A Beginning, Flat Pack Layout

[m0h]

Good Afternoon all,

A little introduction as this is my first post here.

I have always been interested in model railways and full size railways (though not to the same degree).
My father had numerous layouts over his lifetime and was a shunter and runner at Doncaster yards in the late sixties.
So from the late 80's (when i could appreciate these things) I always had railway knowledge and books and layouts growing up.

Fast forward twenty five years and here I am about to embark upon my own hobby, albiet without my father to show my work off to, now that I have the space in my house and the spare cash to do so...(thanks dad).


Anwyay, fairly standard introduction to the hobby no doubt, let's crack on.


I picked up this months Railway Modeller for the article mentioned on the front called "A Flat Pack Layout"...having flicked through it, I figured I would have a bash at something small like that, whilst I intermittently floor the loft in my house out for the dream layout...one day...

So, eBay orders placed for supplies of foamboard and the few bits of set track I needed, and we could get cracking.


Look at that foamboard, it's so...white...


I added what has become known as the 5-Inch LINE OF DOOM! as no track can cross this line.

So, I threw some track at it and drew round ready to get cutting


But my assistant had other ideas, just deciding to have a wash instead...


Moving him on, and about five minutes of knifework later and I had this:

 

 

Now, I have to go to work, and ferry people around Doncaster, during St. Leger week...but updates will hopefully, not be too long in forthcoming.

 

 - Lewis

[Alex TM]

Hi Lewis,

 

Welcome to the eccentric, and wonderful, world that is RMWeb.  Having read the same article in the RM I am looking forward to seeing another take on the idea.

 

Good luck.

 

Regards,

 

Alex.

[m0h]

Thanks Alex TM, aren't we all a little eccentric in this hobby though?

I am following the plan as it was published in RM, the only difference will be that I intend to use embossed cobbles and brickwork rather then papers as I think they look like paper (well...duh!)

So, after a bust few days with the races here, I had a day off work and managed to find some hobby time.

I have managed to get all the track glued down and the foamboards doubles for extra strength, all under the watchful eye of one of the furry supervisors of the house:


Whilst I was waiting for the glue to set properly, I got some stock out of boxes and had a look at train lengths for the Fiddle Sticks
(Foamboard casette style fiddle yard thingies):

My J50 and 3 wagons, which fit ona  double straight and two extra short straights (or one short straight), I just wonder if this piece of track will eb too long to fit in a box file when all is said and done...we'll have to wait and see.

SWMBO then appeared and annouced that Sunday Dinner was nearly ready, so I was evicted from the living room, to be fair the table looked like this at the time:

 

So, later on, on my desk, I had a look at the join on the point, which actually worked first time!

Sometimes I even impress myself, I'll be even more impressed if the entire thing works first time.

To come, I have to figure out how to attach the power to the track, as I belatedly realised I should have done that before gluing the track down.

Also, can anyone point me towards some 4mm scale embossed cobbles and brick plasticard, as I have seen 7mm versions in my old hobby shop, but not 4mm for some reason.

Next step is to get the Fiddle Sticks made and then, wire it up and get something moving


Thanks for looking.

 - Lewis