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Ainsley CMD - A small central materials depot in 2mm


37058
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Hi all 

 

This is my current WIP exhibition layout - Ainsley CMD. 

 

Ainsley CMD depicts a small central materials depot somewhere in the midlands. The CMD sends out large amounts of scrap materials by rail to private scrap merchants. Incoming materials included track panels, worksite materials and general lineside scrap. The track panels were broken down and the materials graded for re-use or disposal. Scrap concrete sleepers were sold off privately to local farmers and construction firms for use as roadways. Wooden sleepers were sold to dealers and farmers for re-use. Rail and fixings were graded for re-use on the network or disposed of for scrap. The scrap materials are loaded / unloaded using either large gantry crane which spans 2 tracks or the small 7 ton Coles mobile yard crane. The CMD also operates a 100 ton weighbridge. Wagons are trip worked into the yard from the nearby reception sidings after midweek or weekend engineering possessions with either the resident class 08 shunter or what ever loco is available at the time. This normally being a class 31 or 37 from the DCE pool. 

 

Scrap materials included; 

Rail off-cuts (from inches to several feet)
Flat bottom rail
Bullhead Rail
Conductor Rail
Cropped CWR
Switch Blades
Magnesium Crossings
Bolts
Fishplates
Base Plates
Chairs
Pandrol Clips
Blocks

 

Open wagons used are ZDA Squid (ex
OAA), ZDA Bass (ex OBA), OCA, and ZAA Pike
(ex SPA). Bogie bolsters used were YAA Brill (ex
BDA) and YLA Mullet (ex BRA). All transferred
to the Engineers Department. Various runner
wagons were used for the overhanging rail loads.

 

Layout details; 

2mm N Gauge micro layout
Currently WIP, but will be exhibited
Layout size: 6' x 8" (4' scenic)
Control: DCC
Track: Code 55

Point motors: Servo operated
Era: Mid 90s

 

Here are a few photos of where I am currently with the build. I started this last August and have been doing bits here and there since then. I shall upload more photos from the early stages soon. 

 

May I just thank Richard Coleman for his help whilst planning and modelling Ainsley CMD. His photos and words of advice have been invaluable.

 

So we start with the track plan. 

 

IMG_20190801_170704.jpg.d36926f99c060d9392dce1944fc41dcd.jpg 

 

IMG_20190809_181221.jpg.df0ab94e7f690b7035212af30ea91a96.jpg

 

IMG_20190815_154624.jpg.26bda56cfb0e58bd08a9517f2f36675c.jpg

 

Scratch built gas bottle compound. 

 

IMG_20190812_114821.jpg.fc972f495c0a721dbcbf5e22b4b26fb8.jpg

 

PD Marsh 7 ton Coles crane built, painted and weathered. 

 

IMG_20190813_100631.jpg.bae7d53425497837ebaa4b977f5cd630.jpg

 

All set up in the loft. Ready for scenics now after playing, sorry testing! 

 

IMG_20200106_212806.jpg.0da9626ef311260c72e0846004807d31.jpg

 

Overhead gantry crane. This is a Vollmer kit, which has been built and modified. The original width of the crane beam was 180mm wide, but I have cut this down to 120mm to span 2 tracks. This has been been heavily weathered. 

 

IMG_20190815_145418.jpg.5367320a76c3037f8d4277067d31baaf.jpg

 

Knightwing Portakbin / Site office built and painted, Note the venetian blinds...

 

IMG_20200107_123128.jpg.b721598b5b671c65715e4e11a1458879.jpg

 

Weighbridge office / Shunters mess. Scratch built using 2mm card, brick paper from Scalescenes and etched window frames. 

 

IMG_20200110_133948.jpg.5c7a6df0191b5f00070b9c53b5ad0aba.jpg

 

Jumping in with scenics now and LED lighting rig complete. 

 

IMG_20200217_151706.jpg.4edbb3dd9c06b8376bd81997c25b9891.jpg

 

So that's given you a little insight into the build of Ainsley CMD. Will get a few more close up photos a little later on. 

 

Cheers

Anthony 

 

 

 

Edited by 37058
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Moving onto the scenic side of things now. Rail sides painted rust colour, Woodlands scenics fine dark brown ballast added and in the process of being weathered with Humbrol dark earth weathering powder.  

 

IMG_20200121_195259.jpg.4da6ca65bedd513e016f640e1a95cd4c.jpg

 

2 lengths of Finetrax code 40 rail installed to act as the gantry crane guide rail. 

 

IMG_20200121_223717.jpg.f32d7a96fc8c1dc5d66b49dc0c62a159.jpg

 

Just in case if you are wondering what those orange things are? They are 3D printed catch pit drain pipes. 

 

IMG_20200110_131227.jpg.b122277a290fa3be97ec89c3c444f71a.jpg

 

Weighbridge being installed. 

 

IMG_20200110_222656.jpg.764ccb70e42dc0c5a5246d17e753fc13.jpg

 

IMG_20200110_222724.jpg.2c3ec1ef6bdc499087d3cc7492e29060.jpg

 

IMG_20200110_222644.jpg.22977101ba2ac523e15d722f25fd1e4a.jpg

 

1978273440_IMG_20200110_223237(640x418).jpg.73310dcec1e4af32fc758f1ec76f0ed7.jpg

 

Cropped lengths of code 40 flat bottom rail stacked and ready for painting. Will need a lot more of this plus bullhead rail too. 

 

1393261725_IMG_20200201_201058(640x430).jpg.2ca8d4dc295a8939ec1b28063bd81def.jpg

 

Piles of scrap concrete sleepers and a couple of catch pits. Defiantly need more sleepers!! 

 

1798609976_IMG_20200210_115237(640x493).jpg.3edd7aa43d73b75e4e1ec1b0411b3d31.jpg

 

 Gantry crane now nicely weathered. 

 IMG_20200219_213701.jpg.e38f762f9e979b28bc8c00fbde8a0574.jpg

 

 

IMG_20200219_213553.jpg.39d58aefeddba299170addb5810001f2.jpg

 

IMG_20200219_213533.jpg.8fcd75fede3a21f0a72f7325952cb7fd.jpg

 

Spot the grounded VBA van! Inspiration for this came from the one that is at Northampton Castle yard. 

 

IMG_20200219_213614.jpg.61c4f1aae9ff554e6d88709592533a8c.jpg

 

IMG_20200219_213718.jpg.3b5d5721061eb19250cab5042147ecc7.jpg

 

Lots of dirt and grime subtlety added plus lots of lovely static grass.  Typical run down BR yard...

 

Cheers

Anthony 

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1 minute ago, Steadfast said:

Hi Anthony,

Lovely little layout coming on, amazing what you can do with the space! It's all the little details that make it.

 

Jo

 

Hi Jo

 

Many thanks for your kind words. That's my favourite part, adding those small details. Really does bring a layout to life.

 

An idea I have had (which I will put into practice soon) is to list all the detail parts and where they were sourced from. For example oil drums and pallets are 3D printed from Peedie Models, grit bins from Scale Model Scenery etc etc.

 

Cheers

Anthony 

 

P.S. Ainsley's first exhibition is Saturday 4th April at the N Gauge SouthEast show. I'd best get a move on - No pressure now!  

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A more close up shot of the yard. A few more details are needed to finish this area, but it's getting there. Note the red flam vaults also industrial gas bottles stored within the compound. I wonder if P&O have noticed one of their 20' containers is missing?? :P

 

A note on the concrete hard standing. This was laid strait after the track was all glued in place (see earlier post) and has survived the ballasting / water process. This is sheet TX42 concrete purchased and downloaded from Scalescenes. It was then printed on plain A4 paper, cut to size and glued down. To make it more work stained I have given it a good brushing of Humbol smoke weathering power and gently wiped away with tissue paper. Any excess was then hoovered up. The finished result actually surprised me!   

 

IMG_20200219_213058.jpg.c6125206f3c5727c12ea9ea990b7f298.jpg

 

Another WIP OMWB is Dutch 31233 Severn Valley Railway with RR branding which is currently going through the transformation process. This started life as a plain old Farish (China) 31135, but has now been renumbered to 233 and features etched nameplates, arrows, Crewe depot plaques, 3D printed roof fan cowling, etched vertical grills, NRN roof aerial pods, plated over boiler port, headlights and windscreen washer covers. Who doesn't love a grubby Dutch 31? Oh to have these days back again... :cry:

 

IMG_20200219_231017.jpg.7cdb20e20cfe8db65bd9cf2dc441ddd4.jpg

 

Cheers

Anthony 

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6 minutes ago, branchie said:

Looks great Anthony. I love the detailing. 

 

Cheers matey. Yes, I'm a bit of a b****r when it come to the small stuff. You wont see any of it when standing 3' away at an exhibition, but it's there :lol:

 

Cheers

Anthony  

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2 hours ago, 37058 said:

An idea I have had (which I will put into practice soon) is to list all the detail parts and where they were sourced from. For example oil drums and pallets are 3D printed from Peedie Models, grit bins from Scale Model Scenery etc etc.

 

A flipping good idea I'd say! A pre-made shopping list for my layout then! 

 

Loving the 31, whereabouts did the 3D printed fan cowl come from? I have a couple of the new tool bodies and one of the repaints I'd like to do needs one adding

 

Jo

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1 hour ago, Steadfast said:

A flipping good idea I'd say! A pre-made shopping list for my layout then! 

 

Loving the 31, whereabouts did the 3D printed fan cowl come from? I have a couple of the new tool bodies and one of the repaints I'd like to do needs one adding

 

Jo

 

I'll crack on with the list soon. On a layout this small, its easy to make a list. Saves a thousand questions then :P

 

I had the fan cowls custom 3D printed, supplying measurements I already had. They are printed flat bottom, but its easy to bend them ever so slightly so they fit the curvature of the roof. Drop me a message and I'll send you a couple. I have a bag full. 

 

Cheers

Anthony 

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Certainly captures the late BR sector period feel. Looks great. 
 

The view from our current office across what was York Wagon Works & S&T yard, the layouts captures how I feel it would have been in the late 80s and early 90s.
 

It looks quite sad today awaiting demolition and redevelopment for housing and offices, and lines of HHAs stored. 

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13 hours ago, 37058 said:

 

I'll crack on with the list soon. On a layout this small, its easy to make a list. Saves a thousand questions then :P

 

I had the fan cowls custom 3D printed, supplying measurements I already had. They are printed flat bottom, but its easy to bend them ever so slightly so they fit the curvature of the roof. Drop me a message and I'll send you a couple. I have a bag full. 

 

Cheers

Anthony 

Cheers for that, message sent

 

Jo

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Evening all. 

 

A little snap shot that was taken before the lighting rig was installed. A little wishy washy, but still captures the feel. Resident Gronk 08601 with 3 OCA / ZDA 'BASS' wagons. Beings the inspiration for the layout came from Northampton CMD and 08601 spent a short while out based at Northampton in the late 90s, I just had to model it. Not sure if 601 ever made it to the CMD, but I certainly remember viewing her in Castle yard circa 1998. The new (gorgeous!!) Revolution N YBA 'Tench' can just be made out at the rear.   

 

IMG_20200211_125237.jpg.28663f0f12ca0ce2fb12bd0449f80077.jpg

 

Cheers

Anthony 

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Hello all. 

 

My other exhibition layout Sutton St. Annes will be out on the road this weekend. This time at the Macclesfield ex.

 

82780504_2573495962932575_5587737733243076608_o.jpg.e7a3b4766bfb90a4d14ddcbbb4c07614.jpg

 

48090742838_dc1f99a915_b.jpg.3a399eda4b69a2735c79dd2e7d022198.jpg

 

48086567453_46e0ac2e2b_b.jpg.90b0be0ba1612d534924b4cdc5a269a7.jpg

 

As always, I hope to see you there:superman:

 

Cheers

Anthony 

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On 23/02/2020 at 21:54, 37058 said:

Evening all. 

 

A little snap shot that was taken before the lighting rig was installed. A little wishy washy, but still captures the feel. Resident Gronk 08601 with 3 OCA / ZDA 'BASS' wagons. Beings the inspiration for the layout came from Northampton CMD and 08601 spent a short while out based at Northampton in the late 90s, I just had to model it. Not sure if 601 ever made it to the CMD, but I certainly remember viewing her in Castle yard circa 1998. The new (gorgeous!!) Revolution N YBA 'Tench' can just be made out at the rear.   

 

IMG_20200211_125237.jpg.28663f0f12ca0ce2fb12bd0449f80077.jpg

 

Cheers

Anthony 

This looks great. I have a few memories of the CMD in the 90's.

 

601 did make it down to the CMD as it went further along the line to Brackmills on at least  a couple of occasions. Cobbler will confirm this.

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