Orchard Road TMD - BR Blue - The Story Continues

[mudmagnet]

Hi,

 

The lighting pelmet / name board has been given the first coat of paint this morning, using a pale colour emulsion that I had left over from DIY project. I wanted a pale colour as I didn't want a dark colour overpowering the layout and the colour used seems to be OK. The name baord still needs to be finished - i.e. painting the layout name - i.e. Orchard Road and BR double arrow logo - which I may get to at the coming weekend, but will need to produce a template on the computer so that the letters can be marked out.

 

The overall photo hopefully shows the arrangement (excuse the mess in the garage). The lights are fitted onto the horizontal section and front panel is screwed in place so that it can be removed for painting the letters. The top section locates into the supports using wooden dowels and then two bolts to secure in place. The cable for the lights runs over one of the supports and down the rear - I need to add a couple of clips to hold the cable in place.

[darren01]

HI Mud

That lighting unit looks very good!, i need one for my layout now i have seen yours.

Your layout just keeps getting better, keep up the good work.

All the best

Darren

[torkardlane]

Looks great any chance of a behind the scenes pic, got to design something for Deadwater but have mental block .

 

Tom

[mudmagnet]

Looks great any chance of a behind the scenes pic, got to design something for Deadwater but have mental block .

 

Tom

 

Hi Tom,

 

No problem - will take a couple of photos from behind the layout at the weekend.

[Grimleygrid]

Looking very nice indeed MM. B)

[mudmagnet]

Looks great any chance of a behind the scenes pic, got to design something for Deadwater but have mental block .

 

Tom

 

Hi Tom,

 

Sorry not had much chance to get a view from behind the layout, but have attached a photo showing the light pelmet sat on top of the support legs. Each leg upright is bolted to the baseboard frame behind the backscene using M6 bolts and wing nuts. The light pelmet is made from a horizontal piece of 6mm ply, onto which two pieces of wood are glued and screwed. The light fitting (from Homebase) was then screwed to the timber. A seperate piece of 6mm plywood is screwed to the front timber (only screwed so that it can be removed if needed). This hole assembly locates via wooden dowels into the horizontal supports and a single M6 bolt and nut is used to hold in place. The power cable is clipped to the timber using small cable clips and then run along and down the supports - clips will be added later, around which the cable can be fitted (loose to allow removal / fitting at an exhibition). The only thing that I may do is to add triangular gussets across the ends to finish off and make a tidier finish.

 

I hope that this helps, but let me know if you need anything else.

 

I have also added layout name to pelmet. I created my own stencils by printing these from my computer. I used the BR font from Scalescenes (bought their station nameboards a while ago and comes with the BR true-type font) in Word and printed out to the required size. The letters were then cut out using a scapel and drawn round onto the pelmet. The letters were then hand painted and the whole pelmet sprayed with matt varnish when dry.

 

 

 

Mudmagnet

[mudmagnet]

Looking very nice indeed MM. B)

 

Thanks Grimleygrid.

 

The picture below shows a quite moment at Orchard Road, with the light coming through the sky-lights, showing the steel frame of the building (from Evergreen section).

[akumulator]

Hi MM

 

a quick note to say that your layout has really inspired me to start my own Diesel Depot - I've taken the time to read through all the pages which has saved me bombarding you with loads of questions - I've learnt a lot but still have one outstanding query...

 

how did you make the concrete flooring for inside the depot building plus the area between the tracks and outside..as shown to great effect in the latest photo?

 

Cheers

 

Paul.

[mudmagnet]

Hi MM

 

a quick note to say that your layout has really inspired me to start my own Diesel Depot - I've taken the time to read through all the pages which has saved me bombarding you with loads of questions - I've learnt a lot but still have one outstanding query...

 

how did you make the concrete flooring for inside the depot building plus the area between the tracks and outside..as shown to great effect in the latest photo?

 

Cheers

 

Paul.

 

Hi Paul,

 

Many thanks for your comments. It's good to read that Orchard Road has inspired someone else - which is one of the great things about RMWeb. I'm always happy to answer questions, again on of the things about RMWeb - the opportunity for interaction.

 

The 'concrete' is tile grout from one of the DIY stores. For the section outside the shed, after laying the track, the edge was formed with card, being glued with PVA, then the concrete built-up in layers with the tile grout. Once the top of the card is reached, I dragged a steel rule across the top of the card and rails. The excess is then removed from the top and inside the rails. The section between the rails is also edged before applying the tile grout. Inside the shed, a similar method was used, but without the card board edging. The tile grout is then painted with acrylics, building the colours up. I also drew the concrete joints in pencil and added a few pieces of scenic material.

 

I hope that this helps.

 

Mudmagnet

[akumulator]

Hi Paul,

 

Many thanks for your comments. It's good to read that Orchard Road has inspired someone else - which is one of the great things about RMWeb. I'm always happy to answer questions, again on of the things about RMWeb - the opportunity for interaction.

 

The 'concrete' is tile grout from one of the DIY stores. For the section outside the shed, after laying the track, the edge was formed with card, being glued with PVA, then the concrete built-up in layers with the tile grout. Once the top of the card is reached, I dragged a steel rule across the top of the card and rails. The excess is then removed from the top and inside the rails. The section between the rails is also edged before applying the tile grout. Inside the shed, a similar method was used, but without the card board edging. The tile grout is then painted with acrylics, building the colours up. I also drew the concrete joints in pencil and added a few pieces of scenic material.

 

I hope that this helps.

 

Mudmagnet

 

Fantastic stuff!

 

thought perhaps that it was polyfilla! will give it a try with some spare grout in the garage.

 

I presume on the outside of the rails inside the shed its ok to have the grout right up to the edge? just the inside needs the spacing added

 

finally made a start tonight after 30 years in the planning - rather that make my mistakes on a large layout - have knocked up a 3" by 1" board to practice laying cork , painting sleepers & rails, ballasting etc. - will now include the concrete & am even considering making an inspection pit

 

keep up the good work & the photos - its been a great series!

 

Cheers

 

Paul.

[akumulator]

Stupid question ..... Is grout the same as tile adhesive???

[mudmagnet]

Hi Paul,

 

No, the two are different. Also, I have used the tile grout on the bridge and carved to get the stones - but needs to be dampened before carving as when dry the tile grout is very hard and will blunt your tools.

[mudmagnet]

Hi, not much work on the layout, but have been making a couple of pallet pump trucks for placing inside the shed. I have a few other things to make before I start thinking about positioning and fixing down. The detailing of the interior will be a gradual thing and will probably add too much! However, I don't mind making the interior a bit cluttered - could be a good contrast to the rest of the layout - i.e. what lies outside the shed.

 

The trucks are made from plasticard - Evergreen strips, cut and glued to together, with the handle from bent wire. Not particularily detailed, but should represent the real thing! Each has been painted with acrylics. Now, to move onto some more details.

[Grimleygrid]

Love the latest photo, really shows off the inside of the shed and the light bleeding through the sky lights adds to the atmosphere. Can just imagine the depot waiting for an engine to arrive for servicing.

 

Great work on the pallet trucks!

 

 

[mudmagnet]

Love the latest photo, really shows off the inside of the shed and the light bleeding through the sky lights adds to the atmosphere. Can just imagine the depot waiting for an engine to arrive for servicing.

 

Great work on the pallet trucks!

 

 

 

Thanks for the comments. I'm not sure why I've not tried to get a photo like this before - could be do with getting the lights on the layout! Should be even better when I get some details inside the shed though! I will add some interior lights, which can be switched on and off to suit mood, but being a layout set late 70's / early 80's, I will add some 'low-light / low-efficient' lights, and need to experiment with LED's / grain of wheat to get the effect that I am looking for.

[mudmagnet]

Hi,

 

I have changed the Bachmann decoder in my 08 to a TCS M1 and what a difference in performance now. Well worth the extra cost, plus being a bit smaller is a little easier to fit.

 

The 08 now crawls along extremely slowly when set to '1' on my NCE Powercab, you can just see the con-rods moving!

 

I have also added a cab light and connected to function 1 (headlight) and by setting CV49 to the appropriate value, the light comes on when selected regardless of direction of travel.

I'm not sure if this an option on the Bachmann decoders.

 

The LED is yellow, I thought that the white one wouldn't look quite right! I tried the reduced setting on CV49, but was a little too dim.

The full value setting actually appears to be about correct.

 

The only thing missing now is the driver!

[Andrew P]

HI there Mudmaster, I just love the overall pic you have posted showing the full layout, it provers that less is more! not overcrowding the scene with to many items of irrelevance that just spoil so many small layouts. Well done buddy.

[slow8dirty]

Hi Richard,

the more I see of it the better it gets. Does all the exhibition readiness mean that Orchard Rd will be appearing at shows within SWAGonia, would love to see it in the flesh.

 

Regards, Matt

[mudmagnet]

HI there Mudmaster, I just love the overall pic you have posted showing the full layout, it provers that less is more! not overcrowding the scene with to many items of irrelevance that just spoil so many small layouts. Well done buddy.

 

Hi Andrew,

 

Thanks for your comments. I thought that an overall view would be beneficial, with the layout only being 8ftx 18" (in old money), quite a lot of detail can be added, but didn't want to overcrowd and keep some space around.

 

I prefer building layouts in this sort of overall size - small enough to finish and transport, yet large enough to get a reasonable amount of track and operational interest.

[mudmagnet]

Hi Richard,

the more I see of it the better it gets. Does all the exhibition readiness mean that Orchard Rd will be appearing at shows within SWAGonia, would love to see it in the flesh.

 

Regards, Matt

 

hi Matt,

 

There's nothing quite like an exhibition deadline to get things finished!

 

So far booked for the following shows this year -

 

Hayle, Cornwall - May 28th / 29th - follow link Hayle Exhibition

 

Exeter, Devon - June 4th / 5th - follow link Exeter Model Railway Society

 

Barnstaple, Devon - July 30th - follow link Barnstaple Model Railway Club

 

I would like to do a few more later in the year.

 

I am also hoping to bring along to the SWAG day in Taunton next year

 

 

If you can make any of these shows, please come over and say hello - may even hand you the controller for a stint!

[34010-34005]

The sky light gives real feeling and the pallet trucks are as bad as the ones that used to be at Brian Fords Discount Store (Quite rough)

Perhaps we can have a get together for the shows. Perhaps Grandad would want to go too!

Keep up the good work.

 

Chris

[mudmagnet]

hi Chris,

 

Thanks for comments. Most of the pallet trucks that I have seen / used get battered very quickly. There are one of those things that don't get looked after!

 

I have been working on some more details for inside the depot building and hoping to get these painted in the next day or so and will then post some photos. What are they? Well, you will have to wait!

[mudmagnet]

Hi,

 

I have been working on some work benches, shelf units and drawer unit for inside the shed. All I need now is to add some details onto these (such as tools, tool boxes, oil cans etc). Until these details are sorted, the benches etc will not get glued down, so just placed for photos and their final positions have not been decided.

[MarstonVale]

Hi MM, just come across your layout. WOW!! You are doing a great job. Big well done, Paul

[mudmagnet]

Hi,

I've managed to get a little bit of time on the layout today - filling in the gaps between the floor and inside walls on the depot building and a bit of tidying up.

Also added along the front of the layout a material curtain has been added to hide the legs and boxes etc under the layout. These are held in place with velcro so fitting and removing at an exhibition is quick and easy. Thanks to SWMBO for her sewing skills!