Alcanman Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Hi, It's over 3 years since I built my last UK layout, 'Websters Steel' which was also my first foray into DCC. (Since then I've built two small US layouts). After seeing and hearing the excellent 'Loch Dour' at the Newcastle Exhibition in November 2012, bringing back memories of visits to the Scottish Highlands in the 1980s, I started to consider the possibility of building a small layout based in Scotland. I had already decided that I didn't want a run around loop in my (9ft x 15ins) track plan, when I picked up a copy of the December issue of Rail Express which featured Alex Hall's superb 'Ringburn Yard'. This small layout seemed to be exactly what I was looking for and I also remembered the layout plan from it's previous incarnation, 'TingTong Yard'. My layout name neatly ties in the original layout name with the station associated with Eastfield TMD. Here's my version of the track plan, From pics I've seen of Ringburn Yard it would appear that most trains arrive on the front track with the loco leading and then an 08 shunter is used to remove wagons and release the train loco. I guess trains can also be propelled into the yard and shunted. I'm hoping to start work on the baseboards soon and will post when progress is made. Meantime here are a couple of pics of my old layout, Websters Steel. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stehill1 Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Those pics look great mate. Any more to share please? Any more info on the layout? Regards Ste Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 Those pics look great mate. Any more to share please? Any more info on the layout? Regards Ste Thanks Ste. Here's a link to more pics and info on 'Websters Steel' http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/35589-websters-steel/?hl=%2Bwebsters+%2Bsteel Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Pictures look great!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueeighties Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Nice layout. Looking forward to following progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 Thanks Lee, I've finally made some progress by dismantling my old layout last week. This week I'm hoping to pick up some MDF from Wickes to start the new layout. I'll post some pics when progress is made. Meantime, I thought you might like this pic which I took back in the day of a Rowntrees (Roundtrees) train at Gosforth, near the site of the present Regent Centre Metro station. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueeighties Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Cheers Mal That train was the 1st ever train I spotted whilst standing on Longbenton Metro station at a very young age, I remember it distinctly, being very confused as to why it was noisy, dirty and Blue, when everything else passing through was orange and white, quiet and clean! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Having seen websters steel I look forward to your new layout, david Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted February 8, 2013 Author Share Posted February 8, 2013 With exactly one month having elapsed since I started this thread, I thought it was time for an update. As the weather is no longer sub zero here in Alcanland, I ventured into the garage this week to start work on the layout baseboards. My usual construction of 3 x 1 timber frame topped with 12mm MDF provides a solid and level baseboard which sits on top of IKEA units located in a small spare bedroom. I also glue 3mm cork floor tiles on top of the MDF, as they enable track to be temporarily pinned until finally positioned, then glued in place. Here's how it looks so far, Underneath the right hand end of the layout, the IKEA units have a set of small drawers, perfect for storing spare stock and keeping dust off the models. Now faced with a 'blank canvas' it's time to head along to my local model shop to pick up some track. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted February 24, 2013 Author Share Posted February 24, 2013 Last week I started laying track after making some minor adustments. With a small layout every inch counts. Then I wired the layout providing each track with dropper feed wires so that the entire layout is live. However, I did manage to get my wires crossed, literally! A bit of a senior moment. After testing, all is now well and the locos are quite happy to crawl slowly and smoothly around the layout. Here is the left hand end of the layout which will form a 5ft 3ins scenic area. Next, the hidden sidings at the right hand end of the layout measuring 3ft 9ins. A road overbridge will be used as a scenic break. A Bachmann dcc sound 25/3 has recently been acquired and will be weathered in due course. Here it is seen with some nice factory weathered Bachmann TTAs which I bought yesterday at Modelzone. Reduced by £8.00 and limited editions. Thanks to 'Poindexter' for the heads up on that bargain. And a couple of more pics featuring Railfreight Grey 37693 Next, I'll be painting the track and then ballasting... Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted February 28, 2013 Author Share Posted February 28, 2013 Hi, this week I put off painting the track, it's not exactly my favourite task. Instead, I had been giving a lot of thought to the Speedlink Distribution depot at the back of the layout. I wanted something like the structure at Deanside Transit , Glasgow, which was a busy Speedlink depot in the 1980s. An overhanging roof and loading dock being key features. Using a Pikestuff 'Tri- Star Industries' kit and some 60 thou plasticard I constructed this structure which just holds a couple of VGAs. The building still needs a few finishing touches and of course, painting and weathering. Overall I'm quite pleased and it fits nicely in place. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimleygrid Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Very nice Alcanman. I look forward to seeing you new project develop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted February 28, 2013 Author Share Posted February 28, 2013 Thanks. I've just looked at the pics again and realised that the loading dock platform is too high! It looked OK on the layout but , not for the first time, pics show up all the flaws in modelling. With previous layouts I've started a thread when the layout was almost complete, but this time I thought I'd start at the beginning and show the entire project 'warts and all' Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rally Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Looking great Alcanman, indeed the baseboards look smart and a great basis for the layout to be built up from. Shame about the loading platform height, it looks really good apart from that! Hoping to see more updates in the future, Regards, Ronan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueeighties Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Great stuff. Coming along nicely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted February 28, 2013 Author Share Posted February 28, 2013 Thanks guys. The loading dock height has now been adjusted, the fork lift driver is much happier now! Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Looking good, david Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share Posted March 8, 2013 This week I've made good progress. Atfer throughly testing locos to ensure smooth running at slow speed, I proceeded to hand paint the track, tedious but easily completed in a day, followed by ballasting with Woodand Scenics fine ballast. Equally tedious but done in a day too. One of the best aspects of converting to DCC a few years ago is that to ensure electrical continuity it is good practice to provide feeds to all tracks. I wired 11 pairs of feeds whereas back in my DC days using the old PECO style of wiring I would have simply used 2 pairs of feeds and a few isolating sections with lots of cursing when locos didn't run smoothly over points! The Speedlink distribution depot has now received a coat of paint (2 actually) and will be weathered later. As I had 2 side walls leftover from the Pikestuff kit, I thought they could form the basis of a low relief warehouse which would fit at right angles to the depot. A perfect fit for the left hand end of the layout and look how the weeds are already growing around the buffers! Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Looks good, will be watching this one progress with interest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Already looks great Mal, right up my alley ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 12, 2013 Author Share Posted March 12, 2013 Thanks for the kind comments. I've been working on the hardstanding for the unoading area between the front 2 tracks with my usual method of using Wills 'cement rendering' sheets. Here are a few pics, the area will be painted concrete colour and weathered later. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 reminds me of Milton freight exchange near Didcot. Looking forward to seeing it develop further . What era you going for Mal ? those VDAs with painted out logos makes me think EWS ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 I've chosen a 10 year period for the layout from 1981, the year in which I resumed my interest in railways, to the end of Speedlink in 1991. This period, in addition to offering many different loco liveries and wagon types, also gives an opportunity to run realistic short trains, ideal for a small layout. Speedlink trips, MoD workings and Engineers ballast trains will be featured. Here are another couple of wagon pics Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d600 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Excellent little layout you have built will be watching this one Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 I've now turned my attention to the other end of the layout, specifically, the road overbridge which provides the scenic break from the hidden sidings. Using Wills vari-girder and brick arches this is how it looks so far. I've also started weathering the distribution depot and the hardstanding area and added a few more weeds. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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