Robatron86 Posted January 30, 2021 Author Share Posted January 30, 2021 No work on the layout lately, just taking pretty pictures! 15 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted February 6, 2021 Author Share Posted February 6, 2021 I have finally moved past the mental block I've had with the actual overpass construction and I can now move at a good pace. I was going to use some thick packaging cardboard for the base, but it would inevitably get easily damaged, become warped, would need excessive bracing etc. I decided to use my favourite layout building medium, MDF. I've attached pine dowel supports that fit inside the cardboard tubes I've used for the concrete support pylons. On the top side, which will be hidden, the overpass is attached to the two side backscenes with angled L brackets. Next on the list is the intermediate support beams and the sides of the highway. 12 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 The sides of the highway have been cut from foam board and attached. I've made a more permanent attachment solution out of four brackets I found. The layout will eventually have a top made from MDF to hide the top of the highway. The sides and edges of the highway are to be covered in thick paper to hide the transition from the wood to the foam board and then painted. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wollastonblue Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 Can I just ask what you used for the ground covering? I'm looking for a similar kind of thing for my N scale layout but with some tufts of overgrown grass thrown in. Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted March 17, 2021 Author Share Posted March 17, 2021 On 12/03/2021 at 13:56, wollastonblue said: Can I just ask what you used for the ground covering? I'm looking for a similar kind of thing for my N scale layout but with some tufts of overgrown grass thrown in. Cheers Which part of the ground cover are you referring to? The concrete sections were done with Woodland Scenics modelling sheets, 1/16th thick I think. The rest was done with fine modelling sand for use with military and wargaming. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 I decided I wasn't at all happy with the foam board sides and beams on the overpass, so these have been replaced with pine strip wood. I've also begun wiring up the power lines. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted April 4, 2021 Author Share Posted April 4, 2021 I just couldn't leave the overpass alone! I thought the support beams looked a little lacking, so I added two more beams, one on either side of the original 4 beams, and added smaller supports at intervals. 9 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold simon b Posted April 4, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 4, 2021 Looks much better, I love the way the overpass frames the view of the layout. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickBrad Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 I love that you always seem to bring a different idea to the table, or at least execute it in a way I've not seen before. Tilley Yard was the snowy winter scene and now we have freight operations in the shadow of a highway. The nod to GTA made me smile too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted April 13, 2021 Author Share Posted April 13, 2021 19 hours ago, NickBrad said: I love that you always seem to bring a different idea to the table, or at least execute it in a way I've not seen before. Tilley Yard was the snowy winter scene and now we have freight operations in the shadow of a highway. The nod to GTA made me smile too Thanks Nick. I hope I haven't inspired you to build another American layout I like to just try the numerous different ideas I have in my head. You won't find out if it'll work unless you just give it a go. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickBrad Posted April 18, 2021 Share Posted April 18, 2021 I need to finish building the old one before i can think of any new ones. I cannot believe that it was 2018 that I last posted on it. Not much has happened since then, but who knows, an update may spring up real soon. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 You can't let us have all the fun Nick. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted April 25, 2021 Author Share Posted April 25, 2021 The final part of the layout puzzle has begun it's testing phase: lighting. These are photos of the led lighting strips laid flat across the top. There are sitting on strips of greaseproof paper acting as diffusers. The angle of them may be changed to increase the shadows under the overpass. 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted May 1, 2021 Author Share Posted May 1, 2021 Following the recent purchase of a printer for work, I've been using it for non work purposes... Period correct signage on the liquor store, pavement and some parking lot lines. The old newspapers by the dumpster are period Los Angeles front pages. All of these courtesy of Google images and a resizing app on my phone. Looks like he couldn't wait to get home to drink his Bud! 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted May 4, 2021 Author Share Posted May 4, 2021 I had the layout out yesterday, properly set up with everything wired up (the layout doesn't have a permanent home, it lives on its end in the dining room when not in use) and it was an absolute delight to have everything work straight away. No sticking point motors, no dead spots, locomotives running well, lighting looking good. Obviously I had to take pictures, but this one is the best. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted May 5, 2021 Author Share Posted May 5, 2021 Oh lord, I've gone down the rabbit hole of adding period correct California license plates to my vehicles.... The Dodge has an Illinois plate instead, I wonder why? 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickBrad Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 There's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark out, and we're wearing sunglasses. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted May 6, 2021 Share Posted May 6, 2021 And the road surface looks fantastic too. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 16 minutes ago, 298 said: And the road surface looks fantastic too. Scalescenes! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 11 hours ago, NickBrad said: There's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark out, and we're wearing sunglasses. On a mission from God. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted September 7, 2022 Author Share Posted September 7, 2022 Long time no post! I've been away from here for a while, but Underpass has been finished, completed its first exhibition at the GlobalRail show put on by the German Railway Society, was featured in the September edition of Continental Modeller and is due at the Seaboard Southern Exhibition on the the 17th of this month and at the Uckfield Exhibition in October. Busy, busy busy! 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted September 7, 2022 Author Share Posted September 7, 2022 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted April 5, 2023 Author Share Posted April 5, 2023 Hello all, Underpass is due at the Lymington Model Railway Exhibition this weekend! https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/event/y2023/25018-LymingtonCommunityAssociation_Exhibition 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted April 8, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 8, 2023 On 05/04/2023 at 20:17, Robatron86 said: Hello all, Underpass is due at the Lymington Model Railway Exhibition this weekend! https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/event/y2023/25018-LymingtonCommunityAssociation_Exhibition Well I did try and turn up today but parking was predictably not possible on a sunny bank holiday Saturday in Lymington, so I'll have another go tomorrow! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Keith Addenbrooke Posted August 14, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 14, 2023 Just seen something very familiar on the Pilentum YouTube channel - the layout comes across very well. Well done @Robatron86. Keith. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now