NSE Mule Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 (edited) Well where do I start? I guess by saying welcome to what will be my first proper layout. The Door. Originally I travelled up to Norfolk to pick up a pair of GWR HST first class seats, but seemed to also purchase a single first class table and a MK3 toilet door. Now, I knew what I wanted to do with the chairs and possibly the table, but the door, well, can you consider it an impulse buy? No idea what I was going to do with it, but it just fit in the car with the chairs and table so I took it. Since then it’s stood around doing nothing, until now. Layout ideas. Being a 50 fan, a layout was always going to contain them. Quite early on I decided to focus on eventually modelling Salisbury, mainly because of the numerous loco changes that would happen there. The date, between 1990-1992, the 50s seemed to be being withdrawn at an ever increasing rate, the introduction of ‘more reliable?’ 47/7s and the real unsung heroes, the 33 that stood in and seem to rescue everything. Now, Salisbury station is huge, and with even modest modifications you need a large space, something up until now, I have not had. So late last year I decided to base a layout on Old Oak Commons refuelling shed, this would allow me to (with a bit of modellers licence) run my stock on it whilst I wait to go forward with Salisbury. Pricing up ready made boards, whilst reasonably priced, they were quite a bit, and one night I looked at the door and thought, it’s strong enough, it’s a bit small, but it would be pretty cool, and unique to build something on that. After a very thorough deep clean and removal of many years of fluff from the vent area (don’t even want to think about it) I lay it on the floor and started to lay down some track to see what would fit. Track Plan. In readiness for the Old Oak layout idea I had a shed scratch built so have used that as the main focus. For track, I will be using Peco code 100, I would like to do code 75, but I have a range of mid radius points from my last dabble with model railways almost 30 years ago! The track plan is not particularly realistic, and some would say contains too much track, but it’s made up of a dead end three road refuelling shed at one end and a small four lane DMU/ loco stabling area at the other. This part also used to be a shed but the roof has since been removed allowing the wall to be a natural break for the single line fiddle yard at the back. From the outset I want to try and keep as many of the doors features as possible. My plan is to cover the layout side of the door with vinyl, so I can return the door to it’s original state for when their value sky rockets in the future! Due to the doors construction, sinking point motors into it is almost impossible so I am looking to using the ‘wire in pipe’ method for point control. The craziest idea has to be one from my mum, who asked why could I not use the door handle to make the trains move! This is genius! If almost impossible to work out! (If any one has any DCC ideas please let me know!) the use of the handle also reduces the available space on the board, but would be awesome if I can get it to work! I don’t know how quick it will be to make, but if you have been Engaged with my toilet door layout idea (ba boom wish!) please follow on for the ride and let me know what you think, especially if you have an idea on converting that door handle!! Cheers, Rich. Edited February 13, 2021 by NSE Mule 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSE Mule Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 Toilet door fluff anyone? 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSE Mule Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 Here is a rough idea of how the layout will look. The long wall at the back will be a carriage shed wall and possibly have very dirty windows. The DMU stabling shed walls will hide the fiddle road entrance. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
9C85 Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 "A mini NSE themed layout built on a Mk3 toilet door" ...you know that feeling when you've read something and think "OKaaaaay" 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSE Mule Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 36 minutes ago, 9C85 said: "A mini NSE themed layout built on a Mk3 toilet door" ...you know that feeling when you've read something and think "OKaaaaay" It was lying around spare so I thought ‘why not’ 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 I thought someone had slipped LSD in my tea. best of luck ! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSE Mule Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 1 hour ago, rob D2 said: I thought someone had slipped LSD in my tea. best of luck ! Haha, cheers 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSE Mule Posted February 14, 2021 Author Share Posted February 14, 2021 It turns out I need not have worried about the number of plastic frogs. Even with basic wiring everything works fine, so I had a little play. I am still waiting for the wire and tube to arrive in the post, then I can work out what height of cork I need to level things out. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ColinK Posted February 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 15, 2021 Had you modelled in G scale the door handle could have been a water column. perhaps in OO a pipe bridge? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 I do like the idea of using the door handle as a regulator, with the lock as directional selector. I’m sure it’s possible to do, but would require some electronic skills that are beyond me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSE Mule Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 6 hours ago, ColinK said: Had you modelled in G scale the door handle could have been a water column. perhaps in OO a pipe bridge? I have looked into how I could use it. I struggled for a track plan in 00 imagine in G scale!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nova Scotian Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 This is inspired, and also makes my skin crawl. I'm not sure I could ever be convinced the door were clean enough to accept it into my home. The idea of using the door handle as a regulator is fantastic. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Himsworth Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Could you mount some microswitches on the door lock and handle mechanism somewhere? Use them as input to a raspberry pi or something running JMRI and control a train that way. Lock the door to go forwards, unlock it for backwards; pull the lever to make a train go... Was sewage ever transported by train? An 08 pulling a very smelly, weathered (no, it wasn't just the weather that left those stains) tank wagon back and forth? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSE Mule Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 3 hours ago, Nova Scotian said: This is inspired, and also makes my skin crawl. I'm not sure I could ever be convinced the door were clean enough to accept it into my home. The idea of using the door handle as a regulator is fantastic. Haha, I know what you mean, I grew up on a farm so am hoping that my immune system is up to scratch!! I’ve washed it as much as I can. I have really enjoyed the challenge and really hope I can get to use the handle! 2 hours ago, Phil Himsworth said: Could you mount some microswitches on the door lock and handle mechanism somewhere? Use them as input to a raspberry pi or something running JMRI and control a train that way. Lock the door to go forwards, unlock it for backwards; pull the lever to make a train go... Was sewage ever transported by train? An 08 pulling a very smelly, weathered (no, it wasn't just the weather that left those stains) tank wagon back and forth? I love the sound all of that, but sadly have very little idea on most of it. I’m using the Z21 so was not sure how much could get that all to talk to each other. My crude thought was running some kind of (Lego style) chain drive between a modified Roco Multimaus controller dial and the rotating door handle. Any other way using a Raspberry and JMRI would need a lot of help from people with that knowledge, anyone out there? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSE Mule Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share Posted March 9, 2021 I have made some good progress with the door. First stage was to remove one of the air grids and replace it with a sealed sheet of MDF to make the levels flush. I want to preserve the door as much as I can (I don’t know why?!) so have covered it in vinyl, should I ever want the door back in original condition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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