halsey

Thanks for the individual contributions but as this side topic didn't take off on its own I have reverted back to my Main thread/Topic and posted pictures of progress so far.................

Interestingly the process of thinking about this independently and starting this topic actually helped me galvanise my thoughts which must have been lurking somewhere in my sub-conscious!

It has given me a direction and context which I didn't have before - result!

J

I started a small side topic on engine shed areas but it didn't take off so I will revert back to here with my progress to date

I am very happy with this so far - note the 3 storey shop front has had a bit of "kit bashing" as the roof was far too posh and needed simplifying from the original.............there will be a terrace of 4 red brick terraced house in front of these shops to create a "Coronation Street"/Arches styled scene - the engine shed tracks have now been shortened and some bits bought with a single engine shed to be built - I bought a Hornby Water Tower off ebay but I really don't like plastic kits so I am trying to find a card alternative Metcalfe used to make one but its now discontinued..............PO227 have you got one??

FYI the building in the second photo to the left of the engine shed is one of those "scratch aid" kits on eBay which I think are excellent value and "persuade" me into believing I can scratch build which is good.

I had all of the required finishing materials to hand so that was also good.

J

Kit wanted - just wondering if anyone has one of these lying around unbuilt.

PM me if you do please.

2 minutes ago, ITG said:

I’m in a not too dissimilar position in terms of modelling loco facilities by imagination rather than historic visual experience. That said, I have found that for my Rule 1 layout, a key factor is simply how many locos I have and my preference to keep them on the layout (preferably on display as opposed to in hidden storage roads). I say Rule 1, simply because I have more locos than the station size might demand, and as I can only manage two locos/trains circling whilst I shunt with a third, there’s always another seven parked somewhere.

So think carefully about shortening loco roads and sidings, as you may find your loco stud will grow over time, and then you may wish to had those sidings back again.

Ian

Hi

I have actually taken the step of gradually reducing my loco stable from 11 at max to 5 at the moment with one on order.

I find the frustration of poor running when you want to use one (or demonstrate to visiting dinner guests) is considerably lessened if you have a smaller stable and they therefore run more regularly be it on a rolling road (esp my two 009's) or my OO's on the up and down lines whilst I'm doing something else.

I have now shortened all 4 sidings a total of app 30" (3x6" and 1x12") so not too drastic.

There is additional space in the shed buildings and on the passenger sidings and on the hidden siding in the tunnel which even I forget is there!

J

2 hours ago, Tallpaul69 said:

Hi Julian,

Glad to see how your layout is developing!

 

Two thoughts on your locoshed area:-

1) What do you want from the shed area?- For instance, do you want to start a running session with all your locos on shed, and then have them leave one at a time to take up their duties, returning to shed at the end of the session?

2) There are a lot of books around that have photos and/or track plans for real sheds, which you could adapt to your needs. Quite a few are on eBay and are not expensive.

 

Shortening the sidings is a good idea provided you can get all the engines you want to accommodate on them.

 

Looking at your photos , I am not sure what the purpose of the platform beside the left hand siding in photo 2 is? 

I suggest you need to think about siding accommodation for loco coal wagons and also for 16ton minerals to take the ash generated away. Preferably, these should not access the shed area via the turntable, as this will make operation easier and more realistic.

Also, a more realistic look will result if the tracks are not on the same cork and ballast etc. as the main tracks. these areas were often ballasted with fine materials (such as loco ash!).

 

I hope the above is useful?

Cheers for now,

Paul

Thanks for this Paul,

1) I'm not that sophisticated with my running I basically "play" trains in a manner that pleases me rather than follow any established operating practices - so this doesn't matter (to me).

2) Noted but I work better when I get started withe basic track/structures and then the detail evolves - the problem here is I cant get started!

3) I have already removed the scenery/buildings and shortening the sidings increasingly feels the right thing to do as it will allow a tangible scene to be modelled at the end - be it Industry, Shops or Houses 

4) The platform serves no purpose it was simply lying around!

5) Siding uses - that's the type of input I need - what buildings would be used here - kit examples would help

6) Another siding in this area not T/T related would be a problem but I'll have a look

7) Ballasting comments noted - I'll have to review track levels esp the turntable before committing to levels but there's no reason why the cork cant be built up in the loco shed area (after the T/T) and then ash universally spread.

All good stuff - thanks for the input ..............

J

Hi,

I generally model alone (through circumstances and choice) and I do think I have some good ideas in my head certainly ones that satisfy me (see photos of Hawkesbury in my main topic) BUT I am struggling with the Engine Shed/Goods space here mainly because I've never seen one and don't have enough experience to model elements into my space.

I rely heavily on the internet and this forum for help but seem to be lacking in vision for this part of the layout - are there any obvious omissions in terms of buildings and structures ie Water Towers Coaling stations Cranes etc etc etc...............please do quote your favourite kits.

My recent modelling activity has convinced me that I do like density of buildings and structures but this space is proving a challenge.

All and any ideas welcome, clearly the track layout, turntable and the boundary wall of brick arches are all pretty much a given but with siding lengths possibly being up for discussion - I really want this section to play "catch up" with other layout areas over the next 3 months so I need a vision.

The 2 photos below show where its at today................

My thoughts so far are to move the engine shed closer to the turntable and therefore reduce the lengths of the tracks in front of it and to model a complimentary low relief "scene" behind it to avoid the abrupt stop to the wall/arches  and fill the open "green fields" area between the arches and the baseboard edge. Three storey low relief industrial buildings or a grimy street scene perhaps...................this will have the effect of reducing the area of the loco shed scene to be modelled which I think for me will help.

Happy New year chaps......................

I've spent the last day or so nearly finishing 1 of 4 Metcalfe "terraced backs" to replace the Superquick "terrace fronts" I have moved to the station access road.

I've not built these before so I went for stone as its a rural scene and the terrace when completed needs to "sit" with a couple of Superquick brick buildings.

I have a feeling the Superquicks might end up on Ebay  but I do like the corner shop model as it sits well in the space.

Here's a question for the experts - why are Metcalfes red bricks bigger than Superquick red bricks?

Hope you have all had a good holiday period and have managed to spend some time enjoying our absorbing hobby.

Cheers

J

On 01/12/2021 at 21:36, Smardale said:

 

 

 

That's a really good idea. Has anyone ever created a 'running in' loop? Perhaps an elevated section on a layout just for running in purposes? 

 

 

 

After advice from those more informed on here I recently purchased a rolling road - now all I wonder is how I ever lived without it - it gets rid of 90% of running issues and provides that comforting running sound when doing other things on the workbench

Another must have for your list!

On 29/11/2021 at 17:29, Smardale said:

Hello there. 

I'm spending many hours designing layouts. Partly because I find it fun, but mostly due to not knowing how much space I'll have to work with due to an upcoming move. I want to be ready though for when the time comes and have some pre-existing ideas to call upon.

One thing I'm wary of is designing a layout without significant operational interest or with missed potential for more, and so therefore I'm constantly looking at layouts, literature and prototype designs to see what's possible. I have to say that the many topics on Minories in this forum have been a real eye opener regarding this.

I was wondering if people wouldn't mind sharing either their 'operational must haves' during the design phase, or perhaps operational examples from their own layouts that they find really enjoyable. It would be a huge help to me as well as I'm sure to other novices out there.

 

Thanks in advance!

Sorry I'm coming to this a bit late (but will follow from now on)

I totally get the planning before you move house so if circumstances permit plan for a garage spare room or as in my case a suitable "cabin"

My absolute must have is a twin track (up and down lines) loop, everything else in my view can and will be compromised to that end.............but it does need a reasonable space 

Happy New Year to you too,

The main line treatment that you have always struggled with does work and look well in the flesh, after all, all models benefit from some imagination and licence.

BFN

J

Well.....................if you are reading this Happy Christmas and thanks for your contributions comments this year.

You might wonder what I've been up to lately - I decided to re-model the coach sidings/station entrance area on the layout to make the coach sidings less intrusive (shorter) and to make it busier with buildings and cars - the truth is I never really liked the use of this space and this for me is a much better solution and more balanced.

The last photo is a reminder of what went before.....................

I decided to use a Superquick garage kit as the focal point and it seems to have worked (its not quite finished and still needs its pumps) - having converted to Metcalfe I'm not such a fan of Superquick although IMHO they do look a bit more weathered/older when finished without further work, they are also not so strong and not as absorbing to build but I guess the clue is in the name - this took me app 15hrs.

Again in my view Metcalfe and Superquick don't seem to mix well in the same scene so I keep them apart but perhaps that's because they aren't weathered in yet.

Just a general question................... 

Is it OK to place a derelict coach on "land" or are they always on tracks?

if on tracks can these be "disconnected" or must they be part of the layout

Obviously the general placement will be in a sidings environment its just the detail I want to understand.

1 hour ago, Chimer said:

 

 

 I think I'd rotate the gatehouse maybe 20 degrees anti-clockwise and bring it forward a bit.  But defining the perimeter of the depot with walls or fencing will make things clearer to my mind.

Hi Chris,

Good thoughts........

I have now done that as much as possible bearing in mind the need for space for the "crossing" to the new under construction engine shed and "arches" and the fact that I didn't want the building layout to be too geometric.

The other issue is having a building that tall at the front of the baseboards makes leaning over to work or re-rail wagons trickier - no amount of CAD will tell you that .

After I took the first photo I had a re-think re the brewery sign - better now I think and perhaps a bit more "period" 

TIP? - throughout this whole (2 layout) 6 year journey I consistently find taking a photo of a scene and looking at it away from the layout does make decision making easier - it works for me at least

Thanks as always

J

To be fair the last bit of the 009 "design" has only just been completed - this isn't  an issue for me at all I'm just happy to be here and keeping others entertained

J

53 minutes ago, Chimer said:

Perhaps I should hold the question until you've defined all the boundaries of the parcels depot, but if that lorry is leaving the depot through the gatehouse, where's it come from?  Not the yard, as far as I can see .......

 

Signage looks good!

Ha @Chimer - thanks for keeping me up to the mark!

The signage has now been changed on the entrance arch and now makes sense for smaller vans to access the inner yard on an in/out basis and larger vans can use the larger side road which also serves the Nissan Hut "depot" - remembering that this road "arrives" on to the layout in the bottom right of the first photo parallel to the 009 track.

OK now ?

See new photos

J

Just thought I'd post these as the former brewery comes to life as a parcels depot........

and possibly the best £7 I've spent on Hawkesbury to date??..............

"Scratch Aid kits" - I've never used one before but at £7.70 incl postage from eBay I think this is a winner and fantastic vfm.

I was going to finish it but now I'm tempted to adapt the kit to being a "construction site" model as it is so good.

The detail parts for the windows for example are amazing.

All good been doing lots of detailing must have stuck at least 50 signs and adverts around the layout - I'm saving the airbrushing for post Christmas lockdown 

Happy modelling...........

Posted in my old topic by mistake.......................

Just discovered "North Western Models" good product range and great service - will use again.

ditto - my apologies 

Sorry 2 postings posted in the wrong place..............

Just had a good 2hr running and cleaning session - but I couldn't work out why I was getting loco wheel derailments on both up and down lines - until I realised that the building I placed in the top LH corner (tunnel mouth and sheep/woodland above) was just fouling the track on its hidden back corner and that elsewhere a cover plate on one of the (horrible) Peco surface turnout motors had become dislodged and needed clipping back in place - problems solved 

Cheers

2 hours ago, Chimer said:

I think that's looking very good.  Cramped and industrial, just right for a bit of narrow gauge railway.  I guess the next step is to bed all the buildings down into the plywood earth?

 

Cheers, Chris

Next step is probably weathering pre "bedding in" - contemplating general methodology - airbrush or manual brushes - I realise its actually both but do I go for airbrush as it is good and much easier for overall dirt covering - reading up on this and still not sure.

Don't forget the earth isn't plywood its XPS foam........

J

Hi all,

I just thought I'd add a couple of photos of the "final" version showing the 009/00 mix and the additional buildings built over the last few weeks.

I'm very pleased with the end results - the Peco streamline 009 live turnouts are proving a bit temperamental the "fine" blades (if that's what they are called) are giving me contact issues the slightest bit of horizontal pressure solves the problem but 3 out of 7 aren't behaving very well

Last photo is a substantially modified part of the small factory set so it differentiates itself from the one I have already and this fits better

My latest 009 "Baldwin" arrived over the weekend and very nearly went straight back is it just wouldn't run BUT 48 hrs later with a bit of initial coaxing it is now running really well - why didn't I buy one of these RRs sooner - IMHO an absolute must for any rail modeller - thanks again Pete for the tip.

I hadn't appreciated the Hunslet wait was so long so I have ordered another but different Baldwin to keep me going for now 

I didn't know about Fourdees so thanks for that but they are a bit too much for my budget esp with DCC fitted.

Cheers 

Hunslet now ordered from TMC with DCC fitted, crew and "light" weathered.

now I've got to wait............................. 

thanks for the input it helped me push the right button!

J