Beat the Drum. A 009 Derbyshire Based Narrow Gauge Layout.

[Ramrig]

After over 30 years (2018 at the time) of modelling just 00, a return to 009 modelling felt right. With Heljan announcing at the time their L & B locos and Bachmann UK the Baldwins and US Skarloey & Rheneas, British outline had never been in a better place for a return. When I first "dabbled" in 009 back in 1979/80 it was mainly whitemetal kits on N gauge chassis, no 3D printing back then, only HOe continental outline RTR stock.

 

 The two things I wanted to have a proper go at were Static Grassing using various fibre lengths to achieve a greater depth and Derbyshire Drystone Walling using DAS to create the various individual stone sizes. This had been inspired by the brilliant work of Jeff (Physicsman) on his Kirkby Luneside 2 and now Gill Head layouts based on the Settle and Carlisle line. found here 

If you have not seen it already, its well worth a look, 49 pages already of stunning modelling, including a magnificent scratch built multi arch viaduct made of individual DAS Stones.

 

So onto my effort and a "Hmmmm,  I wonder what I could use this for" moment at work one day.

 

Where I work we end up with quiet a few of these. As lockdown 1 began, so did work on the new layout in April 2020

 

Plywood Cable Drums!!!

 

 

A few thoughts of whether it would be suitable for a small test piece layout as they are approximately 600mm in diameter or 2 foot in old money. A second drum was dismantled to create a raised track bed.

 

 

The centre was marked out and removed and cut in half. Using off cuts of timber a raised track bed was created.

 

 

 

This gave me a track bed for a circle of track with an approximate 10 inch radius.

 

More to follow..........

 

Edited July 9, 2022 by Ramrig
Spelling. Re insert images 07/2022

[Physicsman]

Right, Steve, having read your opening salvo (and references to a certain Physicsman - aka "Jeffrius Caesar" ), I have the honour of being the first to reply.

 

Clever idea, using that drum. 

 

I'll follow this with interest!

 

Jeff

 

Btw, interesting photo wrt KL2 and GH - that, of course, isn't me or my viaduct....I think it's one of Don's mates in Somerset.

 

 

Edited June 25, 2021 by Physicsman
Add photo comment

[Ramrig]

8 minutes ago, Physicsman said:

 

 

Btw, interesting photo wrt KL2 and GH - that, of course, isn't me or my viaduct....I think it's one of Don's mates in Somerset.

 

 

That picture automatically loaded when I copied the link for your thread. I wondered where that image came from as it looks out doors and possibly 0 gauge (and it’s Great Western )

[Physicsman]

Morning Steve.

 

You've now got me into the habit of looking in the Narrow Gauge section - I never used to scroll that far down the Home page!

 

Looking forward to being educated on 009.

 

And thanks for the comments on GH. As you have already noticed, your remark about The Lane provided the spark for the second instalment of "The Sheep Saga".

 

Jeff

 

 

[Ramrig]

Next instalment.

once the track bed had been created, a Wills bridge was used for the gap in the track bed and suitably painted and weathered,

Track was laid next. Two lengths of Peco 009 Mainline track, much better than the old crazy track used in the past. wires added to both sections of track to avoid relying on fishplate contacts. Test running before proceeding further.

 

 

 

 

Track and track bed suitably sprayed with Track dirt using an airbrush.

 

Next all of the embankments and cuttings were created using dense insulation foam sheets.

 

 

 

 

Cut and shaped using a coping saw and Surform planes to give a smooth finish.

 

 

 

 

 

Once glued into place, grit paper was used to finish the surfaces off to a smooth finish.

To give a solid surface, strips of brown parcel paper were fixed into place using a PVA water mix. once dry leaves a solid surface and a really lightweight construction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 9, 2022 by Ramrig
Re insert images 07/2022

[Physicsman]

Some innovative use of brown paper, Steve.

 

And as for the insulation board - very neat. I, too, started out very neat, but after a week or so I was sick of the sight of the stuff and an old steak knife was liberally wielded to cut it.

 

DAS for the underbridge sides?

 

Looks good.

 

Jeff

[Ramrig]

Jeff

Not DAS. It’s Wills sheeting that comes with the kit, you also get the side wings as well. You’ll see them in the next set of images, hopefully tomorrow, just need to resize them. That’s what takes the time. I have used DAS for the rough lane/track under the bridge with suitable tractor tyre marks.

 

Steve

 

ps most of this construction took place 12 months ago. The whole thing has moved on a fair bit in the mean time.

Edited June 29, 2021 by Ramrig
Added text

[Ramrig]

Next update

 

Sorry for the delay in posting.

 

After the brown paper had fully dried out the whole thing had a green wash coat 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At this point the electrical connections went in the socket on the left is 15 volts ac in. I have built a Power pack which also contains a Capacitor Discharge so that the unit can be used for multiple layouts in the future. I'll take a photograph of the unit later and post it on here. The socket on the right is for the Gaugemaster Handheld controller ( I'm still a DC luddite) 15V ac out,  12V dc in.

 

 

After this all of the green was coated in ground scatter. Under the bridge I added a thin layer of DAS and rolled an Oxford Diecast Tractor over it to leave rutted tyre tracks.

 

 

More paint and scatter later and also the first appearance of a loco. Makes a change from a bus on the bridge . Forgot to mention the track ballasted too!!

 

 

One of the excellent Bachmann Baldwins. Being Derbyshire based a nod to  the Ashover Light Railway. 

 

Next part will be the start of stone walling.

 

 

 

Edited April 2 by Ramrig
Added text re ballasting re placed missing images 07/2022

[Ramrig]

Sorry for no more updates recently. My laptop has decided to stop working since the last Windows update. The next batch of images are stored on it unfortunately. I’ll continue the story of the build once I get it back from the repairers.

[Physicsman]

Oh, now that's a familiar story. Happened to both me and my brother - operating our trusty Windows 7 laptops, which we had to replace. Fortunately I had everything backed-up on external drives.

 

Best of luck with the repair.

 

Jeff

[rockershovel]

It's surprising how rarely people model ruts or tyre marks.

[Ramrig]

I’ve found an image of the start of wall building on my iPad, as previously mentioned the rest are on my laptop. Hopefully I will get it back soon.

 

A taster of what’s to come.

All construction is from individual DAS stones. 

Edited July 9, 2022 by Ramrig
Re insert images 07/2022

[Physicsman]

Steve, there's a similar pic on my thread, page 32, if you need a back-up.

 

Slightly different angle.

 

Jeff

[Ramrig]

Thanks Jeff

 

Hopefully my laptop will be back before the end of the week.

[AdeMoore]

On 12/07/2021 at 10:38, Ramrig said:

Thanks Jeff

 

Hopefully my laptop will be back before the end of the week.

Just a pointer on keeping your photos before letting your laptop go to the repairman.

if you are in any way handy with a screwdriver buy a HDD caddy there are 2 types Sata and ??? Escapes me most are Sata you extract your hard drive Chuck it in one As per no association! Need another computer though on a usb lead navigate to the drive save anything you need.

if the laptop is beyond repair you still have a handy external hard drive.

Done this a couple of times.

Enjoying the build.

Cheers

Ade

[Ramrig]

A quick update

 

I have replaced all of the missing images in this thread so far. The layout has progressed considerably in the last 12 months. I will add in all of the progress since, in the next few days.

 

It has also been invited to its first exhibition at the 

East Midlands 009 NG Modellers Group

Open Day

Saturday 23rd July 2022 – 10:30am to 4:30pm

Portland College, Nottingham Rd, Harlow Wood, Mansfield, NG18 4TJ

 

link to Exhibits & Traders 

 

[John Besley]

Good to see this back up and live again 

[Ramrig]

UPDATE

 

After appearing yesterday at The East Midlands 009 event at Mansfield.  I will start and bring this thread up to date.

 

Next stage in the build was to construct Dry Stone walling, Derbyshire style. Having been inspired by the prolific wall builder in the north "Dr DAS" aka Jeff "Physicsman. I set to and constructed the moulding template, purchased a block of DAS and set to work. As the wall was going to be semi-circular, that posed a challenge on its own. 

I started with a small section either side of the gateway. I was going to use the Peco gate posts but chose stone ones instead.

 

 

I decided on second viewing that the plastic style also looked cr..., so that again was replaced with a stone type opening, A lot more common in the Derbyshire dales.

 

 

A figure and a steel ruler to give an indication of the wall height

 

 

More to follow

Edited July 24, 2022 by Ramrig
text added

[Ramrig]

So progress was slow over a number of evenings, producing DAS strips of various thickness and cutting and shaping each individual stone, prior to fitting. 

But slowly it grew in length around the embankment.

 

Close up of the style

 

 

 

 

 

[Physicsman]

And look how it ended up last weekend.....

 

Great stuff.

[Ramrig]

12 minutes ago, Physicsman said:

And look how it ended up last weekend.....

 

Great stuff.

 

Jeff has already seen the end result as my scenic's consultant 😉. So here is a before and after shot to give you a taste of what's to come

 

BEFORE

 

 

AFTER

Taken yesterday at the exhibition

 

[Physicsman]

Excellent stuff!

 

And I'd hardly describe myself as your "consultant". You're as fanatical about REAL world, prototype modelling as I am.

 

Even if your loco driver does keep going round in circles!

 

🤣🤣

[TT100 Diesels]

Absolutely love it. Modeling of the highest standards. Stone walling is mega, screams white peak to me. The most stand out feature of the whole model to me is the gap stile. Never, ever seen that modelled before. Total genius.

 

I look again now at my wills and slaters embossed plasticard stone walling......  I have a long way to go and still so much to learn.

 

And who would have thought, a cable drum eh ?

 

Following

 

PS  - I would love to see you model an exact copy of how Cromford Wharf really was, all that intricate stone walling and stuff, a J94 pottering about..........

I am in no doubt, it would be stunning.

[Ramrig]

Thanks for your comments. The layout has been finished just under a year, I’ve just never got around to updating the thread.  I have attached another shot of how the stile looks now.

 

As for Cromford and High Peak, I have a DJ models J94 ready for additional detailing and renumbered to 68012. I also have a kit to build a Kitson 0-4-0 as 47006. So maybe in the future a CHPR might followI really must add all the other images of the build and bring this right up to date. Also show some of the locos and rolling stock either purchased RTR or kit built for the layout.

Edited June 25, 2023 by Ramrig
Added text

[TT100 Diesels]

Lovely atmospheric pictures, thanks for posting.