DavidMcKenzie Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 After being inspired by and a number of layout threads here I thought it was time to add my own and not just follow in the back ground. I have been inspired by a number of layouts , Law Junction, Smithdown Road Junction, Horseley Fields, Dallam Sidings and the Euston project to name just a few, but I could go on. I don’t expect to emulate any of these amazing layouts, but they have all give a lot of inspiration. This layout will be my first attempt at a model railway for 15 years, so there could be plenty of this . College, uni, constantly moving flats, travelling the world and getting by on little money never really lent itself to model railways. When you consider my first attempts were mainly as a kid building a bit extra onto Graham Farish Starter sets you can definitely consider my skill level as ‘Newbie’. I am hoping this thread will persuade other ‘Newbies’ that you can have a lot of fun and create something half decent by getting stuck in. Onto the layout itself. I am a big WCML fan, as a kid I used to spend hours with my Grandad at Tring station watching trains and chatting away in the mid90s. The era I was most interested in modelling was the mid-late 90s. The end of BR and into privatization. It lends itself to so many interesting liveries and train combinations . In the end I have chosen the period 1995-1998, but I am also happy to stretch it a bit either way if something interesting comes up later, the main goal for me is to have fun. N gauge was an obvious choice with an old collection of N gauge as a starting point, plus a limit on space. As for what or where to model I began by looking at a number of real locations, but I just don’t have space to do any of them justice at home, so I made the ‘wish list’ for a fantasy layout below: · Station · Branch line (the WCML has branches of one kind or another coming off it at a lot of locations) · Loco Depot – doesn’t need to be big, but something to add interest · Part of the depot should allow shunting · There should be a section that allows trains to run at speed and not look out of place A sketch of the result is below. I have only shown the sections that will be visible in the sketch. It will consist of A 4 track mainline with the fast lines in red and the slow in green. Then a depot in blue and a branch in yellow. I have chosen a ‘U’ shaped layout to allow a town scene on one side and countryside on the other. The space I have is 3m80 by 2m80. So there you have it, Maid’s Morton, emulating the WCML in the mid – late 90s. Work has been underway already for almost 2 months now, over the next few days I will upload some pictures of progress so far. Dave 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted October 13, 2017 Author Share Posted October 13, 2017 After making a hell of a mess the baseboard was mostly finished and before the wife could changed her mind the corner of our cellar is now the beginnings of a railway . The raised section for the branch still needs finishing but I want to get the tunnel mouths and access to any out of sight derailed trains sorted first and then gauge the height of the elevation to suit. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted October 13, 2017 Author Share Posted October 13, 2017 Before laying any track I put a few of the depot buildings roughly in position to get a feel for the space available. A few slight tweeks, but generally everything should fit as planned and I was happy that there is some interest without being over crowded, but time will tell if I am still saying that in a few months time....... . 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted October 13, 2017 Author Share Posted October 13, 2017 Onto the track laying and 3 and half of the 4 main loops are down before running out of track. There is also track down in the depot, but it is not finished. I have run out of track now and need to get a new order together before carrying on, but plenty down to start weathering and testing playing 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted October 13, 2017 Author Share Posted October 13, 2017 For the track I have given it a first paint before laying and then a final weathering once it is laid. I am pretty happy with how it has come out. The picture below is the basic Peco track out the box, the first stage of painting in the middle and then the final weathering in the background. Still plenty to think about in terms of how I go about hiding the fact the points are with wooden sleepers. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyboy Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 (edited) This looks like it's going to be a good layout and will follow this project with interest! Sam (A fellow N Gauger) Edited October 13, 2017 by sammyboy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted October 13, 2017 Author Share Posted October 13, 2017 Aside from the layout itself I made a start on two 90s. The basic farish class 90 model has a bit of a 'toy' feel about it in my opinion and with the class 90 being a favourite of mine I thought it would be a good place to start on modelling some trains, should be easy to improve on and give me something to do other than cutting wood. what could possibly go wrong ...... The basic models before starting After fitting the airdam on the body, adding some hoses and a panto + a bit of weathering to everything under the body shell the result was ok and possible even for someone like me with a very basic skill set. There is still a bit to do, the body's both need a light weathering as a next step. But I was happy with this as a start and felt like it was an improvement. 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic9014 Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Aside from the layout itself I made a start on two 90s. The basic farish class 90 model has a bit of a 'toy' feel about it in my opinion and with the class 90 being a favourite of mine I thought it would be a good place to start on modelling some trains, should be easy to improve on and give me something to do other than cutting wood. what could possibly go wrong ...... The basic models before starting IMG-20170308-WA0027.jpg IMG-20170308-WA0028.jpg After fitting the airdam on the body, adding some hoses and a panto + a bit of weathering to everything under the body shell the result was ok and possible even for someone like me with a very basic skill set. There is still a bit to do, the body's both need a light weathering as a next step. But I was happy with this as a start and felt like it was an improvement. profile.png IMG_20170407_201808.jpg IMG_20170407_205406.jpg Love that last shot. Really gives the impression of the train at speed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 Yesterday evening the layout got it's first running session. There is still a long way to go, but it was a nice step to see some movement. I was a little worried because wiring is not my strong point, but everything worked out ok on that front. The main thing I noticed as a problem to fix was that the baseboard is not 100% flat and a running train really shows any slight wobble . There are two places where I think I will put in another cross beam under the board to try and keep everything flat. The other thing I would really like to fix before going further that showed up when running trains was that the step between flat track and canted curved track is probably not long enough. It is not a disaster and does not lead to any running issues, but it could be a slower transition to give it a more realistic feel. The video below is just a taste to show there is movement. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 The other thing that had some work over the weekend was the OHLE. The kits are from Nbrass and they are my first attempt at brass modelling. They were a time consuming to build, but they are possible to build with no experience and the results are starting to look really good. I found the smaller details easier to add on with super glue than solder, but once I had worked that out they were fun to build. They need a final finishing session and then painting, but I am already impressed with the look. It wouldn't feel like the WCML without them. There are a few to add around the points, but the picture below gives a rough idea of how they will be laid out. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 Last picture from the weekend. Penny Black heading north on the slow line with a mail train. I need to think about lighting at some point to get some light shinning onto the front of the loco's here for future photos. The lights coming from above and behind which doesn't make for the best pictures. Regards Dave 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scruff Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 Hi David, Excellent work so far, I'll be following your thread from now on.. You are modelling the period directly following what I model (82-92) so I'm probably going to be cribbing some of your ideas! Cheers Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted October 27, 2017 Author Share Posted October 27, 2017 There was a bit more progress on the layout last night. I started looking at retaining walls and tunnel mouths around the depot. I have downloaded a scalescenes kit which I made a very quick test section built with my young niece. This section won't make it onto the layout, it was rather rushed and nothing is square and true. But even this tiny test section built with nothing more than a kids pritstick and a pair of kids scissors started to look good, I was especially impressed with the 3D feel that came with a card kit. I had always thought of card models as very flat and not having any dept which is just not true. So I think I will use this kit and brickwork for the depot walls. I am also a bit of a greeny at heart and the idea of being able to turn all the old cardboard into something is nice. The walls were then roughed out with some old card and a few yard buildings were added to get a feel for how it will all look at the end. One thing I noticed that will cause a problem is that although the tunnel mouths are big enough for normal stock, a pantograph will never fit through so I will need to raise the tunnel mouths. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted October 27, 2017 Author Share Posted October 27, 2017 On the loco front both the class 90s shown earlier had a bit more weathering, especially on the roof and around the pantographs. I was even beginning to think they were close to finished before taking photos..... . There is still a horrible split line on the buffers which needs removing and the glass on the RFD model is not sitting correctly. The photos really seem to pick out the issues. But they are very close to finished now. A 47 is also underway. The base model looks far too clean so I have started with some inks and powders on the body side to get rid of the clean look and get some vertical weathering marks. The front coupling is removed and some hoses have been added. The next steps will be that the roof needs to be darked and then the spray gun need to come out to weather everything under the body. Based model Progress so far Regards Dave 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Hi David, Looks like you have great space for the layout, will enjoy watching this develop! Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted November 20, 2017 Author Share Posted November 20, 2017 Great that you are following Graham, especially as your Smithdown Road Junction has been one of the layouts the motivated me to pull my finger out and get started. I am very lucky to have a nice space for the layout. I I think it will allow me to run trains of about 2/3 length and still having space in fiddle yards as well as not having the loco going into a tunnel one end before the last wagons are coming out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted November 20, 2017 Author Share Posted November 20, 2017 As for progress on the layout, after an extended test play I think the curves in red just look too tight without really needing to be tight. There is plenty of space to have a much softer and nicer curve so the track was taken up and relaid. I know it is a tiny detail, but the second attempt feels better. I don't look at it anymore and think it looks out of place. 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted November 20, 2017 Author Share Posted November 20, 2017 On the stock front weathering a rake of 10 100T oil wagons is well under way. They are starting to look ok, but by accident I came across a very nice feature on one wagon. With the paint thinned just a bit too much I sprayed the airgun empty after the last paint was used and it made these lovely weathering marks that look as if the weathering has happened whilst the train was actually moving. They might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I was pleased with how it has turned out. The best accident I have had a in a while Sorry for the mobile phone pictures, at some point I must get a camera sorted. But for now hopefully they give an idea. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted November 20, 2017 Author Share Posted November 20, 2017 There is also some steady progress on the tunnel mouths and retaining walls behind the yard. The scalescenes kits have been adapted a bit which has been very easy. The results are starting to look OK but I have a lot of wall still left to build before the fun of weathering and blending them into the layout can begin. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted December 1, 2017 Author Share Posted December 1, 2017 There was some progress at the yard end of the layout. The retaining walls are up. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted December 1, 2017 Author Share Posted December 1, 2017 Once the walls were in the baseboard that will hold the branchline was next. It was much easier to judge how high to make it with the wall height fixed. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted December 1, 2017 Author Share Posted December 1, 2017 Then a bit of work on the yard itself with the hardstanding roughed out. I put the buildings roughly back in place and I would value some opinions on the train wash. Is it too much? I almost feel like it's just in the way and not adding much. I also don't know how realistic it is having it on a dead end line. What do you think? A few with and without pictures to help. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted December 1, 2017 Author Share Posted December 1, 2017 A few last pictures from today. Regards Dave 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Hi Dave, Fantastic project! Not sure how I missed this one but consider it followed from now on. Looking forward to seeing it develop and love the class 90’s by the way! Any other AC electrics joining the fleet? Best regards, Jeremy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
porkie Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 Hi dave, What a cracking layout you have in the making. Being a WCML modeler of this time frame. I will be happily following the progress of this thread. Keep up the good work fella Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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