Backtor Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Hello Folks, Was sat scratching my head last wondering what to do about what to do with all the faults that we found on Croftdale (My Original Thread is here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/49924-croftdale/ ) When we took it to Rudyard in September last year it highlighted a lot of issues that we found would take a lot of effort to fix. So finally plucked up the courage to say enough was enough and start again. We've gone this time for a 28ft x 18" Layout, which will be split up into 2 6ft Boards and 4ft Boards. The layout will be based around the same era as croftdale to avoid having to change all my stock over. Decided this time that I wanted a larger station, and to have an equal balance of freight and passenger, as Croftdale seemed to be very freight orientated. It will be DCC, and Peco Code 100 (As some of the track has come from Croftdale) My DCC controller is the Guagemaster Prodigy, and aiming to have DCC Points and signals. Going to collect the wood tomorrow so hopefully can crack on with the baseboards. Will post some pictures of the construction of the baseboards tomorrow. And then its on to the idea's for track plans, as I'm going into this totally blind (Think it'll be a case of get all my track out and have a play) Catch you all later! Regards, Cameron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I liked croftdale, Looking forward to seeing your new layout develop, david Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtor Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 Thanks David, We've been busy building baseboards and legs will post some pictures once we've applied the finishing touches. Hopefully then can start playing about with some track, and get a track plan that we like! And then it'll be time to delve into the deap dark depths of track laying and wiring! Regards, Cameron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtor Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 Evening, After collecting the wood on Friday morning, this was the mammoth task that faced us. Once the baseboards had been constructed it was time to paint the backscenes, we've decided to do this before we start scenery this time, rather than the mistake we made last time of adding them last! After the legs had been constructed and fitted to the boards (This time we've hinged them on the baseboards so it all folds up into one nice neat unit.) It was time to get some track out and have a play with the track plan until we got something we were happy with. This shows the boards, minus the two 6ft fiddle yards which are yet to be added. We will keep you updated. Regards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitbull1845 Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Quick work Cameron,The ideas sound good, I always plan my layout by moving track around on the board. I find it easier to visualise it rather than draw numerous plans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtor Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 Yeah thats the approach we've taken with this layout. We had the track given to us by a friend, so its been easy to just mess about with various idea's in our head until we are happy! Regards, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Baseboards are looking smart, as with the track designing I much prefer the practical method as well, david Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtor Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 Morning all, Had a busy day yesterday on Blackoak, after playing about with the track for hours finally come up with a track plan that we were all happy with! Found that on the last layout that we went mad on track and sidings and the overall plan meant there wasnt much room for scenery, so the final track design (below) is what we've settle on. We can run sizeable trains and have a fair amount of activity going on at once. After we'd finalized the track plan, we finished attaching and hinging the legs to the 2 6ft 4" fiddleyards that are to go on one end. On this layout we've adopted for cassettes at one end only, the other end will have the normal style of fiddle yard. This makes the layout operable by 2 people, where as Croftdale required 4. When we first fitted the fiddle yard we had some issues of the boards not lining up, so we sanded them down and the track laying commenced. The 3 lines on the left hand side are the station roads, we've decided on this end of the layout that we will have a half stations on the first of the 4ft boards, so that it gives the illusion of a terminus station. The sidings are fed off the independent freight lines, where trip workings/intermodels etc. will run. After spending a good hour making sure all the track's were right and the fowling points were ok, we then had to cut up our nice laid track to put the board joins in. On this layout we've opted to use PCB Copper cladded board, as aposed to the soldering to a screw head and ended up with our track going all over the place. This gives us a nice transition between the boards on the joins, and means that we dont have any low/high riding rails. Once that was finished, it was time to get some trains out and have a play, now that we've done that join there is a scenic break to be added for the fiddle yard, and the station can start to be fitted. Comments and idea's are welcome and are certainly appreciated!! Thanks for looking. Regards, Cameron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Looking good, keep it up, david Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtor Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 Been some progress today, finally finished laying the track on the cork and nailing it all down. Got one more set of board joins to solder up, but will finish those off tomorrow. Ordered the wire, and my Dad, sure he's on here somewhere will be round on friday to kick start that. Meanwhile I bought a metcalfe Card Kit from my local model shop (The Hobby Goblin) keep seeing his banners on here lol. Its the first one I've bought and attempted to build, and was really surprised how easy they went together. So heres a picture of the finished product.(Minus Chimney Pots) While I was at the Stafford Exhibition last week I also picked up some of the Knightwing Point motors and AWS ramps so Painted them up accordingly. Finally I started playing around with some plastacard and balsa wood to start getting a feel of what the station end would look like. Comments are always welcome Regards, Cameron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtor Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 Evening all, Been slow progress over the past few days, mainly because that thing called work got in the way. Anyway wiring has been progressing slowly we've got 2 boards where the tracks wired up, the station end is now having its point motors fitted and wired in, and then we're good to go on that board. With the wiring being completed in the fiddle yard it meant time to get some trains out! Started work on the bridge at the station end, because its so wide its being built so that its removeable, incase of derailments etc. I've attached a picture of what it looks like with and without the top on. I've painted the underbridge in a grey primer, which is starting to bring it to life. Any comments are welcome. Regards, Cameron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Looking good keep it up, David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtor Posted March 10, 2013 Author Share Posted March 10, 2013 Evening all, Sorry for the lack of updates but there has been progress on the layout! After getting some stock out and playing with the layout a bit, we decided that we weren't happy with the over-all track plan and changed a few things on the layout, we removed all the sidings and loops, and replaced them with two long loops that are freight loops. Also added a loco storage siding for the station so that locos can run onto this siding from any of the 3 platforms. Wiring has commenced and progressed really well, we now have 2/3's of the layout in operation with working signals and points. Opted for Guagemasters PM1's as they're small and do the job well. Also fitted the Dapol Semaphores to this layout, fell in love with these signals when we had them originally on Croft-dale they're just fantastic bits of kit. Pictures below show the changes we've made Also now started adding the gradients into the Cassette fiddle-yard obviously the track has to climb up slightly to be level with the cassettes ready for running into. Finally just a snap of my latest Purchase Heljan 47840 Regards, Cameron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Layouts looking good keep it up, david Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtor Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 Afternoon all, Progress on the station end has been made. Went to the Nottingham show last week and picked up a few bits and pieces from there including some cable trunking from Ten Commandants. Also weathered the track with a rail-match paint, and started putting the top on the platform. I've attached a few pictures of them below, even got a few locos out to play with! Regards, Cameron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Coming along like the double headed 37s on he tanks, david Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtor Posted June 5, 2013 Author Share Posted June 5, 2013 Hi all, Been a while since i've updated this thread. Mainly because i've not had the time to work on the layout. Finally got the layout out in the sun that we've had to take some pictures of it. Ballasting should commence next week, and starting to put the finer details on the station end. I've attached some photo's of the progress so far. Regards, Cameron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted June 5, 2013 Share Posted June 5, 2013 Looking great out in the sun, david Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted June 5, 2013 Share Posted June 5, 2013 great looking layout Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan25912 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 excellent looking stuff mate, cant wait to have a play! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBM37404 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Hi all, Been a while since i've updated this thread. Mainly because i've not had the time to work on the layout. Finally got the layout out in the sun that we've had to take some pictures of it. Ballasting should commence next week, and starting to put the finer details on the station end. I've attached some photo's of the progress so far. IMG_1209.JPG IMG_1210.JPG IMG_1212.JPG IMG_1215.JPG IMG_1217.JPG IMG_1219.JPG Regards, Cameron Hope it don't rain, good to see it progressing. When I get my garage converted which is few years off yet I have a plan for a 20ft layout in my mind! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtor Posted June 10, 2013 Author Share Posted June 10, 2013 Cheers all for the kind comments. Been working on building the banking up and getting all the brick walling in. Also finished off the station platforms, and fitted the girder front on the bridge. Have attached some photos so you can see what we've been up to so far. Kindest Regards, Cameron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtor Posted June 10, 2013 Author Share Posted June 10, 2013 Hope it don't rain, good to see it progressing. When I get my garage converted which is few years off yet I have a plan for a 20ft layout in my mind! Luckily it didn't rain! It was only out for a couple of hours lol. And smart small, for some reason it always ends up growing and getting bigger lol! Regards, Cameron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub39h Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 that looks cracking Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Looking great coming on well, david Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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