bickybtrains Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 As with all model railway layouts, the fun is building them. Over the last couple of years I have been renovating my house. I now only have the basement left to renovate. Although I have enjoyed my present layout, it does have some short comings. The opportunity is to build my ultimate layout. Our basement is in need for a refurbishment, the laundry room is dingy and dark. The basement was not fully insulated and has a cold floor. It also only has one window. Being in the renovation business allows me to rectify most of the problems, new windows in concrete and meeting fire code is a specialty that my company does. So with pencil in hand I have drawn up a rough sketch of the project at hand. So here comes The New and improved Bickley Central. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted September 6, 2020 Author Share Posted September 6, 2020 A much better drawing will be forthcoming, trying to get my head wrapped around how I am going to do a multilevel helix. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ikcdab Posted September 6, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 6, 2020 Exciting project. In the UK we generally seem to fail at helixes. They seem to get on well with then in the US. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted September 7, 2020 Author Share Posted September 7, 2020 I read up on them, and I pretty confident that it will work. Figured out the rise and the gradient will be less than the current bickley central. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 (edited) So I am close to a finalized plan for the layout. Edited September 13, 2020 by bickybtrains 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davknigh Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 What height will the two levels be set at William? Cheers, David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted September 15, 2020 Author Share Posted September 15, 2020 The two levels will be 34 and 52 inches. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted October 31, 2020 Author Share Posted October 31, 2020 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted January 31, 2021 Author Share Posted January 31, 2021 So we have been busy down in the basement. The basement has been fully stripped down to the concrete, and new stud walls constructed, we are ready for the insulation to go in on Monday and will start to drywall as soon as the insulation has finished. 4 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted February 12, 2021 Author Share Posted February 12, 2021 (edited) So the whole railway room has been insulated and drywall is going up. I have all the baseboards ready to assemble once this project is finished. Edited February 12, 2021 by bickybtrains 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 I'm glad I have a workshop to work in, I have started building the helix module for the layout. It a big one to say the least, over 6 foot wide. I going to keep the grade to less than 2 %. You could smell the brain cells burning figuring it all out. I'm glad I have an electronic level. But boy my floors in the shop are not level so it has been a bit of a challenge. Photos to follow. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 The first module I have started is the helix. A 5 track helix, what a monster it is going to be. I added another loop for the colliery so that full trains can come out of the colliery and empty ones go in. Staying with in my 2 percent grade I believe I will need 5 levels, possibly 6. I cannot do much more on this module until I have it installed in my basement. So I will start the next module. I have also painted the plywood white, makes things a little easier on the eyes when crawling under the layout to fix anything. The legs I painted black. 4 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 This is how the layout room looks right now. All the drywall is up, just a day or two of sanding. Then painting and electrical. After that flooring and hanging doors. Then I can get to work building my model railway empire. The whole layout will be modular so that it can be taken down with little damage. My wife hints on us buying a nice bungalow someday. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 Started the other module, I figured out the height of the helix, so I can continue building the other modules. The large 2 x 2 will be attached the wall, it will have the back scene attached to it. The lower back scene will be curved, literally following the curve of the support bracket. The material I'm using for the baseboard is 3/4" furniture grade plywood, all glued and screwed. All the legs have height adjustment pads so I can do the final leveling in the basement. 4 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trainshed Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Hi bickybtrains, If you are happy that every time a train leaves the station, it has to go down the helix, then ok. My layout was like that and I soon wanted to just watch the trains go around the scenic section and not have to go up and down the helix every lap. Just something to think about before you go too far. P.S. has taken me 3 months so far, to alter the layout to change it to the new version........and still not complete! Mick 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 Thanks for the comment. I revised my plan numerous times, the new layout follows the foot print of my old layout, with about 10 feet added on one leg. I will post the revised track plan later this week. I'm not to worried about the trains going into the helix after leaving the station, the station is about 20 feet from the start of the helix. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 More progress on the baseboards. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 7, 2021 Author Share Posted March 7, 2021 Just a couple more days and I can start moving in the new layout baseboards. The basement reno was a larger than expected renovation, it took a little longer than anticipated, but it will be worth it in the end. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davknigh Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 Looking good William. You’ll appreciate the lighting when the next stages come along. Cheers, David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 7, 2021 Author Share Posted March 7, 2021 1 hour ago, davknigh said: Looking good William. You’ll appreciate the lighting when the next stages come along. Cheers, David My wife was saying its a little to bright down there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davknigh Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 1 hour ago, bickybtrains said: My wife was saying its a little to bright down there. Maybe a dimmer switch? Cheers, David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 All of the lights are on a dimmer switch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 13, 2021 Author Share Posted March 13, 2021 And so it begins, I spent the evening installing the baseboard modules. My wife came down and just looked around and said I should make the layout smaller and have s nice guest room. I looked at her with a face of disdain, the dog looked at us and ran upstairs. 5 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 15, 2021 Author Share Posted March 15, 2021 So I'm close to 90 percent finished the installation of the baseboards. Now I start building the helix. 11 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 A real work of art, William and that’s just the woodwork! Sometimes the skill in producing such quality work is overlooked when compared to other aspects of our hobby. Really looking forward to watching this develop. 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