Wessex & West: Avonbury to Lostwithlea! Early 90's GWR Wessex to Cornwall multi-deck layout

[Iron Horse]

Wow that looks amazing, what a transformation 😃

[Wummyock]

1 hour ago, Rhysb said:

Im amazed at how just a quick addition of some fascia to the peninsula has really brought the layout on! Now to add some shaper sheet, lay the inside track round the curve and then spray the track prior to ballasting!

 

Its amazing how up to date and current it is with the snow covering trackside and around the pinetrees in your homage to all things Kernow.

[lmsforever]

Wow  this is some layout the track plan gives so many routes and when the scenery starts to happen the layout will be a very good one to watch and of course operate ,I shall follow well done.

[Rhysb]

Added a bit of black paint to the fascia just to give it a good seal before the plaster etc gets built up.

 

Unsure if it will stay black or maybe move to brown but we will see when the scenery is more prominent.

 

Thanks

 

Rhys

[PaulRhB]

6 minutes ago, Rhysb said:

Unsure if it will stay black or maybe move to brown but we will see when the scenery is more prominent.

Black can work like museum displays and theatres as a total contrast. It’s all really down to personal preference, some like natural tones,

 

 

I prefer the stronger contrast

 

 

[bcnPete]

Great layout - staying' tuned for more... 😃

[jamest]

Hi Rhys, 

 

Great to have met you, Ian and Mike for a beer and chat at Tonbridge. 

 

Ian kindly linked your layout so I can keep up with your progress. 

 

Very impressive.... And very jealous of the space.... Although that is a lot of work! 

 

Cheers

James

[WCML100]

Just stumbled across this thread. Really like this layout and the work you have put into it!
 

One small suggestion from myself would be to get rid of that plastic peco buffer stop at the end of the platform and replace it with a white metal GWR / BR western region style one! Will add to the cornish theme and match the level of quality you have across the rest of the layout! 
 

top work mate - looking forward to more progress and pictures 😁

[Rhysb]

Not many updates on here but a huge amount of work has been going on behind the scenes.

 

Just wanted to drop an update on the second helix. Well under way with only a couple of loops to go. Once this is done the fiddle yard and the west end of the Avonbury part of the layout will be connected giving me a full loop.

 

 

 

 

This is a DCC train Automation kit and is brilliantly easy to setup. I specified the 4th and 5th radius curves to make the gradient softer. DCC train automation also laser mark the track guide onto the track bed to make the laying of the track really easy. 

 

One thing I would suggest is use Hornby track R621 on the non-standard bits as this is really flexible and the track is easy to feed through the chairs meaning you can offset the joins.

 

Thanks

 

Rhys

[Rhysb]

Well outside of a couple of bits of track (I ran out) the second helix is complete... the complete loop edges ever closer!

 

 

 

My maths is obviously not that bad as the 1.5 degree slope on the outer up line meets the upper deck perfectly!

 

Now the final connections!

 

Thanks

 

Rhys

[Jack97m]

Hope to see some videos of this on YouTube aswell was really enjoying the uploads 👍

[Rhysb]

Well 6 months has passed, I suppose I should show some updates! Porthleven took a lot of my time and as it appears it has no bookings for 2024 I guess its back to the big layout for a while.

 

Firstly however... some Mendip art!

 

PAR is a regular artist that features on Merehead stock. This is a representation of a real JHA wagon:

 

BOSER is the JHA for attention. Again based of a real wagon:

 

Finally our very own WIZ! has been at it and this one has been covered recently:

 

Helix's all done now and will try and post some overall pictures of the layout soon.

 

Rhys

[PaulRhB]

44 minutes ago, Rhysb said:

I guess its back to the big layout for a while.

Not too long, want see the harbour 😎

[Melangoose]

Those Yeoman JHA’s look spot on.  Just like the ones we see everyday.

[Rhysb]

Good morning all,

 

I have posted these in the Cavalex 56 thread but after receiving my loco's I have made a couple of videos. Some running shots of the loco's and secondly a traction test.

 

Thanks

 

Rhys

 

 

 

[CazRail]

Enjoyed watching these videos, would love to see more videos of the layout its self, it's very impressive.

[puffmeister-general]

Came across this thread and have watched your YouTube videos and I have to say your layout and work is superb. I was particularly  interested in your helix build and as a result I’ve now had a look at ddc train automation to get ideas and costs from their site. Your graffiti is superb and I have to say I really like your Mario and Marvin hoppers. Can I ask what materials do you use for the graffiti? 

[Rhysb]

On 07/02/2024 at 19:32, puffmeister-general said:

Came across this thread and have watched your YouTube videos and I have to say your layout and work is superb. I was particularly  interested in your helix build and as a result I’ve now had a look at ddc train automation to get ideas and costs from their site. Your graffiti is superb and I have to say I really like your Mario and Marvin hoppers. Can I ask what materials do you use for the graffiti? 

 

Thanks, Marvin and Mario were graffiti paint pens. A mixture of Montana, Molotow and Posca. Graffiti artists will use these to draft their work on paper before going in with the aerosols on the real surface. I use them exactly how a graffiti artist would do them. So basically sketch the outline, fill then line and highlight.

 

Hope that helps?

 

Rhys

[puffmeister-general]

On 13/02/2024 at 14:17, Rhysb said:

 

Thanks, Marvin and Mario were graffiti paint pens. A mixture of Montana, Molotow and Posca. Graffiti artists will use these to draft their work on paper before going in with the aerosols on the real surface. I use them exactly how a graffiti artist would do them. So basically sketch the outline, fill then line and highlight.

 

Hope that helps?

 

Rhys

Brilliant thank you 👍

[Rhysb]

Happy Easter everyone!

 

Did someone say another deck! Made a start on deck 3 on the peninsula today. More details to follow!

 

 

 

Thanks Rhys.

 

[New Haven Neil]

I'm another who has just stumbled upon your thread, very interesting as I modelled US railroads for many years and was pert of the operating crew on a large multi layer layout.  As a result I always fancied a multi-layer layout US style, but UK outline (I rather lack the space and funds unfortunately!) and your model has really hit that spot.  Following!

 

PS - Should that not be called 'Lostwithneil' - my wife is from the area and SIL lives there still, and we always call Lostwithiel that!

[Rhysb]

So did a bit more work this evening, with the addition of the new deck I need to add lighting below it for Lostwithlea.

 

Will do a bit more testing to ensure enough light. This is cob 6000k LED strips:

 

This photo gives you an idea of the light on the layout:

 

Thanks

 

Rhys

 

 

[Rhysb]

Good Morning,

 

Another update from yesterday! The new deck is getting further down the room and started to add the base fascia (the decorative one gets attached to the base) and the curve is starting to take shape!

 

 

 

I have built the top deck about 100mm back from the bottom deck so then the view is not spoiled if you are standing up:

 

Same with the Lostwithlea side:

 

 

Might get a chance to get a bit more done this weekend.

 

Thanks

 

Rhys

 

[drduncan]

A very interesting and impressive project. I’ll be watching with interest.

 

Duncan

[Rhysb]

Good evening all,

 

Well the upper deck is in. The upper fascia and lighting is still to do but the lighting for the main deck on the peninsula is all done and I’m happy with it. 
 

Also the last of the backscene boards are in, they just need some sky blue paint!

 

This pretty much means that the main deck on the peninsula is done work wise and is now just a case of scenery etc! 

Really pleased with the curved backscene:

 

 

I have added depth to the backscene behind the viaduct to allow for a nicer transition between the scenes:

 

 

Thanks

 

Rhys