Sir Madog Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Looks like some type of fiber board to me, but honestly, I don´t know. I am pretty happy with the plywood i use, as it easy to obtain in my neck of the woods. 15 mm thickness is OK, no warpage or sagging so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin1985 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Your ply construction looks really good! I just wish I could find a shop of any description in London that sells such good quality ply, and cuts it with precision like that! I am really inspired though - You've disguised the ballast perfectly! I'm very tempted to get some unitrack and try to put together something similar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 You could also use MDF board, if you can´t get hold of a sheet of decent plywood. Just give it a start - you´ll like it! Come to think of it - folks, there is no excuse for not starting on a layout anymore! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 I was able o do some work on my third module this weekend, due to bad weather. It´s far from being finished, but already looks a lot better than just a brown colored baseboard! The module still needs a lot of finishing touches, but I am already quite happy with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNCF stephen Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I have been watching this topic for some time now. I am really impressed by your work. The amount of realistic scenery that is going into such a small space is really great. Good luck. Stephen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Thanks, Stephen! I am enjoying the construction of this layout very much. Building a module is not difficult, does not require any woodworking skills, and i find it also much easier to come up with some plausible and realistic looking scenery. Right now I am pondering to change the layout concept a little. Instead of assembling the modules on my desk, I might put them up on a small shelf along the wall. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Thanks, Stephen! I am enjoying the construction of this layout very much. Building a module is not difficult, does not require any woodworking skills, and i find it also much easier to come up with some plausible and realistic looking scenery. Right now I am pondering to change the layout concept a little. Instead of assembling the modules on my desk, I might put them up on a small shelf along the wall. I am still fiddling with my first two modules which are experimental at the moment. Ballasting has been a recent task which seems to have taken for ever. Certainly cannot keep up with your pace. Additional photos (including closeups) of the new module would always go down well. Keep them coming Regarding your comment on changing the layout concept to be shelf based, the beauty of this approach is you can have both. Arrange the straights on a shelf but rearrange them with the corners to reconfigure as a oval on the desk. After all, you have already produced the bases for the corners. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 I am still fiddling with my first two modules which are experimental at the moment. Ballasting has been a recent task which seems to have taken for ever. Certainly cannot keep up with your pace. Additional photos (including closeups) of the new module would always go down well. Keep them coming Regarding your comment on changing the layout concept to be shelf based, the beauty of this approach is you can have both. Arrange the straights on a shelf but rearrange them with the corners to reconfigure as a oval on the desk. After all, you have already produced the bases for the corners. That´s what I was thinking to do. Putting up the layout on a narrow shelf has the advantage of being able to have a back scene and also to add lighting. Well, i guess it´ll mean back to the drawing board for a little while. I´ll post the results here for discussion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john.wishart Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I have just upgrade from "00" to "N", the alternative was to have an extra shed. Bought a N set, unimpressed with the track, looked so flimsy, looked at Kato, impressive, bought a load of it, very impressed, looking forward to track laying with endless permutations. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 Just a quick shot at my idea of changing the storage of the modules from a shelf, where I´d have to stack up the modules, into a long and narrow shelf along one wall in my room, so I can operate them as a layout: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted July 11, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 11, 2011 Certainly has interesting possibilities for a branch line uk layout using steam or a 153. If you make one of the modules a box then the controller could be fixed in with sticky Velcro, and the adaptor to stop things rolling around in transit. Now the tram system has started to gain some staright plates this could be a possibility too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 13, 2011 Author Share Posted July 13, 2011 Some better pictures of the now finished third module. There are still some details missing, like figures, a car at the grade crossing and some track side details, but that´ll have to wait until my next order to Japan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 18, 2011 Author Share Posted July 18, 2011 I have been draining and straining my brain on how to build the next module - the one to the right of the tunnel module. It needs to be some kind of a tunnel module, but I don´t want just to mirror the one I already have. I also want this module to be the scenic highlight of the layout, something spectacular, breathtaking - not an easy task on only 96 sq. inches! This is my idea: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 If you made it a double length module would that help? Also bear in mind that there is nothing stopping you adopting a greater width. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 Mike, I try to stay as much as possible within the "grid" in order to ensure interchangeability. The standard length of a module is 310mm, with the track consisting of 1 piece of S248 and 1 piece of S64 track - the track protruding 1 mm at each end. The short length also ensures a high degree of stability of the construction - so far, I have not encountered any warpage or sagging. Today, I attacked the next module: I will add the basic scenery tomorrow, using Styrofoam cut with a hot wire cutter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 24, 2011 Author Share Posted July 24, 2011 Some progress: It´s up in my attic, waiting for the second coat of paint to try.Still looks a bit odd, but wait until the greenery is planted! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 26, 2011 Author Share Posted July 26, 2011 Today´s my 27th wedding anniversary, but I spent most of the day working on the module Well, not all the time, I did take my wife out for lunch, but only to cover the time i had to wait for the glue to set This is what I achieved today: I am not sure whether I like the "Green Wall" in the back of the module, so I played with some ideas. With a few cuts, I could make the module look like this: What do you think? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Personally I quite like the wall. The other option is to have a go at a waterfall but perhaps that is my Swiss influences. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 26, 2011 Author Share Posted July 26, 2011 Mike - I have been thinking in the same direction - I will "photoshop" that tomorrow and post the result here for discussion! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Gwinnett Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 I think Mike is right - and imho without the wall there seems less justification for the archway micro tunnel? A waterfall would just break up the green wall nicely, and gives a geological (is that right?) reason for the cut between the two tunnels - eroded by the watercourse over millenia. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 If you don't fancy trying a waterfall, you could clear the foliage and have some rock climbers on the rock face. Look forward to seeing the mock ups. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Madog Posted July 26, 2011 Author Share Posted July 26, 2011 Well, that´s the way the waterfall would look like: I quite like this idea! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Gwinnett Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Yes - it looks good Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Agreed, but where does the water go? You probably need to route it to the front. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D802 FORMIDABLE Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Absolutely brilliant!! Sorry I have missed this thread so far and after reading through I have lots of ideas running through my head now.. Cheers Anthony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.