Simond Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 Chipboard is horribly heavy and impervious to track pins! MDF is better, marginally. Have a look at what I've been up to on Port Dinllaen. It might not be what you want to do, but it is stiff, level and light. It is mounted on four legs, with castors fitted to allow me pull the board out with little hassle. The deck is 4mm ply, which may be inclined to drum, but it is well supported, and the tracked will be raised from it by at least 5mm, probably on cork or triwall cardboard, so I'm not worried about that. Lightweight structures are to be recommended, although they will take a little longer to build. I doubt they cost more. The loco shed boards cost around £120 including the castors. More info available if you want Best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted June 28, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 28, 2016 Chipboard is horribly heavy and impervious to track pins! MDF is better, marginally. Have a look at what I've been up to on Port Dinllaen. It might not be what you want to do, but it is stiff, level and light. It is mounted on four legs, with castors fitted to allow me pull the board out with little hassle. The deck is 4mm ply, which may be inclined to drum, but it is well supported, and the tracked will be raised from it by at least 5mm, probably on cork or triwall cardboard, so I'm not worried about that. Lightweight structures are to be recommended, although they will take a little longer to build. I doubt they cost more. The loco shed boards cost around £120 including the castors. More info available if you want Best Simon Hi Simon, Thanks for that. I've been having a look through your thread - got to Page 7 and not found the baseboards yet! Have I missed it or is it in a different thread? Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Donw Posted June 28, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 28, 2016 I find using light (4&6mm ply) tops a flat top is more rigid but ideally you then need to raise the track up a bit or the ground level doesn't look right. Even in a cutting the ground alongside the tracks will be at a lower level. In yards where the track is often buried up to the sleeeper tops a flat board is fine. This shows a multilayer board. The top is the goods yard, the middle is the descending main line, the bottom the river bed. THe two boards shown has sucessfully moved home and await finishing of the alterations before modelling can re-commence. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/79053-cambrian-and-gwr-0-gauge-loft-layout-a-slight-diversion/page-12 Don 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted June 28, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 28, 2016 Hi Don, Ah I like that idea - I can see the boards having more strength and rigidity to them than pure open plan. Food for thought there. I take it, given your comment, you've not found any movement, or sagging with that style of construction, and operation has been ok? I presume you did lay your track on cork in the end? I'll look at the rest of the thread when I'm back home Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Donw Posted June 28, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 28, 2016 Hi Don, Ah I like that idea - I can see the boards having more strength and rigidity to them than pure open plan. Food for thought there. I take it, given your comment, you've not found any movement, or sagging with that style of construction, and operation has been ok? I presume you did lay your track on cork in the end? I'll look at the rest of the thread when I'm back home Rich track hasn't been laid yet but the later bits with the portable layout use the same materials. The real key is the diagonal bracing to avoid twist. The portable layout had been built in Brixham moved to Minehead then to the Isle of wight, back to Minehead stored in a very damp garage at first then as you see them One board (the top one of them stacked in the garage had taken the brunt of the rain coming through the roof and got slightly bowed (MDF would have just fallen apart) I removed the bowed side timbers and replaced them and carried on. Don Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 Rich The baseboards are the last few posts in the thread, hot off the press, during the last week! There is a structural beam which (all being well) will prevent twist, and this is topped with a light framework of 12x32 mm stripwood, edge on, to which the 4mm ply is glued & pinned. The previous layout was made using a similar thickness of ply, but in this case, I used strips of ply about 2" wide, glued around the edges, with diagonals glued in. As Don says, this vital to prevent twist. There are some photos of the underside at the end of the Greater Windowledge thread. HTH Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PjKing1 Posted June 29, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 29, 2016 Rich I've used 9mm ply for the track bed, this was then attached to the frame, I've then used 6mm ply where the scenics will go. Some pics start here on page 76 mate http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/88437-edge-lane-junction/page-76 Hope that's of some help. Cheers 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted July 6, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 6, 2016 Morning all, Just a quick update - little progress at Marsh Lane over the past week or two, work has got in the way, and i've been away for a few days which hasn't helped. A few things have moved forward however - I discovered that I had run out of the brick plasticard for the inside of both ends of the shed, and having also realised that it was a South Eastern Finescale product and not Slaters, more has been ordered, so the builders should be in this weekend! The superbly talented JonF of this parish, has completed work on the shed exit ground signal (see pics at the bottom of Post 1167 - so that has pushed me to get the baseboards sorted out for this section, which Im hoping to get started this week, and progress *should* be a bit quicker at that point! More of the OO gauge has also gone, so the O gauge funds are looking in far better shape as well! To Paul, Simon & Don: Thanks (as ever) for your advice on baseboards, thats all useful, and helpful. Hopefully the next post will have pics, and be more moving forward! Rich 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted August 10, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 10, 2016 Evening all, Well work managed to totally and utterly get in the way, so there has been no progress on any front for the past four weeks However, i've got a long weekend off coming up, so with any luck, the interior walls will get finished and inserted, the flooring sorted out, and maybe even the sides all fixed together! Anyway, just a quick post to let everyone know i'd not vanished or given up on things, just lacking time! Hopefully more over the coming weekend! Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted August 24, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 24, 2016 Evening everyone, Well finally things have moved forward a bit - a combination of family and work getting in the way hasn't helped, but I'm not getting there! The shed has been assembled once and confirmed everything goes together, the floor of the shed is currently being laid - i decided in the end that as an old steam shed that had been upgraded for diesel operation, British Railways would likely have skimmed the floor with concrete to make dealing with oil and fuel spills easier, so thats the premise I'm working on! So the floor is comprised of pieces of cardboard to raise the base level, then covered with DAS clay on top to give a concrete style topping, which will be painted grey. Pics to follow over the weekend hopefully. The shed allocations have grown, as i've spent some of the 'O' gauge money that has been being saved up! I'd always said my timeline was 1980s maybe just touching into the early 1990s - I specifically want to stay away from Loadhaul/Transrail/Mainline liveries and don't want 66s to come near! So there has been an addition to the fleet that works with the latter end of that time line - specially Railfreight Petroleum liveried Class 60 No. 60064 Back Tor has been allocated to Marsh Lane and arrived on shed yesterday. Its a fully finished Heljan model acquired from those nice people at Rails of Sheffield, and in my view weathered superbly. The shed master is obviously something of an enthusiast too - and there is a rumour going round the shed staff, that he was spotted taking a quick photograph of 'his' two Class 60s on shed when nobody was looking ... cant imagine the line-up view he would have got.... Before anyone says, yes the windows are missing from 021 they've dropped out, but will be put back in shortly. Im thinking that 60021 may yet get shunted off into the works to emerge as 60006 in British Steel blue ... given that the BS pairing were not done until the late 1990s, it does stretch the timeline, but as ever - rule 1 applies!! My other option is if somebody has an unweathered, yet to be numbered Class 60 that they would prefer to swap for 60021 Penyghent in Railfreight Metals (plus a small cash bonus or similar) then get in touch! Neither have been DCC fitted as yet, but in the fullness of time! So the fleet is growing - in other news two parcel vans have arrived as well. I believe these have been mis-shunted at Blackpool onto a Marsh Lane bound service but they don't seem that keen to go back! Again, these are Heljan designs - a blue & grey BG and blue GUV, the starting of a parcel set. Nothing I can do with them really on the current test board, which is now becoming very cramped, so the incentive is there now to push on with the main layout. Please do excuse the clutter in the background of the images, like I say this was initially going to be a small layout, but has evolved into more of a test board ... and a messy one at that! So things are progressing, the fleet should grow again at the end of the month as two locos, which I think i've mentioned before, are currently in Cairns Road Works being repainted into more appropriate mid-1980s liveries, courtesy of Andi Walshaw. Pics to follow when they arrive, which I gather should be in the next week or so. Well that brings things up to date a bit, hopefully some more pics of the rapidly completing shed will appear over the weekend, and then we can get back to more regular updates, chats and pointers from you guys .. well those of you who are still with me anyway!!! Rich 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted August 24, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 24, 2016 Oh i knew there was something else to mention ... I've recently acquired a 1400 GWR Autotank! Way out of my time period, and initial bought it thinking I could develop my test board into a small GWR branch/goods terminus, something to match the short layout. But having now decided not to go down that road, I'm going to offer it for sale, either on a well known auction site or on the Bring & Buy at Telford ... unless anyone wants to make me an offer before hand. Lovely loco, DC powered, runs well, nicely detailed, crew on the footplate. No idea what kit it was built from, but looks good .... hoping this doesn't break any rules of rmWeb - if so, apologies, i'll remove it. Rich 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaScala Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Evening everyone, Well finally things have moved forward a bit - a combination of family and work getting in the way hasn't helped, but I'm not getting there! The shed has been assembled once and confirmed everything goes together, the floor of the shed is currently being laid - i decided in the end that as an old steam shed that had been upgraded for diesel operation, British Railways would likely have skimmed the floor with concrete to make dealing with oil and fuel spills easier, so thats the premise I'm working on! So the floor is comprised of pieces of cardboard to raise the base level, then covered with DAS clay on top to give a concrete style topping, which will be painted grey. Pics to follow over the weekend hopefully. The shed allocations have grown, as i've spent some of the 'O' gauge money that has been being saved up! I'd always said my timeline was 1980s maybe just touching into the early 1990s - I specifically want to stay away from Loadhaul/Transrail/Mainline liveries and don't want 66s to come near! So there has been an addition to the fleet that works with the latter end of that time line - specially Railfreight Petroleum liveried Class 60 No. 60064 Back Tor has been allocated to Marsh Lane and arrived on shed yesterday. Its a fully finished Heljan model acquired from those nice people at Rails of Sheffield, and in my view weathered superbly. The shed master is obviously something of an enthusiast too - and there is a rumour going round the shed staff, that he was spotted taking a quick photograph of 'his' two Class 60s on shed when nobody was looking ... cant imagine the line-up view he would have got.... Before anyone says, yes the windows are missing from 021 they've dropped out, but will be put back in shortly. Im thinking that 60021 may yet get shunted off into the works to emerge as 60006 in British Steel blue ... given that the BS pairing were not done until the late 1990s, it does stretch the timeline, but as ever - rule 1 applies!! My other option is if somebody has an unweathered, yet to be numbered Class 60 that they would prefer to swap for 60021 Penyghent in Railfreight Metals (plus a small cash bonus or similar) then get in touch! Neither have been DCC fitted as yet, but in the fullness of time! So the fleet is growing - in other news two parcel vans have arrived as well. I believe these have been mis-shunted at Blackpool onto a Marsh Lane bound service but they don't seem that keen to go back! Again, these are Heljan designs - a blue & grey BG and blue GUV, the starting of a parcel set. Nothing I can do with them really on the current test board, which is now becoming very cramped, so the incentive is there now to push on with the main layout. Please do excuse the clutter in the background of the images, like I say this was initially going to be a small layout, but has evolved into more of a test board ... and a messy one at that! So things are progressing, the fleet should grow again at the end of the month as two locos, which I think i've mentioned before, are currently in Cairns Road Works being repainted into more appropriate mid-1980s liveries, courtesy of Andi Walshaw. Pics to follow when they arrive, which I gather should be in the next week or so. Well that brings things up to date a bit, hopefully some more pics of the rapidly completing shed will appear over the weekend, and then we can get back to more regular updates, chats and pointers from you guys .. well those of you who are still with me anyway!!! Rich If "Robin" is driving 21, can we assume Batman is in charge of 64? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
60012 Commonwealth of Australia Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Just had a quick look through the thread. Looks to be a very nice project, and will be good to see it progress! Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted August 25, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 25, 2016 (edited) Thanks Peter, I'm hopeful! If I can get within 25% of what Dave has achieved with his 4mm Waverley West I shall be very happy!! Now we're approaching the end of summer I'm hopeful things will move quicker! If "Robin" is driving 21, can we assume Batman is in charge of 64?Haha! Unless Batman is the yard shunter of course!!! Rich Edited August 26, 2016 by MarshLane 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted September 10, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 10, 2016 Afternoon all, Well finally got a day to spend on progressing the shed forward. After a couple of attempts, I decided to abandon the idea of using DAS clay for the shed floor. I just wasn't happy with how it was coming out, so fell back onto my normal principals of using Foamboard. Its two layers, thick, the bottom layer, basically being just a lifter, with the top layer being the finished floor. Now i've only painted foam board once before and when it dried, it warped very badly - so can any one offer any advice on what paint to use?? Shed floor with the first lever of foam board in place, and the wooden foundations. The remains of the original DAS clay attempt can be seen. The loco arrival/departure end of the building, showing where the pits start and the doorways will be located. On hindsight, I should have either shortened the pits a bit or made the building longer, but given its the first scratch build project i've ever done, i'll quite happily file it under the 'learn from mistakes' folder! As you can see from the attached photos, the floor, and foundations for the shed are now fixed in, the solid lower black panels on the inner walls have been spray painted this afternoon too, so once the shed floor is painted, my next task is to start bringing the various parts together to create the final building. Once that is one, thoughts can turn to detailing and the like. Thoughts have now turned to progressing the layout. I have decided that Im going to build a small O gauge layout, based around a steelworks exchange sidings/internal yard, over two or three 4'x2' boards. Primarily as a way of running locos about and doing model photographs which is something that I really enjoy, but it will also serve as a testbed for a few things on the larger loft layout. Because I'm looking to get the trackwork dealt with as quickly as possible, while keeping the costs down, i'm going to use some Marcway points and Peco metre-length that I already have from a previous layout, but the scenic trackwork on the main loft layout will still be handbuilt. Despite the industrial setting, I'm planning to fully signal the yard (basically because I have a big enjoyment of signalling!) which will also allow my theories for building a small lever frame, and interlocking with block instruments to be tested before being put into play with the loft layout! I spent yesterday building the first baseboard and traverser, which have come out quite well. My plan is to use Draper DIY stands to support the boards, to save having to built legs, remove any wobble and also give an easy way of adjusting the height. The nearest board is the traverser - which is 6' long, where as the baseboards will all be 4' in length. Im thinking of taking a leaf out of the Runswick Bay layout and having one or two of the board finishing on an angle to give a hexagonal approach on one side. The boards were temporarily supported on a workman at one end as you can see! This has now been replaced by two Draper stands! A very quick check to make sure that the existing Marcway track that I had would fit with what I wanted to do! .... if your wondering ... yes it does! The track layout will be very simple five or six points, one being a three way, giving a single track branch at either end, and four sidings, three being through roads. The traverse will give the industrial complex at one end, while a sector plate will provide the main line and beyond at the other - can anyone give any thoughts/images/advice on building a sector plate??? Im thinking I might put another board in front of the traverser with a couple of sidings on, just to give some more operational interest. Hopefully i'll be able to progress a bit now! The aim with all of this is about practising scenery and getting the layout up and running quickly, to allow me to run some locos. There is a Minerva Peckett (with DCC Sound) due to arrive shortly from NG Trains and their Kerr Stuart is on order for Christmas, so they will provide the 1950s/1960s industrial locos, while my existing '08' and extra couple of Dapol '08s' (when they arrive) will provide the 1980s motive power - the theory being that when the steam needed replacing, rather than invest in new diesels, the steelworks contracted out internal movements to British Rail! It also gives the ability to run the odd mainline diesel into the sidings as well! Rich 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 40-something Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Afternoon all, Well finally got a day to spend on progressing the shed forward. After a couple of attempts, I decided to abandon the idea of using DAS clay for the shed floor. I just wasn't happy with how it was coming out, so fell back onto my normal principals of using Foamboard. Its two layers, thick, the bottom layer, basically being just a lifter, with the top layer being the finished floor. Now i've only painted foam board once before and when it dried, it warped very badly - so can any one offer any advice on what paint to use?? Rich I prime foamboard with Halfords primers, after first coating the exposed edges with PVA. Never had a problem with shrinkage Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted September 11, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 11, 2016 I prime foamboard with Halfords primers, after first coating the exposed edges with PVA. Never had a problem with shrinkage Thanks for that. I'll give that a go on a test piece. Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted September 11, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 11, 2016 Just a quick update. Spraying the bottom section of each side worked well and I'm pleased with the result. This evening has been spent fixing the inner and outer brickwork to the walls, and if I do say so myself it looks good!! Also taken 40-somethings advice and sprayed a sample bit of foam board with primer. It seems to have worked, hasn't warped and hasn't eaten the foam! So I'll progress that technique to paint the shed flooring. Hoping to have the basic building erected by the end of the weekend and possibly the other two baseboards built as well! Well I can hope! Rich 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted September 12, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2016 Evening all, Well another, albeit brief update. Not sure where I'm finding the time at the moment, but as I'm getting some modelling done, I'm not complaining! A couple of quick photographs of the shed sides/ends, please excuse the lovely 4F night shot on our breadboard! The interior and exterior brickwork has now been glued to the sides, and the black bottom section has come out really well. I thought it might have gone a little glossy, but doesn't seem to have done. Im quite pleased with the way in the internal weathering of the white wall has come out. Part of me says it should have been dirtier, but the other half of me says, no its fine! Having cut out the second layer of foamboard for the shed floor last weekend, these have all been sprayed a concrete grey colour this evening and are now drying. These will go glossy because of the spray, so some work with very fine sandpaper or JIF (can't get use to calling it CIF!) will be needed to dull it off a bit. Either way, it will be weathered with an uneven oily look before its finished anyway. I'm day off Thursday, so hoping that some more progress will be made with the baseboards if its fine, and I might even be able to start fixing the shed into one piece! Fingers crossed! Thanks to those who keep reading these ramblings, I'm always quite amazed at how the number of views jump and the kind comments pass through the 'agree' and 'like' etc buttons, so I'm assuming nobody's finding it boring! I was very honoured with the 'Craftsmanship/Clever' vote - as I'm neither a craftsman nor clever! Quite the opposite in my opinion! But thanks to everyone... hopefully with track laying and scenery work, along with locos running, we're not far away from the good stuff Rich 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted September 16, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 16, 2016 Evening all, Well the plan for today was to progress with baseboards for the new layout - but that was totally scuppered due to heavy rain for the majority of the day. The garage being so full of junk and rubbish that really needs clearing out and taking to the local rubbish tip, that woodworking has to be dealt with outside! So it was over to plan B and pull together a variety of final touches on the loco shed building. Those of you who have stuck with me may recall that i'd had a try at spraying the foam board for the flooring. Well the result worked quite well and all of the foam boarding was sprayed on Tues/Wed and left to dry. First task today was to refit it to the base and glue down to the base - its still going to be weathered yet, but I'm leaving that as a task for another day! With the track having been sprayed, and the concrete floor down things were starting to look good. Next up, was some final touches to the internal shed sides, which were completed quickly before thoughts turned to construction of the building - now as you may recall from an earlier photograph i've kind of had it all together once before, but it was with much balancing and good fortune (well perhaps not so much of either as it collapsed shortly after taking the picture!) and without any brickwork attached, so today was to be first time to really see if my thoughts and ideas really had come together or whether it was going to look just one big mess. There is a wooden framework, made out of 10mm square wooden bar to lift the building a little, and around which the concrete floor is laid. To assemble the sides onto the framework, with much help from my father, we've drilled holes, and inserted matchsticks (minus the lightable end!) which would act as vertical supports. The framework base and vertical supports were then coated in 'No Nails' and the first side attached. So far so good. The second side was added in the same way, before the roof trusses were inserted to make sure the sides were vertically correct, before the two ends were glued and added. Its all currently drying and nothing else will be done with it tonight, but I have to say, I am very delighted with how its come out. I've no doubts that many modellers on here could likely have done a better job, but having never scratchbuilt anything before, as a first attempted, I'm very very pleased! Pics below, and comments welcome - just try not to be too harsh and dent my enthusiasm! Wiring is already in place to the rails so I can see that the first loco movement onto Marsh Lane Depot may take place this weekend - subject to structural engineers reports, Health & Safety surveys and the availability of tuppence for the electric meter! There's still much detailing to take place, both internally and externally. The pits are to be added, as are the external doors. Internal wiring to hide the joins in the plastikard brick paper, external drain pipes, together with the roof of course, which i've not started yet. Then there is weathering, and all the bits and bobs that you find inside a depot to add as well, not to mention working roof and pit lights! Once its complete and on the layout, the wooden foundation won't be visible, as that is to be covered. Its been a steady project, I'm probably only 45% of the way there at the moment, but something that I knew wouldn't come together overnight, and i think its given me the enthusiasm to attempt other building creations as well for the new layout, rather than looking at kits or the like. Onwards and upwards as they say! Rich 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
two tone green Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 Nice shed. Looking forward to more news on this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 Hi Rich... I'm liking the look of the semi-assembled shed...it's going to have a real presence about it when it's complete. The weathered internal walls look good and have a look of realism about them already. Randall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted September 16, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 16, 2016 Randall, Many thanks for your kind comments. I think they have come out better than I initially thought they would! Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PjKing1 Posted September 17, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 17, 2016 That engine shed looks excellent well done! Can't wait to see photos of a loco sitting in it Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jintyman Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 The shed internals look really good, the weathering on the walls is looking just about right. Now you need filing cabinets, small workbenches and tools, etc, spread around the perifery of your shed walls. You might find some of those things here http://www.duncanmodels.co.uk/ alternatively, as Duncan models stuff tends to be dated a bit earlier than 70's - 80's, a good trawl around the Guild traders page will probably uncover quite a bit for you. Great blog on your Telford visit by the way, great information and nice pictures, well done. Jinty Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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