in a drawer a Springside station detailing kit that happens to have 8 seated passengers, just right for one of these coaches. Here they are having taken their seats.

[Nile]

Roof now glued on it's ready to enter service tomorrow at SWING.

[Martync]

Very much enjoyed seeing Scarrside at SWING yesterday.  So much detail packed into such a small area.  Very inspiring...…..

 

Martyn

[happyChappy]

On ‎16‎/‎05‎/‎2019 at 23:00, Nile said:

 

 

Hi Nile, I've just noticed your open carriage has knuckle couplers fitted. Are these Dapol couplings? How do you find they perform compared to the standard 009 couplings and how have you fitted them to your locos without NEM pockets?

[Nile]

Thanks Martyn, that seemed to be a common comment during the day.

A new loco paid us a visit yesterday, which prompted this family photo. The visitor is on the left.

[happyChappy]

3 minutes ago, Nile said:

Thanks Martyn, that seemed to be a common comment during the day.

A new loco paid us a visit yesterday, which prompted this family photo. The visitor is on the left.

Regarding the 'new visitor' - it's the first time I've seen an actual photo of 'Rusty' in the flesh. I don't suppose you managed to get a closer look at it as a potential chassis donor for  other diesel locos? If you managed to give it a run how was it? HC

[Nile]

1 minute ago, happyChappy said:

Hi Nile, I've just noticed your open carriage has knuckle couplers fitted. Are these Dapol couplings? How do you find they perform compared to the standard 009 couplings and how have you fitted them to your locos without NEM pockets?

The knuckle couplers are the older fixed type from Dapol, the short ones. I'm only using them within the rake of coaches to achieve close coupling, I have Greenwich couplings on the end coaches. I've fitted them upside down as they fit better, must be a quirk of the Peco NEM socket.

I was going to replace them with the Peco 'hook & loop' close couplings, as fitted to their slate wagons, but they caused problems with the brake pipes I've added to these coaches. They would be ok without the pipes.

[Nile]

HC

I found Rusty to be a bit lively with my PWM controller, compared to my Minitrains locos. It was fine on a friend's layout with an ordinary DC controller, with smooth slow running.

See PM for more details.

[happyChappy]

21 minutes ago, Nile said:

The knuckle couplers are the older fixed type from Dapol, the short ones. I'm only using them within the rake of coaches to achieve close coupling, I have Greenwich couplings on the end coaches. I've fitted them upside down as they fit better, must be a quirk of the Peco NEM socket.

I was going to replace them with the Peco 'hook & loop' close couplings, as fitted to their slate wagons, but they caused problems with the brake pipes I've added to these coaches. They would be ok without the pipes.

Ok, so now I understand, thanks. The thought of butchering the buffer beams of my Minitrains locos to fit NEM sockets is a step too far for me so standard couplings must remain. For close couplings I've managed to get away with the Peco 'hook & loop' couplings but I only run goods stock.

[Nile]

Another batch of passengers being made ready to populate the other open coach. I got these from Dart castings at Railex.

[Nile]

All aboard!

This now gives me two distinct passenger trains of four wheel coaches. I can also run one bogie coach plus brakevan for further variety.

[Nile]

With another outing approaching this Sunday I've been making a few additions to the rolling stock. The bay platform siding doesn't get much use, so I've made a couple of vans that can be attached to passenger trains and then be shunted into this siding.

On the left is a Minitrains box van body on a Colin Ashby chassis. On the right is a Dundas VoR brake van that has been shortened by removing the ducket end section. As these work in passenger trains they are fully braked using parts from Ashby chassis kits. The end pipes came from Peco wagons.

 

Either van can the attached to rear of a train to Scarside.

 

It can then be shunted into the siding during the run-round process.

 

It can then be left there, to be collected later.

 

And the other one.

 

Attached to the next passenegr train.

This puts the coaches out of alignment with the platform, so it may be better to attach it to the other end.

Edited June 21, 2019 by Nile

[AlfaZagato]

Attractive little vans.   I especially like the vertical planking on the VoR.

[Nile]

Had a good day out with the layout yesterday at Barton Le Clay. A nice surprise was being presented with this-

[happyChappy]

Fully deserved, Nile. I would imagine whichever exhibition you attend Scarside will always be a very strong contender for 'Best Layout' award. I just love your attention to detail and the overall atmosphere you've created.HC