Northpoint Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Some of us (like me) are old enough to remember a series of layout ideas by Roy Link in Railway Modeller in the late 1970s. One of these was a small branch line station which he caled "Upwold". I built a version of it about 15 years ago but it got surpassed by changes in circumstances, not to mention newer layouts. But I've always wanted to revisit it and have another go. I was lucky enough to happen upon a copy of the October 78 RM which contained the original article so that was inspiration enough. Here is the result - 5ft 6 ins long by 12 inches wide (plus fiddle yard). All the components are readily available items except for the trees which were scratchbuilt. Track Plan - mirrored from the original. Not much activity between trains on a hot summer afternoon. Arrival of the passenger train. Pannier 9753 going for water. The goods yard. Overview of layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Pannier Tank Posted September 11, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 11, 2012 Very nice work there Nick, perhaps you could expand a little more on the construction of the layout? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoover50008 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Nice layout, small and simple is best. E Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium southern42 Posted September 11, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 11, 2012 All the components are readily available items except for the trees which were scratchbuilt. Like your sweeping layout. Have you anything more in mind for it? I'd like to know which method you used for your trees. I 'm thinking that I may need a few at the back of my GWR layout to indicate local parkland. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted September 11, 2012 Author Share Posted September 11, 2012 Very nice work there Nick, perhaps you could expand a little more on the construction of the layout? Thanks for the feedback. OK - construction: traditional framework of 3 x 1 timber (I can hear the sharp intake of breath and the tutting as I write this) with 6mm MDF surface. I know this method doesn't meet with current thinking of plywood sandwiches etc but I have to say it seems to work fine for me. The layout is about 4 months old and it has been in the house and the garage over the summer with extremes of temperature and no ill effects. Track - Peco code 100. Again, I know a lot of people would prefer to see scale bullhead track but I have found on previous layouts weathered and well ballasted code 100 can fool the best. I was always getting asked the question with my Lochnagar layout what the track was and many looks of disbelief when I said it was Peco code 100. Electrics: simple one block with feeds distributed along the length of the layout. It can therefore be either DC or DCC (I use DCC). The points aren't hooked up to any kind of control yet - my finger seems to do the job quite adequately. I hope that answers some of the questions. Any more, please ask. I'll look out some more photos soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn1 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Hello Nick What a smashing layout, small but not cluttered. I like the curved trackwork (mine's all a bit too straight!), and the trees too, I like the one in front of the station - just where one would be in the real world! Thanks for posting. Regards, Les Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted September 11, 2012 Author Share Posted September 11, 2012 I'd like to know which method you used for your trees. I 'm thinking that I may need a few at the back of my GWR layout to indicate local parkland. Trees - I have been experimenting with actual tree and shrub branches as a basis for the trunk. I have used the sea moss trees before which I think give a good representation of foliage and branches but I always feel the trunks are too fragile. So, starting with the basic trunk and add some twisted wire branches glued into small pre-drilled holes or even graft on more (smaller) natural branches. This is then covered with bunches of teased out rubberised horse hair (I got some from a dealer on ebay who specialises in upholstery - enough to last a life time for little more cost than the commercial 12ins x 12ins you can buy at exhibitions!). Leaves/foliage is Woddland Scenics coarse turf in the various shades of green fixed on a spray of carpet tile glue bought from B&Q. I'm pleased with some of the results but it still needs a bit of work to make perfect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David C Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Nice, simple WR BLT! Funnily enough, I picked up a copy of that issue of RM for 10p at an exhibition not that long ago! It seems to me to be a much simplified version of Fairford. I like your scratchbuilt buildings, too and I see you've got a proper GWR canopy on the station building. Was this scratchbuilt too or did you use an etched fret? Yours David C Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted September 11, 2012 Author Share Posted September 11, 2012 Nice, simple WR BLT! Funnily enough, I picked up a copy of that issue of RM for 10p at an exhibition not that long ago! It seems to me to be a much simplified version of Fairford. I like your scratchbuilt buildings, too and I see you've got a proper GWR canopy on the station building. Was this scratchbuilt too or did you use an etched fret? Yours David C David - thanks for your flattery, but there's nothing scratchbuilt about the buildings. The station and the goods shed are both Bachmann Scenecraft. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium southern42 Posted September 11, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 11, 2012 Trees - I have been experimenting with actual tree and shrub branches as a basis for the trunk. I have used the sea moss trees before which I think give a good representation of foliage and branches but I always feel the trunks are too fragile. So, starting with the basic trunk and add some twisted wire branches glued into small pre-drilled holes or even graft on more (smaller) natural branches. This is then covered with bunches of teased out rubberised horse hair (I got some from a dealer on ebay who specialises in upholstery - enough to last a life time for little more cost than the commercial 12ins x 12ins you can buy at exhibitions!). Leaves/foliage is Woddland Scenics coarse turf in the various shades of green fixed on a spray of carpet tile glue bought from B&Q. I'm pleased with some of the results but it still needs a bit of work to make perfect. 'Experimenting' seems to be all I've been doing. So far, I've used a bought tree for a small diorama but overcooked the additional flocking. There were two in the box, so I'll go gently, gently on the other one - perhaps use the tea strainer. Then real shrubs (fuschia twigs) for logs modelling the remains of felled trees, and lichen lightly dusted with flock for trees in the distance. On Avago, I used sea moss but I've noticed on a few layouts that these tend to bald very quickly as if autumn has suddenly arrived. To counter this, mine had a good spray of odourless hairspray but I do feel the colour could do with a bit of variation, maybe some thinned acrylic paint dabbed on with a fine brush. I do like the idea of real trunks for bigger trees such as an oak or horsechestnut, the trees I remember in the park of my childhood. One old oak was special - it was very wide at the base and we used to see how far up it we could climb (not very far, in my case). A 'twig' of real oak would be perfect if I can create enough space for something like this. Thanks for your reply. I also like your use of the Bachmann Scenecraft buildings. You've set them so convincingly in the layout, I hadn't realised they were rtp either. I guess modelling is about how we use what we have as much as it is about what we make. You will have to let us know how you've done your ground cover next... Good layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwinewt Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Superb layout! It really shows what can be accomplished in a small space - and just what I needed for my N gauge plan... Details of how you pulled it all together and suchlike would be appreciated Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted September 12, 2012 Author Share Posted September 12, 2012 Ground cover - most of the open "dirt" areas are natural materials such as garden earth, fine grit and sand collected in jars when travelling out and about (you get peculiar looks from passers by when you're bent over scooping stuff into an old jam jar....), and occasionally commercial scale ballast. The usual methods are employed using good old white PVA glue. If I have a large area to cover, I usually start with a coat of glue and then sprinkle on the selected material and then follow it up with a spray of "wet" water and dilute PVA and sprinkle more dirt until I have the required effect. See the foreground below: Long grass is again traditional - hanging basket liner torn into smaller clumps and stuck down on PVA. Once it's all dry - usually after about 24 hours - the majority is pulled off leaving a finer representation of long rough grass. This is sprayed with cheap hairspray and then sprinkled with foliage material - I favour Woodland Scenics fine burnt grass for this. Shown in the foreground here: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
long island jack Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Nick Looking good. I hope this is just a small distraction from the Darkside???????? Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted September 12, 2012 Author Share Posted September 12, 2012 Nick Looking good. I hope this is just a small distraction from the Darkside???????? Ray You know what they say, Ray - variety is the spice of life! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 Anybody seen the October issue of RM? There's an article about a layout from exactly the same source!!! As Victor Meldrew would say "I don't believe it!" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold nickwood Posted January 8, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 8, 2013 Hi Nick I've just found your layout after seeing it listed to be at the Cradley Heath exhibition in October. My first layout attempt sadly aborted after track laying some 30 years ago now due to a house move was based on that Roy Link plan and my current layout although bigger, owes much to that initial attempt. You've made good use of the Scenecraft buildings, I like it a lot and look forward to seeing it in October Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenng Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 I've just found your layout and it’s just great got any more photos??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted April 25, 2013 Author Share Posted April 25, 2013 If anybody is interested, Astley will be at Sutton Coldfield this weekend - 27/28 April. Hopefully see some of you there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted April 25, 2013 Share Posted April 25, 2013 Hi Nick, Roy link's plans often looked brilliant and I think you have made a decent layout using a nice plan! Small layouts can look cramped, if you don't take care but I think this looks nice & unclutteredI agree many folk would not want to use code 100 rail these days, but if well weathered & ballasted, it can look great Cheers Marc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted April 25, 2013 Author Share Posted April 25, 2013 More pics as requested. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted May 5, 2014 Author Share Posted May 5, 2014 For anybody who might be interested in seeing the layout, it will be at Derby this coming weekend (http://www.mmrg.org.uk/mayexhibition.php) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share Posted November 6, 2016 If anybody is interested, we will be at Burton on Trent show today - at the Bass Brewing Museum no less! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 Have a good day Nick. Im in Wales and visiting Carrog on the Llangollen today. Catch up again soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 I remember this layout from that Derby show. Great to see it again at Burton today. It is a great looking layout with lots of detail in a small space. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bynackmor Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Hi Nick nice to see you at Sileby, lovely little layout Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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