Lee m22

Looking fantastic Stephen! Really liking the phots. The trackside gubbins and vegetation have really made the scene as well as the ballasting of course. One Little question - I notice you've not anted the check rails on the tail ends of your points. Would they blend in better if they were painted like your track or will this affect operation in some way?? Only asking a I will arrive at ths stage on my layout in the not-to-distant future. Bet you can't wait to finish that last 10" now!! Regards Lee Damn iPad, three edits and still finding typos!

Black sheep as he right idea! Best of both worlds then Regards Lee

Good news to see progress!! Will be interesting to see what you do with scenery etc, especially if the wagon weathering is anything to go by! Look forward to seeing it in the flesh sometime. Lee

Hi Peter You are right that a change might be a good idea, but not at the cost of destroying this one. You'll soon miss it and long for running trains! (much like me at the moment!) Perhaps a side project or a micro layout to give you some breathing space from Llanbourne? As for sorting that piece of track, why not have a go at wiring one up on a plank.... Sometimes it's simpler to get the principles right on an isolated piece of track. At very least, if it continues to frustrate you, it's not the 25 years of hard work that is in the firing line! I've smashed and bashed many a frustrating project so fully appreicate how you are feeling. Hope you feel better about it soon as this project is definately one of my favourate layouts on RMWeb and beyond! Regards Lee

Really interesting thread to browse through! Always enjoy seeing your projects come together so look forward to seeing more over Easter Regards Lee

Hi Andy Looks to be another great project from you, and I'm very glad to see it in N gauge! Will be following with interest Regards Lee

I would echo what Graham and Ian have said. All the best to you both. Lee

Not sure yet, but playing with the idea of using a thick card to curve the back scene. It all depends on the scenery as well and what I can fit in. I've brought some A1 foam board and some mounting card so I can experiment with the bask scene and start shaping up some sort of mockup of the buildings. Regards Lee

Right, well in the absence of track and decent weather, I've finished off the bulk of the baseboard side of things! Aside some small tasks to improve the backscene, I am finished on the woodwork side of things. The backboards stand at 18" dividing the scenic and off-scene areas. The end plates and surrounds are lot less. Things never lay out as they ought. I have managed to benefit from this though, and I really like the gentle curve that this photo portrays. Some shots of the fiddle yard. I will probably put a sheet of wood over the tracks where the curve is here. That should stop light bleeding onto the layout from the off-scene area and add a little workspace to the back of the layout. I will add a short board to the back of the layout to stop stock "taking the leap" (Come on, we've all dropped the odd loco here and there!) Now I've seen how things have shaped up, I'm tempted to add an extra loop or two on the UP line (to the edge of the board). The extra storage will most likely come in handy. You can see the extra spurs off the inner loop.These will probably not be used, certainly to start with. If I ever exibit the layout, then the added fan sidings off these might come in handy. Rather pleased with being able to get on today! I will look to get some thick card in the week and then I can start mocking up some of the more substancial scenery such as the H road bridge and the station footbridge. I already feel I need to move the yard sidings away from the backscene a bit so I might tweek the track here. I don't think I have the space for the disused double bay platform so I might compromise and go for a single bay (disused again). I've certainly got some scenic ideas brewing so I best channel the buzz while I've got it. Plenty to do while I wait for the flexi!! Thanks for reading! Lee

You're onto your third layout (that I've followed) and I've not even finished one! I would tend to agree with you about the backscene storage. I might add a couple more loops to my current design and have built provision for an extended yard, yet I expect a smaller yard will be fine for just "playing trains" at home. The savings could certainly be put to better use elsewhere on the layout! Very excited to see this come together Regards Lee

This looks really cool! Will be following with interest!!! Regards Lee

Thanks Tim, the main aim of the game here is operational interest and longevity. This is no way a quick project but defiantly a fun one that will keep me busy on these rather typical British weekends! Thanks again Stephen. I prefer the thread format tbh but I always get carried away with them and end up on the forum more that at my workbench! At least the blogs are a little more fire & forget! A bit of flying done, managed the conversion flight on the PA28, a circuit and solo flight and finally after four months, got onto my first nav-ex. Looks like today is to be weathered off though As if flying wasn't good enough, Wansford and the home of the NVR sit right in the circuit! I was greeted on the crosswind leg by 73050 in full steam twice last week and often use the plumes of steam to locate the airfield. On the rare occasions I run in long finals onto 24, we cross right over Peterborough station as well. Look forward to being able to carry a passenger with a camera!! In the meantime though, if flying is out of the question today, then backboards are probably the priority. I've decided to go for 18" high as 1' would be preferable for weight and handling but 2" would look better....somewhere in the middle therefore can't be wrong Thanks for reading Lee

So, distractions and small steps is what is has been for me over the last few weekends. Firstly, training for the new job role has been intense so not really giving me much time in the evenings, then flight training at the weekend (yes we have had some decent weather!) has kept me away from the railway more than I would like so far. Little in the way of tracklaying can be considered before I get my hands on some flexitrack and I think this will likely be at the start of next month. In the meantime though, I have managed to get busy with the prep work. I have laid a cork mat over all of the boards. Starting to regret this now as it's not been great stuff and the glue seeped through it, sticking to the wooden planks I used to weight it down. Needless to say some damage occured when I lifted the planks. I hope the cork stays stuck down once I've got the layout underway! On the more interesting side of things, I had a few scenic kits to start making from a recent model show. I brought a few kits from P&D Marsh, including a footbridge and flatbed truck. I've also got a bike shed and a single deck bus to add to the scene. I also brought a large factory kit (by Kestrel I think) which is a little rough and ready, but with a few additions it should pass for a decent scenic piece. Finally, I have cut up and laid out the track plan to scale. There may be a few tweeks needed to fully achieve my aims. I need to make space for the disused bay platforms. Anyway, to the pictures! A general overview of the trackplan, looking west. Recreating the pic that got me hooked on Rhyle, a Class 37 crosses back onto the Down Main from Platform 1 This class 47 holds short of the station on it's way east. In reality, the signal on the Up line will be much further back I need to get those TTA's all weathered to the same degree. The factory and flatbed. I've missed the top of the chimney in this shot (doh). I like the height it adds to the scene. Another overview of the station throat. Looks busy to me I do intend to move the layout over a bit so the off scene section isn't so close to the edge. Hopefully with the trackplan laid out, I can look to the backscene before I get onto track laying. Thanks for reading! Regards Lee

Hey. This is a really exciting project and I'll be following with interest! I'm sure this will be a very inspirational thread Regards Lee

It must be immensely relaxing once you've finished a load of ballasting and the scene looks as good as this at the end! Lee

Looking great! The long grass looks excellent around the trackwork Yep, a bit of ballasting would chill me out (not that my flying very stressful!) Regards Lee

Hi Peter. I've Been away for a while so I'm about due a post on your thread! Things are looking fantastic and I've enjoyed catching up ( still more to read mind!). Your photos are always inspiring and really capture that North Wales scene! I know it's the same thing I say each time but a good thing is worth saying again! I'll be sure to keep tabs on your updates wile I start on my own little slice of North Wales. Keep them photos coming Regards Lee

Oh I'm going to have to try harder! The detail you strive for is never short of inspiring! Regards Lee

Hehe, thanks! Yes, get ye to ye tools! Nothing like the excitement of a new project I went to the model rail show in Mk today and picked up a few scenic bits. Also found out thAt apparently the code 55 flexitrack-making machine at Peco has broken dwn, hence everywhere I look being out of stock! Oh we'll, plenty to be getting on with! Regards Lee

Hello All! I think now that I've made some final decisions, it's worth a small update on my North Wales Layout plans. I'm going to start by moaning. Why is it that everywhere seems so low on the basic N gauge stock!? Got it out of my system, thats enough moaning for one month I think! SO the track plan! I've finally settled on the plan that will represent my busy mainline through-station on the North Wales Coast Line. I've managed to shape up the off-scene lines leading into the station on the right-hand side and this gives both some extra scenic space and a little more room for trains to stop in the station off-scene without fouling the fast lines. I've decided to use Peco code 55 finescale track. All the pointwork on the main running lines will be large. I'm still pondering if I should use medium points in the yard. I picked up a wireless Dynamis set for a good price so DCC control is sorted for the time being. I'm going to try using the Traintronics TT300 point motors, certainly for the main part of the layout. Track laying will be phased and I intend to take my time over it. Phase one will see the two main running lines through the fiddle yard and around the scenic section to form the circuit (At least I can run stuff then!) This will include the four lines through the station the pointwork at the station throat. Phase two will be the yard and third platform line to the fiddle yard. That way, I can get on with scenic work to my heart's content while still being able to run trains. Phase three will see the fiddle yard take shape, and certainly include the five sidings. I may add the additional sidings at a later date, and these may not be controlled by point motors. Their only real use is if I do exhibit the layout and want to get as much stock on as possible. Baseboards are all up and assembled! I've enjoyed making these and feel I've got them pretty neat for a change! the frames are 18mm plywood and the top surface is 6mm plywood.The next step is to cover the whole surface in cork then I will look to lay out the printed trackplan on the board. From this, I hope I can get a good idea of the final space avaliable for scenery etc, and I'll be looking to put up a backscene of about 18" that will continue around the off-scene sections at the front and ends. I think this will look smart if the layout is exhibited, but also prevent any accidents with stock 'jumping' off the edges! My first order of bits n pieces arrived today! Unfortunatly, my shop of preference was far more expensive than my online shop of preference. And they were all out of flexi! That means tracklaying might be delayed for some time now until I can muster the next order. In the meantime, I've brought a kit for a scenic building and there's also plenty of weathering to get on with! I'm off to the model railway show in Milton Keynes tomorrow so there might be a chance to treat myself to some rolling stock if I'm lucky! Hopefully something a little more exciting to show by my next post. In the meantime, a pic to whet your appetites! Thanks for reading Lee

There would be exceptions to every rule. I'm sure somewhere there is trunking between lines:) It's looking really good! I was in a model shop earlier and nearly brought a load after seeing you put it to good use. Look forward to seeing more pics soon! Lee