Big jim's (now dismantled) 12 x 6 shed layout

[big jim]

A quick hour in the shed earlier, bit more of the wall done

 

Put a column on one edge of the wall panel

 

It overhangs the end by 1/2 of its width

 

So when placed back in place and held in by the magnetic tape covers the join

 

The little card pieces in front of the columns ensure the wall stays in line, they will be disguised when I add scenic

 

And a double width column to go round the curved part of the wall

 

Looking quite good now

 

Hopefully get a bit more done tomorrow afternoon

[big jim]

and the rest of the wall done, also added a course of raised bricks along the base of the platform too, 3 panels to finish though

 

the other thing i bought from L-cut was some canopy supports, i replaced the plasticard supports with them and they look so much better

 

not bad for £1.50 worth of supports!

 

inspired by Marcus 37s LED lighting in his attic i added a strip of lights around the perimeter of the roof, i bought the light strip from the macclesfield show a couple of months back from a trader who unfortunately i didnt make a note who it was as i'd like to get another length of them to go round the other side of the shed, the 5 meter strip was only £5!!

 

makes a nice difference above the layout

 

[Boco_D1]

The strip lights look good, I've been interested in using them myself, what power source do you use?

[big jim]

the led's are fed from a maplin supply that came with the circular plinth lights that are also on the ceiling

 

ive ordered 2 more reels of LEDs from amazon that i'll add later in the week if i get a chance

[steve shorrock]

Hi Jim, great idea for the retaining walls. Layout looking great Mate , you've done a good job

[andyram]

I have just found this thread. It is looking great Jim.

[big jim]

The LEDs from Amazon arrived today so I now have them right round the edge of the whole shed, still got a reel left that I'm going to fit below baseboard level at some point

 

One thing I am pleased about today was I managed to repair my broken lenz 100 handset, been having nothing but trouble with it for years, the cable has been very temperamental and I worked out it was the din plug so as I had nothing to lose I decided to cut it off and have a go at using a phone cable instead that I got from a charity shop about 4 years ago for 50p, after getting some advice on here a few months back about what wires to solder to where I gave it a go and hey presto a fully working spare handset!!

 

Edited May 16, 2017 by big jim

[big jim]

now the station side of the layout is coming together nicely im turning my attention back to the yard side, been mulling over the mainline inclines where they split, i was running a few long trains yesterday and watching them coming down the outside incline (the steeper of the two) and as the rear of the train came over the top the coaches/wagons began to push the loco causing the couplings to override each other and either derail the lead bogie or uncouple when the train got on the flat, the sametrain running down the softer incline on the same line to the inner edge of the layout causes no such problems

 

i recon im going to remove the top part of the outer incline and rebuild it at the same level as the inner line to give me a smoother and longer downward grade, should be a simple enough job, just cut back the wood in the corner and replace the trackbed area with the polystyrene risers which i have a load of spare of the same gradient

[big jim]

Nothing layout wise tonight but I did a bit to clear my work bench a bit

 

Practically finished 37254, added the numbers and logos that I got from railtec, stupidly forgot to ask for nose end numbers though!

 

This is basically 37421 with old style nose grilles added at both ends and replacement headcode box panels,wire nose handrails, minimal touching up paint job and etched Cardiff canton shed and nameplates added, also added a modelu 'little willy' driver looking back along his train

 

 

And as I broke one of the lamp brackets off I have glued a Dapol tail lamp from the freightliner hopper wagons in it's place

 

Just need to source some replacement roof horns and a buffer head for it, add some pipes to the front end, paint the rubbing plates under the door silver and job done

 

The rest of what I've been up to is here....

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/106497-big-jims-workbenchits-all-gone-a-bit-yellow/page-2

Edited May 23, 2017 by big jim

[big jim]

It may lot look like much but finally after 4 years I have electricity to the shed (and garage) so no more having to roll out an extension lead from the conservatory'

 

[5BarVT]

I've been thinking about a reel of LEDs but I don't know whether to go for warm white or cool white. Any advice? Do you know what yours are?

Thanks, Paul.

[big jim]

ive ended up with one of each as i bought them from different places, of the two i prefer the cool white ones, less 'clinical' looking

[big jim]

big possession on this evening

 

removed the hump on the rear line

 

 

cut it right back to the start of the rise

 

no nail's some wooden batons to the wall and poly risers and refitted the original corner piece but this time sloping downwards

 

and added a piece of wood for the track to sit on

 

bit of card both ends that the cork will butt up to

 

the road bridge is now able to be a lot lower so not as steep, will still have to be raised up slightly to allow trains under it

 

will have to rebuild the centre parapet because of the shallower angle

Edited June 17, 2017 by big jim

[Al.]

This has come a long way since last time I dropped in to take a look. Keep up the good work.

[big jim]

rough track laying to see if it works before tacking it down

 

wooden sleepers as thats all i had in stock

 

 

and it worked lovely, no derailments, the coaches don't give a little push part way down the incline any more so are not prone to derail, still more testing to do with other trains such as the coalfish rake etc and class 66s but so far 37/67/68/hst and mk1, 2 and 3 coaches run nicley over the new trackwork

 

and a video

 

https://youtu.be/wOxGSY-wxL0

Edited June 20, 2017 by big jim

[big jim]

New addition to the fleet, Hornby colas 60

 

 

 

Looks really good on the logs!

 

 

And with a pic of the real thing prior to its naming

 

I'm hoping it's an 8 pin socket in it as I have a spare sound decoder that I'll get reblown with 60 sounds and get it fitted up

[DRS Crewe On A Mission]

Looking good Jim.

 

I knew that you would buy the Hornby Colas 60. Now that I have seen some photos of the model it looks really tempting.

[big jim]

done a little bit tonight, where i replaced the hump incline a few months back ive had some track 'floating' supported by bits of polystyrene while i checked the running so i decided to sort that out

 

when i had the new kitchen fitted the new oven was packaged on the corners using some sturdy right angled cardboard

 

which i slit along one side

 

so it could follow the curve of the trackbed, while in position i marked the overlapping card

 

and cut away the overlapped bits

 

and back in place

 

just need to secure it in place before i fix the track back down (only put back to avoid damage)

[andyram]

More great progress Jim.

[LongRail]

Jim have you thought of using plaster bandage across the cardboard to strengthen it probably apply not too wet

[big jim]

Jim have you thought of using plaster bandage across the cardboard to strengthen it probably apply not too wet

Yes that was a thought, I do have some in my scenics box and have used it on the rest of the inclines anyway

 

I'm going to pva the card down to the poly risers first though and see how it looks from there

[The Stationmaster]

Jim have you thought of using plaster bandage across the cardboard to strengthen it probably apply not too wet

 

I have used plaster bandage on cardboard risers and forms and there's no problem with it at 'normal' wetness - corrugated cardboard stands up to that with no trouble.  (Although I do prefer foamboard risers as they much easier to cut quickly to shape.)

[GWRPhil]

Hi Jim

 

Was wondering if there had been any updates to the railway recently?

[big jim]

Not done a thing to it, mainly been working or modelling time has been doing my yellow trains

 

Got a few bits and bobs ready to crack on when I get a chance, scale model scenery depot hard standing packs and a Hornby footbridge I hope to adapt for the station area, first job is to get those cardboard bases on the inclines glued down and corked so I can properly secure the track

[big jim]

Had a break from doing rolling stock and had an hour on the layout instead

 

Cut down a Hornby footbridge

 

To use on the platform

 

 

Then had a look at the scale model scenery hard standing kit I got last week

 

To use in the depot area

 

I actually ordered 2 kits as I wasn’t sure what size I’d need but so far I’ve only used one, there was enough in the first kit to also build up the base as i’d not corked the area

 

 

 

Walking route to the station

 

Then added another strip to the outside of the rail which looks a lot better, when I get round to the scenics I’ll probably fill the ‘step’ with a bit of plaster