swisspeat Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 Hello, This is the first post of a new HO scale shunting layout with possible extension potential. It will be made primarily a Swiss Post rail served depot using Code 75 track. Backing the depot will be a raised single track that gently curves across the baseboard and will effectively hide the headshunt. I seem to have collected a number of Swiss Post wagons (Liliput and Roco) over the years which now require a home. Attached are a couple of prototype pics taken at Thun and Cadenezza plus a few mock ups of the track design. I will be laying Woodland Scenics foam sheets on top of the baseboard today for sound proofing and to protect the baseboard which I could potentially reuse again in the future. The main structure will probably be made from Pikestuff sheets. I will provide updates from time to time. Kind regards, Pete 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 A bit more progress has been made on this project. The track and ballasting is done though there is still the inevitable "cleaning up" to do around the ballast. I must say it took longer than I had anticipated to clean up the track after the glue had set on the ballast. Illustrated are just some of the tools I used to get the locos running smoothly again. To the right there is a raised upper line which will stand on Woodland Scenics Sub Terrain risers. The wall is cut down Noch hard foam lengths. The next part of the project will be to build the Die Post loading bay and warehouse. Pete 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 A little bit more explanation of the higher level single line at the rear of the layout: After recently visiting the Swissmill in Zurich I noticed a line passing almost overhead. I thought that this might be a good way to introduce a different height level to the small layout. I will add catenary on the high level curving line to contrast with the diesel operating Die Post depot complex. Here are 3 photos explain the concept a little more: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 7, 2017 Author Share Posted January 7, 2017 A bit more progress today regarding the Die Post transhipment shed. Rather than go out and buy more bits and pieces I am trying to use up the stuff I already have in stock. So I have looked at what Pikestufbits I have left over from other structures and found just about enough to build the shed using a cardboard back wall which no one will see. I will make the loading platform from mounting card covered by Scalescenes sheets. Pikestuff is good stuff but it does require a lot of cuts with a sharp knife to cut through the thick plastic sheets to make the holes for the doors etc. I have also set myself of making the long front wall by using 5 separate pieces and hopefully fixing them together seamlessly. A few pics are attached. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share Posted January 10, 2017 I am now putting the final touches to the Die Post loading warehouse. Materials used included Styrofoam, Pikestuff sheets, mounting card plus bits and pieces from old kits. In reality the building would be many many times larger than the model I have made but I hope I have captured something of the modern Die Post depots. Here are a couple of pics of the structure loosely positioned on the layout. Lots of bedding in and details to be added. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 A bit more progress has taken place with the retaining wall and upper level buildings placed loosley in position for the purpose of seeing what the finished project will look like. There will be an electrified line on top of the retaining wall. I have Parcel Force signs for quickly transferring the yard this side of the English Channel! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 It took 3 hours to assemble a Noch laser cut town bridge kit which is now ready for positioning on the layout. The bridge will play host to the high level single track. It now looks as if I need to reposition the Woodland Scenics Risers to give sufficient clearance under the bridge. The smaller side will be the access road to the Die Post depot with the larger side giving access to the link to the mainline. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissRailPassion Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 (edited) Looking good. What's the height of the bridge? Is it 4 inches? Edited January 18, 2017 by SwissRailPassion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 Yes, it is 4 inches. Here is the almost finished bridge. I will post more pics of the bridge in situ in the next couple of days. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 19, 2017 Author Share Posted January 19, 2017 Here is a first picture of the bridge in situ. While I feel I have broken the back of this project a huge number of small tasks loom ahead including improving the road surface, filling gaps, planting a few weeds etc. That will keep me busy for a while... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 A few more details such as CCTV cameras, trolleys, signs, pallets etc have been added. Still lots to do over coming weeks. Here are a few updating photos. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share Posted January 23, 2017 The pictures I posted yesterday were taken in poor light so here are a few more including one of the overall layout. This represents a month's work. I suppose I have spent 1.5 hours a day on average on the compact layout. Still lots to do! :-) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share Posted January 23, 2017 I have just taken a few more pics with a Liliput BLS MUTZ on the top level. Readers of this thread may recall one of my previous posts was about buying this EMU! Catenary will be erected on the top level someday. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 After a months work on the compact layout I have today taken a few more pics after adding an Auhagen transhipment overhead crane. I still need to add catenary and some yard lamps. I may add a couple of poplar trees in front of the middle of the retaining wall which will visually break up the length of the wall a bit. I have mixed feelings about the layout. It probably does not look industrial enough. Or should I say dirty enough! The trouble is I do not really relish weathering the post wagons or locos. Most of these run cleanly in Switzerland anyway. Ballast in the bridge is wrong but because I did not intend the track there to be shown in the pictures I can live with it though I have painted the ballast on top of the bridge today which immediately gives a better impression. I have been buying the post wagons and road vehicles over the past decade so at last I have somewhere to photograph them. I shall put the layout away for a few weeks then do some more work on it. Later it will be "converted" to a UK based location. Then Austrian... Thanks for watching the progress so far! Kind regards, Peter 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neils WRX Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Just found this thread, great layout, out of interest what size are the baseboards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted February 14, 2017 Author Share Posted February 14, 2017 Hello, Thanks. 1.42 m x 0.50 m on one baseboard. Today I have been "converting" it to BR Blue era as the basis of an article for Model Rail magazine. Construction of the project took around 50 hours spread over a month. Here are a few new photos: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted March 4, 2017 Author Share Posted March 4, 2017 Back to Switzerland now I have added a few more road vehicles to the scene. The van is by Schucco. The HGVs are by Reitze. Thanks for looking... Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satan's Goldfish Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 It does swap really well between countries. Good work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 Thank you. I also have various Austrian locos and rolling stock so I might "rework" it and use it as an OBB layout next... "Rework" means replacing the sign on the warehouse with an Austrian Post one! I intend to add yard lamps and other details to the layout as time progresses. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share Posted March 20, 2017 A few more pictures with some different rolling stock... The figures are Preiser. Pete 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted March 20, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 20, 2017 Are you copying me http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/94290-bow-locks-was-a-bit-on-the-side/ Great looking layout, love the moveability between countries Andi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share Posted March 20, 2017 Wow! Thanks for alerting me to your layout. I had not seen it before. I see what you mean! I do like the two level look and next time I will do it better. I think my second tier is too high but the bridge kit determined that height on this occasion. I do like your layout! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted April 21, 2017 Author Share Posted April 21, 2017 Dear readers, Over the past month I have spent odd bits of time improving the layout. I have finessed the static grass weeds, added bunches of spring flowers along the roadside but the main task has been the installation of various street and yard lights. I have played around with the new Just Plug streetlights (so easy to use but the posts are a bit chunky) and Gaugemaster modern yard lamps (look marvellous, great value for moneyand a bit more time consuming to install). Here are just a few pics. I have thoroughly enjoyed working up the layout which I did at once put in the "finished" category. Thanks for looking. Best wishes, Pete 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swisspeat Posted June 3, 2017 Author Share Posted June 3, 2017 Hello again. As was mentioned earlier in this thread I did take some pictures with UK rolling stock to see how the small layout looked with a British theme too. I thought it passed the test ok so I wrote some notes and combined them with lots of progress pictures and submitted them to Model Rail magazine. A 9 page feature on the constructional steps appears in the July 2017 issue of the magazine under a 50 Hour Layout Building Challenge banner. Hopefully someone will find a fact or two in the article of value. I am not sure what I will do with the layout now. I will probably simply strip down the baseboard and have another go at a new project. Swiss or UK? I am not sure yet. Thanks for your views of the thread over the past 6 months. Kind regards, Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backofanenvelope Posted June 4, 2017 Share Posted June 4, 2017 Cracking layout Pete! Wondering if you'll be building a bigger one with all that Swiss stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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