RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted March 24, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 24, 2019 (edited) Some more planning of the upper (scenic) level, which itself will have two track levels. The pair of tracks running across on the diagonal are on the lower of the two scenic levels and will be in a tunnel when they cross under the upper tracks. The next stage is to continue the construction of the ramp up from the helix that will connect to the upper of the two scenic levels. Cheers Darius Edited March 24, 2019 by Darius43 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted April 6, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 6, 2019 (edited) This morning we extended the ramp from the top of the helix. It will eventually connect with the upper of the two scenic levels. The main straight run is constructed around a section of steel cable trucking that adds rigidity and will act as a sort of “powerbase”. Cheers Darius Edited April 6, 2019 by Darius43 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted April 20, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 20, 2019 (edited) Additional upper baseboard support framing installed and baseboards for the lower of the two scenic levels set loosely in place. Cheers Darius Edited April 20, 2019 by Darius43 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted May 4, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 4, 2019 A bit more carpentry completed at the helix end. Cheers Darius 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted May 27, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 27, 2019 Powerbase and track fixed down to the ramp to what will be the upper of the two scenic level tracks. We have tested a few trains up the ramp and they made it ok without needing the Powerbase but it is easier to install it now than when all is covered over. Cheers Darius 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted May 27, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 27, 2019 (edited) Planning started for the upper scenic level on the other side of the shed. Cheers Darius Edited May 27, 2019 by Darius43 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted May 27, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 27, 2019 (edited) Duplicate post Edited May 27, 2019 by Darius43 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted June 22, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 22, 2019 Work starts on the base for the lower of the two scenic levels. Cheers Darius 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted August 3, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 3, 2019 Helix connection to the upper level on one side of the shed completed today - well, the carpentry part at least. There is a 3mm step at the helix connection to allow for the cork sheet that will be laid in the straight part of the ramp. Cheers Darius 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted August 3, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 3, 2019 Loco storage roads at one end of the lower level fiddle yard wired up and running. Cheers Darius 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted August 4, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 4, 2019 (edited) First train from lower to upper level today. A full length Hornby HST also went up ok with the powered car leading. It also pushed back down the helix with no problems. It didn’t like being pushed up however. I am converting another HST set to all Kadee couplings to see if that helps. In the final layout configuration the powered cars will be leading both up and down the helix so there should be no need to push a train up the helix. Cheers Darius Edited August 4, 2019 by Darius43 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted September 7, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 7, 2019 Bit of work done on the secondary storage area. Main fiddle yard starting to see some use. Cheers Darius 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted October 26, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 26, 2019 Trackwork connection of upper level track to ramp down to lower level laid out losely to determine extent of cork layer required. The branch to the lower level is on the left in the photo above. Cork trackbed stuck down with pva and weighed down. Track laying proper starts next weekend. Cheers Darius 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy water Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 Great layout! what is the height from the floor for the fiddle yard and the main layout? I see you are adding storage space under the fiddle yard. Can never have enough! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted November 3, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 3, 2019 (edited) On 29/10/2019 at 10:40, muddy water said: Great layout! what is the height from the floor for the fiddle yard and the main layout? I see you are adding storage space under the fiddle yard. Can never have enough! The helix climbs around 600mm between the lower (storage) and upper (scenic) parts of the layout. The lower level is around 400mm above floor level. Cheers Darius Edited November 3, 2019 by Darius43 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted December 1, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2019 (edited) Some more carpentry completed this weekend. Cheers Darius Edited December 1, 2019 by Darius43 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold lezz01 Posted December 1, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2019 Hi Darius. Looking good so far mate. Do you plan to seal all that chipboard with something before you start track laying for real? Only that's an awful lot of chipboard and once you start making it damp with things like ballasting and other scenic work it may swell and distort. I would be tempted to seal it with paint or something first. Chipboard is fine for baseboards but you do need to seal it to avoid trouble down the line. Regards Lez.Z. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted December 1, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2019 2 hours ago, lezz01 said: Hi Darius. Looking good so far mate. Do you plan to seal all that chipboard with something before you start track laying for real? Only that's an awful lot of chipboard and once you start making it damp with things like ballasting and other scenic work it may swell and distort. I would be tempted to seal it with paint or something first. Chipboard is fine for baseboards but you do need to seal it to avoid trouble down the line. Regards Lez.Z. Hi Lez, We will be laying the track to be ballasted on 3mm thick cork sheet that is glued down using a coating of neat pva applied to the baseboard, which should seal the board beneath the cork. Any “non-corked” baseboard are that is to receive general ballast etc. will be pre sealed with neat pva that will be given a week to dry before ballasting. The track in the photos is just laid loose to ensure that adequate space is provided and to give an idea of the proposed track plan. Cheers Darius Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted March 15, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 15, 2020 More construction work completed today on the ramp linking the upper and lower scenic levels. Cheers Darius 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted October 4, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 4, 2020 Some track laying progress on the upper level. Track and turnouts are Peco code 75 bullhead. Cheers Darius 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted October 31, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 31, 2020 Some more track laid today - perhaps the last for a month or so... Cheers Darius 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ISW Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 Darius, That's one mighty fine layout you're planning and constructing there. Most impressive. I too went with the 'Upper Scenic' / 'Lower Storage' twin baseboard strategy, but not quite on your scale. I may be missing something, but I only see a single Helix with twin tracks. Does that mean you only have a single continuous run between the Upper / Lower levels? I did consider helices for my layout but they seemed to take up too much floor space and, so, I used a pair of Ramp tracks instead. I only have 350mm between levels unlike your 600mm. Details are in the Link in the footer. Before I burden you with any more questions, I'd better go back through your posting and have a good read. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted October 31, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 31, 2020 Hi Ian, There is a single double track helix connecting the lower storage and upper scenic levels but the helix tracks diverge just before the top as shown in the photos below. The upper scenic level has two levels itself - the left hand helix track connects to the lower scenic level and the right hand track the upper. This means that any train can go up and down the helix without reversing as the two scenic levels are also connected by the ramp you can see in the photos on my earlier post today. Cheers Darius 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted October 31, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 31, 2020 Henceforward the layout has a name - Middlemark - based on the names of the builders. Cheers Darius 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted November 6, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 6, 2020 One of two inspection pits for the layout’s diesel depot is completed ready for installation...once the current lockdown is over. Peco inspection pit sections were used, threaded onto a pair of rails (rather than the short rail lengths that Peco supply). Cheers Darius 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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