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Mini West Mids circular in N


bmthtrains - David
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  • 3 weeks later...

First circle of track is now down. The idea is to create a scene that has a fish-eye feel to it. I’ve designed the scene as a flat section of track and then curved everything round as if it actually is straight, but viewed through a distorted lens. How this works out remains to be seen, but the buildings aren’t going to be curved in case anyone was wondering.

 

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It’s going to be tight to fit in the three tracks I had planned; the centre throw from the Pendolino is quite significant on a 15 inch curve so I’ll put the second track in and then see how tight the third will look.

 

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It’s been nice to run the short Pendolino set around for a bit at least.

 

David 

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Thanks everyone. I’ve made good use of a few free hours this week and finished the track laying and have started painting the rails. With code 55 this is a nightmare! I can see this taking a few weeks before I’ve had the time to finish it.

 

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By positioning the track off-centre on the baseboard, I’ve left enough space at the front to allow for some scenery. At the moment I’m thinking a Network Rail compound with GSM-R mast and portakabins, and the back end of a supermarket car park. This will allow me to use the left over N gauge shopping trolleys I still have from Cross Street, and my growing collection of Oxford N gauge vehicles.

 

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After rail painting is complete, next steps are to wire it up permanently, and then start laying out the lineside ducting and OHLE and equipment bases using plasticard.

 

David 

 

Edited by bmthtrains - David
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  • 3 weeks later...

I’ve finally finished painting the rail sides (that was fun!), and have begun placing bases for the OHLE, the lineside ducting, and basic bridge supports made from styrene before I start ballasting. 

 

Progress will continue to be slow but it’s nice to have a hobby again!

 

David

 

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I have a whole day free to work on the layout today, so ballasting has commenced!

 

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I have limited funds for this project, and as I’ll need a lot of brass parts such as OHLE gantries I’ve been having a bit of an audit of my last remaining bits box. To my surprise I’ve found a fair number of trees which will help keep costs down.

 

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This afternoon I’ll be applying the scenic cement to the ballast and then hopefully start placing foamcore landscape formers. Amazing what you can do when you have more than 30 minutes free!

 

David

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A productive afternoon and the basic land formers are down and the ballast is drying. 

 

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Once I’m happy it’s all settled and in place, the next step is to weather the track with some airbrushing and then carry on with the basic landscapes - backscene, road surfaces and embankments. 

 

David 

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I’ve also started designing the buildings that will sit behind the tracks. This is going to be a business/small industrial area with one office block and some light manufacturing or warehouse buildings.

 

The first building I’m planning on making is the office block - brick with a tall overhanging roof - one of those refurbished 1980s units that is now probably a call centre or rented office space.

 

David 

 

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Edited by bmthtrains - David
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Another spare hour this evening and I’ve started to draw up a potential 3D print for an Asda delivery van. I want a couple of these in the supermarket car park that will be on the front right side, and as Oxford don’t do one, a bit of CAD and I’ve come up with this so far.

 

David 

 

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