6x4 Starter layout

[jamest]

Hi all,

 

This story started on the last version of the forum and transferred to the blog section initially - but I much prefer this more familiar format, so here goes.

First a few pics of the beginnings:

 

I've controlled the five scenic points with dowels from the back:

 

The main circuit is down painted and ballasted. The platform is done and the hardstanding covered with concrete effect paper:

 

I've done a bit of scattering of some green, but I have spent most of my time thinking about what to do with the upper level. I was going to have a town scene of some sort but I really fancied having a second small layout that I could play with!

I've kept an eye on other motive power depots on this forum and in reference material and I decided to try to fit in a two road shed and a refueling point. I built a scalescenes diesel shed a little while ago and decided to use that as it has a small footprint. I have a scenecraft fuelling point and a scalescenes tank set as well and set about playing with track. After several attempts I reached a point i'm happy with. The trains enter through the backscene to the left of the shed (with the shed helping to obscure the entry point). I've tried to keep the headshut access for the shed and two train refuelling access seperate along with a long siding to the left for various storage. I plan to have a pit on one lane inside the shed and have road access over the concrete bridge behind the shed to some sort of office block/hardstanding/car park:

 

As I mentioned above I used dowels to control the lower level scenic points but on a recent trip to Exeter I saw some wire and tube on sale - so I thought I'd give it a try. The wire is very thin but remarkably effective when housed in the tubing, even when you are 'pushing' the point. The tube is PTFE and is flexible so you can bend the line to suit the surroundings. At ??10 For two packs of wire and two packs of tube (6 metres in total) its pretty good value in my opinion.

 

Here is where the track will exit into the upper level storage - hopefully the shed will help disguise it.

 

I hope to fit the upper storage area and cut the sidings to length this weekend.

 

Cheers,

James

[bennyboy]

Nice work James. It just goes to show that you can get a nice looking layout using off the peg items!

[jamest]

Hi all,

 

Right - bit more progress 'behind the scenes' and this time I've managed to take some photos in daylight!

 

I had a rethink on the fiddle yard and managed to get in a siding that I could enter from either direction. But the siding wasn't big enough to take an engine and three coaches so I added little headshunts at each end so I can enter, go to the end to clear the back point, reverse into the opposite headshunt, and drive out again when I want. It really makes a difference when you are operating the layout. I've also offered up the upper level fiddle yard but nothing is 'nailed down' yet.

 

 

I've also changed the 4 scenic points at the signal box end to solenoid control. The dowels were damaged when I moved into the conservatory for winter (sod's law dictated I rested the layout on the end where they were sticking out!). They are also a bit stiff and you cannot operate them from the front because of that - sometimes my son is out front and likes to use the hand of God - he can, if he likes, with point motors. I've also soldered the power wires to the track to replace the Hornby power feed - well out of sight so you can't see the quality!

 

Here is my high tech control panel:

 

And another for fun

 

I am finally happy with the layout and really pleased I made the change behind the scenes. Now I feel I can progress with the top level and the overall scenics.

 

Cheers,

James

[craw607]

Hi james

The layout is looking good and progressing in leaps and bounds

always good when the layout pleases yourself and you can

carry on with it and not redesign it.

John

[Jules]

Great use of space - my old 6x4 (25+ years ago!) never looked this good, or had the splt level. Looks like it should give a lot of fun

[Rammy]

WOW! This layout looks really good. I didn't realise a 6x4 layout could look like this.

Well done!

 

Dave

[sb67]

Really like this and looking forward to seeing more pics,any chance of a track plan or 'google earth' pic please? also are the retaining walls the scalescenes ones?

[Jon020]

For a few months now, my two young boys have been playing with their simple 6x4 layout on baseboard waiting for me to work out how to improve on the layout with better use of space. I'd conisdered going up in size a bit (to 7x5) but this thread's layout has sparked a numebr of ideas and I now need to get them down on paper. Thank you so very much for sharing your layout... truly inspirational.

[jamest]

Hi All,

 

Thanks very much for all your positive comments, it was a little nerve racking putting my efforts up against some of the other fare on this forum!

 

I had thought I was cramming in too much track with the upper level (it was planned to be scenic in some way) but I too have a small son (8) who is easily bored. I though a little back and fro on the top while a train goes round on the bottom would hold his interest more. In the end a 6x4 is never going to look strictly realistic - I read somewhere better to be a little fanciful and interesting to operate, than realistic and boring (no offence intended!).

 

To answer some of the questions above:

 

Yes the walls are scalescenes but vertical, not sloped, as space is at a premium. I have downlaoded many 'kits' from there but haven't actually finished many yet. The depot shed is a scalescenes one too.

I will try to get a plan/google earth shot up on the thread tonight (at work at the moment).

 

Cheers for now,

James

 

 

[spacehopper100]

nice layout!

 

theres a lot crammed in but it doesnt show.. fantastic use of space

[jamest]

Hi again,

 

Ok, here are a few more pics giving an overall view and a track plan of the lower level.

 

Unfortunately the weekend is the only time I am home in the light (bit depressing!) and my night photography is not up to much. The flash is really harsh on my work and the conservatory lighting is not good enough to turn it off. Enough excuses:

 

Track Plan - lower level

 

 

 

 

 

Fiddle yard - the wheels helped transport the board between the garage and conservatory before it got too complicated - I'm not sure now!

 

I hope to permanently attach the upper board to the foam this weekend, then I can start to concentrate on the scenics.

[pendlerail]

I like this layout, Surprised what is achievable in 6 x 4, one of the reasons I went for a Depot was I only had limited space 7'7 x 1'11 and didn't think I would get Passenger and freight operations in the space.

[jamest]

Hi All,

 

Update on my progress over the last few days:

 

I have cut all the sidings to length on the upper levels and placed the pit in one line under the shed. I then masked off the business end of the points and sprayed with railmatch sleeper grime - I've still got to go around the masked areas carefully with a brush and then clean off the tops of the rails.

I've also glued up some 'sky' paper on the backscene and started on my 'bridge' over the entrance. I have used my scalescenes retaining wall prints to come up with my walling on the backscene and I'm pretty pleased with my efforts so far.

I've also stretched my era further by purchasing a two-tone green class 47 from ebay! Couldn't resist!

 

Here are some piccy's:

Painted track & blue backscene:

 

New bridge! I plan to have a wall spanning out at the lower height across the backscene:

 

My new baby!

 

Cheers,

James

[Sweeney Todd]

Superb following this one .

 

Shaun .

[60maniac]

Nice pictures mate love the fuelling point and the duff keep up the good work B)

[jamest]

Hi again,

 

Another update - I had one scenic point still controlled by rod as it was almost right over a baseboard brace. I saw another thread (can't remember who - sorry) where the seep point motor arm was bent thro' 90 degrees. Simple but effective - so I tried it with my point and it has turned out (excuse the pun!) very well.

I couldn't use the plastic mounting board for the point so i've used the bent out tangs that are meant to go in the point:

 

So here is the mk2 control panel - no expense spared again!

 

And while I had the camera out I took a few of my other baby - my Heljan class35 - my first Heljan loco and a lovely piece of work:

 

Cheers,

james

[jamest]

Hi all,

 

Been laying concrete this week! Used some wills sheet to fill in around the shed area and make a path to the refueling point.

Having a final mull over it all before I really commit and start spreading ballast about!

Friday afternoons are a good time for photos in natural light - actually got a bit of sun in North Devon today:

 

Extent of the concrete:

 

Hut and fueling point:

 

More piccy's in the sun:

 

Bought a DDC ready weathered 08 last weekend. Lovely looking engine - pig to fit a decoder to! I ran it in fully but I am really disappointed with its performance - I spend more time nudging it than watching it run! Does anyone have any advice?

 

Cheers,

james

[Arpleymodeller]

Ive had trouble with my Hornby class 08

 

As it is a small engine it can easily short out if there is a drop in power so make sure its wheels and contacts are clean.

 

Regards

Lewis

[beejack]

Very impressed.

I think you have used the small amount of space very well indeed.

Much better than anything I managed in the same space.

 

Are you going to add anything to the ends of the wires in the tubes controlling the points or is that the end product?

 

I shall be keeping an eye on this layout!

[jamest]

Very impressed.

I think you have used the small amount of space very well indeed.

Much better than anything I managed in the same space.

 

Are you going to add anything to the ends of the wires in the tubes controlling the points or is that the end product?

 

I shall be keeping an eye on this layout!

 

Hi,

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

I'm not sure about the wires to be honest - they work fine as they are, but you do have to be careful and the wire is flipping painful if you stab your finger with it! I have a habit of reaching for them when I'm concentrating on something else - they usually get my attention fairly soon after that!

I think I might simply tape the ends for now - maybe wrap around a dowel or something long term.

 

I'm open to suggestions!

 

Cheers,

james

[Peter Kazmierczak]

James,

I think you should be very proud of this layout.

 

Lots of clever ideas incorporated to give a very "railway" feel to the layout. Good to see you weren't tempted to cram too much track into the scenic side, so maximising the whole effect.

[Simon Moore]

I don't think i've ever seen a 6 x 4 layout which has used the space so effectivly thats a very nice effort & looks like alote of fun to play with. I think once this is finished it will be a very nice model railway its certainly given me food for thought about my daughters trackmat & ideas of making something better in the same space.

 

Simon.

[jamest]

Hi all,

 

Right ballast time for the upper level - I've been bent over the layout this afternoon chasing bits of ballast around with my brush! Eventually got it pretty good and brought out the pipette.

I've tried to be doubly careful around the points as I am using wire in the tube, and it works best when the wire can actually move in the tube! Because the upper level is on foam and glued down I have no hope of recovery if I do jam things up. It'll have to be hand of god then.

I've changed the shed next to the re-fuelling point again - I think I'll use a portakabin next to the shed for the main office.

I've also painted my concrete and weathered it a bit by dry brushing on some sleeper grime and blending it with my finger. I'm really glad I went for black ballast now - I think it looks pretty good:

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

James

[jamest]

Hi All,

 

Got quite a bit done this week. After the ballasting I set about the brickwork around the cutting. I have 'made' it using scalescenes brick paper from the retaining wall 'kit'.

I'm pretty happy with the end result and I'll have to get some matt varnish this weekend to give it all a protective layer. I had to spray water around a bit for ballasting and was a little worried when some of the walling done previously 'bubbled' a bit. But it all dried ok - phew!

Done the the traditional friday afternoon pictures in the sunshine (friday afternoons off!)- its actually getting a bit hot in the conservatory now when the sun is out - the layout will move back to the garage in the hotter months. The car can fend for itself then!

Here we go:

 

 

Time to add some more green now.

 

Cheers,

james

[Hammer]

As others have said, that's very impressive use of space. Really shows what you can get into the recommended 'trainset' space.

 

Why did you go for black ballast? I don't think I've ever seen that before.