37114 Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 More progress today, I managed to make the legs for the layout today, I only had just enough timber and I still need to fit the casters to the bottom of the layout but for obvious reasons I can't buy these at the moment. I just managed to squeeze the layout in front of the Land Rover so made it a little easier to work on. I gave the back scenes the first coat of paint (B&Q colours "Oxygen ") before any of the scenery starts to go in. Also visible is the start of the track bed for the upper level. The useable bit of track is just long enough for an 08 and a brake van, there will be an access opening into the fiddle yard, and a small low relief platform will go in at the back. I have made a start on making the bridge and arches which are from LCUT. Some of the clearances are a bit tight but not noticeable from the normal viewing angle. 16 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gilbert Posted March 28, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 28, 2020 Its amazing how much gets done under the current circumstances - great stuff Rob - I'll update Penmaenbach in the next few days. The LCUT stuff is great but corners get damaged ( at least when I do it) - worth giving it a coat of lacquer or varnish before you do to much. Cheers Chris 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 4 minutes ago, Gilbert said: Its amazing how much gets done under the current circumstances - great stuff Rob - I'll update Penmaenbach in the next few days. The LCUT stuff is great but corners get damaged ( at least when I do it) - worth giving it a coat of lacquer or varnish before you do to much. Cheers Chris Indeed Chris. Our plans for both weekends have changed somewhat and I am not one to sit around and relax. Re th LCUT bits I know what you mean, I am having to cut a few bits to make the bridge and the bricks on the cut line are very fragile, I have had a couple bricks peel off so will need to disguise that. Once I painted the office the corners they seem much stronger so will get some paint on quickly I think. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted March 28, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 28, 2020 Looking good Rob - amazing what a difference the fascia panels can make to the composition 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 6, 2020 Author Share Posted April 6, 2020 Another milestone this weekend, the track for the lower level is laid. One advantage of such a small layout is many of the jobs such as track laying can be completed in a couple of hours and I continue to benefit from experience of having built the layout before but in a smaller scale with things like a wiring diagram and track plan being already complete. I have yet to get the proper layout lights so illumination is via the garage lights and my modelling spotlight, I have put the work in progress arches in place (these still require weathering and can't be fixed into place until some more wiring is done.) as I needed to check some clearances. I will be open that in places the clearances are not as big as they should be but I have been careful that this shouldn't be obvious to the viewer or affect the operation. A case in point is the upper level where the parapet is closer than it should be to the track but because the viewing angle is so controlled it is not possible to tell. A platform has been made and the plan is to put part of the parcel conveyor from Temple Meads in the corner to hide the 90 degree corner. Also in view is a work in progress Skip which is painted up in the colours of the Bristol skip company "Hemmings" whose skips and lorries were a common site in Bristol throughout the 70's to 90's. One of their skips has appeared in my last 3 layouts (they supplied the industrial waste bins for the Malago Vale carriage sidings waste wagons) and I found pictures of Habgoods scrap yard near Avon street with one of their skips in so it was an obvious candidate to model. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Alfresco modelling today, trying to get the brick arches to look right. Also had a go at some graffiti for the first time, as Peasevern yard is in the south of the city the graffiti is for Bristol city rather than Rovers. 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Today's other activity is building the Bristol Temple meads Parcel conveyor. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 37114 Posted April 13, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 13, 2020 Another milestone, the layout is wired and has been tested. I am sticking with DC for the moment although DCC is an option in the future. I am using a gauge master 100MO controller, as I am aware Heljan locos draw a heavy current even though on a small layout it is unlikely to exceed a standard controller it wasn't worth skimping. A lot of time was spent wheel cleaning, as there was stray paint from the weathering process and the wheels also had the original chemical blackening on. The 2 Heljan 03s were the first to be done. I have to say while they are not bad runners the class 03s are not the best and this was shown up when I tried the Dapol 08 which is much more controllable and seemed easier to drive. The 03s seemed much more difficult to get a consistent slow speed and in particular obtain a smooth stop took practice. It is fair to say I have very high expectations when it comes to slow running so hopefully as they run in and the track is cleaned a bit better they will improve. To properly play with the layout, I need to build and fit the fiddle yard but I can't do this in the space in the garage as I can only shunt some of the sidings but it was still fun to.get trains moving. 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold mudmagnet Posted April 13, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 13, 2020 Great progress Rob. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Adrian Stevenson Posted April 13, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 13, 2020 Hi Rob, all looking good. I would really consider the DCC option for the future. It makes a big difference to slow speed running I have found. I have still to buy an class 03, but will once finances allow.... Cheers, Ade. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 14, 2020 Author Share Posted April 14, 2020 8 hours ago, Adrian Stevenson said: Hi Rob, all looking good. I would really consider the DCC option for the future. It makes a big difference to slow speed running I have found. I have still to buy an class 03, but will once finances allow.... Cheers, Ade. Thanks Ade. It is on the list to look at DCC particularly after the rave reviews the Paul Chetter 08 sound gets. I believe DCC operates in the same way as a feedback controller and have had great results with them in 4mm so am tempted to try a spare one with the 03s to see if it makes a difference. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.C.M Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 Hi Rob, Looking good, It's always good to get the trains running, hope the 03s improve. The brake van looks good too. Cheers Peter. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 14, 2020 Author Share Posted April 14, 2020 7 hours ago, P.C.M said: Hi Rob, Looking good, It's always good to get the trains running, hope the 03s improve. The brake van looks good too. Cheers Peter. Thanks Peter, the brake van has scrubbed up well and was glad I got it in the end, it goes well with the 08 and Dapol Bauxite ones seem rarer than Hens teeth at the moment... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 37114 Posted April 17, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 17, 2020 Another milestone, I managed to get the back scene artwork on tonight. This was already on file from Peafore Yard so should have been a straight reprint albeit 175% bigger bit it wasn't as straightforward as I would have liked. The MK1s scaled up well but the buildings were pixelated. I had to revert to finding the original pictures and redoing the cutting out and stitching together as the back scene is 2 pictures side by side. The arches are still not permanently fixed as I need to finish the upper level platform and ballast Another arch has just arrived so I can finish arches then. I couldn't resist this shot with the 08 and CAR. The carriages add to the depth of the layout and I am really pleased how it turned out. 15 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Adrian Stevenson Posted April 17, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 17, 2020 The printed backscenes with the MK I's is a really good trick. Cheers, Ade. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 17, 2020 Author Share Posted April 17, 2020 16 minutes ago, Adrian Stevenson said: The printed backscenes with the MK I's is a really good trick. Cheers, Ade. Thanks Ade, I was lucky to find a good photo of a MK1 square on and in the right colour scheme. It worked well in 4mm so was glad it scaled up ok. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railfreight1998 Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 The backscene looks brilliant. Had to look carefully the parcels conveyor in the last photo to see where the model actually began. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Regularity Posted April 18, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2020 Are you tempted to mount the bodies onto a slightly convex surface, matching the Mk 1 coach profile? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 18, 2020 Author Share Posted April 18, 2020 2 hours ago, Regularity said: Are you tempted to mount the bodies onto a slightly convex surface, matching the Mk 1 coach profile? Hi, I didn't think of that to be honest, it is very tight on space between the retaining wall and the lower track. On the 4mm version I did a 3D backscene as I had a dummy class 47 and some Bachmann MK1s secured permanently to the track. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Regularity Posted April 18, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2020 2 hours ago, 37114 said: Hi, I didn't think of that to be honest, it is very tight on space between the retaining wall and the lower track. On the 4mm version I did a 3D backscene as I had a dummy class 47 and some Bachmann MK1s secured permanently to the track. Doesn’t have to be the full thing, just a slight curve so that they catch the light. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 21, 2020 Author Share Posted April 21, 2020 A bit of a diversion from layout building this week, I got given a Slaters 13t High sided open wagon for my birthday, which will be a match truck for 03121, pictures on the web showed it often paired with one in my chosen 1977 modelling period. This was my first Slaters kit and it has been a joy to build, the box contents being slightly intimidating until you realise that you don't need half of it! 10 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold mudmagnet Posted April 21, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 21, 2020 I've made a couple of Slaters kits and have another couple on the go at the moment. Very detailed kits and enjoyable builds. Certainly look great when completed. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 21, 2020 Author Share Posted April 21, 2020 4 minutes ago, mudmagnet said: I've made a couple of Slaters kits and have another couple on the go at the moment. Very detailed kits and enjoyable builds. Certainly look great when completed. I have got a feeling that it could become addictive building them! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold mudmagnet Posted April 21, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 21, 2020 12 minutes ago, 37114 said: I have got a feeling that it could become addictive building them! Yes, although the RTR wagons from Dapol etc are very good, much more satisfying building a kit. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 7 hours ago, mudmagnet said: Yes, although the RTR wagons from Dapol etc are very good, much more satisfying building a kit. It is, I have a Dapol 5 plank Hybar on it's way and I have a few vanwides to get but then I am sorted wagon wise. I found an old Model Rail the other night where they were building an MMP MK1 brass coach kit, that looks a whole different challenge but could be fun! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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