nathan9117

Welcome to my new layout thread, this is a work in progress and as of yet the baseboard need to be constructed. I have spent the last few months researching Loconet compatible equipment and have decided to use a combination of Digitrax and Digikeijs hardware.
 
The layout will be situated in my loft measuring 9 Feet by 18 Feet. The layout itself will be 8 Feet by 18 Feet as to allow for a backdrop to be fitted. At current the loft has been strengthened and had flooring put down the only tasks left to complete are to insulate and cover the roof and wire up 5 sockets and lights.
 
The layout will be a mix of DCC Manual and DCC Automatic control I will have the computer dispatch random trains around the layout while I drive a loco of my own or do some shunting, there will be many features added to make for a very fun operating session such as random freight trains being sent to the yard ready for sorting before being handed back over to automatic control ready to be sent off around the layout to its next location.

The layouts scenic area consists of two levels split by 3-4" and I will be using 30" & 32" radius curves, the fiddle yard will be on a third lower level around 8" below the scenic boards.

I will be using the open frame method to construct the baseboards as only a few will have a full top covering.
 

Layout Plan Explained

Red highlighted tracks are bottom level and blue tracks top level the green lines indicate tunnel mouths. The red and blue lines at the top of the plan are inclines the rear incline from the bottom level will run under the top level tracks and behind the retaining wall marked on the image. All labels ending with a question mark are not yet final and are open to suggestions of things in place. I would like a TMD and a separate yard to shunt wagons I am considering putting a small TMD where the right hand side TMD label is and running a access line from the TMD to the Yard. Please note there will only be one TMD I just have a choice of two locations. If anyone has any ideas on what I can add remove or change please feel free to let me know as I want to finalise as much as possible in planning so that prep and basic layout structure will be a breeze to assemble. All boards are 2 Feet wide and there is plenty of room for ideas, the upper level station does not have to consist of multiple platforms and can be as narrow as possible if scenic ideas for the lower levels unused space are developed or suggested. Thank you all and please excuse the hilariously bad Photoshop jobby of my layout plan ! TIA !

The plan at the moment is to use 10mm ply for strength and lightness and fit them on  rods so that hopefully there will be a fine enough adjustment to ensure that the slope is consistent over the entire length.

Unfortunately as we haven't seen one working in real life its getting the fine details right that's the difficulty.

Your best bet here then is to find out your curve radius and make sure you place enough rods around the curve. Sufficient support should mean no sag or bumps and plenty of fine adjustment once you have the first helix section installed all the others are a breeze to stack on top.

Sorry to see the demise of your layout as although you model a different era your videos and demos have been a great source information and help to me. The upside to this of course is that when you start your new layout there will be a whole new set of videos to look forward to, hopefully!

As you are the only person I have seen using the Helix system intensively I wanted to ask your advice about them. One of our group is designing a layout which because of space limitations will include a four ring helix at each end going down to a storage/return area. Based on your experience are there any obvious things to aviod regarding materials or design.

Hope you don't mind me throwing in my two cents on Helix's here, the best bits of advise I can give is to use good quality wood such as a plywood this should help aid against sagging like MDF would. Also you need to consider how the helix will be held up will you be using the method of threaded rods and nuts or using protruding parts from the circle to screw wood standoffs into. This will determine the thickness of wood needed and also the width of the track bed  with enough excess for threaded rods or wooden standoffs.

For all who are interested there is a new video out go check it out !

Looking really good I remember when I went to Warley for the first ever time and I saw Blackmill my jaw dropped I had never seen a layout like it ! if only I had space to create something similar. I have no doubts this layout will be just as good and better !

Looks like a neat little space to build in look forward to watching how this turns out You could possibly squeeze a double track mainline with a slight re jig of the plans or do you want a single track ?  

The pit lighting windows are fantastic and the led lights look pretty good too. I remember going down a few pits and they are pretty dim and dark in most cases so the led lights look good from what I can see. I would never have the patience to make the little light windows for the pits .

Looking really nice ! I like the shed you have done it out pretty nice inside, I am still torn on paying for a large shed and kitting that out for a railway room or do I stick with the loft. Both cost the same amount to do out but hey ho time will tell. Look forward to seeing the layout progress however !

Cheers Nathan.

 

 

Bridging the BB joint means making the building removable, but it's worth it.

 

Dave

Aye it does but it is alot easier than trying to squeeze it in to each side of the baseboards or making things smaller so it all fits. Looks lovely cant wait to see some snaps of it on the circuit many will enjoy the scenic work of this layout. The handmade track is fantastic I need to get myself some of the pcb strip and rail to have a go my self.

Very nice scenic work. Simple track plan too but it works ! Like the handmade tracks they look very very nice. I am also going to be modeling a cement works and a small yard neat idea with the building across the baseboard joint. Might have to nick the idea of that because it could save me alot of hassle having to hide the join between. 

This is a Club layout, Nathan!!

 

Dave

Aha I see would be lovely to have a club round here but I dont think there are many going anymore around the west Yorkshire area of east riding. 

Thanks Nathan.

 

The layout is 24' x 2' in total.

 

Dave

Holy cow ! wish I had 24' of layout ive only got 8' x 2' so far and still would never fit 24' in the longest I can fit in the loft is 16' Cheers ive already made a start on hacking my IDE cables into sections to make a fence haha ! 

Great way to get rid of those nasty old IDE cables I have a box load somewhere nice idea and fab looking layout ! love it ! What are the dimensions  of the overall boards ? thanks.

Haha I will check out the p4 third rail layout later thanks. Nice work it will look the piece when done.

As much as I am not into 3rd rail I have got to say well done to you and any other people modeling it because it doesnt half look fiddly and a pain in the ass to put down even just for scenic effect haha. Nice work man.

Your layout looks very nice i like how you use the cards to operate your layout and or shunting operations it makes it so much more fun to operate. once i get my layout layed i may just "nick" your card idea to give me shunting puzzles cheers.

Wow gordon it is looking awesome the ballasting looks nice ! And thanks you understood my question perfectly I will add some primer to it and see how it looks if I feel like the solder looks too thick I will file it down cheers.

How do i go about cleaning solder joints up then to disguise them. Works good and smooth but i need to add more sleepers and a coat of paint .

You have an urge for creating awesome looking scenery ! Haha well done buddy your layouts look nice love the little shunting planks they stand out so nice.

Nathan, take a look at post number 906 on page 37.  I've done a complete tutorial on building pointwork which will explain it all...

Hey thanks very much to that page now as I need to do the frogs cheers.

Thanks Nathan.  I'm really pleased that my meanderings through this modelling world of ours have encouraged you to have a go at making your own pointwork.  Just take it slowly and you will be able to make something that will work.  I only started making my own a few years back and by and large every one I now produce is a fraction better than the last as I'm gaining experience all the time.  Making a start is the hardest bit.  Once you have, there are many modellers on here that will be pleased to answer any questions you may have...

 

For other regular readers, work is progressing.  On this first board, the goods loop is laid awaiting ballasting and seven sections of retaining wall have been assembled and painted awaiting final weathering.  I will have to build a couple of crossovers for the inner loops this weekend as they will be easier to install at this stage before the board is lifted back into position over the stairs.  I'll post some pics when there is a bit more to show, but progress is being made. 

Cheers buddy just got home now 2.50 am but I have a template layed out on a wood base and pcb board cut into strips I must add though I didnt buy pcb railway ties i had an a3 board I cut down into a strip just for the main sleepers. The rest will be wood or something until I buy pcb ties from a railway site. One question i have is how do you solder the frogs so they join without solder getting on the rail head I dont really want to have to sand the rail heads or anything. Cheers Nathan.

So today I am sat looking back through eastwood town and I have just thought and thought about building hand layed turnouts and well here we go your point work looks so nice and amazing I thought I might just give it a go .

Loving the layout mate looks awesome love the way the tracks curve arround my problem at the moment is locos. I personaly dont have the finance to buy locos ive got track and points but only a couple locos lol anyway i saw your comment on youtube and its pyronathanpyro btw i will be recording my progress and youtubing it as i go thanks.

If you like cars Grimley, this was the best I have driven so far. Looked a bit chavvy in white, but I could forgive anything when it sounded like this...

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLydZohq67M

If you like fast loud good sounding exotic cars you should try a customised twin turbo 1000awdhp audi r8 or a custom twin turbo re mapped lamborghini gallardo 1000+awdhp

Damn this is looking sweet if i must say so you are blooming pro at this haha your work is so neat and presentable well done man .