Dinsdale Lane

[Windjabbers]

Ok, so this is Dinsdale Lane (Monty Python fans will get the reference)*

 

It’s a shunting plank of around 5ft in total for me to push some truck around while I build a bigger layout. Well that’s the plan.

 

I’ve imagined some former running lines which have now been downgraded and truncated into some sidings that remain to serve local industries. The back scene will be some anonymous industrial building. 

 

I’ve a range of interest, manly East Anglian from the 1950’s to 1980’s so I’m looking for a neutral setting defined by the loco and stock that is working.

 

Track is the last of the Peco Code 75 I had as I’m moving to bullhead for the next project and its DCC. Which is a step up from my old H&M Duette controller.

 

Here is the track plan of the progress made so far…

 

Best Wishes

 

David

 

* = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piranha_Brothers

 

dinsdale lane.pdf

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2020 by Windjabbers

[Banger Blue]

21 hours ago, Windjabbers said:

The back scene will be some anonymous industrial building. 

An anonymous industrial building with “Spiny Norman” peering over it, I hope?

[andytrains]

And the knights who say ni,

[andytrains]

Will there be a Shrubbery?

If not I will fart in your general direction.

[Windjabbers]

3 hours ago, Banger Blue said:

An anonymous industrial building with “Spiny Norman” peering over it, I hope?

 

Very good, I wonder if Module do a large enough version I can use....

[Windjabbers]

Some wiring - those of a nervous disposition need to look away now.

 

Will say one thing though' these new Peco point motors are an absolute joy. Much much easier to fit!

 

Best Wishes

 

David 

 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2020 by Windjabbers

[31A]

On 23/07/2020 at 20:16, Windjabbers said:

The back scene will be some anonymous industrial building.

 

 

Not a high class night club for the gentry in Biggleswade, then?

 

[sammyboy]

I've just seen your trackplan and it reminds me of the very similar one found on pages 58 & 59 of the 'Model Railway Planning and Design Handbook'?

 

Sam

[Windjabbers]

5 hours ago, sammyboy said:

I've just seen your trackplan and it reminds me of the very similar one found on pages 58 & 59 of the 'Model Railway Planning and Design Handbook'?

 

Sam

I haven't seen that book. The trackplan is mainly based around using up the code 75 finescale track I had left. Clearly, it has an element of inglenook, with the three sidings. But it was mainly to keep the loco in the middle of the layout when shunting. 

 

Best Wishes

 

David

 

[Windjabbers]

The track is all down and working including the new peco point motors. (Very very easy to fit). 

 

So the backscene, sides and front arch have been assembled. 
 

Had a lot of help from a mate who is much better at woodwork than I, his daughter came out to see how the railway box was going. 
 

Picture shows the progress with the ‘railway box’. Very fiddly to get the holes for the point switches in the right place. But pleased with the result. 
 

Edited July 25, 2020 by Windjabbers

[Windjabbers]

So thought I would take advantage of the weather to paint the ‘railway box’. Most times I leave this to later in the process but on a day like today progress has been rapid as everything drys super quick. And the splodges dropped on the lawn are easier to hide.

 

i’ve moved away from the traditional back to a more neutral browny/grey. I think the softer colour works. But let’s see when we get some lighting installed. 
 

Next thing to consider are the lighting and backscene. 

 

So need to start looking at all these natural light LED’s. Any suggestions welcome.

 

Would like to have ago at a curved backscene so any recommendation on what material to use would be welcome.

 

Best Wishes

 

David 

[Windjabbers]

Thought I’d better sort out the very small fiddle yards before I got to much further on  - at only 5ft in length would be too easy to ski jump stock of the end. Next will sort out the backscene and lightning. Then we can get on with the interesting stuff.  

[Windjabbers]

So bit of an update, not much to show for all the fiddling, but the layout is now in its full time home on the shelf , I've added some led lighting and have fully tested the points and electrics so it all now works! 

 

Some testing with stock. 

 

 

 

Edited October 31, 2020 by Windjabbers

[Windjabbers]

I've put in a temporary backscene to help see if the lighting is going to be OK. ITs much improved with a lid on the box forcing additional light down into the layout. Putting the three 16t on the three sidings shows the light level across the layout. Overall, I think it's OK, but I will see how I get on but we may need more at the front. This is enough for now to that I can started with the builldings along the back and the two bridges.

 

Edited November 8, 2020 by Windjabbers

[Windjabbers]

I’ve started to added the weightbridge. Have done metal base using wills sheeting which needed some packing to get to the right height. Next need to add some chairs to the rail - not sure where to source them from. So any suggestions welcome.

 

The hut actually stated life as a wills greenhouse.
 

Needs some glazing, but might be easier to paint before I do that. 

 

Edited November 14, 2020 by Windjabbers

[Windjabbers]

Some first thoughts on the buildings at the back. Much more fiddling about before Im happy I think...

 

 

[Windjabbers]

Small job but one I always do, given my shunting abilities. Added foam strips to both fiddle yards ends. Helps protect buffers and couplings from any Heavy shunting...

[Alister_G]

On 08/11/2020 at 14:05, Windjabbers said:

I've put in a temporary backscene to help see if the lighting is going to be OK. ITs much improved with a lid on the box forcing additional light down into the layout. Putting the three 16t on the three sidings shows the light level across the layout. Overall, I think it's OK, but I will see how I get on but we may need more at the front. This is enough for now to that I can started with the builldings along the back and the two bridges.

 

 

Hi David,

 

With regard to the lighting, and I apologise for not having come across this sooner, but you might find that extending the top of your layout box about 3 inches (8 centimetres) beyond the front face and having a strip of LEDs pointing backwards would help improve the lighting towards the front of the layout.

 

I appreciate this would necessitate some butchery of your existing box, but as you have it now most of your lighting at the front is almost directly overhead, which causes dark shadows when trying to photograph the rolling stock.

 

This is what I did for my Ladmanlow layout, having experienced similar problems:

 

 

I like the look of Dinsdale very much, and will be following with interest.

 

Al.

[Windjabbers]

3 hours ago, Alister_G said:

 

Hi David,

 

With regard to the lighting, and I apologise for not having come across this sooner, but you might find that extending the top of your layout box about 3 inches (8 centimetres) beyond the front face and having a strip of LEDs pointing backwards would help improve the lighting towards the front of the layout.

 

I appreciate this would necessitate some butchery of your existing box, but as you have it now most of your lighting at the front is almost directly overhead, which causes dark shadows when trying to photograph the rolling stock.

 

This is what I did for my Ladmanlow layout, having experienced similar problems:

 

 

I like the look of Dinsdale very much, and will be following with interest.

 

Al.

 

Thanks for the advice and comments, yes I can see how that would improve the lighting at the front of the layout. I think once I have got the buildings in place I will return to the lighting.

 

Best Wishes

 

David

 

 

[Windjabbers]

Only  a quick update - have started on the industrial buildings at the back with the Wills  arches which I’ve cut down do give a more proportional retaining wall at the back. Will

let me put some industrial building on the top. 

 

[Rivercider]

Nice work so far, I always like shunting layouts.

I got the Monty Python reference, but for a moment expected a model of Dinsdale Rail Welding Depot in Darlington.

 

Or am I taking things too seriously?

 

cheers

 

 

[Windjabbers]

32 minutes ago, Rivercider said:

Nice work so far, I always like shunting layouts.

I got the Monty Python reference, but for a moment expected a model of Dinsdale Rail Welding Depot in Darlington.

 

Or am I taking things too seriously?

 

cheers

 

 

 

Thanks for the comments - nothing to do with Darlington I’m afraid, was just looking for a neutral name as it will host a range of steam and diesels from the 1950’s to the 1980’s and this amused me, but promise there won’t be large hedgehog in the background....

[Windjabbers]

More progress with the backscene building. The cutdown wills arches on the right and a water tank built out to give the impression of a much large tank than doing the kit as normal!

 

Not sure yet what buildings to put on top of the arches yet. Industrial but not too big...

 

 

[Windjabbers]

So a bit more progress on the right end of the layout. With the bridge starting to come together and the building in the corner.

[Banger Blue]

On 06/12/2020 at 21:17, Windjabbers said:

 

Thanks for the comments - nothing to do with Darlington I’m afraid, was just looking for a neutral name as it will host a range of steam and diesels from the 1950’s to the 1980’s and this amused me, but promise there won’t be large hedgehog in the background....

………and is ever so disappointed!