RMweb Gold Brew Up Posted February 15, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 15, 2023 Kilmersdon Top (working title as the layout doesn't have a name) is a micro layout based on the approach to Kilmersdon incline. I've been away from the hobby for a few years due to other distractions but now I feel the need to build a layout again. I have started several layouts in the past, most haven't got beyond laying track and adding power, I think I've been over ambitious and the project has lost steam. I decided that I needed to start on a basic layout with achievable goals to actually get a layout complete. I started kicking around some ideas for a colliery but I can't decide what I want so whilst I'm planning that, and before any enthusiasm wains, I needed to make something in the meantime hence this little micro layout. Having read James Hilton's Small Layout Handbook massively inspired this plan, it really helped me focus my thought process. It is a superb book and I highly recommended it. Above my hobby area I have a shelf 44" x 9" which is ideal for a quick build. I wanted something self contained that was ready to go when I wanted 5 minutes shunting. Kilmersdon colliery appealed greatly to me due to its compact nature, especially the Peckett shunting small rakes of mineral wagons. My plan is to build the top of the incline where wagons where shuffled on and off it. I can get prototypical operation by abstracting the incline as a 4" (on the right) off scene area where empty and full wagons will be changed by hand. The rest of the layout will be scenic, the headshunt (colliery line) will be long enough for a Peckett W4 or Hunslet 16" plus two wagons. The build is very simple, it's a piece of 3/4" ply as a base covered with cork to make burying wires easier. I've started laying the track which is PECO code 75 with electrofrog points operated by hand. Frog control will be be momentary toggle switches. Everything I've used so far has been leftover from old projects. The two long lines will feed onto the incline and the siding at the front will be to shunt incoming empties into. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Chambers Posted February 16, 2023 Share Posted February 16, 2023 Like it a lot! Look forward to much more, providing of course you include a model of my old mate, Nelson ("NELSS") Loader as fireman and dad Herbie as driver of the loco. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brew Up Posted February 16, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 16, 2023 It would be rude not to I guess, it all adds to the narrative of the layout. I plan to add a driver to the Peckett, a fireman operating the points and a planeman/shunter controlling the incline's brake. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brew Up Posted February 19, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 19, 2023 Made some progress over the last few days. Track is laid and powered up, I've had the Peckett running about on it quite happily. I'm not quite happy with the geometry of the rear track so I'll probably alter this by straightening the end where it goes off scene. Unfortunately I had some warping to the base so I've had to fix a couple of batons underneath to pull things straight. I suspect bringing it into the warm from a damp shed caused that. On the upside I am able to hide all the wiring beneath the layout now. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brew Up Posted March 20, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 20, 2023 Progress has been slow but there has been some. I've built the winding house, pictures of the prototype are limited but I've tried to replicate it the best I can. By no means accurate but looks ok. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brew Up Posted April 3, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 3, 2023 Since the last update I've ballasted the track with sand and weathered it. The terrain has been reprofiled a bit as I wasn't quite happy with the clearances, covered with plaster cloth and painted ready to start adding scenery. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 Looking good. I have to say, that there's something nice about a self-contained unit - one where you can just plonk it on a table, plug in and start shunting. It really helps when you have just half an hour or so, to not have to start bolting boards together etc. I certainly found that with my O gauge micro "Poynton Sneer" - it was nice to have something simple to set up, even if just to test running or couplings, or even just to see a newly painted & weathered wagon in a setting. Looking forward to seeing this one progress 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Holmes Posted April 6, 2023 Share Posted April 6, 2023 Looking forward to seeing how this one develops Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brew Up Posted April 7, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 7, 2023 Many thanks for the kind words and encouragement. It's the first project I've taken on and not felt overwhelmed, I've tried to keep it as simple as possible with a aim to get a completed layout. I have plans for something a bit larger in the future but I'm enjoying building this little layout, it's taught me a lot already. I had a few hours on it yesterday evening and got the bulk of the low level greenery put down. It's my first attempt at layering grass and bushes, I'm pretty pleased with the results. Trees next, I've never made trees before but I'm diving head first into scratch building them. 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brew Up Posted April 7, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 7, 2023 18 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted April 9, 2023 Share Posted April 9, 2023 Looks absolutey fantastic mate. Love the palette of colours going on there. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevo Posted April 9, 2023 Share Posted April 9, 2023 brilliant work really like what you have done . the ground cover is spot on . keeping things basic is the key . and a good step to getting a project finished 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brew Up Posted April 12, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 12, 2023 This is my take on the winding house at the top of the incline. It's not accurate but it looks broadly similar to the prototype from the limited pictures and videos available. 17 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted April 13, 2023 Share Posted April 13, 2023 (edited) Your scenery is looking great @Brew Up As others have said, it's a nice palette of colours, and in my opinion, of textures too. I like that winding house - it looks suitably grubby. Edited April 17, 2023 by marc smith 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted April 15, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 15, 2023 Hi @Brew Up the foliage and ground cover looks great with a nice selection of colours. You have done a lovely job modelling the winding house and again nice work on the colouring.👍 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Hilton Posted August 9, 2023 Share Posted August 9, 2023 On 15/02/2023 at 22:27, Brew Up said: Kilmersdon Top (working title as the layout doesn't have a name) is a micro layout based on the approach to Kilmersdon incline. … Having read James Hilton's Small Layout Handbook massively inspired this plan, it really helped me focus my thought process. It is a superb book and I highly recommended it. … What you’ve produced so far looks superb and I’m so honoured to find that it was my book that encouraged you to progress something like this ahead of larger schemes. Smaller layouts are wonderful for lots of reasons, be that all you can fit, skills practice, a chance to model something different, a desire to finish something or a whole host of other things. How far have things come since the last photos? 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brew Up Posted August 17, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 17, 2023 Thanks for kind works James. Progress has slowed a little, school holidays and trying to make the most of the limited dry days we are having. Currently working on fencing and scratch building trees. I'll add some pictures once I have made some worthwhile progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ighten Posted December 13, 2023 Share Posted December 13, 2023 Looking excellent.. Agree lovely pallette of colours, always the key that binds everything together... 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Tim Dubya Posted December 13, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 13, 2023 Top stuff, I can see Haydon and the top of the incline from my porch, over the valley in Southfield 👍 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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