Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL - LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS Dear All, I have included a few more pictures of Conwy and some photos of my techniques for preparing the droppers to support the underneath hidden track. Photos below. Close up of Conwy with the Royal Scot peeking out of the portcullis and a parcel train going the other way. More distant shot of Conwy castle. The tools used to drill the dropper holes. A spade bit used first to recess the 6ml nut and washer. A long 6 ml bit for the rod. Sarah was an essential assistant to line up the drill as the hole need to be square ie forward a bit back a bit , no no forward again! A series of holes drilled around the frame where one end of the of bone loops back to the straight track. There will be 7 hidden tracks running along the length of the operating area in 3 levels including the up and down tracks for either side of the dog bone, 2 goods storage tracks running 17 feet on each of the levels, and a return loop. One of the recessed holes drilled and ready for the rod with nut and washer to stop it falling through the hole. I need to cut many, many 630ml rods. Hole with nut and washer ready for the rod. Down the operating side of the layout, showing the holes drilled in this section. Regards, Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS Dear Simon and Jon, Thanks for the comments. The deed is now done as my mother in law has nearly finished painting the lower divider as of today. I have not seen it but my wife has. Perhaps they will drop it off tomorrow. I did receive advice from an experienced modeller to use the higher back scene but everyone on RM Web has confirmed my decision to go with the lower to enable the whole of the layout to be viewed at the same time rather than 3 individual layouts connected by rail. I have nearly finished the castle on the rail side. There is a little more work to add scenic clay to complete the battlements and the areas below the castle stone still need completing but the effect is pleasing so far. Photos below. Royal Scot with the Welshman passing Conwy castle, with a Black 5 parcel train on the other line Regards, Anthony Ashley

Dear Simond and I an , Thanks for the comments. To explain the board is being painted off site, as I have sketched the relevant scenery bits which will lie in front of either sides and told my mother in law to paint on and above those lines. I have attached 2 photos to give the impression of the options. Option 1 is the high board. Option 2 the low. With this divider you can only see the very top of the wall on the Conwy section when standing at any spot behind it. I think it diminishes the impact of the layout as a whole and reduces the spectacle of the back scenes. Option 2 the low one. You can just see a loco at the top right end of the divider. That is about 5 feet onto the Conwy bard and is hidden by another foot as it leaves the Bangor section. This seems to compromise the best in screening the moving rake for a considerable distance while retaining a panoramic view of Conwy. Any comments one way or the other on the options would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Anthony

David, Thanks for your reply. Last night I was looking at the scenic divider to go between the Conwy and Bangor sections. My mother in law will paint the divider with two scenes, one either side, so I am hoping for a view as spectacular as the current track scenes. I was thinking of making the dividers 2 feet high, but when added to the height of the existing base boards, you cann't see over the top of it, and it completely blocks all of the Conwy section of the layout from view. Accordingly I have revised the height and decided on a total height of 300 ml, or 245 ml above the Conwy base board level. This enables the viewing of most of the the Conwy area, but obscures about 6 feet of the Conwy track immediately in front of the divider if looking from the Bangor side. This would create a sufficient gap for a rake leaving Bangor and entering Conwy to create the illussion of a different train, but gives a field of view of the greater Conwy section. Do readers agree that is a better option to allow a view of most of Conwy or do you think totally hiding it from the Bangor side is a better option. If totally hidden you loose the sweep of the layout and its large scale, as the three sectioins will become 3 individual layouts rather than 1 layout with connected stations. Comments on this issue would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Anthony Ashley

Dear Dave, Thanks for your reply. I am happy with the castle so far and am about to recommence work on it with more Queen Bee resin having been cast and the stone finish ready for 3 more towers. I got no comments on the proposed placement of the supports for the rods which will hold the hidden track under the layout. I have therefore placed these supports on the layout and am ready to start hanging the rods, supported by a 12 ml washer and nut. Another new interesting aspect of the layout which I have not attempted before. Photos on the new scenic areas with boards laid are below. The view through about 6 feet of tunnel followed by a valley and then a short tunnel leading onto the Conwy scenic area. 2 Foot high scenic dividers will separate Conwy, Penmaenmawr and Bangor. The sea and land in the back ground is the other side of the river Conwy. The view from the top of the layout to Bangor hills. I shall cover these in ply next. There will be a cliff on the large hill to the front of this shot. I shall make a waterfall from a sub-terrainian river coming out of this cliff. I shall put a lake at the base of the waterfall. All of the supports for the hidden track are on the layout but hidden by the scenic surfaces. You can just see the bus at the closest tunnel entrance next to the closest elevation riser. View back from the hills of Bangor to Conwy. All replies are most welcome. Regards, Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL - LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS Dear All, I am showing you the plan for the dropper support on which most of the hidden track will rest for the right side of the hidden layout plan . Plan is below. The salmon pink rectangles are the supporting timber added to provide the support for the rod. I shall need to drill holes in each support at the end of each blue rectangle. The blue rectangles are the support for the track. I have been advised to use either 12 ml ply or 3 4 ml ply sandwiched together cross graining each piece of 4 ml. I am unsure which to use but will think about it. I need to complete the supporting frame work and drill the required holes for each rod before I attach any horizontal sections. The rods will be anchored by a nut recessed into the framework. The will obviously be 3 horizontal supports per rod to hold the three tier giant loops. I have also got the metal pieces required to complete the lifting frames for the final section of Conwy (including the station) on the left side of the layout. Any comments on the rod support positions would be greatly appreciated. I have the supports no more than 450ml apart. I am not sure if this is the best spacing but seems reasonable. Regards, Anthony Ashley

Dear Jon, I think 88 would be a challenge. You are correct the figure should be 8. I shall edit the reply above. With 60 computerised passenger movements (some suburban may be manual as I am not sure yet how many destinations the TC Gold can handle), the 8 parcel and 34 goods trains (both manual) I think there will be enough to do. I just have to complete the main line by adding another 56 feet of line, with associated base boards. I have been determining where I need to put the steel rods suspended from the layout framework to minimise the amount of rods required for suspending the hidden track. I have put this into a plan if anyone is interested in seeing it. Thanks for the reply. Regards, Anthony Ashley

Dear Ollie. The Welsh Dragon rail is set in the 60s so not quite the same as today, but I have found apart from the station there are minimal changes to most of Conwy. decided on the location by looking at large volumes on lines in the UK and then chose from them the most spectacular scenery and combination of relatively heavy, interesting mixed traffic. Conwy has the castle and medieval town wall. Penmenmawr the granite quarry and old narrow gauge and Bangor the large goods area with spectacular hills around it. the other advantage these 3 offered was the hills around them assist in hiding the hidden track. Thanks for your reply it is appreciated. Regards, Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL - LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS I have had a fairly good week end and finished the horizontal supports for the southern Conwy section. Photos are below. I have taken a photo of the partially completed castle to show how big it is against the bus in the left foreground, but how much smaller the castle looks in the overall layout pictures. From left to right - hidden tracks, main line to Conwy at the top of the photo and the Llandudno goods are on the far side of the Conwy river. I have now cut the near bank horizontal piece but it is not fitted in this photo. View from the far end of the layout on the right side as far as it has been completed. I still have another 17 feet to go to get to the end of the layout at the bottom. The next board, which will be another 8 feet X 8 feet, is the main Bangor board with about 2/3 of the station on it. The station is about 16 feet by 6 feet. A view from Conwy station along the line castle. Mainly tankers on the mainline. I have had a slight change of plan. The idea in creating this layout is to allow strategic, operational and tactical operations in military terms. By this I mean the strategic is the running of an exact passenger time table set in summer 1960, with the exact rakes recreated. The time table is at page 12 entry 287. No one has provided comment on it and I would like some feed back if any one cares to comment. The colour coding on the timetable is red for goods trains, maroon for parcels. Return passenger trains are colour coded with the same colour for up and down and an identifying number. The aqua colour is for suburban. The stopping trains are listed in yellow in the arrival/departure column. Each train has a specific rake formation. There are 34 Goods trains. 8 Parcel trains and 59 passenger trains. The passenger movements will be the strategic part of the layout largely controlled by computer, and mainly sticking to the main lines. The operation aspect of the layout is the manual movement of the goods and parcels trains manually. They are obviously slower, but in the original scenic plan I made no accommodation for overtaking on the scenic track. This should be the operational aspect to the layout, by allowing the express trains to overtake between station. I did not have passing loops between all stations on the up and down lines. I have now remedied this by adding up and down passing loops between Conwy/Penmaenmawr, Penmaenmawe/Bangor and Bangor/Conwy. Operators will need to be aware of express trains as they are leaving a station to move into the passing loops as required. The tactical aspect to the layout is the shunting operations in each station, as all have such facilities, again manually controlled. This is my concept to date, but it has changed with the development of the layout. If there is are a few requests to show the new plan I shall do so. Let me know if you want to see the amended version. Thank you for your interest. Regards, Anthony Ashley

Dear PJ and Marcus, Thanks for the replies. All of the round buildings are made from plumbing piping. I have used 80. 50 and 25 ml. If is sturdy while being easy to stick to and easy to cut. A great combination of properties for a modeller. Unfortunately you will no longer see the pressure pipe in tis current form once I put a layer of plasticard on it the same design as the portcullis. I am very happy with the bridge particularly given it opens at the top and allows access for emergencies. Still have to build another and do 3 more sides of wires. I bought 5 more rolls of the wire to ensure I had enough for that and my DG couplings. Regards, Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAUIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS 1 side of the first tube is finished apart from the top coat. The bridge is a much lighter shad of grey. I think the wire effect is good. Photos below in place on the layout. The photo below shows the bridge with the top removed to enable access at any time in case of derailment. All comments are welcome. Regards, Anthony Ashley

Dear Ian , I agree the more tensile wire was a better outcome (from BCF used for fishing lures and attaching hooks I think). I am happy with the one side I have done in 1 night. 1 more side to go and the other tube! Back to the base boards tomorrow. Regards, Anthony

Dear All, Experiments with the bridge have continued. new spacing and wire gauge shown below. I think the thin straight wire is a better look. What do you think? Regards, Anthony

Dear All, I have gone through a document about 200 pages long and found the ribs were only 2 feet part on the bridge. In N gauge only 4 ml! I think my wire is too large but will experiment further. Anthony Ashley

Dear Sam, Thank for the positive comments I shall continue to offer advice as I go as it may assist some new modellers. Shockdiamonds do you have a thread with your progress to date. I would bi interested in keeping track of your progress. I have been constructing the first tubular bridge over the river Conwy. Photos are below. Tubular bridge below but minus the supporting ribs on the side of the bridge. Does anyone know how far apart these ribs were. I have been scanning the internet but been unable to find the answer. At this stage I am putting them 1 ml apart equal to 148ml on the prototype. The above photo is my current means of doing the ribs using wire. Any other ideas for a quicker method? Regards, Anthony Ashley

Dear Branchie, Thanks for the comment it is a while since we have heard for you on this thread. Great comments. Ian I am using your 3 ml board in a variety of ways, mainly as the supports for the sea walls. It has come in very handy. I have been cutting some very intricate shapes for the horizontal surfaces and though I would go through my process for ensuring accurate and once only cuts of ply. It is a bit like dress making using ply, although I have never made a dress! I shall use some photos to explain. First step is to look at the area to be filled and gauge the size paper required to fill the gap. As you can see in the photo below I miscalculated on the width of the piece, as I had not considered the extra area required for the tunnel mouth. With this method you just tape on some more paper to cover the gaps. I normally mark the position of the supports underneath and particularly where there are curves between these supports draw the curves free hand. Once cut out you can tape on more paper if you think the shape is not quite big enough once you test it on the space after cutting it. I fit the paper shape once I am sure it is exactly accurate to the closest piece of ply I have to minimise wastage. I this case I had to turn the paper over to get it to fit Marking out the ply. I use a ruler where at all possible. Straight lines are easy as I just join the corners where I have added dots with straight lines. Curves are carefully traced around. Finished trace on the ply Section cut out with jig saw, but a circular saw for straights as it is more accurate The finished part on place and a perfect fit! Another method used to cut longer pieces with curves which are difficult to judge. The track is used as a guide to give me an edge to draw the curve. I measured the top and bottom of the piece. I also marked in texta where left and right rails on the inside and outside tracks crossed the ends of the piece to provide the length. I carefully removed the flexi track from the supports and moved them to the work shop. Finding the best shape piece of ply I know the width of each end and place the left and right rails respectively the required distance apart, making sure the texta marks are lined up on all rails in 1 line to mark the ends of the piece. The photo below shows the 4 small texta marks at the top of the picture lined up to mark the end of the piece. I then marked out the outside edges of the two tracks as they should correspond to the edge of the piece. I was not exactly happy with the result and therefore traced a paper copy and checked it against the space. As you can see there was some error in my original markings, which I adjusted using the amended paper copy. This photo shows the Conwy main lines on the far bank of the river Conwy with a goods train in part of the Llandudno goods yard just below rise on which the main track sits. Once I cut this piece it fitted perfectly and is just in front of the first vertical riser. A short tunnel will go just in front of and behind the first vertical elevation shown with two gaps for the main line and hidden tracks. In this photo you can just see all the way through the tunnels to the sea at Penmaenmawr at the far end of the 39 foot shed. Llandudno goods yard in the fore ground with a loco and another rake of goods vehicles The view thru 3 series of tunnels comprising 7 feet. There is a 300ml hill over the top of this tunnel. It eventually opens out to Bangor station through the Belmont tunnel Next will be the river horizontal support to the south of Conwy and hidden track support. Then I need to prime all the timber. I am interested in feed back on description of the techniques for shaping the complex supports. If it boring let me know and I shall desist in future with similar descriptions. Regards, Anthony

Dear Marcus, Your reply is greatly appreciated. Thank you. I have had a very productive Fri evening with Ross. We managed to cut all of the track portals through the hilly area to the north of Bangor. This has been particularly difficult with the subtle track elevation changes. I am restricting the track elevation change to a maximum of 1:100. This makes the elevation changes quite slow and you need a lot of length for substantial elevation change. it seems to me the elevations are critical to good running in N gauge and so we have been fairly meticulous. Ross assisted me with an e3lectronic level which is very accurate and exactly the tool needed for N gauge. I can now lay the rest of the track horizontal supports for both the scenic and hidden tracks. Most are straight pieces of board and very simple. I have also finished the Conwy goods area with horizontal support using the paper template method to exactly match the required shape. It was relatively difficult but patience and much cutting to get the paper template to exactly fit before cutting the ply pays off. More photos later in the week end. I have enough stone walls to complete the rail side of the castle and the 4 sides of the primary keep. Once I have done more on the Bangor base boards it will be back to the castle. Regards, Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL - LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS The weather has cooled at night sufficiently to allow further moulding of stone walls in various assortments. I have finished 4 more moulds for towers in a substance called B Queen a number of flat castle stone panels and about 10 of the smaller sea wall pattern. I probably have another 20 of the sea wall pattern to do plus another variety of larger blocks used on the sea walls. The castle panels will enable me to complete the rail side of the castle. I am also working on 2 LMS fish vans kits. They use the N gauge Stove R chassis with a fibre glass shell. A couple of photos are below. I need to attach the 4 doors to the sides and then prime the etched pieces. I shall give the shell a spray of maroon paint. prior to sticking on the etch parts. Then it is just a matter of a BR maroon top coat and transfer. An easy kit for a beginner like me! On the new layout area I am still setting up the heights for the hidden and main tracks. Some of the horizontal supports are in but very few. Regards, Anthony Ashley

Dear Sir Douglas, If you go to page 9 and entry 222 there is a plan of the scenic part of the layout. If you click on the plan it will expand. Penmaenmawr is on the left of the plan. There is some brown track which runs across the plan heading to the sea. That track then diverges onto the platform area you have mentioned. The records I have found indicate that it stopped working in 1948. It was my intention to slightly play with reality and have the types of power units shown in your picture working the goods area (Dewinton). I have asked a fellow N gauge modeller if he could make a Dewinton from scratch and he has given the affirmative. I am modelling 1960, so I have fictionalised to the extent of 13 years. It should make a very interesting addition to the layout. I don't expect to start the narrow gauge until the other areas have all track laid, so it may be another 5 or so years. I am working on the layout alone apart form Ross who has provided fantastic help on many Friday evenings. There is much to do and a time frame of at least 15 years for completion would not seem unrealistic. There are so many different aspects to this layout and given it is my fist I am learning much as I proceed. I am happy to answer any other questions. Please feel free to reply and I shall do my best to answer. Regards, Anthony Ashley

Dear PJ, Thank you for your reply. The garage is one garage comprised of 4 bays ie 3 car roll a doors and a normal doorway. It along the front of the shed. It measures about 39 feet by 19 feet allowing a layout of 35X16 feet. I live in Brisbane Australia and so have less familiarity with the weather in the UK, although I have been there on holiday a number of times. In Brisbane temperatures range from 40 degrees to about 5 degrees Celsius. The insulation is silver foil with thick bats, and then 12ml MDF over the outside of that insulation . I have some fans in the ceiling to draw out hot air. I have found this works fairly well. I have not seen any problem with track expansion and hope it will not be an issue. I have considered air conditioning, however the power requirements for insulation would mean the need to rerun power to the sheds and that is an expensive undertaking. I hope I have adequately covered your queries. If you have any others please reply and I shall give my best answers. Regards, Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL - LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS Dear All, A busy weekend in the shed doing carpentry and trying to sort put height s to the exact millimetre when going to a higher board. Photos are below. All of the vertical supports are now in place and some holes cut for the track going into tunnels and through vertical supports. The lower Conwy section is taking shape next is to add the flat area for the sea and then build up more supports gofer the sea walls. I shall also be adding the horizontal track support for the lower Conwy area. I have the horizontal support for the hidden track going through the lower Conwy board and it is shown in one of the pictures. The far bank of Conwy. The sea walls are the vertical supports. The main line are show to indicate position. The track for the Llandudno goods yard modelled has not been put down. Hidden track position is shown on the left. The rails disappear into 4 foot tunnels at the end, reappear for a few feet and then disappear onto another tunnel, The hidden track and scenic track join about 8 feet down the board. All replies are welcome. Regards, Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL - LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS Dear Simond, Thanks for the encouragement I appreciate your thoughts. I have been working on the vertical supports for the southern Conwy and the northern Bangor areas. I have finished cutting them and have fitted most of them but are yet to secure them. Next will be priming and then cutting the holes for the track areas, as there are nearly 6 feet of tunnel area on these boards. I have placed the ubiquitous single decker bus to provide a sense of scale. The hills surrounding Bangor are up to 266 mls higher than the track area in the station and that should provide a spectacular back drop for the station. I need the 8 feet across the board to fit in the main tracks and Bangor goods yard. I think there are about 35 tracks going across the yard. Photos are below. The bus is in the valley about 200 mls from the Belmont tunnel entrance. The former behind it is just beyond the start of the tunnel. There is a fairly steep sloe goi9ng from board 1 to the second. side view emphasising the height difference between the 1st and 2nd boards. You can see the height variation along some of the boards and between them. View of the southern part of Conwy showing the area for part ofthe Llandudno goods yards There will be a scenic divider between the higher (Bangor) and lower (Conwy) base boards Next task is to set up the track support areas and cut the elevation formers to allow the track to go through them. I need to be very careful with height as N gauge is quite sensitive to height changes. Maximum gradient is 1:100. All replies are welcome. Regards, Anthony Ashley

Dear Ben, Thanks for the comments they are appreciated and rekindle my enthusiasm to continue constructing. Your question about the order of completing the layout is a good one, and somewhat dependent on circumstances. I though I would build the Conwy section and then work on it to completion. This does have a disadvantage in that the layout becomes a fairly limited by being end to end with a couple of goods areas, so I have decided I will go a little further I have completed all of the track work west of the river to just before the station. All of the wiring has been completed for this track. I have completed wire and tube for manual point operation for the northern Conwy goods yard. I am about to install servos for the main line and connecting goods points to the main line. These points will be automatic and operate off the train controller or computer. I have been looking to buy a cheap laptop to run TC gold in the near future. I have also finished laying and wiring the top section of hidden track comprising 4 lines in most of the track length. Having got this far I have decided to concentrate on the Conwy scenic area including the castle and medieval town wall and south of these structures. This has the advantage of completing the rail area while limiting my need to build 500 or so houses and shops comprising Conwy inside the town wall at this time. I have the signal box in a brass etch ready to build. The castle is coming on and I am confident with the sea walls. The problem I have faced in further work on the castle and sea walls is the need for further resin moulds for the stone work. Brisbane in the summer months is very hot and humid and not conducive to pouring resin moulds. Accordingly I decided to extend down the left side of the layout and start the Penmaenmawr base boards, while waiting for cooler weather to recommence scenic work on the Conwy board. I have been seeking assistance to construct the metal frames for the next section of the left side, which needs to lift,to facilitate access to the layout. Unfortunately I have been unable to find anyone willing to help since Nov of last year in building this metal frame. Hopefully I shall have better luck soon. I therefore decided to proceed with Bangor side, as I am not limited in the metal work by building on the right. Of course when I get bored with one aspect of the layout there are always other jobs to respark an interest. I find if something s not going right and I get frustrated with that aspect of the layout, changing my focus also rekindles enthusiasm, and allows me to go back to the problem area a little later. That is a summary of where I have got to date. I shall continue with the base board north of Bangor by adding vertical supports, track base work and horizontal scenery sections. The track work on this board is relatively simple and should be a quick task. The scenery should be quite spectacular, with a few tennis court, a cricket field, an old college building and some steep hills and cliffs. Again these will provide challenges in construction as this is my first layout, but planning is everything. I have found though that no plan survives the first engagement and this has been the case with the layout ie remain flexible! I have cut to more vertical supports tonight and fitted one. Thanks for the interest. I hope my ramblings have not bored you too much. Regards, Anthony Ashley

Dear PGH, An amazing series of photos. I enjoyed the old and new comparisons. Keep up the good work in showing us the historical side of Rail in the UK. Regards, Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS Dear All, A slow week end where I hope to achieve much but seemed to get little done. Some headway was made with the new right base boards connected and one ply elevation former completed and slotted into the base board. I have included a few pictures below. The height of the ply gives a good idea of the height of the hills around Bangor. I have placed my single deck bus in right of the valley area where the track will run to give an idea of the scale of the hills. it is just visible. The area shown is around No 79 on the plan at my post 324. The hill goes up another 60 mls at the highest. The rest of the ply formers should be quicker to cut out. It has been raining for most of the afternoon and that restricted my carpentry and movement between the workshop and train layout shed. The area where the ply former rests is to the Holyhead side of Bangor (west). There is a substantial hills surrounding most of the station at Bangor. I am slightly altering the prototype by taking the hill on the left side of Bangor on my layout all the way around in order to hide my hidden track underneath that hill.