Alan Kettlewell

Yes, the landscape will be hollow and open at the rear where I'll have access to all tracks going through the hill. I use either card pieces stuck with hot glue gun onto thin timber or thick cardboard formers, or sometimes I like using chicken wire stapled onto timber formers. For the latter I then cover with mod-roc. However a large amount of mod-roc is expensive so sometimes I cut up old t-shirts (you know, those old t-shirts which keep on shrinking!) and dunk them in a thin plaster mix which works just as well and is a great way of getting some new t-shirts. Cheers ... Alan

I mentioned above the plan for the corner of the layout where I'll be building a hill complete with miniature castle atop and where I'll be making an attempt to force perspective using progressively smaller buildings as the hill rises away into the distance. This is on the German side of the layout. A bit of imagination is required. Here is the corner concerned: Now for the imagineering. Imagine this marvellous backscene from Faller (another Christmas present) fixed to a large curved board going around the back of that corner. Some might recognise this as the back drop to Neuschwanstien Castle without the castle in the picture, the scene is 5m long and 90cm high! Now imagine further when I've built a hillside in front of this scene with my tiny castle perched on the top. The castle is only about 20cm long including the base so I reckon SUB 2mm scale. Then I'll be planting lots of forest on the hillside with small 3mm model buildings embedded in the landscape towards the back and top, and 4mm models nearer to the front. I hope that's easy enough to picture. It's all in my head at the moment but eventually I'll get it out of there, onto paper and finally built and on the layout. This is one reason why I've incorporated space at the rear of the layout so I can access from behind and build the scenery that's otherwise unreachable from the front. Cheers ... Alan

Thanks. I've used quite a few Zimo decoders and rate them very highly. I have a nice bag of sand in a drawer somewhere that is for the bottom of budgie cages - not much chance of breaking an ankle nicking sand from a budgie cage! Lol … Cheers … Alan

Wow - every day you wake up after that you must feel lucky to be still around! I'm always spending a lot of time thinking about and planning something to do with the layout, and you're right, I have even more time now to suss out a few further details. On my desk I have a nice new for Christmas Faller model of a station to build which I might start any day soon. Also for Christmas I have a Green Scene Flock-It static grass machine to try out but that'll have to wait for my leg to fix before I play with that try that out down the shed. Meanwhile I've got paper, pencils and eraser to hand so I can sketch out an isometric view of one corner of my layout where I intend to build a hill with a castle on top. The castle (shown earlier in the story) is deliberately under-scale (about <2mm scale) so it will appear far away on top of the hill. On the hill I intend to force perspective further with some 3mm scale houses and then 4mm scale (HO) closer to the front. All this is in head at the moment so I'm going to try and represent the look of it with a sketch. The houses on the hill will be on a small winding road so I need to think through how that will work in the landscape. Lots to do - as ever. Cheers ... Alan

Thanks Vecchio, I didn't think about the fact that more and more folk are fitting ever smaller chips into N gauge locos these days, I'm not really in touch with the N gauge world, and another chip suggestion to fall back on should my Zen mini not fit. The '+4D sound' system I use that you refer to is actually ideally suited for the smaller gauges - no chip is requied. Well I'm keenly following a few of these Rangier Tractors on eBay so I'm likely to pounce on one quite soon and it'll give me something to do while I'm laid up. I doubt though if I'll fit sound to it, rather I might work on a sound project of my own to suit it if I can find any recordings of these in action, if not then a generic diesel or electric loco sound that I can play around with might be ok. This little loco shunting around with sound in my top station will bring a bit of life to that area of the layout. Hmmm I feel a nice little project coming up ... Cheers ... Alan

Excellent, many thanks for that. I have a couple of Zen mini decoders which I reckon should fit then. Cheers ... Alan

Thanks for the info Paul. Yes I'm looking at having one limited to the station area, just shunting about. Cheers ... Alan

Happy New Year. I fancy having one of these Rangier Tractors (diesel or electric version) knocking around the RhB part of my layout and was wondering if anyone has successfully fitted a DCC chip in one. If space is too limited inside then I'm thinking perhaps a large packing case could be positioned on the platform space to hide a chip. I don't know if the small platform would be used for such a purpose, would this be untypical? Any knowledge or thoughts worth sharing would be appreciated. Cheers ... Alan

Have to admit I don't feel too 'lucky' right now, fed up would describe it, but it's all relative. I'm glad they decided to fit the boot though as sleeping with my leg bare last night was a considerable improvement on the previous nights. The handles on my crutches are hard plastic and they're really painful to use so I've ordered a pair of grips to cover them. I haven't given much thought to driving yet, we have an automatic and it's my right leg that's knackered so I guess driving will be difficult when the time comes. Meanwhile more urgent things - today's challenge is the shower! I'm Just working up a strategy to get in and out of there this morning. One advantage of having a disabled sister-in-law living with you is that she has all the gear. So my missus is about to carry out a stealth raid on her bathroom and steal away with her shower stool and maybe some grab handles. Wish me luck, I'm going in ... Cheers .. Alan

Thanks Paul, No talk of physio just yet but plenty of advice about keeping it raised. Today they fitted a big boot which is better than a cast because I can remove it at home and for bed. Got to admit I find those crutches really hard work. Must try harder.. Cheers ... Alan

A good question and funnily enough, guess what I was thinking when they were wrapping all that 'mod-roc' round my leg ... Cheers ... Alan

Hi Dave, Many thanks. I guess we'll have to play it off the cuff as to when we can reconvene the next 'club' meeting. Nice when we have a full cast present but I won't be getting plastered! I'm still getting used to the crutches so I don't yet trust myself on them sober never mind after a few sherbets. We'll sort something out to be sure. Cheers ... Al

Well look what I got for Christmas! Almost 68 years of not so careful living including a quarter of a century doing tough things in the Army and not a single fracture - then whammmo- a broken ankle just out walking the dog! Unbelievable. So unfortunately I won't be making any progress down the shed for a few weeks. Luckily I have a new model station building I can spend time making in the modelling room up in the house. Cheers ... Alan

Very nice. I've been eyeing up this Bemo model of the same: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bemo-1299-113-Stoom-sneeuwschuiver-Xrot-d-9213/312390657830 Better control myself ... Cheers... Alan

You might mean like this one I'm watching: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/43066-Brawa-EG1-E73-K-Bay-Sts-E-Electric-Locomotive-similar-Roco/332957618005 I really like the KBay livery and these old timers look exquisite. The MBS liveried loco in my picture further up is OBB class 1045. Cheers ... Alan

You are welcome. An interesting factoid: If I run a train around all 3 levels and back to the start point, it covers 6 scale miles. Cheers ... Alan

Sorry but I can't reproduce the original track diagramme from the software I used to design it - there were some details that I never finished in it. Basically, got so far then just got on with building it! However I've done screen shots of the current track diagrammes as they are in the Train Controller software. Again, it's schematic but it is accurate - it has to be to control the layout. You'll need to look at the three separate screens and mentally link them up using the 'connectors' - these are the small letters in square boxes that show where the track connects to another screen. Also, it can be difficult to visualise in 2D because there are storage yards positioned above each other. Each level is highlighted in a different track colour. Here you go: Level 1 and 2. Note that the spirals are actually vertical helices. Look for the connectors to the next screen: This small screen shows the hidden storage yard on level 2. This storage yard is 20cm above the Level 1 storage yard: Finally, Level 3 representing Austria. The 3 track storage yard is about 20cms directly above the level 2 storage yard. On this screen is the top station where the metre gauge line begins. The station will be known as Sankt Gallenkirch. Thanks for your interest. Cheers … Alan

Hi, It's quite difficult to post one which is viewable. But I'll try! For starters here's a link to the earlier screen shots of the layout diagrammes from the Train Controller software, you'll need to scroll down the page a way: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/102367-new-layout-hufeisental/page-1 Although schematic, this will give you an idea of how it is laid out. Level 1 and 2 are on one screen and the third level is on another. This was how it was at the outset but not much has changed since except for the big bridge between the two mountains and a few small details here and there. It all started with isometric sketches on paper then the original plan was made in software called Abracadata - quite old software but it was good enough for the job. If you like I can dig it out and maybe do a screenshot of it .. Cheers... Alan

To fit in with the above scenario/plan, I've began collecting a few pieces of rolling stock of the Montafonerbahn (the MBS). Stock in the MBS livery is proving difficult to find so I watch for them coming up on ebay where I bought these items: I'm also working out what other OBB stock I have that I can run on this line. Plenty of local EMUs and DMUs I reckon and bearing in mind it's an alternative international route when the Arlberg line is blocked I expect to see the occasional Taurus hauled Railjet through there, the odd EC train and the Orient Express is possible. I may have to swap out some DB trains for OBB locos and EMUs as my stock collection is a bit biased towards DB. All this as well as stocking up on the lovely Bemo metre gauge stuff for the mountain line - better get some unwanted stuff on ebay to pay for all this! So that's my revised plan for the layout complete with fictitious back story. I've enjoyed doing this bit of research to come up with this little story and I hope it hasn't been too boring to follow. I was not sure whether such fictional back scenarios are of any interest (except to the person inventing it) but overall it's another aspect to the hobby and helps to add a reason for the layout to exist - and I like that real places and lines - the Montafonabahn and the RhB in this case - can be incorporated giving an opportunity to collect appropriate models. Anyway, thanks for following. I promise I'll get on with the new mountain line and get some trains going over the big bridge quite soon. Cheers … Alan

Austria and over the hills to Switzerland. I was made aware by 'Satan's Goldfish' (many thanks) of the never was line that's been proposed (more than once) which would continue on from Scuol-Tarasp on the RHB into Austria - the Engadine line - to Landeck. I became interested in this as it's a potential for a back story for my metre gauge connection to Switzerland. Here's a map with the RhB and the proposed Engadine line overlaid on it: If anyone is interesting in further reading, I came across this 2011 proposal in PDF: https://www.gr.ch/DE/institutionen/verwaltung/bvfd/ds/projekte/nvv/Berichte%20NVV/Linienfuehrung%20Scuol%20Landeck.pdf Whilst I was reading up on this I became interested in the short private line that runs from Bludenz to Shruns in the Montafon Region of Austria - the Montafonerbahn or MBS. A link here about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montafonerbahn My story involves extending the Montafonerbahn (MBS) further down the valley and a new line from there to connect up with the RhB. And the rest, as they say, is history - well in my case, fiction. Here goes: Following problems with the main Innsbruck to Zurich line on the difficult Arlberg section and the Arlberg tunnel often suffering delays to international traffic due to weather problems and rock falls, the OBB have adopted the Montafonerbahn route between Bludenz and Shruns, and furthermore have extended the line all the way through the valley and round to join the Arlberg line near Landeck. The aim being to provide an alternative route for international trains and to improve transport into the skiing and holiday resorts of the Montafon and Silvetta regions. This map and rough sketch shows the short MBS line (green), my new extension (purple) following the valley all the way round and joining up with the Arlberg line near Landeck. The blue line is the earlier Engadine line proposal and of course the RhB shown in red: Once the new extension was underway it did not take OBB and RhB chiefs long to realise there was a new alternative and much shorter route possible, linking the RhB to the extended Montafon line. The new link would be built heading south west from Sankt Gallenkirch along the Gargellan Valley, with a tunnel diving under the Swiss-Austrian border and emerging in the short valley on the Swiss side and on to Klosters on the RhB. The new pass is shown here: So there we have it. On my layout, the OBB station on level 3 will represent Sankt Gallenkirch and the metre gauge mountain line will represent the RhB line going from there to Klosters. Level 3 on my layout is in fact a circular single line route so that will become the fictitious 'triangular' route in the story. Next up , next steps ...

A Scenario - or Back Story for Hufeisental - Austrian Section Metre Gauge Mountain Line to Switzerland - The (Fictitious) Scenario The Hufeisental Layout has been in progress for over three years and, typically for me, I'm now just inventing a back story for it! Specifically, I've decided that the part of the layout that runs down the left side of the layout room will represent Austria and some areas on that side will be modelled with snow scenery - a new venture for me. The right hand side of the layout which is a bit further advanced in its build, will represent somewhere in the south of Germany. Note that on the German side there are 16 storage loops (on 3 levels) hidden inside a hill, which are accessible via a walkway at the rear. Overall the plan looks a bit like this basic drawing below. It's a much simplified plan showing my shed, how the layout occupies it and the 3 levels of the layout each connected by spirals inside the mountains. You can see that Germany is on one side, Austria on the other and the metre gauge mountain line which goes over the big girder bridge to Switzerland. I've made the bridge at around 140cm high so it's easy to duck under, and it's removable should I need to lift it out of the way: Another view looking in from the door end. Germany on the right, Austria to the left and the metre gauge mountain line that heads up and over the big bridge to Switzerland: I'll split this topic over a few posts so there's not too much to read all in one go (reading is boring - pictures are much better IMO). Next I'll describe my fictitious scenario, or back story, for the metre gauge line from Austria into Switzerland. ...

Aye must try harder, life keeps getting in the way! Will update you on Friday at the clubhouse. Cheers ... Alan

They are advertising in the latest Continental Modeller, just opened in late November and it looks like they have big plans for future expansion. Could be ultimately a Swiss version of Miniatur Wunderland. Cheers... Alan

Thanks John. I'm hoping to get the wiring and points finished on the new metre gauge mountain line in the next week or so. Just three more points to wire up and the two terminus sidings in the mountain at the top end to do, then I'll test run a loco or two before fitting the reed switches so I can then set up for automated running - shuttle style up and down the mountain and over that big bridge! This job's dragged on far too long now and, importantly, it's ages and ages since I ran any trains around! Cheers … Alan

This looks interesting and another place to visit on my next trip to Switzerland: https://www.smilestones.ch/index-en.html Cheers ... Alan