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batrapyr

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Blog Entries posted by batrapyr

  1. batrapyr
    Retirement beckons and, like many, I had set my heart on building the layout of my (youthful) dreams.
     
    Having decided that N gauge was right for me, I set about picking up rolling stock, track, etc. at auctions (not Ebay). I 'scored' some major successes with only a single failure and I now have much of the bits and pieces that I require. However, one of the 'Lots' that I won at an auction included a box of Marklin controllers, switches and track but, sadly, no rolling stock. I thought that it would be a neat idea to create a very small Z gauge layout (the Marklin track being Z gauge). When I spotted a batch of Z gauge locos being auctioned I jumped in (feet first) and bagged several items. However, I identified that I would need some points and started asking around. I got into a conversation with a guy who was selling off his collection of Z gauge track, etc. and he still had a few items left. In passing, he mentioned that he also had an ex-exhibition layout that he had started dismantling. For whatever reason he hadn't got any further than removing some of the electrics and he was going to throw it into a skip if no one was interested. Rather tongue in cheek, I made him an offer and was surprised (and delighted) when he accepted.
     
    I am now the proud but daunted owner of an end to end Z gauge layout that measures 4 m x 0.28 m. It has been in storage for a number of years and spiders have taken up residence - it will need a thorough clean before I do anything with it. It appears to have two names, one of which is "Hauteville".
     
    One of the tasks that I have set myself is to produce a track plan (using SCARM) and then add a wiring loom which might help me to work out what bits are missing and whether or not the whole thing could do with re-wiring. Sadly (for me) the previous owner was pretty experienced in building layouts and didn't feel the need to label any of the wiring - troubleshooting was either a real challenge or he got everything right first time!
     
    I have erected the layout in my dining room (not currently in use) but have had to place it diagonally, from corner to corner, because it won't fit in anywhere else.
     
     

  2. batrapyr
    2nd weekend in March and time for the St Neots' exhibition at The Woodgreen Animal Sanctuary at Godmanchester. I am still looking for inspiration as my own layout which is still some way in the future. The biggest problem that I have (and I guess that this applies to many modellers) is the restricted space available. Sadly, for me, most of the reasonably-sized layouts are long and slim. Exhibitions don't seem to cater for modellers who are restricted in the length of the main, scenic section.
     
    My model space is limited to (roughly) 2.70 m x 2.78 m. I want to model a 4 platform terminus and have already realised that having platforms capable of holding 12 coach EMUs is totally impractical. So a bit of modeller's license reduces these to 6 coaches with the other 2 platforms holding 4- and 2-coach formations. Even with these reduced dimensions it is still going to be a bit of a tight fit, in and around the 'station throat'. Obviously the off-scene fiddleyard will have to run along another wall - this will be disguised as a train shed (built in the 1930s). I am also thinking of including a siding between the shed and the front of the baseboard. More modeller's license as, prototypically, there were up and down mainlines, 3 roads in the shed and 2 sidings on the viewing side of the shed. Having a baseboard capable of holding 7 roads may not be achievable.
     
    My biggest concern is how can I accomplish a 90 degree turn (where the walls meet). I think that he maximum number of lines that I can use would be restricted to 3. That would mean using 2nd, 3rd & 4th radius curves. I assume that I will have to use a curved back scene, with a narrow road and fence, between it and the railway itself. But should I do with the part closest to the front of this part of the layout. Prototypically, railway lines do not turn through 90 degrees in a very short space. So what could I put there?
     
    The 'End Plan' is to insert another scenic section between the terminus and the engine shed, so that the layout will go round 3 walls of the room. If the two connecting sections (turning through 90 degrees) are carefully planned and built, I am hoping that it will be possible to remove then and simply join the 3 main sections to form a single, reasonably long, run (5 m +). If I ever reach that point I may consider putting on the exhibition circuit. Alternatively, I am dismantle it and re-erect it in another part of the house. I then want to start on a more ambitious layout (in N gauge).
     
    However, that is all part of the dream and, for now, I need to get on with making the model room suitable for working in - that means installing a stud wall to stop the wind and rain coming in from around the main garage door.
  3. batrapyr
    This blog is being created to track my progress from being a complete 'newbie' with almost zero knowledge of model railways or railways, generally.
     
    Why pick on railway modelling as a hobby? Well, like many of my generation (post WWII baby boomers) I was given a second hand train set when I was very young and played with it to the point of destruction. There wasn't much to the set, just an oval of track, a single locomotive (American) and a handful of coaches. Pocket money didn't really stretch to expanding into a model layout and so my interest waned. By contrast an uncle had a layout in his loft and every time that we visited I couldn't wait to go and see it.
     
    Things like girlfriends, football, music, etc. quickly replaced my interest in trains, during my teens and twenties. Along came marriage and serious responsibilities, like children and the mortgage. For some time we seemed to move house (and location) at frequent intervals and it wasn't until I had reached my 50s that 'home life' became more settled. My interest in trains (in general) remained throughout the years when I moved around the country. I enjoyed visiting places such as The Bluebell Line, Llangollen, Sherringham, etc. and would often gaze in the window of a Model shop, enviously gazing at the trans and ancillary models. Even then I was determined that, one day, I would have a model railway of my own. Unfortunately, it always remained a pipe dream. I had neither the time, money or space to do anything about it.
     
    For the past 20 years I have been pre-occupied with showing dogs (Crufts and all that). As we had chosen one of the biggest and hairiest breeds (Pyrenean Mountain Dogs) we needed somewhere, warm and dry, to groom these enormous beasts and it was at that point that we installed a wall across the garage (with a door in it). The rear part contained an oil-fired boiler, a grooming table and all of the materials required to primp and preen five of this breed, The front part was, effectively, a dumping ground for all sorts of things (bicycles, ladders, bins of dog food, etc.). For various reasons (many down to back problems) I had to curtail the showing side of the dog world, taking up judging, stewarding and administration, instead.
     
    Having acquired a number of children over the years (currently running at 6!) it wasn't going to be too long before grandchildren started to arrive. Two lovely granddaughters first but then, in July 2016, a first grandson put in an appearance. The catalyst for reviving an interest in model railways. What could be better than having a model railway to enjoy with my grandson as he started to grow up!
     
    Before embarking on my first layout I needed to determine where it was going to go. It couldn't be in the main part of the house as we still have the dogs (now supplemented by several smaller ones) and the loeft, whilst offering the greatest square footage had the major disadvantage of having very restricted headroom. A quick consultation with SWMBO and I had the front part of the garage to play with - 2.78 metres by 2.70 metres. Unfortunately, there was no ceiling and the 'up & over' door let in the elements (wind and rain) and both of these needed fixing before I could consider starting 'the build'. The ceiling came first. I have installed plasterboard (with some difficulty) and even managed to include a removable hatch into the loft. What surprised me the most was the fact that a 15 year old house didn't come with rafters and joists that could be considered 'square', by any means. As a result the plasterboarding is a bit of a patchwork and there remains plenty of 'gap filling' to do. The next step will be to install insulation in the newly created loft. If I am going to be working in the Model Room, I do want it to be reasonably comfortable and draft-free.
     
    With the ceiling done the next major job will be to box-in the 'up & over' door in order to stop the howling draughts that seem to penetrate every single gap. At the same time I want to make sure that rain water can't enter under the door. I would love to be able to say that this is going to happen in the next few days or weeks but reality has to kick in at some point. As I am still working, my free time is pretty restricted. I am based in north west Norfolk and have to commute to London (Hammersmith) and by the time that I get home, in the evening, I am pretty much too tired to start building work. Any work is likely to take place at weekends but has to fit in around the usual household chores, visiting family & friends and my (many) continuing commitments to dog showing etc.
     
    As for boxing in the big door... I intend to build a base of 2 rows of breeze blocks, across the door, then install heavy duty plastic sheeting running along the top of the bricks, down to floor level then under the door, finally ending up buried in the gravel outside. On top of the bricks I am going to build a stud wall, in 3 vertical pieces (to accommodate the metal rails for the door). I am going to tack plastic sheeting to these stud wall sections, on the door side, in-fill with insulation then finish off the inside with plasterboard. That should leave me with a comfortable and draught-free room complete with power points and lighting.
     
    More on this project (with photos?) next time around!
  4. batrapyr

    A False Dawn

    By batrapyr,

    A day at home presented an opportunity to make a start on preparations however SWMBO had other ideas. She wanted some shelving (in the model 'room') to accommodate a couple of small, plastic crates full of Disney-themed cake making materials. Please don't laugh. She is a fully trained chef and loves making cakes for her grand daughter but for most of the time the moulds etc. In their crates) clutter up the utility room.
     
    And so to the work...



    Shelves up and loaded. I even managed to make provision for some smaller shelves to be added underneath. Not sure exactly how that carrier bag, from a well-known Model Shop, crept in to the picture.  
    As for the rest of the room...



    Much work still to do. Some of the clutter needs to go into the loft above the garage, some needs to go into the shed and some needs to make its way to the local community tip! The 'up & over' door is, currently, covered by a tarpaulin in an attempt to eliminate draughts. This is going to be replaced by an insulated stud wall. I will lose about 5 inches in the length of the Model Room but at least it will be draught free and (hopefully) shower-proof. 
    The 'rat' at the bottom of the picture is actually a Pyrenean Sheepdog (not a Mountain Dog) and is the smallest of 5 canines in residence.
     
    Next step will be to remove the detritus and lay two rows of breeze blocks and install the stud wall. Maybe then I can make a start on creating the baseboards.
  5. batrapyr
    Although I am not a member I thought that I would pay a visit to my local Model Railway Club's exhibition, tomorrow. March & District MRC is much smaller than Leamington & Warwick which is on at the same time, so I am hoping that I might get an opportunity to natter with a few of the locals. Unfortunately, I don't speak the Fenland language so I am hoping that there might be some translators available.
     
    http://www.mdmrc.co.uk/
     
    I might try and take a few photos while I am there.
  6. batrapyr
    Time out from doing prep work in the modelling room (aka the front of the garage).
     
    Took the short journey into March this morning and called in at the March & District MRC's show. Plenty of people about but I was a little disappointed at the number of layouts and trade stands. However, a couple of the layouts were really quite nice and my favourite had to be "Spilsby", a Great Northern Railway scene by Mike & Andrew Sharpe.
     

     
    Surprisingly, I didn't actually spend any money but, somehow, I don't think that that will be the case when I head to the East Anglian Model Railway Exhibition, run by St Neots MRC, at The Wood Green Animal Centre near Huntingdon, next weekend.
  7. batrapyr

    First tentative steps

    By batrapyr,

    When attempting your first layout it is so tempting to rush out and buy a controller, a few pieces of track and any loco that stands even the remotest chance of ever having run over the lines. However, I have decided to take my time over this layout. I have given lots of thought to location and period. I have read every magazine and book that I could reasonably lay my hands on. Sadly, for me, I have chosen the wrong gauge, the wrong location (region) and the wrong era. Southern, 1957 to 1965 in N gauge is poorly catered for in the R-T-R market but further research has revealed that there are kits available for the locomotives that I desire. I am not so foolish as to believe that I can go from a position of zero knowledge and skills to being a master kit-basher overnight. 'Slowly, slowly, Catchee monkey'.
     
    Firstly, the most important consideration - where is the layout going to be located. It was going to be the front half of the garage but a dramatic change of circumstances means that I now have a room that is roughly 4m x 4m, with plenty of light, eat and ventilation. I am not so stupid as to think that I can fill this space in one go. Instead, I am going to start small and slowly expand. My modelling skills are limited so I intend to start with one of the fiddleyards (there will be 2 of them, one at each end). My first baseboard will be 4ft x 2ft and I am not sure that the fiddleyard will occupy all of the space available.
     
    Clearly I have much to do and, therefore, while I continue with my research and start preparing initial thoughts on the design, I am starting to acquire the tools that I am going to need. The layout is going to be partially automated but I don't want to have to get involved in complex electronics (such as occupation detectors) and I don't want to spend a fortune on the controller. After much research I concluded that the Bachman Dynamis Ultima met my requirements. I am aware that it isn't 'top of the range' but for the price, it delivers the features and functions that I require. Most importantly, it comes with script-based automation, albeit time-based. I was lucky enough to get a decent deal, so this DCC controller became my first major acquisition. It is still waiting to be used.
     
    Knowing that I was going to have an almost inexhaustible list of tools and bits and pieces, I have made a start on acquiring them, a few at a time. I now have things like a Dremel, a soldering iron, jewellers screwdrivers, a decent steel rule, etc. I am waiting for a DCC training day, at my local model shop, when I hope to pick up sufficient knowledge to make a start. In the meantime, I have downloaded the instruction manual for Dynamis Ultima so that I can be prepared as possible.
     
    Progress, in the early stages, is going to be in fits and starts as I have some other commitments that I can't get out of. It is, perhaps, fortunate that one of those commitments means that I have to travel down to Littlehampton in Sussex, once a month. Of course, Littlehampton is only a few miles from Ford where Gaugemaster is based. I make a point of popping in every time that I am down in that neck of the woods, armed with my most recent shopping list. My next visit, towards the end of this month, will see me picking up sufficient 2nd radius curves to make a circle. Apparently this needs to be laid down, as a test bed, in order to set the scale speed of any loco. According to the instructions, it is necessary to run the loco round and round (at full speed) and then enter the prototypical top speed. Doing this with all locos means that they will run at the correct scale speed which will make running double-headers much easier. Of course, it will also help to 'run in' any new locos that I buy.
     
    With all of this going on I will still have some 'free' time before the serious model making commences. I have quite a lengthy commute, to work, each day - by train, naturally, and I intend to use that time creating a feasible backstory to justify the traffic that will run. Whilst there needs to be a grain of truth to the backstory, I still need to ensure that it is believable. There is little point in hypothesising that the Southern built an enormous goods exchange yard in the middle of the leafy Sussex countryside! My chosen location will be loosely based on Midhurst but will remain fictitious so that I can manipulate the population of that town and invent reasons for traffic levels. Arguably, the hardest thing to do will be to justify the levels of passenger traffic. In the real world, the lines into and out of Midhurst were poorly utilised by the public at large and it was no surprise that when one of those lines suffered severe flood damage the decision was taken not to re-instate the track bed. One instance of modeller's license will be to imagine that this incident didn't occur.
     
    So, if the layout is going to be fictitious then I will need to come up with new names for the off-scene stations as well as the main subject of the model. Midhurst will become 'Midhirst for Easebourne' and Chichester will become 'Chidister' (which is how the locals pronounce it). No doubt I will make extensive use of puns when naming other stations. Suggestions for alternative names for Pulborough, Petworth, Lavant, Singleton, Rogate and Petersfield would be more than welcomed.
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