Brian D

Thanks for your post Jock and a very good evening to you. The device I fancy costs about £30 and was reviewed in one of the mags which I have scanned to my laptop - a "DoubleO Scenics" product. I agree, it is best not to overdo it. It will be nice to experiment. Regards, Brian.

Having had a few days to enjoy the existing layout again in its new location and with its new fiddle yard, I am now minded to leave construction of the new layout until the spring or early summer, or at least until the weather warms up. This decision has been made because there isn't really enough room to construct new baseboards in the shed without damaging the existing layout or the internal shed lining and creating unacceptable amounts of saw dust. So, in the meantime, I plan a few "improvements" to the existing layout including... a few repairs are needed to the scenery and layout framing close to the front edge, these caused by many times folding up the layout. experiments with static grass, but I have yet to source a suitable and reasonably priced applicator. possible reconstruction of the platform. The original platforms are Metcalfe jobs using laminated cornflake packet card. I will still "stick" (sorry) with card, probably replacing the platform structure with Scalescenes textures mounted on mounting board or grey board of the correct thickness(s). improving the track/permanent way appearance (possibly over spray painting the track bed - the ballast is very black in colour and the rail sides need a touch up) adding people and bits an pieces of luggage, goods, etc. I'll keep you posted on these developments as they happen. In the meantime, I do recall "promising" some photos of (1) "Brit" Oliver Cromwell on the GCR at Christmas and (2) my Scalescenes goods shed build. Pics of (1) are in the camera but still not yet downloaded to the pc and pics of (2) are still to be taken. Bear (bare?) with me. Regards, Brian.

I added a safety "fence" at the front edge of the cassette deck using the ubiquitous laminate flooring boards cut to suit - see below (with a full fiddle yard ) Regards, Brian.

Thanks, Andy - already on my list of jobs, as is a fence at the front of the cassette deck to prevent similar accidents. Thanks again for the reminder. Regards, Brian.

Must be your "magnetic personality" Andy Seriously, this thread is building into a great source of reference for all RMWebbers. Keep it coming. Regards, Brian.

I finished off the cassettes this afternoon, attaching the carry/lifting handles - see below. So, the infrastructure having been reinstated, passenger services have been resumed. Regards, Brian.

That's great news, Ron. I'm only too happy to take the blame. Do research the sheds available though. There are some dodgy ones about which are not particularly well constructed. A good quality shed will cost a few bob as mine did. All the best and let me know how you get on. Regards, Brian.

I agree with the "healthy" bit. Unfortunately my son's labradoodle goes completely nutty when he sees another dog to the point where he takes no notice at all of instructions to return. So we are constantly on the look out for other dogs so we can get him back on the lead. Takes the edge of it a bit . My son is on a short break skiing recce and his wife is heavily pregnant with our third grandchild so we are dog walking for a few days until my son returns. Regards, Brian.

Good Afternoon Jock, I hope you are well. I totally agree with you about RMWeb - it is a fantastic resource, like being a member of a model railway club (but no subs ). I have completed two of the cassettes just now having attached the handles. We have to do a dog walk shortly so I'll hopefully complete the other cassettes when we get back and post pictures on here later. Best Regards, Brian.

Thanks, Andy. I was a bit concerned about using mdf strips for the cassette sides but they have responded well to the pva treatment and all appears quite sturdy now. Regards, Andy.

Many thanks for your kind words, Ron. The last few weeks cold weather have shown that my shed heats up quickly using the fan heater and intermittent bursts of the fan keep it cosy so I don't think it is costing much to heat. The temperatures still plummet overnight but with (so far) no adverse effects on the existing layout - I was a bit concerned about my less than perfect soldered joints. Good luck with your shed refurb and feel free to "pinch" as many ideas as you want. Kind Regards, Brian.

Today's progress report follows. Instead of painting the mdf sides of the cassettes I decided to give then a coat of undiluted PVA which should seal them in one hit. All four cassettes are shown below thus treated, a bit brown and boring though. There followed much sawing, screwing and gluing to "mass produce" the lifting handles, some of which are shown below assembled but not attached to the cassettes, two per cassette. I am hoping to complete the cassettes tomorrow when normal train services will be resumed (albeit reduced in length) and the rail replacement buses can cease Regards, Brian.

In my post yesterday where I referenced another post on RMWeb re cassette connection to the main layout board, I neglected to name the poster. I am therefore delighted to thank Tel2010 for his inspirational post which solved my problem exactly. Regards, Brian.

Thanks Andy. I do try to keep things neat and tidy but sometimes the impatience takes over. Regards, Brian.

So, after an assessment of available left over materials from lining out the shed, a back of fag packet design was carried out. ...apologies for the quality of the phone image. A frame was built utilising the remnants of 34 x 18 par softwood that I bought to frame out the shed door. After screwing and gluing the frame, some of the laminate flooring off cuts were joined together, the frame placed thereon and drawn around, the laminate boards "un-joined" cut as appropriate and reconnected and screwed to the frame and...voila.. I had a cassette deck. A pair of legs, also 34 x 18, screwed and glued together were also made and the new cassette deck attached to the existing layout. The cassettes themselves were formed from 75 mm strips of laminate board with mdf sides and a yard length of Peco track glued thereon. A post by a fellow RMWebber (see http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/58638-cheap-homemade-loco-liftstorage-cassete/?fromsearch=1)gave me the ideal physical and electrical connection between layout and cassettes. They are just long enough to hold 3 short coaches and a short loco (diesel or steam tank engine). I've made four cassettes which will do for now. They need painting (to stop the mdf disintegrating) and lifting handle added which I will press on with tomorrow. Regards, Brian.

Unfortunately not Andy - Monday is "Freddie Day", we look after our 4 year old grandson. However, Freddie and I have been out in the shed for a shunt or two today . I need to buy some yard lengths of track for the cassettes (nearest model shop is about 20 miles drive away) hopefully tomorrow and get on with the carpentry (I think I've got enough timber. Hopefully in a few days I'll have trains running in and out of the scenic 7 feet of BLT. Regards, Brian.

Andy, Ray, Thank you both for your comments. I'm now minded to build a straight cassette fiddle yard on the end of the existing layout. This will give me the chance to run, albeit short, trains while I finalise the design for the new project. I'm not one for building a baseboard before I know the track plan, topography etc (it's the engineer in me ) so I can work out how the baseboard carpentry will go together, timber required, cutting plans, bracing positions to avoid point motors, etc, etc and even including how to mate the existing BLT with the new build in phases or not at all. Thanks again for your interest. Regards, Brian.

This is the latest version of the layout plan I have developed incorporating a colliery. Trying to mate this to the existing BLT as a temporary measure is giving me brain ache. I'm torn between... (1) lashing up a short (circa 3 foot) fiddle yard to attach to the existing layout, which would give me an operating layout permanently set up in a reasonably short length of time. In between operating this layout, construction of the new layout could commence on the opposite side of the shed although at some point the existing layout would have to go to make room for the completion of the new one. OR (2) building one of the curved ends of the proposed layout and trying to mate this to the existing BLT and fiddle yard. However, this involves mating existing code 100 Peco track to the proposed code 75 new track. As I've said, much to ponder and I'm in no particular rush other than to get some trains running ASAP. Regards, Brian.

Hi Les, Thanks for your comments. I have about a metre between the end of the existing layout and the end wall of the shed and the shed is about 2 metres wide internally (6 ft 6 inches) so I'm more drawn towards a 180 degree curve as a 90 wouldn't give me any extra cassette length. But see my reply to Ray. The new layout will be at the same height as the existing. Much pondering to be done. Regards, Brian.

Ray, Thanks for the suggestion. Adding a curve is an option, preferably reusable on the new layout. That might mate with the existing fiddle yard temporarily. Lots to ponder. Regards, Brian.

Good Evening and Happy New Year, A very busy Christmas and New Year is now behind us - much visiting and visitations having taken place. I thought I would do some modelling this week, rather than talking about it on here, so I have started building a Scalescenes goods shed and have quite enjoyed it. I'll post some pictures when I've finished it. However, today I have given the goods shed a day off and as it had stopped raining I have transferred my existing layout, Hawthorn Town, out of the bedroom and into the shed. Unfortunately, there is good news and bad. I had convinced myself in an earlier post that the layout and fiddle yard would fit in the shed, albeit on the diagonal. I don't know where I c*cked up measurement wise but it doesn't fit. So I have erected the layout minus fiddle yard along the back wall of the shed - see below. However, it is nice to have a space where I can leave the layout set up ready to use. So, I gave my Christmas present a test run and what a beautiful model this Hornby K1 is and it runs like a dream straight out of the box - see below. I am now minded to build a cassette based new fiddle yard as that is the type of fiddle yard I am planning to utilise on the new layout (when I get round to building it). I only have room to accommodate 3 foot long cassettes though so I need to give this idea some more thought. I've probably got enough timber but will need to buy some more track. Food for thought as I said but just great to have a layout in a permanent set up. I used to spend about an hour and a half setting the d*mned thing up in the bedroom and another hour and a half putting it away. Regards, Brian.

I'm enjoying reading your thread Ray, the "pause for thought" elements especially. I can empathise totally. I'm still firming things up on my plans too as I also want as much operational flexibility as possible. However, I have already bitten (not bitton hahaha) the bullet about reality - mine will be a totally fictional location, albeit based in a particular area. Interesting stuff - keep it coming. Regards, Brian.

Thanks for your good wishes Jock. They are of course entirely and fully reciprocated. Sorry for the late response, just back from snowy Leicestershire where I managed a quick photo or two at the Great Central this morning (oh, and a less than wonderful trip to Villa Park yesterday to see the Lads grind out a goalless draw against 10 men Aston Villa). Oliver Cromwell himself no less in residence on the GCR. I'll post some pics on here once I've had a chance to down load them from the camera and "improve" the images (very low sun in the sky and the loco and train were northbound to Loughborough). Best wishes, Brian.

I've been thinking about the layout plan shown in post #83 and listening to the various views about traversers. So I started thinking about using cassettes and vertical stacking instead. This would give me much more model-able base board width on the opposite scenic side. Having printed off the AnyRail plans for part of the layout, I laid these out yesterday on the shed floor - see below. I really would like to incorporate a colliery on the layout and I'm now looking to squeeze one in behind the station (between the station and the shed wall i.e. on the carpet area shown in the pic). I need to do a bit more work on the AnyRail plan to see if this is workable. It would be great If I could especially with a rtr Q6 coming. Regards, Brian.

Thanks, Steve. Nice times, especially at Christmas to have new born babies in the house. My eldest son and his wife will present us with another grandchild in the spring taking the total up to three. Guaranteed to put a smile on one's face. Regards, Brian.