jmarsh1976 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 So, ive built a test track, got the point motor working, tried my hand at ballasting and weathering track and weathered a couple of locos so i guess its time to start a layout thread. This will be my first layout and ive decided to build a small depot with a scratch built maintenance shed. I'm sure I will do some things wrong but be patient it's my first attempt!. The layout is entirely fictitious and is set around late 1970's to early 1980's. It will be powercab DCC with a mimic panel and cobalt point motors. Track is peco code 75. Thought long and hard about hand building track but for my first effort i though i would be better off keeping it simple. here is a few pics of progress so far. overall view class 25 mimic panel started shed under construction 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 An interesting block of flats behind that 25.....I had to put my specs on to see what it really was. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarsh1976 Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 I think they call it modular construction Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I think they call it modular construction Yes...I like the weathering on that 25. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hybridangel77 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 good work on the ballast and weathering.the class 25 looks good weathered too.and it looks as tho the engine shed will look good when completed. terry (glebe road junction) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarsh1976 Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 Thanks! Just trying to contemplate how to put the track down, or at least the best order which to lay it. Do I weather it first or when laid? Need to get the plan on the board and work out where droppers, isolation section etc go first I guess. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Looks good so far buddy.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hybridangel77 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Well some like to give the track a light coat of grime first then lay the ballast.i dont do it that way as i like to ballast first then give the sides ofcthe rail a coat of sleeper grime to get rid of the shine and on the surrounding ballast.i then givecthe center of the rails a coat of wearhered black.you can also add various other colours if you wish but you should do fine with just the two colours. And it also depends on you how much and how thick the weathering is to be. Check out my thread and you will see some close up photos of my ballast and see what i mean. Good luck mate. Terry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarsh1976 Posted March 16, 2013 Author Share Posted March 16, 2013 Thanks terry, I'll have a look. I've managed to achieve the look I'm after on a test plank but that was much easier to access. I think I'll weather the track insitu, I want to get all the electrics working before I lift a paint brush.... Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hybridangel77 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 yes you do need to get all the electrics done first and have tested the track over and over until your happy with the running of the trains then get out the airbrush. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
porkie Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 I really like this, the mimic board is brilliant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarsh1976 Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 this is my test track of a dirty oily tmd track. fairly pleased apart from the gold rails. Ive got some nickel silver blackener so that will dull it down hopefully! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hybridangel77 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 what did you use to get the oily deposit on the track? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarsh1976 Posted March 19, 2013 Author Share Posted March 19, 2013 Hi, I used a mixture of gloss cote, tamiya gun metal and black. Thinned down and used a pipette to drop it onto the track. Put a bit more gloss on the sleepers later Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarsh1976 Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share Posted March 31, 2013 BIt more progress on the mimic panel, should be done soon! using 3.5,, jack sockets for point motors/isolated sections of track. xlr connections to track and programme track. track laying/wiring is next, originally planning to use peco oo code 75 track. Based on the layout below . this is where i'm having abit of a wobble with what direction to take. I am toying with the idea of going down the em/oo finescale scale route, however this is my first model railway and whilst am competent at most things involved, soldering etc. and have most of the required tools I am wondering if I would be taking on too much to go down this route. However the last thing I want to do is build it in peco and forever wish I had used hand built track. Another option mi am also thinking about is c + l flexitrack with peco points to save on cost but may be better just adjusting the sleeper spacings on the peco track as im not sure how the difference in sleeper width will look. I am doing a tmd however so most of the sleepers will be hidden in general muck. So i would like to know whether it is possible to use oo or em handbuilt track with my current track plan? i understand that the tolerances/radii are less forgiving. from research it seems my modern image locos will be fairly straight forward to swap to em. there is also the cost factor. the peco route is much cheaper. decisions decisions.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarsh1976 Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share Posted April 8, 2013 panel finally finished. really impressed with the red/gree LED switches (red-off green-on) 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarsh1976 Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 right, its been a while since an update. started again in the new year and aim to keep going a bit more this time, not easy with work and young kids.Ive got the majority of the track laid and recently been concentrating on scratch building my depot shed out of styrene. beginning to think it would of been a lot cheaper to by the bachman one, but really enjoying building it so i guess thats the main aim!taking me a while to get things done as this is my first model railway everything is trial and error but slowly getting there! spent quite while messing about with electrics but got my head around that now 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Looking good so far, nice pics of the Shed and the panel is really impressive, which track did you finally decide on? All the best, Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
squeaky Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 You are doing a great job keep it up, I like you mimic panel it's very neat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarsh1976 Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 Thanks! really pleased with the mimic panel. i when for handbuilt track in the end although i didn't build the majority of the points myself. i did manage to damage one though and had to buy a couple of gauges and rebuild it so next time i think i'd have a go myself. the cobalt motors have been interesting to install, especially the 3-way turnout which need the oposing paths deactivating one of the motors but eventually figured out how to do it. i could definately of made thing easier for my first build but room is tight so i want to make sure i have plenty to do on such a small board. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarsh1976 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Share Posted March 13, 2014 bit more of an update. unsure of how to make the roof detatchable so have to have a think about that! 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobster Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Very Nice - First class work and modelling. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarsh1976 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Share Posted March 13, 2014 Thanks, not looking forward to glazing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Very nice work on your scratch built depot!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeydave Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Really like the Depot.Not too sure I'd have the patience to have a go at something like that . Whats the dimensions of the layout please? 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