Physicsman

My god - someone who actually enjoys ballasting!! You feeling ok, Ian?! Jason, first look at Bacup for a while. The platform canopy is superb and the ballasting has gone well. May seem a daft question, but just who are the Britannia Coconut Dancers? I've been meaning to ask for weeks!! Best wishes, Jeff

Morning John, nice to hear from you again. I'm enjoying actually being able to start on something directly related to the layout. I loved converting the garage, but I've been itching to start on the "underbelly" of the layout for months!! Enclosed - 2 more pics, taken an hour ago. Hair cut, then it's into the garage to fit some legs... Best wishes, Jeff

Quite agree. I'd made my mind up to get one of these when their site went down and still hasn't fully recovered! Thanks for the comments on my thread. The first job tomorrow morning (I'm on holiday) is to fit the first 4 legs under my frame. The Forum is an inspirational place and I love watching your shunting layouts. So much attention to detail. Long may it continue. Jeff

Thanks Andy. First 4 legs will be fitted tomorrow morning. The subframe isn't the most photogenic part of a layout, but I'm a great believer in the principle "if you are going to build it, build it as well as you can!" The actual baseboards will sit 25cm above the subframe on a set of risers. Hopefully this will give me lots of scenic possibilities. Jeff

Will do, Andy. Pay the cleaning crew "bu***r all" and they are sure to let the 4F revert to being a rust-bucket. Lol! Have you any other O gauge steamers in the pipeline? I'm 00 through and through, but if I had a lot of money, and space, I'd love to build a substantial O gauge layout. Cracking model you have there! Cheers, Jeff

Hi Andy, As an "impartial observer" it's interesting to compare your photos of the 4F posted on May 30 and today. The majority of my locos are pristine or lightly weathered. I'm reluctant to "muck up" my own stock, but I have to agree with you that there is no contest as to which version of your 4F looks best - the weathered one. Maybe it can "rain" a lot on Trebudoc over the next few weeks and the 4F can be restored to its rusty and decrepit glory! Great stuff! Jeff

Morning update... 2 hours of cutting have added a few more spans. Coffee, then more fun! Jeff

Mike, Enclosed diagram showing proposed positions of "legs" under the subframe...

Evening Mike,. Nothing is actually fixed in place as yet. The timbers you've seen are a small part of the network (you've seen the subframe plan earlier in the thread). Junction points will be screwed together (I don't like using glue) and there will be a number of supports (see the post after this - I'll upload a "support plan"!!). And yes, I've calculated the relevant modulus of elasticity to check for the sag of extended cantilevers (like bloody hell I have - I'm a nuclear man, not a materials physicist. Lol). Isn't modelling fun? I've basically built a miniature house by the time I get to buy the track!! Cheers, Jeff

Hello Will, I'm hoping that my "construction", aka the "nuclear bunker" aka Ground Zero Tower foundations UK, will be rigid enough to avoid too much sag. Plenty more timber to go in and, so far so good as far as alignment is concerned. Depending on the type of personal sag you refer to, I recommend exercise or you could go and see your GP for one of those little blue pills. I've heard they restore rigidity in quick time!! Good to hear from you! Best wishes, Jeff

Hi 'CHARD - great to hear from you. And I especially appreciate YOUR comments as I value your opinions as much as those of anyone else. I've been delighted with the people I've interacted with since I joined the Forum - it was only last November, but it seems longer. The input from all these guys has been fantastic - genuine expertise and genuine interest. Please feel free to offer any comments as you see fit. Re. my layout... I've been developing the plan for over 2 years, and can hopefully use the experiences I've gained (and LOTS of mistakes!!!) from my last layout to produce something worthy of note. I have it all pictured in my head - it's just a case of execution! (And if it doesn't work out right, maybe I should be shot!). Best of luck with whatever you are upto. Did I hear a rumour you were modelling Fell-class diesels on the Waverley Route? All the best, Jeff

Maybe this photo - taken 20 mins ago - will show what I mean. There will be many more cross joints, as you will see later. The technique worked well with 44 x 44mm softwood in my last layout, so I'm hoping the bigger joists will do even better... Jeff

Afternoon Mike, Just come in from the garage and saw your post. The interlocking nature of the subframe structure, with plenty of "half lap" joints (I think thats what they are called!) stops any noticable twist. I should be able to post some photos of this kind of thing tomorrow. I'm making ridiculously quick progress, but there is a lot to be done. And I don't want to finish too soon as I enjoy the construction/joinery so much! Cheers, Jeff

Another woodwork update. I've finished for the day, but the frame is starting to develop. It's ok to yawn... once you've seen one piece of wood.... Jeff

Afternoon, Mike, I've just spent a couple of days with my dad - he's a retired joiner. I managed to "borrow" a few items - my existing chisels needed a good sharpen, so dad obliged. Out with the oilstone and away he went! I got home a few hours ago and went and bought myself a new jigsaw. The old one was knackered. So the "wood massacre" has begun! I do wonder whether anybody is the least bit interested in my joinery. Then again, if even one person gets an idea it's been worth it. I've set myself a target of 2-3 years for this project. But I can already feel the excitement building...so I keep telling myself "slow down, you old fool!!" Best wishes, Jeff

Construction of the subframe commenced shortly after 2pm today. An hour later I have the first support on the wall. Thank goodness for sharp chisels (cheers, dad!!) and power tools!! Attached photos are nothing in themselves, but the start of the next stage of the project! Apologies to true woodworkers who may wince at the pain inflicted on my 4x2 all in the name of railway modelling!! Jeff

Hi Al, thanks for the comments. Glad you've seen the thread. I will no doubt be requesting your expertise to weather my track - when we get to that point! The scenery should be crazy - I've got about 4 times as much to do as the last time - so it will be wonderful (yes, I'm bonkers!!). Cheers, Jeff

I sometimes think that reading this Forum is a danger to my wealth. I have a couple of Jubilees but wasn't aware that Drake was being sold for £56. My Visa card is in my hand and flexing itself right at the moment. Irrespective of the "age" of the model, it is superb. Jeff

One of the "problems" up here is the number of Kirkby - somethings! I used to drive through Kirkby Lonsdale on the road from Cumbria to Skipton. Now it's Kirkby Stephen - I'll be going through there at 5am tomorrow morning as I head over to see my dad. I guess the name "Kirkby" rang some bells with me and the new project virtually named itself! Thanks for the point motor info. I will keep you posted when I get there... Jeff

Cheers Dave. I'm hoping the project will keep me going for a couple of years - at least! Should be fun, especially as I enjoy building work of all kinds. Thank goodness for power tools!! Jeff

Thanks Jason, That's the value of the Forum. I've heard some good things about Cobalts, and your objective assessment is valued. I've just started woodwork on the subframe so I'd imagine it'll be a good few months before I try any point motors. I may have to get a Tortoise and compare it to a Cobalt. Any further comments/experiences you have would be appreciated! Btw, I'm very impressed with the amount of work you've put into "Bacup". It's splendid!! Cheers, Jeff

Mike, I'm going to use Cobalts on the scenic side of the layout, wired to a central control panel. I'm not using DCC decoders for this. Initially, I'm not fitting control in the fiddle yard, though I'll get round to it before the main hillside goes in. Pound signs continue to flash! Jeff

Attached jpeg of subframe plan...

Morning James. Your comments about the wood frames are spot on. Hence my reasons for going for 4 x 2. I've used 44mm x 44mm softwood on a previous project, with 3/4 inch chipboard tops. It worked ok, but, as with the new layout, it's a permanent feature (well, it's being removed from a spare bedroom at this moment!). I initially thought that people would criticise my use of 4 x 2, but given that some of the spans are 12' it seemed appropriate. The recent interest prompts me to post up the subframe plan in my next post. Cheers James, Jeff

Morning Alan, Just read your post. It will be fun to actually start doing some building work. I think I must be unusual in that I enjoy the basic woodwork in putting the baseboards together! The subframe is my variation on "L girders" - once the frame is built I will fit the boards (ply tops) 25cm above it, using risers. I will post pics as progress goes ahead. I'm really looking forward to some journeys on the S&C this summer - photos from that will also be forthcoming! Glad to hear you've started on your L&Y railway project. I will keep an eye out for your thread. Best wishes, Jeff