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-Update- 1990's Midlands - Multi level spare room layout.


Apex

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Hi Guys,

 

I have recently returned to the hobby after a 5 year absence in september, after purchasing my first house, I now have a permanent location for a layout. I wish to create a layout that uses the space to the max, has multi levels and is interesting to operate. 

 

A few must haves for the layout is a large fiddle yard/storage lines, which I have mostly completed, have a station and a large private siding containing a ford factory. I am still tweaking the visible part of the layout on cad but I am pretty settled on the design below.

 

If any one has any photos of ford train movements around the 1990's that would be great, I know they used some of there own VGA wagons.

 

This is a picture of the upper visible section, the highest parts are 16cm high and the the front dual lines are 8cm above the front fiddle yard.

 

post-10052-0-35248400-1416501833_thumb.png

 

More Picture to follow.

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Looking nice, only one thing I am concerned with looking at the photos is the curved gradient.  Have you tried running your engines up there with a full set of coachs?

Cheers

Bryant

 

Thanks for your reply, I have tested with my rake of mk2, they make it just. It works out about 1:20, it climbs 8cm and the track is 3rd and 4th radius.

 

Cheers,

 

Tom

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In that picture it's climbing 4cm to 12, the great thing about the threaded rod is you can adjust it easy. I tend to lay the track, test with loco and load then add support between the main threaded sections. I have picked up some more track today. Should have the first train running up it Sunday night. May try uploading a video to.

 

Thanks for looking

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Today's work has focused on completing the other side of the "S" Helix, I have tested it and the Hornby 60, DMU's, Heljan 47 where all fine on 8 coaches (normal rakes will 6). I also tested with some wagons and again was fine. The Bachmann class 37's seem to struggle a little but are fine double heading. Long term, more weight should solve the pulling issues for them. The helix will be adjusted a little, and supports will be added in between the existing threaded rod sections.

 

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I have also revised the plan at little, I have built up the station end bit. The light blue track at the rear will mostly covered by a big Ford factory/loading warehouse. The two tracks at the front the layout, which are 8cm lower than the rest of the visible part of the layout loop around the back and will be covered by the warehouse. 

 

Next big updates are waiting a little until after xmas with adding more point decoders and hex juicers to the TV side of the layout.

 

 

post-10052-0-24592900-1416947046_thumb.png

 

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The Scenic Visible part of the layout

 

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The None Scenic and Scenic

 

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post-10052-0-67036000-1416947664_thumb.png

 

 

Thanks for Looking

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Another little update today, with Christmas looming spare funds are little low to splash out on the track for the upper scenic sections of the layout. I going to spend a bit of time the front lower section, and servicing some of the fleet. Most have spent 4 years sitting in boxes. One thing that has really surprised me is the strength of M8 threaded base support. While a bit time consuming to set up, it allows for endless height adjustments. I have supported the first section of the, 8cm lower than the main, scenic part tonight. I am aim to finish the rest in the coming week. At the moment most of it is being supported by ice cream boxes. The main aim of the little test was to check that the 9mm plywood does not sag with only one support, it passed with flying colours, there is scope to add some at latter stage but would prefer to leave the front unobstructed for access to the fiddle yard. 

 

One of the things I am undecided is weather to code 75 or code 100 like the fiddle yard for the rest of the layout. And weather to go concrete track on the mainline section. Whats your views?

 

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post-10052-0-65350800-1417126944_thumb.jpg

 

post-10052-0-47118400-1417126947_thumb.jpg

 

Tom

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From breaking up my old layout I reused all my code 100 flexitrack 100 in the fiddle yard. I saved myself a box of code 75 flexi track in the process. :-)

All the points in the fiddle yard were code 75, I used Peco SL112's to bridge the differing rail heights. I prefer code 75 myself.

 

For what it's worth my layout has concrete track on the mainline, it looks good with modern image trains and stock. 

Cheers

Bryant

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Ford factory sounds like a great idea for a model!

 

Are you modelling a Ford parts place or assembly or car storage/transport type location? It'd look quite atmospheric with big fleets of 90s Escorts, Mondeos and so on arriving by train from be it Halewood, Saalouis, Genk etc awaiting further distribution! Lots of 1:87 models out there by Rietze for the mid/late-90s - KA, Fiesta, Escort, Mondeo, Galaxy, even the Mk1 Focus too if you're going post 98.

 

Wagon-wise there's various Transfesa type Cargowaggon things in 'HO' if you fancy a kitbash, and not forgetting the famous Blue Train! Gaugemaster did some HO versions, I'm having a go at bashing some cheap Piko German wagons into a more 'OO' sized approximation of the real thing, the prototypes looked gorgeous with the massive Ford branding on the side!

 

Very best of luck, sounds really exciting! :)

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From breaking up my old layout I reused all my code 100 flexitrack 100 in the fiddle yard. I saved myself a box of code 75 flexi track in the process. :-)

All the points in the fiddle yard were code 75, I used Peco SL112's to bridge the differing rail heights. I prefer code 75 myself.

 

For what it's worth my layout has concrete track on the mainline, it looks good with modern image trains and stock. 

Cheers

Bryant

Thanks for your feedback, code 75 it is then. The lower section is going a mainline section with a brick/stone retaining wall bridging the gap between the high part of the layout. I think concrete code 75 would be perfect for this section !

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Ford factory sounds like a great idea for a model!

 

Are you modelling a Ford parts place or assembly or car storage/transport type location? It'd look quite atmospheric with big fleets of 90s Escorts, Mondeos and so on arriving by train from be it Halewood, Saalouis, Genk etc awaiting further distribution! Lots of 1:87 models out there by Rietze for the mid/late-90s - KA, Fiesta, Escort, Mondeo, Galaxy, even the Mk1 Focus too if you're going post 98.

 

Wagon-wise there's various Transfesa type Cargowaggon things in 'HO' if you fancy a kitbash, and not forgetting the famous Blue Train! Gaugemaster did some HO versions, I'm having a go at bashing some cheap Piko German wagons into a more 'OO' sized approximation of the real thing, the prototypes looked gorgeous with the massive Ford branding on the side!

 

Very best of luck, sounds really exciting! :)

 

You could not be more bang on with what I am trying to create, I want to fill the back of the layout with a large ford complex, more likely a parts depo, like the one in daventry just with a rail connection. While I would love to have loads of new cars parked ready for rail loading, I thinking more storage of cars than rail car transports due to space. The light blue section is going to be all ford private with fencing around it, with the green section being a small BR yard.

 

Thanks for tip for the cars, I have been struggling to find 1990s ford cars. I have seen some photos of ford branded ho waggons, they look great just abit worried of them looking bit small?

 

I have got about 7 VGA's atm, would like to model a few of these though,

 

Photo credit to dave_long great shot.

 

post-10052-0-51489800-1417214224.jpg

 

Any more photos of 1990's ford waggon, formations etc is most welcome.

 

Todays Progress

 

My goal is to complete the front "mainline" section and rear loop next,

 

The layout uses 9mm plywood and M8 rod to support the higher scenic sections.

 

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I was just going to us this on the helix, but its so strong and I love how easy it is to make small height adjustments. The front section is supported about ever 15inches and seems pretty strong, no sag with the weight of locos etc. But there is scope to add extra supports if needed. Also today I have made a more permanent home for the power cab, screwing and supporting the transformed and putting in surge protector etc. 

 

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More updates to come on Monday!

 

Thanks for all the comments and feedback, positive or negative. Its all appreciated. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Over the last week progress has focussed on the lower "mainline/avoiding line" section. This is allows the trains to fly past the the main part of the layout before climbing around the back into the station, or descending into the fiddle yard. Work has stopped a little on the layout due to the local hardware shop running out of m8 rod! A trip to b&q may be in store over the weekend. But I hope to get the rear section completed over xmas.

 

This section uses code 75 concrete track which looks great, but is causing some issues for my lima fleet. The 37 and 73 are mainly static but my work in progress 4 car 156 is having its wheel flanges filled down :-( I have recently purchased a 7 car hst which has been a right pain. The lights have now been hard wired on the power car and work fine, but the dummy went from working intermittent to not working at all and not reading the decoded on the program track. A new circuit board has been ordered for it.

 

Next is more work on the bringing back to life my fleet which has sat in storage for 5 years.....

 

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post-10052-0-12899200-1418231939.jpg

 

post-10052-0-84902400-1418231940.jpg

 

Thanks for looking, any comments or feedback is most welcome.

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  • 1 year later...

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