Popular Post lapford34102 Posted December 6, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted December 6, 2014 (edited) One comment Drewry Lane received occasionally was of the “nice layout, shame about the track” variety. In many ways a valid comment and one aspect I did make an effort with on Shelfe Street. There the matter rested until a show at the start of the year where I got into a deep discussion on the merits of “finescale” track. So I decided to quietly have a go. I was fortunate to get the assistance, via the internet, of Phil Eames who provided a lot of help. Any cock-ups, bodges or mistakes though are exclusively mine. The idea was that this is something of a test piece that could be a bit of a show space filler if it worked, with the last being the bit I certainly wasn’t confident about. I decided on EM though various assorted personages waved the P4 flag energetically. In the end I stuck with EM because it can be more forgiving and there was a cost overhead going P4. The plain track is C+L and the points BH rail, copperclad sleepers and Templot. “it’s easy” is a phrase I’d often heard over the years when talking about getting into handbuilt track. That’s not a phrase I would use. It can be a steep learning curve and if I’d had to rely solely on the web and books to get going the whole lot would have likely ended up in the bin. By my 3rd point I was beginning to get the hang of things though grateful for copperclads abilty to be tweaked when you get it wrong, which I did. So with half a dozen points done and, as far as possible tested, decided it was time to stick it altogether and see where it went. Sticking with my usual shunting plank format the results are below. I will happily admit that even in this state it looks very different to RTL track. Getting a “working” layout threw up a few more issues such as varying track heights due to sleeper thicknesses and getting joinerless rail joins right but nothing horrendous. Wired up for DCC and a deep breath. Surprise, surprise, it actually worked. My hastily converted Heljan Hymek stayed on the track and even managed to push a few wagons around without dumping them onto the scenery. It wasn’t 100% but was better than I feared it might be. Track gauges and iron out again and a bit more adjustment., more testing. Pretty happy with things now have the track painted so it’s on to the scenery and some more stock. Stu Edited March 5 by lapford34102 Revised title 29 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 18.2mm is a definite improvement on 16.5mm as is proper sleeper spacing. It shows how bad Peco track really is. Keep on with the good work. Gordon A Bristol 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 (edited) EM really is worth the effort. You look to have made a fine start there Stu. Have you joined the EMGS? If you haven't already done so, I heartily advise that you do so. You won't regret it! steve Edited December 22, 2014 by steve1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
south_tyne Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Hi Stu, That is looking great. I have admired your other small layouts in the past and moving to EM will only improve the appearance. How does the track layout differ from previous layouts? What are you using for point control? Anyway looks first class. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 (edited) Hi, Thanks to everyone for the comments and the likes. Must admit I had one of those "did I really do that" moments last night and as I commented to Phil who helped me that I was surprised just how different it looks. David, the trackplan, in my usual 5' scenic,is simpler mainly because of the space the points take up so a run round with just 2 sidings. Point control is the same as Drewry, wire and small slide switches. Built in a fair amount of slack as the throw needed is less than RTL stuff. Thanks Stu Edited December 7, 2014 by lapford34102 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 (edited) Couple more pics Stu Edited February 3, 2023 by lapford34102 Restoring photos 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold mudmagnet Posted December 7, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 7, 2014 Looking very smart Stu! You can't beat hand made track and EM does look very good. The point work does look very neat. I may consider EM myself in the future, but will need to get additional stock as my current loco stock is still needed on my current exhibition layouts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Stuart, Looks very smart. What are your thoughts on the setting? Are you doing a 'how to' guide on regauging your locomotives? Looking forward to the next episode, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I'm just about to start tracklaying with Peco 00 Code 75, as a way to get a working layout quickly, but it really does look appalling compared to that. Can't wait to have the time, energy and motivation to get back to building something with proper handbuilt EM track! Of course it doesn't help that the new 00 layout will be right next to my part built S4 standards broad gauge layout! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 Hi, Well that little flurry of tags and comments has woken me up from my Yuletide stupor....... BG John, Peco definitely has a place if only as a way of honing tracklaying skills. My efforts after Drewry I hope show some form of progression without which I doubt I'd have had the confidence to attempt EM. Ernie, as for setting nothing definite yet but will have to give it some thought in the New Year as one brave soul has already booked it for a show As for the conversions not sure I'd be the best to lecture on that but happy to explain how I've done mine. Think there might be a case for a dedicated subsection for gauge conversions on here. Work on layout will resume in the New Year and I've recovered from the Grandchildren Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mark Forrest Posted December 21, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 21, 2014 Looks good so far, look forward to seeing it progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Share Posted January 4, 2015 (edited) Hi, Now things have quietened down got doing the backscene. Feeling slightly radical after the festivities did consider whether you actually need one. Now a good backscene, e.g. the one on Black Country Blues, can significantly enhance a layout whilst a bad one can certainly detract but are they a necessity...? Probably, if nothing else they provide a backdrop and way of hiding the exhibitors usual detritus of half drunk cups of coffee, assorted foodstuffs, paperwork and suchlike that would just be a distraction. Although not that obvious the backscene curves forward gently from one end to the other. Been doing the capping today but discovered my camera has gone phut! so any more pictorial updates might not be forthcoming for a while. Stu Edited February 3, 2023 by lapford34102 Restoring photos 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted January 6, 2015 Author Share Posted January 6, 2015 (edited) Hi, Backscene now on, plus I've done the capping and tried an idea for the ends. Those seemed like a good idea when I thoughtabout but now they're here in 3D not so sure. I tend not to plan my layouts down to the last blade of static grass, quite the opposite in fact so there's going to be a degree of extemporising and improvising. Not necessarily the best plan but it's primer and undercoat next and then see how it looks. Stu Edited February 3, 2023 by lapford34102 Restoring photos 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevblokey Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Looks good Stu. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWales Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Any more updates on your project Stu? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share Posted March 15, 2015 Hi,Yes Martin a bit of progress. have some pics that I need to put up so will try later today. Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWales Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Ohhh you tease! Ahh well, we've waited a couple of months so I guess a few hours more won't hurt! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share Posted March 15, 2015 (edited) Hi, Well not a lot to report but there has been a certain amount of doing things then undoing them. Perhaps I am getting somewhere now. Have decided on a simpler backscene, now painted. Not totally satisfied but think it'll look passable when the scenery starts coming together. Have started the ground work with some clay infill on the sidings and a couple of hardstandings. A bit of basic weathering as well. In the next few weeks hope to make progress as well as getting to grips with the stock. Although it's first public out is some way off so far it's two definite and three possibles for invites. Not sure if this is a show of confidence or sympathy on the Ex Manager's side though one did comment about the difficulty in finding small "finescale" layouts. A couple of pics and I'll do my best to update more often. Stu Edited February 3, 2023 by lapford34102 Restoring photos 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted April 1, 2015 Author Share Posted April 1, 2015 Been doing a bit to the layout but had a couple of issues. First one is with me as I’m sitting here with more than a couple of stitches in my head having had something nasty removed. So remember T-shirt, hat and sunscreen and if you spot anything odd get it checked. No sympathy please as it’s partly my own fault… With the dressing off temporarily granddaughter thought all the stitches looked gross, my grandson was impressed, not sure what to make of that.Second issue was with the ballasting done in the traditional manner although the thin sleepers took a bit of getting used to. The problem came a day or so after as a point had appeared to warp and there were some very bad rail joins, derailment bad. Not sure what the problem and cause was and tried to do some repairs. However after a few days things were back . The baseboard deck is made from MDF and enquiries have revealed there can be an issue when it gets wet. I used two pieces of MDF and the problem occurred at the join. Advice is to seal MDF before you use it.With that out the way the track weathering and a bit of scenery has been started. As usual the pics aren’t brilliant and the flash has made the colours look all wrong but it’ll give an idea.CheersStu 8 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Looking good Stu, my sort of layout Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeT Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Great looking track, l would never go back to Peco, and the more points l build the easier it gets, l would love to go for EM as it looks so much better, but the thought of re-gauging 30 plue diesels and 100 bits of rolling stock puts me off, is it easy to re-gauge all your stock George Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted April 2, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 2, 2015 Great looking track, l would never go back to Peco, and the more points l build the easier it gets, l would love to go for EM as it looks so much better, but the thought of re-gauging 30 plue diesels and 100 bits of rolling stock puts me off, is it easy to re-gauge all your stock George Diesels is easy!, re using the existing wheels is usually possible, maybe with extended axles, or failing that Ultrascale, Gibson, Branchlines etc do conversion sets. Same with wagons, sometimes a bit of tittivating of the brakegear is needed, but usually nothing drastic, and in extreme cases, eg the new Hornby hopper, putting wider wheels in solves a problem that exists in OO gauge. Advice and assistance is freely available on this very forum, or ask at exhibitions of operatores with EM layouts. 30 locos and 100 wagons isn't much when you get started. Get that toe in the water! Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Hi, An update showing what's been done over the past few weeks. Still a way to go but the basic groundwork in place. Photos taken outside and this seems to have made some of the colours look a bit garish. Stu 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted June 10, 2015 Author Share Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) Hi, Just a few pics showing recent progress. Cheers Stu Edited February 3, 2023 by lapford34102 Restoring photos 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunmar Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 I like the way you have done the ground work. Can you let us know how you tackled that and what materials did you use. Coming along nicely. Bill. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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