MarshLane

Evening all, Well, for those following the Arksey thread (see signature) over on the Layout Topics section, will know that the baseboards for Arksey have come together well and the trackwork is now going down. Can I at this point, say thanks to all of those who offered thoughts and advice on my first track making attempts last year, this is coming together a little easier because of it - thank you. I'd hoped to get a bit more work done on the first of two points today, but work and rain prevented that. Instead I've had a couple of hours tonight and almost finished the NE brake van that I started a few months back. Just needs a little bit of detailing (roof ventilators, one set of footsteps and handrails adding) before painting, although I think the painting will take place before the handrails are fixed in for obvious reasons! Like the trackwork, this is the first plastic kit I've built, and I've been quite excited by how its all come out. Also have some work to do to make the roof sit flat, its up slightly at one end. This will probably gain bauxite livery, but with NCB markings to work on Arksey. Next up is another Slaters plastic kit - this time a 12-ton box van, that is likely to become a plate layers van for Arksey. Oh, and I've realised I should have 'blackened' the hook and chain before fitting, so they are going to have to come off again to allow that to happen! Anyone any suggestions on the best paints, or the best way to paint these kits? Rich PS - Just one more as I'm so pleased with it This is where it stands at the moment...

Cheers guys! Coming slowly. Not had much time today as I was at work this afternoon. Did get half an hour to move the NE brake van kit on this morning, that's not far off being finished now. Also, thanks to a kind offer, I've acquired a Fowler 0-4-0 at an advantageous price to turn into the centre cab version. Conversation with Paul Chetter about DCC sound and speakers will be needed there! Also realised I didn't have enough rail chairs to finish board 2, so put an order into C&L. Hope I might get and hour or so to finish the point work off before work tomorrow! He says hopefully! Rich

Thanks Chris, I remember reading about that now on his Denton Brook thread - worked well as I recall. I'll drop him a line. Thanks Andi ... in between work ... lets hope! Rich

Hi Barnaby, I think its partly the fact that you get so far through a project and then think, if I could wipe the board clean and start again, I could do that bit better, that bit I wouldn't do like that again, etc.. etc.. etc.. I also find that things develop and issues or 'inclusions' that you hadn't thought about come to mind. For me, I generally work on the premise that if I'm having doubts after a few weeks, why am I having doubts, what don't I like - and then, are those doubts going to niggle away continuously! If they are, are stop it, sit back and consider where to go next. But like Simon said, everyone is different. For me, I'm now quite happy and convinced with my 'BIG' project, but a move of house, likely sooner rather than later, but sometime this year, means I can't progress, hence why I've started my little portable layout of Arksey. It gives me something to do, try out new things, small so its easily achievable and yet everything that I learn through doing it will used to build the 'BIG' project. So for me its a bit of a stop gap rather than a change of mind. But loco wise, etc like Simon, everything will get built into the bigger project in time. I think if your new layout is looking remarkably similar to the old one, id be tempted to step back, take a fresh view, and say a) why is it the same? Is it just the track-layout or what your proposing to do with it, and b) if its the same, what am I going to do on the new one, that I can't on the old - which one is the better and which one is worth continuing with? Just my tuppence input! Rich

Thanks Paul/Andy, much appreciated. Also thanks to the silent majority for taking an interesting and reading the updates - quite amazed that we're almost at 1,000 views in a week! An early finish at lunchtime today, has given me the ability to spend an afternoon relaxing with the layout boards, and spurred on by last nights progress of seeing locos actually on the boards, I set to with Board 1 (which is the left hand of the two) and laid the second layer of cork. Now some may query, why use two layers, rather than just the one? Well although the layout is flat, in terms of the track level, I wanted to create some undulations in the ground cover, hopefully. The cork I'm using is 6mm thick floor tiles, so the sleepers will be 12mm above the baseboard level. Some of the base level cork (which covers the entire board) will get cut away once I'm doing the scenery, which should help with giving depth and the like to puddles/grass. I've not been too neat or careful with the second layer, as it will get covered by ballast and will not ever be seen, and with its purpose being purely functional, there are some rough edges! Over this, the cut out Templot plan was then relaid. The 2nd layer cork is just very loosely pinned with OO gauge track tacks to the bottom layer so there is some breathing space. Next the P-Way crew turned up, and it looks like they brought half a forest with them, but judging by the speed the sleepers went down, they left the kettle back at base!! Working on the premise the sooner they got it done, the sooner they got back for a brew, they have cracked on quite well!! The sleepers are all C&L, those nearest the lens on the left hand road, do need trimming in a couple of places just to tidy things up, but they are the self-cut sleepers for the depot/main line point. If your comparing back to the original track plan, the left hand road is the dead-end workshop headshunt, the middle road is the main line, and the right hand line is just a siding, accessible only from the sector plate. Next the track crew turned up, and remarkably the first rail on the headshunt, along with the main rail on the point went down quite quickly. Im going to work on getting the point laid totally this weekend, hopefully. The 'vee' has been filed down this afternoon, just got the blades to do. ] Excuse the two right hand loose rails, just fixed with blu-tac to make sure they don't fall off the board! From the above angle, I'm quite pleased I cannot even see the rail join with my eye when I look along the length! But as you can see, it is there and all rail-joinered up too! So progress has this week, been a lot quicker than I imagined it would be. Hopefully I can get the point finished this weekend, and the other rail in on the headshunt, and we might just have had the first movement by Monday! This board as the majority of the track on it. Board 2 (the right hand one) is just one point, the main line and the workshop line, part of which is going to be copper clad trackwork as it will be covered by cobbles. Yet to work out the best way of doing cobbles, although if I can find a way of stamping the DAS clay is looking possible. Hope your all enjoying the read - any questions or comments please shout! Rich

Just one more for the night - on the right will be a grass banking, with a road bridge hiding the exit from this end of the layout. Rich

Evening all, Managed to spend a rather enjoyable couple of hours working on the two boards. Both now have the first layer of cork covering on them, and I've loosely placed the cut out Templot plans on top, really just to allow me to think about the planned scenery and how its going to work (or not!). I know cork is one of those 'personal preference' items, but it does seem to have kept the noise down on my 13' long test plank. Im going this one sightly different in that its going to have two layers of cork on it. One is a general all over covering, the other will just be under the track to raise it up slightly, and allow the ballast shoulder to be provided without excessive amounts of ballast. My line of thinking is that in places, I can also cut away the base cork lever and create graduations in the ground level. So, a few pictures to show progress this evening - ARRRGH getting in a right mess with these tonight! These were just taken on the iPhone, not the DSLR so nothing special! Cork layer going down. I've glued this with PVA just round the outer edges to hold it in place. This is Board 1 - the left hand of the two, showing the depot headshunt (left) the headshunt for the unseen yard (right) and main line (centre) Followed by a couple of views giving some idea what the photo opportunities will be: Then I moved onto Board 2 - the 08 is stood in what will be the workshop building, the wagons on the main line. The exits have got to be cut in the ends yet, but I decided to wait until the track plan was down to make sure these came in the right place! All in all - quite happy with the progress. I've just used a couple of locos that were at on my test layout at this point, but its shown the operational interest to me, and allowed me to give through to where the scenic sections and ground signals will go. Rich

Thanks for the kind comments Andy, appreciate the support. Rich

Evening all, My best of intentions for the day seemed to go somewhat awry! A combination of a heavy rain shower that 'stopped play' mid-way through the afternoon, and a forgotten doctors check-up that I ended up rushing out to, means that one way or another my day off has vanished! Did get an hour to work on the baseboards however, and both 'scenic' ends have now been fitted. The full length backscene has been fitted by then gluing the back scene and frame with 'no-nails', then bolting it to the base framework to give a very firm backdrop. For the ends though, I wanted to ensure that should I wish to extend the layout in the future, I could do and needed a way that would allow the ends to be removed, but still be firm in the short term. Using 'no-nails' was therefore a big no-no! Instead, the ends are bolted to the base frame in the same way as previously, but then I've run some aluminium angle up the join between the end and back, to bring the two together, and give further strength. The Lightbox is still to be added along the front but at least progress is being made, and Im at a stage where I can now go an spend an hour or two progressing the trackbed Just conscious I want to get this right - so any thoughts/opinions are always welcome. Todays work so far.... Hope people are finding this interesting, although I acknowledge that trackwork and trains provides more interesting reading and viewing! Only pics of one board, but the other one is identical. Rich

Hi Andy, Like what your doing with the two OO Gauge layouts, have you decided that OO gauge is more your cup of tea than O .. or is Beale Street just on the backburner with having your local club layout to exercise the loco wheels Hope we're still going to see your talents in the bigger scale. Rich

Just after i'd posted and shut the computer down last night, it occurred to me, that some people may like the Templot file, either to adapt for their own use or to see what ive done (or should that be the mess i've made?) So the templot file is attached, feel free to view, copy, alter etc.. and a screenshot of the layout, showing the outline of the two 3ft x 18 inch boards is shown below. Rich Arksey Colliery Railway - Micro - v3.box

Hi Ian, Nice progress on the layout - well done with the invite to Doncaster next year Rich

Looks like the database had a blip! Did you reply with a previous quote Paul? Rich

Hi Brian, Interesting background - I've been seriously thinking about getting one of those WWS static grass applicators - they seem one of the best around. More food for thought! Rich

Hi David, Nice to see the layout working Well done. Rich

Well something of a stressful day at work today, but home and relaxing now! I've spent half an hour 'tweaking' couple of minor issues related to clearance and the like on the track plan, I've also shoved the timbers as Martin suggested and am now happy with those - and as I type this, there are several sheets of A3 paper sat alongside me that now need sticking together to be put on the board and allow the trackwork to be built. Im day off Thursday (YAY!) so hopefully some progress will be made with the layout trackwork. As I've previously commented, there is still work to be done on the boards themselves in relation to the ends and light boxes, but might leave that till the weekend, and actually do some modelling. In the meantime, to provide some interest, a shot of my Minerva Peckett, which will form one of the locos for the new layout - hopefully to be joined by one of the big Minerva tanks in the not too distant future. These Pecketts are delightful and the audio quality from Paul Chetter is superb. Obviously, this has yet to be weathered. Points will be worked by servos, mounted below the boards. These will be mounted in my own design of servo mounts, which are laser-cut MDF. Rich

I think there is one very significant MAJOR problem with all of these kind of systems, that being that "you cannot please all of the people all of the time". I've used eBay, it works, its known, its good - but there are things there at infuriate me! I never used the classifieds on here, and did look at B/S but couldn't quite work it out - in all honesty though that was down to me not spending the time to work it out, not a failing of the system or rmWeb. Im not trying to defend anyone here - or start an argument, but everyone needs to accept that no matter what Andy and the team come up with, some will like it, some will detest it, and some will sit in the middle. Its a fact of life. Therefore they need to go with whatever treads that fine line between working for rmWeb as a business/service, and working for the users. Personally I agree with Andy's comments - if there is going to be some system there for us then yes it should be reliable and easy to use, but it also needs to be safe for both/all parties, and I expect it to have a fee involved - remember we don't pay for rmWeb, but just because its free to us, doesn't mean its free to run - technology ALWAYS comes at cost, be it servers, software, updates and thats before the human element. Many people don't know or don't understand that there is always a cost involved somewhere. From the sounds of it, a sensible decision has been made - its been tried, what was put forward did not work (for whatever reason(s)), so its time to move on. For those who want to know all about the new system, lets take a breath, give the guys sometime and have some of that stuff called patience ... it was in abundance years ago, but appears to have all but vanished in this day and age!

Hi Richie, Thanks for your kind comments - I do like to set the story behind a fictional layout or location, I find it helps in deciding operating practice and also the scenery. I have to say, the baseboards are nothing special - just basic woodworking, I'm not an expert by any means! Thanks for those photos, that does help, and I'd not seen those three before. Hopefully some more interesting progress with trackwork later this week, work permitting. Rich

Cheers Paul. I've been scouring Flickr and the web tonight for pictures of the electrification - i.e. OHL, masts and detail shots - of the Westoe Colliery system. Quite a few shots on Flickr of the trains, where the wires are visible, but very few that give any detail of the connections or masts. If anyone can help please do shout! The industrial OHL is obviously very different from the main line equipment, a lower voltage apart from anything, but Id like to try and get it looking reasonably similar if possible. Rich

Cheers Andy, Really pleased with the baseboards up to press - still got work to do on them, such as the scenic ends and the light box across the front, but at least its progressing, and hopefully won't be long before the track is down! Normally Im the same as you, just one more point! ... but usually I say that several times Been giving consideration to the motive power - rolling stock I've got some ideas on the kits I need to acquire for the wagons, but trains won't be very long so shouldn't be an issue. However having seen Chris Klein's centre-cab version of the Ixion Fowler, Im going to be keeping my eyes open for one at a low price and see if I can do a similar conversion. No particular real-life example in mind, but that one does look more 'I'm here to do a job' to me! This pic from Chris Klein's thread, illustrates what I'm talking about trying to replicate - all copyright is Chris' not mine. Rich

Hi Chris, Thats great - I'm feeling inspired after reading that. Not sure if it will fit with my plans for DCC given the minimal space for decoder/speakers etc, but hey-ho we might just give it a go! Could be a nice little shunter for the Arksey Colliery Railway Thanks for taking the time to find that for me - didn't think of looking in the 7mm thread! Duh! Rich

Hi Phil, Stunning! I presume the sky has been added in photoshop (or similar) afterwards ... or do you have a very high back scene? Great scenery work too - going to have to go back and re-read the whole thread! Rich

Seen this layout a few times at shows and it never ceases to amaze me, the quality and standard of the running, the scenery, and the layout is just amazing and a total credit to all involved. Talk about setting the bar high! Well done Rich

Looking good Andy! You really can't beat several siding, numerous Speedlink style wagons and a blue 08 . Wins every time in my book! I like that it looks busy and focused, but not overcrowded. Plenty of room for movements and I think you've cracked the depot totally. Its very realistic, something I seem to struggle with getting the right 'look'. Rich

Afternoon all, Well a productive weekend all in all. Not had a huge amount of time, but have managed to go from this on Friday afternoon... To this at lunchtime today... So all in all, not a bad effort! Probably about five hours work all told. Im quite pleased with the way the boards have worked, and while not one-finger light, they are solid and easy to move as well as lift, so not particularly heavy. This is the extent of the scenic part of the layout, two 3' by 18" boards, giving a 6' length in total. There is still the end back scene boards to be attached, and while painted blue, they need a loco entrance/exit hole cutting in each one before they can be fixed in place, so that will probably be the next task towards the end of the week. My plan is to attach them in such a way that they can be removed in the future, if I decide to extend things. In the meantime, thanks to Martin Wynne, I now have an idea of what I'm doing with timber shoving in Templot, so the final tweaks to the track plan, shoving of timbers on the turnouts and I'm hoping this week to get started on the trackwork. Sleepers, railchairs and rail are all from C&L, although I will try the rail from Slaters when I'm next in Matlock as it is substantially cheaper, and by all accounts not much, if any, different. Thanks to those who have popped in and/or followed - hopefully it gets a bit more interesting than just wood going forward! Rich