Diesel Dayz Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 This is the second incarnation of Friarsgate. The original built in 2009 was exhibited at the Mickleover Club Show and at Wirksworth. Unfortunately, storage during the winter caused the boards to warp, so the layout was dismantled and the boards scrapped. Fast forward to 2012 and the construction of Friarsgate (new) started with the purchase of two 5' x 18'' boards from MRS. These come 'flat packed' and are a doddle to put together. The boards were built but nothing happened for a couple of months mainly due to not having a suitable track plan - I knew what I wanted but couldn't seem to fit it all in! Down the club one night one of the guys suggested having a high level station that would straddle the yard. An absolutely brilliant idea! A plan was drawn up and construction commenced. Due to work commitments progress has been slow but the layout begun to take shape. A box of Peco code 100 track had been purchased along with some Seep point motors (I'll come back to these later). The track was laid on 1/8'' cork and dropper wires were soldered to the rails. These were then soldered to the DCC bus wires and then the first loco 60026 was run to thoroughly test the wiring. This showed that I'd not put enough isolating fish plates in and I'd missed some of the dropper wires off! These were rectified and the test was a success - until a point fell apart! A 'Y' point rescued from the original Friarsgate was the culprit and a replacement was bought from Hattons and fitted in time for the layout to appear at the Weston on Trent show. Work had also started on the bridges, retaining walls and the station. Now that Friarsgate was beginning to take shape it was time to fit the Seep point motors. Not a particularly difficult task, but, read on! Each motor was wired away from the layout and fitted and tested - success every one worked! I carefully trimmed the operating pin flush with the point and every pin dropped out the bottom of the point motors! Cue a lot colourful language, the dog dived for cover and I was back under the boards removing the remains of the Seep point motors! This was the day before the Weston show so Jack and myself had to operate the points digitally i.e finger power! I've since bought a bag of Peco point motors off Ian Mellors and these should be fitted sometime this week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Wow, yet another promising layout to add to my ever-growing list... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted November 13, 2012 Author Share Posted November 13, 2012 Just a few pictures of the 2nd board. This has the low level fiddle yard, the continuation of the high level line and it's fiddleyard, the second bridge, and the continuation of the lower yard to the site of the warehouse. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted November 13, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 13, 2012 Hope the Peco solenoids do the trick for you Alan, I've still got two spare if you get any failures Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted November 13, 2012 Author Share Posted November 13, 2012 Hope the Peco solenoids do the trick for you Alan, I've still got two spare if you get any failures Cheers Ian. I've wired them ready for fitting. They all seem to work ok and the pins are all intact!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted November 18, 2013 Author Share Posted November 18, 2013 I can't believe it's been over a year since I last posted anything about Friarsgate!!!! Due to work and family life getting in the way of modelling, absolutely nothing was done on Friarsgate! After last years Weston on Trent exhibition the layout went into temporary hibernation (that lasted nearly a year)! Lack of time etc led to the withdrawal from at least four exhibitions in 2013. With this years Weston show coming up I wanted to give the layout an airing, so, in the two weeks leading up to Weston I found some enthusiasm and put some time into Friarsgate. I got the bridges finished, built the station, finally fitted the point motors and switches etc. Although the layout is still far from complete, there is obvious progress and I hope to keep up the impetus of the last few weeks. I mean, I've even started ballasting the track! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted November 18, 2013 Author Share Posted November 18, 2013 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 Hi, Great to see the Layout at the Weston Show on Saturday, You said you had inspiration from my Deesdale Road and I have taken some inspiration from Friarsgate to add a High Level Station to Fiddlers Yard after our open weekend at the Gresley Club's home on 30th Nov and 1st Dec. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted November 18, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 18, 2013 How about some more motivation - care to get it ready for Mansfield 2014 - March 1st and 2nd? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted November 18, 2013 Author Share Posted November 18, 2013 Hi, Great to see the Layout at the Weston Show on Saturday, You said you had inspiration from my Deesdale Road and I have taken some inspiration from Friarsgate to add a High Level Station to Fiddlers Yard after our open weekend at the Gresley Club's home on 30th Nov and 1st Dec. Andy Hi Andy. Good to finally meet you and have a bit of a chat. Looking forward to seeing your High Level Station on Fiddlers Yard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted November 18, 2013 Author Share Posted November 18, 2013 How about some more motivation - care to get it ready for Mansfield 2014 - March 1st and 2nd? Hi Ian. Yes please m8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share Posted November 23, 2013 Bit of an update. Ballasting progressing albeit slowly. 60026 pays a visit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Looking good liking the 60 David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyram Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Just found this topic and would like to thank Alan for supporting both the Weston 2012 and 2013 shows. Friarsgate is coming along very well and I look forward to seeing further progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 Another update. Track on the lower level on board #1 ballasted and weathered. Some greenery added. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornbyandbf3fan Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 I thought I recognised the layout from the Weston-on-Trent show. It's coming along great! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 Hi Will. Thanks for the pic from Weston. Looks so different pre ballasting. Alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 A bit more progress made today. Started ballasting on the high level section. Have also installed security fencing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikeym Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Top layout Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochnagar Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Looking good Alan! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted December 7, 2013 Author Share Posted December 7, 2013 Recent additions to the rolling stock. Far too clean! Will be shipping them off to Alex Carpenter (Lochnagar) for a touch of weathering! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Looks great. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted January 3, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 3, 2014 Will the water tower and coal loading facilities be in place ready for Mansfield in March? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Dayz Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 Evening. Work on Friarsgate has continued at a fairly rapid pace. The first board which includes the high level station is nearly complete. The second board is coming along nicely. Construction of the fuelling / stabling point is well in hand (see pictures). The layout in it's entirety. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdw7300 Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Looking really good. Right up my street. Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.