Bisley - 1990s EM Gauge

[dj_crisp]

I'm sure most people will have built a layout in the time it's taking me to build a bridge! Anyhow two weeks off at Christmas and it looks like;

 

 

Slowly getting there! Lots of filler has just gone in which I'm waiting for it to dry to smooth off and shape. Capping stones next which I think I'll just do out of plastikard

 

The arch took me an age and while it's not right it'll have to do!

 

 

My only other layout progress as been to put a door on the Fertilser depot - a have a long term ambition to motorise it but for now its manual.

 

 

So things are happening although at a snails pace  

 

Happy New Year!

Will

[37114]

Nice project, the fertiliser shed is looking good and would be great if you can motorise the door.

[dj_crisp]

Wow the bridge is is turning into a lengthy project!! Although it's getting close to primer stage which feels like progress.

 

 

Yep the brick arch wasn't easy! I dipped the plastikard in boiling water around an old curtain pole offcut to help form the sharper part of the arch.... the rest is simply bent.

 

I've spent the last few weeks scribing and forming plastikard for the stone caps across the entire bridge - hard to see these on my phone snaps but hopefully it'll look ok with some primer.

 

 

I also quite like this view even though it's right at the back of the layout

 

 

 

I honestly can't remember when i started this project but it has now taken up all of my modelling time since I started it!

 

 

I'm not sure it'll really hide the fiddle yard but may distract a little from it! I'm rather looking forward to some lanscape forming to see if it all works!

 

thanks for looking

Will

 

 

 

[Southwich]

Looks great that Will nice work sir!

 

Will

[dj_crisp]

A topic I'm pretty useless at is electronics and I have a failed Physics A-Level to prove it! So I always put off lighting on all my projects but I can't put it off forever as I really want to run the layout in the dark (mostly to hide my modelling  )

 

Originally I planned on using my Digikejis DR4018 unit for point control but that failed... so will now use it for lighting instead. I started it out with a 1k resistor and was quite disheartened by the ultra faint glow even on full brightness. So changed to a 470 ohm resistor and below is the result. They're all a tad brighter on my camera phone than reality - As a side note it's quite amazing what a camera phone camera can do these days as all are just handheld point and click efforts.

 

 

 

 

 

I've been on the search for Industrial drop lights but haven't found anything remotely in my price range. So I've gone for a bodge it approach by using a 1.8mm LED (this case yellow) and sticking a M2 washer on. I chopped one leg off and soldered on 0.15mm enamelled wire. The impression I'm tring to do is have one leg as the hanging bracket and the thing wire as the cable. Then painted with primer and paint to prevent light bleed upwards.  Hopefully my attempts look passable as a light.

 

The same approach was done on the signal box interior but without the need to solder super fine wire

 

 

This time I used warm white LEDs and quite like the effect;

 

 

 

I've also bought some super cheap chinese street lamps which look ok. The warm white version seems to me to be brilliant white so have painted it to tone done. The lamp itself has loads of bleed so I'm going to paint it soon.

 

Anyhow my first lockdown project is looking ok now - point rodding is the big project to learn next!

 

 

In a way I now wish I'd sited the signal box differently to face the front of the layout rather than just view the back!

 

Thanks for looking!

Will

 

 

[dj_crisp]

I've been after some floodlights for the loading area of the fertiliser depot but drew a blank. So thought I'd have a go at making a few of my own;

 

 

I made these from scrap brass off frets by filing two grooves to allow ok folds then soldering the folded piece to another scrap bit of brass. Then sipped it all and filed an angle and drilled a hole for some 0.8mm brass rod. The rod has two functions... one to attach to the depot and also I threaded two 0.15mm enameled wire through. They're overscale compared to the ones I based them off but this size is about my limit of abililites!!

 

A spray of rattle can primer and matt black later I think they almost look like old floodlights and a bit of a cruel closeup below;

 

The end one was soldered to the brass beam whereas the others were simply drilled into the walls. I carefully soldered tiny SMD LEDS to the enamalled wire to a seperate funtion on my DR4018  so I can light the floodlights seperately to the rest.

 

 

A quick snap on my phone camera gives the impression I'm after.

 

 

 

For good measure the fire exit has also had a warm white version added - I kind of like the idea of faint glow in the darkness when everything else is off;

 

 

 

I like to post on twitter too and I had some excellent feedback on the signal box that the lighting is too bright. All my reasearch night shots have boxes with full lights but a signalman told me he preferred to have a darker box at night in order to see out. Makes sense to me. Anyhow I'd thought of adding a desk light so this inspired me too so now I have a new mode of night lighting;

 

 

 

 

But still have the blind them all mode for me to look inside too :)

 

 

Thats enough playing with LEDs for a while now!

 

cheers for looking 

Will

 

[Southwich]

Superb work Will - the flood lights look superb!

 

Kind regards,

 

Will

[Departmental203]

On 07/02/2021 at 22:25, dj_crisp said:

I've been after some floodlights for the loading area of the fertiliser depot but drew a blank. So thought I'd have a go at making a few of my own;

 

 

I made these from scrap brass off frets by filing two grooves to allow ok folds then soldering the folded piece to another scrap bit of brass. Then sipped it all and filed an angle and drilled a hole for some 0.8mm brass rod. The rod has two functions... one to attach to the depot and also I threaded two 0.15mm enameled wire through. They're overscale compared to the ones I based them off but this size is about my limit of abililites!!

 

A spray of rattle can primer and matt black later I think they almost look like old floodlights and a bit of a cruel closeup below;

 

The end one was soldered to the brass beam whereas the others were simply drilled into the walls. I carefully soldered tiny SMD LEDS to the enamalled wire to a seperate funtion on my DR4018  so I can light the floodlights seperately to the rest.

 

 

A quick snap on my phone camera gives the impression I'm after.

 

 

 

For good measure the fire exit has also had a warm white version added - I kind of like the idea of faint glow in the darkness when everything else is off;

 

 

 

I like to post on twitter too and I had some excellent feedback on the signal box that the lighting is too bright. All my reasearch night shots have boxes with full lights but a signalman told me he preferred to have a darker box at night in order to see out. Makes sense to me. Anyhow I'd thought of adding a desk light so this inspired me too so now I have a new mode of night lighting;

 

 

 

 

But still have the blind them all mode for me to look inside too :)

 

 

Thats enough playing with LEDs for a while now!

 

cheers for looking 

Will

 

These lights are looking fantastic Will! Wish I had your soldering skills already!

 

Jules

[dj_crisp]

1 hour ago, Departmental203 said:

These lights are looking fantastic Will! Wish I had your soldering skills already!

 

Jules

 

Thanks Jules!

Soldering is something I'm still very much learning and am getting into. Basically I can have several attempts at getting things lined up! I used a small tip which really helps, 145 solder & carrs flux. Just tack solder then apply heat to melt it in.... a handy file afterwards helps give an illusion of a clean solder

 

I'm sure you'll be great at soldering

Cheers

Will

[dj_crisp]

I've had a bit of a push to try and finish off the fertiliser depot which is a lift out section to try and disguise the join at the front of the layout. My first wiring attempts weren't robust enough so I've replaced them with something stronger and fitted an 8 pin plug for connection. This along with the signal box have now been hooked up to the Digikejis DR4018 which has been attached to the layout.

 

Photos are just quick snaps on my phone.

 

I've never used brick papers before so thought I'd have a go using some for the base and found it rather tricky to do;

 

 

I've used as much spray matt varnish from a rattle can that I dare... and tbh it's still too shiny. Jury's out but from a distance it looks ok and possibly a little dark but this maybe my first and last use of papers. (The grey concrete base in this photo is the lift out section). No depot is complete without some pallets and these are some 3d printed versions from scale model scenery and quite nice they are too. They need a bit of cleaning up and in the end I decided to paint them; add a few different colours for variety and weather a few. 

 

 

The loaded versions are from accuracsale Irish models; which I sprayed white, painted the pallets blue and then wrapped in cling film. Hopefully this suggests a recent delivery and some recent activity.

 

But the main purpose is to hide the door opening mechanism (behind the door) and provide a bit of depth. I'm planning on including a fork lift truck inside which is just being weathered atm. weathering is something that I'd really like to improve on.

 

Anyhow as this is right at the front I've dotted the loaded and unloaded pallets around the depot  to attempt to get different view points through

 

 

I'm pleased that this has come out close to the view offered by the high quality cardboard cut out (shown earlier in the thread) 

 

 

And to provide a bit of life at the back door added a few and a broken one;

 

 

I've got a bit of work to disguise the join but I'm aiming for this area to be open so as to draw attention to whatever wagon is on the depot and but also the view back to the signal box;

 

 

I do like the night shots as the dark nicely hides all of my lack of scenery!

 

Have a great weekend all!

 

Will

 

[dj_crisp]

In between track weathering I've started to have an experiment with platform edging.

 

 

The platfom flag stones are from scale model scenery and are exactly what I was after.  The shell will be 2mm ply clad with slaters brick work and I'm going with three layers to gice some support to the paving.

 

 

 

I'm going to use the theory that if my 158 has clearance then the rest of my stock should be fine!

 

First trial run and think possibly a bit too high...?

 

 

 

Right onto researching platform ramps as I've no idea how steep they should be!

 

Will

 

 

 

 

[dj_crisp]

I've made a start on the main platform and bay

 

 

A very crude shell made up of 2mm ply. Hopefully if my 158 can get through then everything else can!

 

 

Rather than go for a simple ramp i thought I'd do a split version as at St Erth and will put in a planked crossing as well.

 

 

I probably should have main the main platform a bit shorter as I intend to squeeze in a bracket signal here. Will have a sleep on that as everything is nicely glued on!

 

Will

 

 

[dj_crisp]

A few progress shots of my projects in progress.

 

Track has had some more weathering - I probablly won't do much more apart from the fishplates which seem to keep falling off.

 

Platform edging has been fitted to the curve as close as I dare... my next platform construction will definitely be straight! I'm hoping that if my 158 and fatso Western can get through anything can!

 

 

The next view was my aim for the end of the platforms - a DMU in the branch bay with a loco hauled long distance service back to London.

 

 

And originally there was a bank to the left so I've reinstated it  giving a new view of whatever is at rest in the main platform - I quite like this view;

 

 

Might start forming some landscape soon with some modroc coverings soon.

 

And as the garage is still freezing I've started an indoor project which are some lovely timber tracks GWR station buildings. The waiting shelter is going together very nicely and I've just stopped before putting on the roof to work out lighting plans. I think I'll have one half a waiting room and the other closed stores so limit the need for many lights. Just trying to work out what type of light should go under the canopy as I'll need to get that sorted before the roof is fixed.

 

My only mod so far is corner pieces to stiffen up the canopy sides as my piece had a bit of warping. My trusty filler will be out soon for the corners of the stonework.

 

 

The hardest bit so far has been getting straight edges so used a bit of steel to guide me.

 

 

Thanks for reading!

Will

[Southwich]

Very nice work Will. The layout is looking superb! 
 

Kind regards,

 

Will

[stivesnick]

2 hours ago, dj_crisp said:

Just trying to work out what type of light should go under the canopy as I'll need to get that sorted before the roof is fixed.

 

Hi 

 

In the 1990s at lot of station lighting would have been vandalpoof flourescent lights suspended from the soffit. A typical fitting would have been say 1500mm long and around 100-130mm square section. There were some stations that were given the heritage makeover, so lights similar to the ones in the signal box or the fertilizer depot would be fine. Looking at the station building one light every two structural bays and one at the end of the building would be about right. 

 

As a general rule, the space to height ratio of most lighting schemes to get even lighting is around 1:1. For flood lights the spacing increases to 2-3:1. 

 

Nick 

 

[dj_crisp]

42 minutes ago, stivesnick said:

 

Hi 

 

In the 1990s at lot of station lighting would have been vandalpoof flourescent lights suspended from the soffit. A typical fitting would have been say 1500mm long and around 100-130mm square section. There were some stations that were given the heritage makeover, so lights similar to the ones in the signal box or the fertilizer depot would be fine. Looking at the station building one light every two structural bays and one at the end of the building would be about right. 

 

As a general rule, the space to height ratio of most lighting schemes to get even lighting is around 1:1. For flood lights the spacing increases to 2-3:1. 

 

Nick 

 

Thanks Nick

 

Interesting stuff and thanks for your help. I was thinking of a couple florescent strip lights so will have a look for some suitable ones.

 

Cheers

Will

[dj_crisp]

A nice wind down from work project that I've enjoyed so far is the signalman's crossing made from thin sleepers and some superglue;

 

 

I've left the rise in the middle for a potential point rodding run and also changed my mind on the platform ramp which has had a flat extension... will changing the brickwork next. I quite like the wood effect from the wood which seems a pity to paint. Tempted to leave as is so it looks relatively freshly installed.

 

 

Of course this shot shows that I've postioned the lamp on the bay platform right infront of the bracket signal location... I guess the lamp should be postioned behind the signal arms so debating whether to move it to the end of the ramp or closer to the full width.

 

One for another day to decide.

 

Will

 

[dj_crisp]

I've been working on the main platform over the last week or so.

 

 

The surface has been laid with 3ft1 slabs made out of card from scale model scenery which has been a bit of fun as I attempted to match the curve with them so there are a few odd shapes;

 

 

Any large gaps were filled with filler and then sanded with slab outlines re-drawn with my trusty old dart (I don't play darts so I've no idea how I've ended up owning an old dart!)

 

The first coat of primer caused a slight scare as being made from carboard there were loads of hairs probably from where I sanded it. TBH I struggled getting clean cuts so now firmly prefer plastikard! Anyhow thankfuilly they were easy to sand off and the white primer is good at showing problem areas so a few fixes later a second coat of primer was added. All looks as good as I can achieve.

 

 

 

I quite like the station throat with the signalmans crossing which is based a bit off St Erth & Liskeard. I've decided to move forward the bracket signal and moved the platform lamp closer to the ramp so as they both don't clash and the signal remains in front.

 

The rest of the platform on the "extension" will be straight after this experience

 

Happy modelling all!

Will

[50033]

Wow that looks stunning. 

[dj_crisp]

1 hour ago, 50033 said:

Wow that looks stunning. 

 

Thanks! Its the blinding white hiding my efforts

[Pugsley]

On 14/03/2021 at 16:31, dj_crisp said:

I quite like this view;

 

 

 

Yes - that was my favourite view as well.  All the better for having an NSE 50 in it!

 

I'm enjoying your updates and you're doing a cracking job!

[rob D2]

Some great modelling going on here !

 

not sure why I wasn’t following but am now 

[dj_crisp]

Thanks all for your kind comments. Keeps me going!

 

Not much new on the layout as I'm currently working on (straight!) platforms and station buildings which will one day be part of a small extension. I've also attempted a platform canopy which has warped so need to start again and redesign!

 

Still a massive learning curve for me!

[griffgriff]

Hi. Here’s my little piece of encouragement. I’ve been following this for sometime and it looks superb. I’m particularly impressed with the platform but the whole package is coming together nicely. Keep up the excellent work.

 

Griff

[dj_crisp]

Many thanks Griff.

 

46 minutes ago, griffgriff said:

Hi. Here’s my little piece of encouragement. I’ve been following this for sometime and it looks superb. I’m particularly impressed with the platform but the whole package is coming together nicely. Keep up the excellent work.

 

Griff