Windle Hill - Loading Yard

[Oncomin5torm]

I think I have a problem

Hi my name is Alex and I am a layout builder

 

Once again having a flip through the micro model railway dispatch e-mag I saw a very simple but effective layout I liked the look of, but it was in O gauge.

It was just 2 tracks and an unloading area, built into about 3ft.

I knew I had a 2x1 Tim horn board sitting in the shed I got from a friend, so I set about designing the OO version of the layout I saw.

 

This is what I have come up with, it's taken me about 2 hours to clear the board of the "stuff" from it's previous occupation as a photo board.

 

Where the tracks are placed is appropriately where I will have them, but the lengths are about right.

Top line will hold 1 long van or 2 shorter ones, the others will hold 2 long vans or multiple short ones, the one with the 16t wagon on at the front is just for storage until they are ready to be unloaded or ready for collection.

 

Backscene will be from a pair of fair price models low relief warehouses and fiddle yard will be hidden by a road over bridge.

The fiddle yard itself will be a fiddle stick and connect to the board somehow and be long enough to hold an 08 and 2 long vans and maybe a short one too, or lots of short vans or open wagons.

I'm doing small builds like this at the moment because I've got a new job and I need to focus on that rather than build my 8x2 layout.

 

This build just took shape in 1 day, already ordered the warehouses to go across the back, and I have built the backscene too, and now added the foamboard layer also, I dont hang about haha.

 

I have seen people using angled section of aluminium to make fiddle yard cassettes, I have no clue how to do this if anyone knows please do tell.

 

I am calling it a pointless railfreight depot as it has no points on it at all, but it will be built so that any different eras could operate on it without looking out of place, such as the locos and stock I also use on my ScrapNook Layout

Edited November 6, 2022 by Oncomin5torm

[Sweet pea]

Hi Alex it will be nice to see another one of your micro layout builds. Look forward to seeing this build develop.

[john new]

One thing to watch for, and it will need research, is that some (one?) forms of aluminium are non-conductive. Reason for the research - I remember reading about it, so know I would need to look it up if I was going to build one, but can't remember which version does conduct and which doesn't.

[melmerby]

29 minutes ago, john new said:

One thing to watch for, and it will need research, is that some (one?) forms of aluminium are non-conductive. Reason for the research - I remember reading about it, so know I would need to look it up if I was going to build one, but can't remember which version does conduct and which doesn't.

Isn't it just the surface that is non conducting? Due to the oxidation.

The metal itself AFAIK is always a conductor.

 

(i've just looked it up)

Edited May 16, 2022 by melmerby

[proton]

Anodized aluminium is non-conductive, aluminium metal is always conductive.  Aluminium with naturally occurring surface corrosion may be conductive, depending on what its attached to, and how (clamp forces, for instance).

 

PBM

[Oncomin5torm]

I've had a busy morning.
Stuck the backscene on, just a roll of wallpaper again so it gives the curved corner.

I've painted the backscene in a pale grey, I prefer to do gloomy and doomy backscenes mainly of greys. (I know it looks bubbled in the photo but once its dry it'll be flat again) most of the backscene will actually be covered by warehouses and a road over bridge so I didnt want to go too fancy with it.

 

I have also built the loading bay/platform too, I used the Peco concrete platform edging for this, as I had 2 packs spare.

 

The 2nd line is long enough for the longer wagon/van to go in with a short wheelbase wagon too, or maybe 3 short wheelbase in one go, the rear one is just big enough for a single long wagon/van.
This could also be used as a CCT unloading area as it would fit quite well for that as only the 3rd line will have an actual buffer stop, the rest will be a concrete stop at the end of the track right up against the platform edging, i'll just use a basic peco buffer stop painted up and weathered, they can look quite good if care is given when painting them.

The platform edging will get a weathering, nothing too fancy or heavy but enough to show use and not loads of care has been given to it.

[Jerry1975]

Sounds good and great progress so far, look forward to your next update.

 

Jerry. 

[Oncomin5torm]

Made some good use of my day off today.

I found myself hating the foamboard I was using as it made the height for the fiddle stick taller than the base of the layout so I ripped that up, sanded it all back down. Then cut some more 9mm ply I am using for the fiddle stick and glued that to the top instead, but leaving a bit exposed of the original baseboard on the fiddle side, so the fiddle stick can sit flush on the board and not need to be supported on this end and only needs it on the far end.

 

The platform edging has been weathered and glued down also, to form the top of this I will be using mountboard from The Range as I have loads left from other projects over the years. It fits perfectly on the little tabs on the inside face of the platform edging.

I weathered the edging with dark earth by vallejo and then removed most of it except in the recesses and corners, on top of this I applied Humbrol dark grey wash and then took most of that off as well, it gives a worn but not out of use look to the whole area.

 

All the track has been installed as well, droppers soldered and holes drilled though the baseboard to the underside, where eventually I will connect it to a DCC bus and be able to swap and change from my micro DCC system I use on micro layouts.

The track has only been tacked in place with superglue for now, when ballast is down it wont move at all.

The track overhangs the place where the fiddle stick will go, for now, the edges where the fiddle will but up against is held in place with DCC Concepts legacy sleepers, they are fantastic things and I use them on my 8x2 layout across baseboard joins.

 

 

This little layout is coming along nicely, I have started the bridge girder sections, but as I'm putting them on an angle I had to make them longer so ran out, thankfully I work near a model shop where I hope I can get some tomorrow or the weekend.

[The Bandit]

Enjoying seeing your build come together.

[Oncomin5torm]

I went to the local model shop and sadly they didn't have any wills varigirder in stock (well known auction site has been used already) but I did find they had a pot of Tamiya pavement effect texture paint.

 

I want to use this as the top of the loading platforms, which I will do with the same type of card I have done the test piece with.
Letting this dry until tomorrow to see what it looks like.

[Oncomin5torm]

Ballasting has been done, not a difficult layout to ballast it took about 10 minutes. I used calci sand designed for lizards from the pet shop, I think thats what its for anyway, it is scaled right so its all good.

 

The top of the platforms has been completed, to do this I used 2mm mount board.

To get the height right and to stop it sagging I have used offcuts of the card used to make supports at the rear and across the length, paying particular attention to the large area on the right as this has the most chance to sag.
I had to fill a bit at the edges where the card meets the platform edging, but this was done with light filler and then the entire thing was painted using the tamiya textured paint, which I must say looks the business.

 

Still waiting on the warehouses, but once those arrive I can get building them and seeing which one will go where.

[Oncomin5torm]

Got my fairprice models warehouses in the post today.

They are scratch build aids, so just a flat pack kit (these are just the fronts) and need cladding in either paper or embossed plasticard textures. I tried emobossed plasticard last time, but found it a challenge, this time I am using brick paper printed out from the web.

I also think I need to stop going to my local model shop (lol)

Got this little beauty for £25, I couldnt argue or say no at that price, also picked up a queen mary brake van in S&T livery (not pictured) for £20

I also got on a well known auction site this gem.

 

The Y1 sentinel is by Model Rail and the 16t mineral wagon is for size comparison, its so dinky and it came DCC fitted.

[Oncomin5torm]

After going to some questionable exhibitions this weekend I have made a start on the low relief warehouses.

Using the fair price models scratch build aid kids I have applied the scale model scenery brick textures to them, windows will be next and the roof.
I will also use the same brick texture sheets, to keep it all together, on the bridge abutments so they dont look out of place using embossed plasticard.

[F-UnitMad]

Have just found this Thread. Sounds like it was my layout "Lyddlow Goods" that was the inspiration here 👍  Great stuff. Funnily enough it has never occured to me before to try the 'modern' air-braked stock I have on it - I think I would only be able to shunt 1 wagon at a time, and I also lack an 08 to shunt with, but seeing your Thread here has inspired me in turn to see what a Speedlink service would have looked like at Lyddlow. 😁

[Oncomin5torm]

3 minutes ago, F-UnitMad said:

Have just found this Thread. Sounds like it was my layout "Lyddlow Goods" that was the inspiration here 👍  Great stuff. Funnily enough it has never occured to me before to try the 'modern' air-braked stock I have on it - I think I would only be able to shunt 1 wagon at a time, and I also lack an 08 to shunt with, but seeing your Thread here has inspired me in turn to see what a Speedlink service would have looked like at Lyddlow. 😁

 

Yes it was Lyddlow that inspired me. 

(thank you for that) 

 

I picked up those 3 wagons for £29 at the Ludlow exhibition a few weeks ago, no idea what I was going to do with them, then this idea popped into my head after seeing Lyddlow. 

 

I should hopefully be able to run it in multiple eras with all the stock I've got, an 08 is a must though for speedlink. 

[F-UnitMad]

Don't forget to submit an article about it to The Dispatch 👍👍

[Oncomin5torm]

27 minutes ago, F-UnitMad said:

Don't forget to submit an article about it to The Dispatch 👍👍

 

Thank you, I will do.

Ian already has a submission from me for my last layout ScrapNook

[ess1uk]

Interesting 

[The Bandit]

Looking forward to seeing your work in The Dispatch. It’s a very inspirational mag and always a good read.

[Oncomin5torm]

It's been a busy few days since I last posted. Sadly not many of these busy days have been spent on the layout (new job)

I have managed to get on with some smaller bits and pieces of modelling though.

I have built the basic frame for the bridge end, originally I wanted to do it at an angle, but found it just took too much from the small scene, so I opted for the more traditional end on aproach.
Just built out of mount board and using wills girder pieces to form the bridge itself. I will box it all in and clad it in brick paper, I decided to go down this route rather than embossed plasticard because I thought it would look out of place since the rest of the buildings are only done in brick paper, and the girder sections are giving the whole thing enough depth as well.

 

 

I wasnt sure which way round to have the buildings, I am leaning towards the taller one by the bridge, just because it "hides" the fact the scene doesnt go any further.

Using the same textured paint that I have got on the top of the platform I have added a lower section of road, or yard to the overall scene, this will be for loading and unloading, or just vans and such to sit and wait.

Late last night I decided to get some of my vehicles setup on the layout too, so it looks like the guys in for a busy one.

Quite tempted to get a skip to sit at the far end by the bridge, yes its trite but it looks good, as this layout will operate in multiple eras, I am going to make a fair few scenic items removeable, such as people, a skip, cargo, goods, I might even get a small crane, if I get a pair I can weather one up, and use that for the more modern times and the newer one still in use would be for the earlier periods.

[F-UnitMad]

The taller building by the bridge is good. For one thing it could quite likely have access to the first floor from that street, further back 'off scene'. 👍

 

Edit - that Ford Cargo brings back memories - one of my first drives in my road transport career. 😉

Edited June 3, 2022 by F-UnitMad

[Oncomin5torm]

4 minutes ago, F-UnitMad said:

The taller building by the bridge is good. For one thing it could quite likely have access to the first floor from that street, further back 'off scene'. 👍

 

Edit - that Ford Cargo brings back memories - one of my first drives in my road transport career. 😉

Thats a great idea, it's intended to be a rail bridge but if I choose to make it a road bridge then it would work well, thanks for that idea. 

[F-UnitMad]

The Class 08 must've left before our photographer arrived 😉🤣 ....

For the first time ever, thanks to this Thread - Lyddlow Goods in the Speedlink Era:-

[Oncomin5torm]

2 hours ago, F-UnitMad said:

The Class 08 must've left before our photographer arrived 😉🤣 ....

For the first time ever, thanks to this Thread - Lyddlow Goods in the Speedlink Era:-

Absolutely fantastic, love it. 

[Oncomin5torm]

Busy few days with birthdays and such going on, but I managed a quiet Sunday in the railway world (ok its the other end of my room)
Managed to get a bit more of the bridge done, its got cladding now.

 

The warehouses have windows in now, for some reason the kit for the 3 storey one had 1 window pane missing so I created a blanking piece out of mount board and glued brick paper to it, it isnt perfect but the infilled window would have been bricked up after the fact when they decided to do it.

I accidentally broke one of the plastic sheets when installing the window, so It now looks like someone has smashed it.