Steam_Julie

I have constructed the sheep creep, using a Peco single track bridge kit, as it basis. It will not be fixed into position until the track is laid, wired and tested. I have constructed it as narrow as I think I can get away with. This has the effect that hopefully it will not dominate the completed scene. The shape of the back slot, in the top sheet, will be adjusted when I know the exact shape of the curved backscene. Photograph of the sheep creep before insertion, into the bridge box. Photograph of the sheep creep in position, Julie

It's so long since I had a whole day to myself! That I have forgotten how much modelling can be done in one. I have now cut out the areas of the bottom layer of the plywood, not required for strength. This reduces the weight, important if the layout is carried as hand luggage on public transport and allows space for the electrics. The bottom layer has not been glued into position, this cannot happen until the sheep creep construction is complete. Photograph showing the blocks that keep the two plywood layers at the correct distance apart. Photograph of both layers in position. Having this gap increases the strength because the strength of the construction is determined by the distance from the top layout to the bottom face of the support framework. This is the 2nd blog post I have made today, look back at Clovelly Road – Bridge Box too. Julie

Construction of Clovelly Road continues. I decided that I wished to have a bridge, or sheep creep to use it's correct name, passing under the track. The baseboard is only 22mm deep from the top surface to the botton, thus between the two pieces od ply there is only 15mm to play with. Shows the position of the sheep creep. Shows the detail of how the bridge box is constructed. Shows the extra block installed to make the layout surface firmer, i.e. flatter and less lickley to move. Julie PS Edit to correct spelling error

No Lisa it is not! Julie

The layout baseboard has now been cut to shape. The back, the straight side was found to be slightly warped. It was straighten using a longer piece of the wood from which the spacers are made and the a strengthening piece of plywood was added along this edge. The whole layout baseboard. Showing the spacers on the curved edge. Showing the stiffener and strengthener along the back edge. Julie

Clovelly Road is designed to be easily transportable, using public transport, but still present a modelling challenge. The overall baseboard, before it has been but to final shape, as marked by pencil line. A detail to show the basic construction method. Julie

In the post that you show a full length picture of Portwey, is the object sticking out of the LH middle of the layout the point motor for the adjacent point? Julie

There is another alternative, that is to seal the surface with a waterproof coating, such as perhaps paint or waterproof PVA glue. Julie

Any material that can absorb moisture will change shape, when the humidity in the place it is stored changes. Therefore any board requires braching to keep it square and it's surface flat. Julie Spelling error correction

You are too modest! Julie

I'm too young to remember IOW steam railway operation. BUT it kooks good. Julie

How long did the twins remain in service?

The passenger coaches seem to be short? Julie

Prior to the mid 60's vans were far more numerous than passenger coaches!

I don't like WordPress pages posted on RMWeb!

I don't like WordPress pages posted on RMWeb!?

Very neat! traverser. I do like your portable workstation. Is it made from foamboard? Please can you tell me what is BHMRC exhibitions? Julie EDIT spelling correction

From where do you hail? Julie

Yes I'm going to have a small goods shed. If I move the siding over, like Lisa suggests, then I can have a space behind it, for vehicles to pass. The goods yard fence can be modelled along it's length in 3D. I'm glad that I decided to move the station platform. Julie

Hi I have brought, my highly transportable layout with me, when I travelled to Scotland to stay with family at Christmas. Look up into the sky, and you see wide open spaces. The plywood backscene support has corners, something the sky does not have. I have use a layer of 2mm thick card to remove the corners from the front surface of the backscene support. The actual backscene will be a think sheet of card, thin enough to be rolled up and held in a tube to protect it for transport. This will also allow the backscene to be higher than the backscene support. The height of the latter is determined because the layout has to fit into the case for ease of transport. There will therefore be a small gap between the backscene support and the scenery. The backscene support will be painted to seal it, against ingress of moisture and thus make it more able to withstand wear. The colour will be light blue. Julie For a full description of the building of Pack Lane follow the http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85857-pack-lane/page-2&do=findComment&comment=1710003 link.

Hi I said to my friend Lisa, 2mm Lisa that is, a few days ago. There's a hole in my backscene, dear Lisa, dear Lisa …... Well there are two holes really but you get the idea. These holes are vital, because if there were not, trains would not be able to be run. Julie There is a link to the find out more info about Pack Lane at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85857-pack-lane/page-2

I am currently very unpopular with my sister! I was doing some modelling at her house recently. I was painting a culvert which I constructed from a Peco Bridge kit. I was using model paints and therefore needed to use a brush cleaner. I was working at a table, with a plastic table cloth, and then I spilt the brush cleaner. When I went to wipe it, I found that the pattern also wiped off. Oops! The bottle was not designed for pouring and the cleaner had run down the front and onto the bottom and had splashed onto the table cloth too. I though that I was going to be eaten alive, for my mistake, but luckely not.

What is the MGS Challenge? Julie EDIT Typing error

I've also found that slightly bending the point to improve the flow of the track through the point makes the appearance better. Julie

The back's in question are the supports which will hold the backscene in position! I could build a layout without a backscene, like the Pizza by Mark Fielder, but I have decided I want to have a backscene on my micro layout to complete the layout. Because the layout has to fit into a case for transport, it will have a fixed one, and an extension, mainly sky to set the scene. What I have been working on today is the support, for the backscene. This is made of 3mm plywood, it's height is 95mm. Within this I will, using card insert the backscene itself, this will mean that there will be no corners in my sky. The existing board ends had to be removed in order to allow the end extensions to be fitted. It was necessary to thin the bottoms of these pieces in order to allow the extensions to mate up and then track to line up correctly. The components of the fixed backscene are made of 3mm plywood, and are held together with wood glue. To make sure they are correctly held in place whilst the glue sets, pins are used, They play no part in providing strength of the final joint. Traditionally panel pins are used for this. Because of the thin material and the micro nature of the layout, I have used lille pins instead. This reduces splitting and they are easier to insert, providing you use a pair of pliers to hold them whilst they are being hammered in. Whilst the flaps are in the up position, to allow trains to operate, the washer and wing nut are stored under the layout, by being screwed onto the bolts. Julie For a full history of the Pack Lane layout, click on the link below. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85857-pack-lane/page-2