Bakewell - Peak District Line BR - Layout Views

[Alister_G]

I know you all think I'm a looney, so just to reinforce that impression, after yesterday's disappointment with the platform lighting, I decided to make my own.

 

I started with a 3mm LED, a thin slice of 4.8mm styrene tube, and an offcut of 20thou plasticard:

 

 

I bent the legs of the LED to form the supports for the lamp.

 

I took a square offcut of 20thou card, and filed it round, and then drilled a 3mm hole through the center, and then opened it out to be an inteference fit on the collar of the LED.

 

I then glued the slice of 4.8mm tube on top:

 

 

From a piece of 30thou plasticard, I marked out a small rectangular section, and drilled two 0.8mm holes:

 

 

Then I cut out the section.

 

I used some insulation sleeve taken from some thicker wire, and slid it over the two LED leads, and then glued the rectangle to them.

 

 

Finally, I painted it up:

 

 

I don't have time to wire it up and mount it this evening, so I'm afraid you'll have to wait until tomorrow.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

[David Todd]

How much are they for 3? do you get a discount if you buy more?.....

 

Minimum order for your A.V. layout,I would guess at around 500,............it is said, The more you make,the faster the process

[Alister_G]

I'm definitely jinxed with this Up platform lighting.

 

The replacement wall-light which I fashioned above was attached to the building and wired up this evening, but when I came to test all three together, it transpired that the wall-light at the other end was short-circuit as well - which it definitely wasn't last night, so some more delay whilst I built a second light.

 

Perhaps it's somebody trying to tell me off for using bought lights, instead of my own scratch-built ones? If so I hope She/He is happy now

 

So, finally, I can show you the completed lights.

 

Here's the one I built last night, attached to the building:

 

 

and here it is with the building back on the layout and wired up:

 

 

and here's the one at the other end, which was built in a hurry this evening:

 

 

I'm finally in a position to show you some "night-time" shots of the station.

 

Here's an aerial view, obviously taken by an intrepid aviator:

 

 

A couple of shots from the end of the platforms:

 

 

 

One from the Down platform, looking the other way:

 

 

and a close-up of the waiting room:

 

 

I did try to take some video of a train going through the station, but the camera in video mode just doesn't think it's light enough, and all you can see are the pin-pricks of the lights in a great blackness. If I can think of a way of introducing some dim overall lighting I might have another go.

 

Anyway, we got there! And I'm fairly happy with how it's turned out.

 

I'm wondering if there should be a couple of lights under the canopy on the Down platform - but I've run out of resistors for the LEDs so it'll have to wait.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

[Jaz]

These will look the business when you finally get the ballast in, the building sat down etc, and I think you are right to do them now, because if you had those things done then did these.....it would blow your brains. A shame the bought ones have not worked out, I think you need to look out for some latex to tidy those lights. The stuff I use for the dogs would probably be good..if you fancy a go with it I could post you a very small pot (about the size of the end of a thumb)  like the one I gave to JCL.. It would be more than enough for you to trial and see if you like the idea...and more than enough to do just three lights but OMG they are gorgeous, the last picture with the interior light and the external lights and the bill posters etc all lit up.....superb.

[Alister_G]

Hi Jaz, thanks very much. Can you explain what you mean with the latex? I'm not sure I understand where I could use it?

 

Cheers,

 

Al.

[Andrew P]

Hi Al Fantastic work on the lights mate, really looks the nuts at night, a lot of hard work and frustration has paid dividends in the end.

 

All the best.

[Jaz]

Hi Jaz, thanks very much. Can you explain what you mean with the latex? I'm not sure I understand where I could use it?

 

Cheers,

 

Al.

where the black covers are just short is just behind/above the light

there is a small bit of exposed wire.......the lower arm has not bent so successfully.....

you may have adjusted it since this picture, as it is not noticeable in other pictures

but the stuff I am talking about is made for covering trees, it does have little bits of crushed walnut shell in, the seller told me this, 

Green scene flex bark GS42 you can 'paint' it on in layers

bare wire

 

this grey is the colour it is in the pot

 

some extra layers for shaping legs, ears, muzzle,(the end of his face was cut off)

the latex does not take too long to set in dry conditions, and bending afterwards is possible....as in I can reposition legs.

 

JCL may have investigated his small pot already, if he got it back through customs ok.

The latex is sold at exhibitions. I have seen him at numerous events.

 

You will need to pull some of the bits of walnut shell off as this is the result it can give, but using a fine paint brush you can get a good finish and it is bendable afterwards if you need to repair the light

It was used on the bark and the branches so fully pose able tree. Each branch is a single strand painted then hairsprayed with greenery

 

some bare copper still visible but the rest was 'painted'

 

Sorry the size is so big but the thumb nails and small ones don't show enough detail.I  can remove them now you have seen what it is. When almost dry you can roll it in your fingers for a smoother finish. Works well on trees especially joins which can be brittle.

 

you can cover it thinly or build it up, the bits were left on here for effect, once you decide your thickness you just pick off the excess

 

Hope it helps. I have other examples but this post will get enormous.....If you want further I can add a number of links...either here on AV rather than clutter your thread with technically OT pictures.

Edited October 9, 2014 by Jaz

[Alister_G]

Don't you dare remove them missus!

 

Some brilliant detailed photos.

 

I see what you mean now, thanks. I was thinking of using a bit of plastic filler, and then I can file it to a nice domed shape once it's hard.

 

Cheers Jaz,

 

Al.

[Alister_G]

I've made another attempt at videoing some night scenes, which whilst still too dark, is just about watcheable.

 

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

[Jaz]

Spot on....you just need a station announcer.

 

"Station announcement. Will passengers on platform 2 please stay well behind the warning yellow lines on the platform.....the non stopper to Edinburgh is about to pass through the station"

 

"................................and it's gonnnnnnne!".............

 

They are actually very believable, the noise of it going along the track is cool too. 

Don't you dare remove them missus!

 

Some brilliant detailed photos.

 

I see what you mean now, thanks. I was thinking of using a bit of plastic filler, and then I can file it to a nice domed shape once it's hard.

 

Cheers Jaz,

 

Al.

Ah that sounds good....

[Alister_G]

I'm on a roll tonight

 

Here's another video, featuring photos from around the layout:

 

 

Cheers,

 

Al.

[emt_911]

Al

 

An excellent set of photos. It is certainly evocative of the area and shows the skill with which you've put everything together.

 

Duncan

[RBE]

Lighting looks great Al. Now wondering if I should do lighting on MD! Hmm maybe not. Its a can of worms with lighting in trains and the like! Always limited use at exhibitions in any case. In the case of Bakewell though it looks great and adds another dimension completely!

[westerhamstation]

I've made another attempt at videoing some night scenes, which whilst still too dark, is just about watcheable.

 

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

Hi Al, really like that night scene, it was like watching Brief Encounter, all the best Trevor Howard.

[Alister_G]

Hi Al, really like that night scene, it was like watching Brief Encounter, all the best Trevor Howard.

 

I think it needs more smoke for brief encounter...

 

 

Hmmmm....

[Jock67B]

Afternoon Al,

Followed your comments on Arboretum Valley and then went back to your buildings, a great way to do the interiors. I had intended that all the workshop buildings adjoining the shed would be designed with 'dirty' windows, but using the separate module principle would mean an occasional door or window could be left open with some interesting engineering work showing inside. This could be done at leisure and placed later as long as the buildings are de-mountable from the base board!

I've recorded this information, thanks for that! The lighting is splendid by the way.

Kind regards,

Jock.

[Alister_G]

Thanks Jock, If you're planning a static layout then adding the lighting does give another dimension, and I enjoyed doing all the interior detailing, so it seemed a shame not to show it off. As RBE says, for an exhibition layout there's probably little point, as the opportunities to show the lighting to best effect are rare.

 

Al

[Alister_G]

Anyway, I'd like to blame the following people: Jason T, George, Andy P, LNER4479, Adrian, and anyone else who suggested I buy some of these:

 

 

A pair of MSE signals.

 

Now you've done it

 

I'm going to have to do some sneaky practice before I dare show you the construction

 

Al.

[RBE]

Ooh the MSE signals are nice. Heres my 2mm one. I have a few more to build yet though. Ill be interested to see your efforts Al.

 

Edited October 10, 2014 by RBE

[emt_911]

Anyway, I'd like to blame the following people: Jason T, George, Andy P, LNER4479, Adrian, and anyone else who suggested I buy some of these:

 

signals01.jpg

 

A pair of MSE signals.

 

Now you've done it

 

I'm going to have to do some sneaky practice before I dare show you the construction

 

Al.

Al

 

Go on. Show it all. Warts 'n' all

 

Duncan

[Andrew P]

Anyway, I'd like to blame the following people: Jason T, George, Andy P, LNER4479, Adrian, and anyone else who suggested I buy some of these:

 

signals01.jpg

 

A pair of MSE signals.

 

Now you've done it

 

I'm going to have to do some sneaky practice before I dare show you the construction

 

Al.

Don't blame me in with that other crowd, they look much to complicated for my little brain, I have progressed to LEGO Bricks now though, haha

[Sasquatch]

Those signals are going to look the business on Bakewell. Just take your time and patients will score you brownie points.

 

To fill gaps try using PVA mixed with a little dust. you can smooth this over with a damp paper towel to good effect.

 

Now' I'll have to stay up late to come back and watch the videos when my internet speeds up. We have satellite service which takes a lot to be desired but it's better than nothing.

 

Great job on the lamps. Well worth all the effort as you can focus on the scene more during night time running sessions  when all the 1/1 scale stuff fades into the darkness.

Edited October 10, 2014 by Sasquatch

[Jaz]

Those signals are going to look the business on Bakewell. Just take your time and patients will score you brownie points.

 

To fill gaps try using PVA mixed with a little dust. you can smooth this over with a damp paper towel to good effect.

 

Now' I'll have to stay up late to come back and watch the videos when my internet speeds up. We have satellite service which takes a lot to be desired but it's better than nothing.

 

Great job on the lamps. Well worth all the effort as you can focus on the scene more during night time running sessions  when all the 1/1 scale stuff fades into the darkness.

Not HOSPITAL PATIENTS.....patience.....I do so love spell checker bloopers LOL....... .......

[LNER4479]

Anyway, I'd like to blame the following people: Jason T, George, Andy P, LNER4479, Adrian, and anyone else who suggested I buy some of these:

 

signals01.jpg

 

A pair of MSE signals.

 

Now you've done it

 

I'm going to have to do some sneaky practice before I dare show you the construction

 

Al.

Yaaaaay! Way to go, Al

 

After your recent efforts, I'm sure you're well capable of fitting a working (LED) lamp, then you'll be one up on me

[Alister_G]

Yaaaaay! Way to go, Al

 

After your recent efforts, I'm sure you're well capable of fitting a working (LED) lamp, then you'll be one up on me

 

 

Funny you should say that...

 

This is what I've been working on, these last couple of evenings:

 

I'm sure you recognise this:

 

 

It's a Springside loco lamp.

 

Now, look at this:

 

 

 

That's a 1.8mm LED

 

Remarkably similar in size and shape, don't you think?

 

Well I thought so, and, continuing with my night-time theme, I thought it'd be interesting to try adding lamps to a steam locomotive.

 

As a victim, I chose an Airfix Fowler 4F, primarily 'cos I don't much care if I mess it up, and secondly because there's no motor in the loco so there should be more room to try a first attempt.

 

I prised off the smokebox front, and then drilled a hole in the footplate where a lamp would go:

 

 

I bent the legs of the LED like this:

 

 

and soldered some thin wire to the positive leg.

 

The negative leg and the wire were then fed through the footplate:

 

 

For the smokebox, I simply drilled two small holes for the legs of the LED and pushed them through until it was in the right position, then glued it from behind:

 

 

Oh, forgot to say, I'd painted one of the LEDs in Matt Black to try and cut down on the light it gave out... More on that later.

 

Here's the one on the buffer beam again:

 

 

I also wanted to try and get a firebox glow, so I drilled a hole through between the firebox doors:

 

 

 

The firebox LED is amber, and I built a small enclosure for it out of black plasticard:

 

 

which was then stuck to the back of the hole:

 

 

 

The wires from the buffer beam lamp were routed under the footplate, and then through a hole I drilled in the underside of the boiler, to keep them out of the way:

 

 

 

I then put the weight back in the boiler, and re-attached the smokebox front:

 

 

All the wires appear at the smokebox end:

 

 

I then soldered them up, with a resistor in series, tidied the wiring away and put the loco back on it's wheels:

 

 

Then, I went and tried it on the track:

 

 

As you can see the LEDs are far too bright and white in colour. I expected this, however, as my earler experiments had already suggested this, so what I did was, paint over the whole of the LED, first in BR Cream:

 

 

 

and then, in Matt Black, leaving just a portion of the lens exposed in Cream.

 

Once dry I tried it again:

 

 

There, that's much better.

 

I'll do some more on this tomorrow.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.