Dzine

Hi Jinty50 Thank you for your kind comments. The most noticeable eco bit is the baseboard and backscene storage, constructed entirely from recycled supermarket boxes. Nearly all the structures and accessories were damaged second-hand items repaired and upgraded. Hills were made from waste expanded polystyrene packaging covered with newspaper, fence posts from used matchsticks, and there's an uncoupling/point operating tool made from a empty biro barrel. Hope this gives a flavour though there's much more. All the makeovers, plus much more, will be detailed in my next bookazine for Model Rail, out towards the back end of this year. Kind regards Paul

Hi Jerry, Large areas of plain brickwork can always look a bit odd and sometimes overpowering, particularly on a small layout, mine certainly did, though they improved vastly once I put the embankments and hedgerows in. Kind regards Paul

High Johna. Many thanks for your kind comments. The answers to your questions are as follows; Electrical feeds are at the outer ends of the following; scenic headshunt, non-scenic track that goes under the Hornby bridge, Peco Loco Lift and one for each of the non-scenic storage sidings Track lengths are as follows, though remember you'll need a little clearance at each point; scenic headshunt 10.5", goods platform siding 9", siding adjacent to goods platform siding 10", station platform track ( from point to buffer stop 11.5" and non-scenic sidings 1'-00" each. Capacity wise all tracks have a minimum of two wagons and an 0-6-0 tank engine or a single Class 121 DMU or similar. Hope this helps. Let me know how you get on, if you need any advice please don't hesitate to ask. Kind regards Paul

Love what you're doing here ruggedpeak; a great job within such vast limitations, looking forward to see what happens next. Kind regards Paul

Interesting comments, you'll find a full explanation in the Micro Layout section, worth reading first I think! Regards Paul

Hi Folks, I promised to put on some of the simple makeovers for the layout, so here we go; Starting with the old Hornby buffer stop, it's got a big lump of plastic where the buffer beam should be, the modified version has an extra diagonal brace at the rear and Costa coffee stirrer beam at the front. Kind regards Paul

You're absolutely right JRB and it applies to a lot of the old Hornby stuff, even some Tri-ang components, Dapol kits and the like. You just have to look at them in a different light and do a bit of work on them. Here's the old Hornby buffer stop with a big lump of plastic where the buffer beam should be together with a modified version with extra diagonal brace at the rear and Costa coffee stirrer beam at the front. Kind regards Paul

Hi John, Here's an aerial photo at mock-up stage, I managed to add in another non-scenic storage line top right but the rest stayed pretty much as it is. Hope this helps, kind regards Paul

Hi Jerry, I did a mixture of coal, particularly around the staithe, tarmac, ballast much with weeds growing through, there's a big piece with ash and the like in it and it's edged with reclaimed sleepers. You can see it in the photo's of the staithe and in the foreground of the goods platform on my post Kind regards Paul

Hi noctilux2, I'm attaching an aerial photo of one of the mock up stages which includes not only the track plan but also position of the main structures. Little changed between this stage and the end result except there are now two non-scenic fiddle yard tracks (partially covered on the final model) top right. Just in case you didn't see earlier, the baseboard is 2'-6" x 1'-10". Hope this helps, Kind regards Paul

Hi Jerry, Your straight platform is going to work far better than my curved one with increased gap for Mark 1 stock overhang...well done. Kind regards Paul

Hi, I'm really pleased you liked the layout, I think there's more people been recycling than we're really aware of and it's great that you've been doing it for ages. As railway modellers I think we slipped behind in being aware of the many issues and there's never been a more important time for each of us to do our bit. Kind regards Paul

Wow that was fast Jerry, the extra length makes a lot of difference. Look forward to seeing what happens next. Kind regards Paul

Hi Jerry, Many thanks for all you have said I'm so pleased to have been able to inspire you. I look forward to seeing your thread, if you need any advice please don't hesitate to ask. Kind regards Paul

Hi Marly51, Many thanks for your comments, good to hear you're into recycling too. If you've got any examples or are about to build something please add a photo on here, we need to start making a difference. Kind regards Paul

Hi Luke, Many thanks for your kind comment. The baseboard and backscene storage (not uploaded photo yet) is made entirely of recycled supermarket cardboard costing only the glue that holds it together, buildings are largely upgraded second hand, there are no electrical switches only live nails in a chocolate block and a live crocodile clip to attach to the relevant nail (one nail for each track section). There's much more this is just a sample. Kind regards Paul

Last photo for now.... It's worth saying at this point that nearly all structures are Hornby, all hedgerows, grass, weeds and undergrowth made from two shades of gardeners twine, some fencing from matchsticks and cotton and the yard platform you see here from from Hornby's elevated wall system, old sleepers and wet and dry paper for the tarmac. Oh, and by the way it's 2'-6" x 1'-10" Will post some detail photo's soon. Regards Paul

....and some more

Here are some more pictures;

Hi Folks, Thought you might like to have a look at some of the images that we didn't have space for in Model Rail. I've also added details of an opportunity to buy the layout with all proceeds going to the Derwent Valley Light Railway. If you're interested in purchasing the completed layout, (please note this does not include rolling stock, road vehicles, controller and Peco Loco Lift) you can do so by making a sealed bid offer, with Model Layout clearly marked on the envelope to; Jonathan Stockwell, Archivist, Derwent Valley Light Railway, C/O Yorkshire Museum of Farming, Murton Park, Murton Lane, Murton, York, YO19 3UF who will accept the highest offer by Thursday 30th April. All proceeds will go to the railway. Please note layout will need collecting from an address in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. More pictures to follow. Thanks for looking, Kind regards Paul

Hi Peak experience, I have a free Layout Planning and Design Clinic that I take on the road every year. The first one at Heworth was the weekend that's just gone, though I'll be in Sheffield 28th and 29th of March next, if you want to catch up for a chat, we could talk about possible refinements of the 'Sheffield' plan. Kind regards Paul

Only a couple of days away now. We'll have quite a few pictures of our new 'eco friendly', entry level, micro layout with us on screen (full article in the new issue of Model Rail out about now) and looking forward to having a chat with visitors about how it was done. In the meantime here's an images to be going on with, we'll be posting more detail under the Micro Layout section soon, though probably after the exhibition.

Fantastic job Steve, loving the attention to detail. Kind regards Paul

Hi ITG, Minimum space operating well very much depends on your waistline! With small wells it's very easy to damage scenery and stock near the edges. How near are you to York? I'll be at the Ebor show this coming weekend with my free Layout Planning and Design clinic, would love to help if you can make it. Kind regards Paul

Hi Folks, Will be at the EBOR show, Heworth Church Hall, Melrosegate, Heworth, York, North Yorkshire YO31 0RL Sat 22nd - Sun 23rd February 2020. Will have our first outing this year for the Layout Planning and Design Clinic. As always we're here to help with new designs or existing ones that have come to a halt. Sessions can take between 15 and 30 minutes and are free. Whatever your age or skill level we'll do our best to help. It can get very busy, so book a session with Melenie when you arrive and we'll phone when a space comes free, in the meantime you can carry on looking round at all the other great stuff on show. There'll be more details to follow throughout the coming week, look forward to seeing you there. Regards Paul and Melenie Lunn