MAP66

Happy to report that my test track has made it back down from on top of the wardrobe and back to the dining table, so its now back to business.

I managed a couple of hours on it tonight and the backscene is now fully fixed in place and I created most of the footpath leading up to the platform, this is to the right of the pagoda shelter as you view it from the front.

Had another stab at colouring the tunnel mouth and am now experimenting with coloured pencils, doesn't look too bad but still work in progress. 

Here's a few pics on what been happening tonight.

ID back scene arrived today, so I quickly put it in place to see how it looks. My back board is only 11cm high, as I used an off-cut of ply and so that was the size. Because of this I opted to chop all the sky off the back-scene and just leave the greenery.

Looks OK, but I will need to be very creative in finding a way to fit in the level crossing as the road will need to look as if it goes somewhere, a tall ask as the base board is only 15cm wide. If it doesn't look convincing then the level crossing will be dropped and used on a future project.

3 pics tonight showing the back-scene and the chaos that is my work area. Senior management has requested demanded back use of dining table so its back to the top of the wardrobe for a few days. So no more posts for a little while.

It should be safe to bring it back out again after the weekend.

All the best Mark

Fantastic Callum, make sure everything is stuck down well otherwise it might end up in the housekeeping's hoover!! best of luck with the build, the new job and the house search.

Regards

Mark

7 minutes ago, Kevin Johnson said:

This test track layout is looking really good, the platform ramps and GWR bench is a nice touch.

Thanks Kevin for your comments, very much appreciated.

Regards

Mark

A bit more progress to report this evening but no a lot. I have completed both platform ramps and added some slats (micro strip) to represent the strips of wood which were sometimes fixed to the ramps to prevent slips. I'm reminded of an old pic I saw of Thumpers Crossing. 

Made a start on weathering the Pagoda shelter, got bored with that so instead assembled one of the GWR type platform benches by Metcalfe PO501. Really neat little kit and because its so fiddly to assemble one of the card frets when pushed out is designed to be folded into an assembly jig to hold the legs straight while you glue the seat slats in place -  nice touch and very helpful.

Made a start at building up some of the ground level to rear of the pagoda shelter but need the backscene sorted before I can progress any further, should arrive tomorrow it's an ID photo Back-scene. Also loose fitted some station fencing, just for the photo, should this be painted white or GWR cream?

I ordered the automated gated level crossing kit from Heathcote Electronics which arrived today - looks pretty comprehensive and a project in itself, I shall take my time with this and definitely read all the supplied instructions.

I know this is only a test track but I am also using it a an opportunity to install new bits and pieces which I have never considered trying before, so any mistakes can be learned from when it comes to something bigger.

So here are the pics...

No much progress to report tonight, however, in the post arrived station nameboards and GWR brass letter frets by Smiths, and the GWR taper post oil lamps by Gaugemaster GM814. I have dry fitted the lamps to the platform to see how they look - very pleased with the appearance and will wire them up later. Should look good with the benches, nameboards and with a couple of passengers waiting on the platform.

Also resided to the fact that to extend the platform I have admitted defeat and just settled on a straight butt joint (mind the gap) as seen in second photo. I will fill with some filler smooth over and scribe in the planking over the join.

Also forgot which colour paints I used for the first platform section and in which order they were applied, weathering powders were also involved, so having fun trying to colour match and remember how I did it to get the new section to match up with the first. 

I will build the platform ramps next and then the station fencing and gates. Then its the level crossing... at some point I also need to sort out the backscene, should of had that done by now really. 

Here's few more pics in the meantime.

All the best Mark.

I thought I would put up a couple of close ups showing the dead undergrowth under the platform directly beneath the pagoda shelter which I'm quite pleased with (a few stray static fibres still to clear off the track). Also following on from previous post, how to continue the platform to full length with a convincing join on the wood planking. While I continue to work on that one I have also started to mock up how the Wills tunnel mouth will sit at the other end of the track. A few inches in front of the Railcar is where I plan to site the level crossing which hopefully will be operated automatically.

Still lots to do on this one and I'm enjoying every minute, but that's it for this evening.

Regards

Mark

Sounds intriguing Mark, looking forward to seeing what you have in mind, not much space to play with.

Regards

Mark

2 hours ago, Kevin Johnson said:

Your layout is taking shape nicely and I like the platform area.

Thanks Kevin glad you like it.

Believe it or not even though the platform surface has come out fairly well, I'm not sure how to extend it with a convincing join as the platform is a scale 109' long so another piece of greyboard is needed.

The way I scribed on the planking will not look correct at the join so I may have to give it another go and actually plan it out first next time instead of steaming ahead without thinking about it. Happy days!!

Regards

Mark

15 minutes ago, Oncomin5torm said:

In all my excitement I forgot to actually post about finishing the fiddle yard. The new 31 was running on it yesterday actually haha.

I have used 9mm ply salvaged from a previous layout which is why its brown with other marks and holes all over it, it has been braced with 2x1 timber for support but it has also had to have 2 small 9mm strips applied on the bottom to raise it to the correct height for the rails to connect.

Using copper clad PCB cut down to the correct size I wanted, some would argue a little too big but I wanted added strength.
The alignment dowels were bought from layouts4u and are brilliant, once installed they work flawlessly, to do the installation I got the boards exactly level on a level surface, which just happened to be the kitchen counter top. I Started by clamping the boards together and then drilling a 3mm pilot hole where I wanted the dowels to go, removing the clamps I drilled the ends wider, but not too much as a snug fit is needed to allow the dowels to go in but not come out.

I laid the track across from the scenic section into the fiddle yard and after applying solder to the underside of the rails where the rails would sit against the copper clad I applied heat and more solder to keep it in place.
the double slip sits very close to the edge of the board and I was advised to give it more strength by soldering the rails which would go onto the copper clad directly onto the double slip, I was unsure at first until I realised that once cut at the baseboard join it just acts like an elongated frog coming off the point.

Once all this was done I cut the rails and filed the ends slightly to make sure they were smooth.
I tested the tracks with an 08 and it ran brilliantly across the joins.

 

The tracks in the fiddle yard are long enough for me to do some shunting, the long siding will hold a 2ft long train, so an 08 with turbot and pike wagon and brake van, or a mix of smaller wagons, the headshunt section on the other side has enough space for an 08 and either a turbot or pike, or 2 small wagons.

I have also added what will be a programming track as I run DCC, this will be isolated via a toggle switch.

With the fiddle yard sorted I decided it was high time I got some ballast down on the layout.
I'm using sand, as it is a depot area the ballast would not be the quality of the mainline and would be a lot less cared for especially during the late 80s when the railways were in a rundown state. The sand will be weathered to give it a more uniform colour but not all one colour across the yard, I will also be adding some scenic materials like a fine powder I got from green scenes which works really well, oil spills, static grass, rubbish and general stuff from round the yard.

Looks like you've had a busy and productive weekend, glad it all lined up with no nasty derailments.

Can't wait to see your further updates, this is really coming along nicely.

Quick update tonight, I am slowly working along the track applying the ballast. I am using ready mixed deep gap polyfilla to fill in between the sleepers and bringing the level up to just below the top of the sleepers and then sprinkling over some sieved desert sand and stone mix ref JS75 by Javis. I gently tamp this down and when dry, paint over with diluted sleeper grime. I am only doing this method on the station area to give the appearance of being more mucky.

Here's a pic to show progress and now the Pagoda building is planted on the platform, weathering to follow.

23 minutes ago, Bo-Bo said:

First of all I would like to say thank you for all the feedback. The diorama is still going strong and I’m waiting on some wild flowers arriving.

Nice work Bo-Bo, its the detailing you have put in which makes the scene.

Regards

Mark

Fantastic little cameo scene within a fantastic model in itself. Wonder what there chatting about?

By the way, the chap drinking the tea, have you met his identical twin....

Regards

Mark

A little more about whats been happening at Tyteford Halte.

The good thing about modelling a straight bit of track is you get something running up and down pretty quickly and then you can just spend some time on the landscaping and where to place other items.

I debated whether to have a road over bridge or tunnel mouth at the other end of the track, the tunnel mouth won and I'm using the Wills single track brick tunnel mouth SS59. Current experimenting with painting techniques for the brickwork has resulted in failure, this is work in progress - see first image.

I also intend incorporating a level crossing with servo operated gates, never attempted anything like this before, any tips from members who have managed to do anything similar are very welcome. I also plan to scratchbuild a low relief crossing keepers cottage. I have recently purchased the Bachmann Scenecraft pagoda style station shelter and store 44-0055 and the Metcalf GWR benches, so still plenty to do.

The Dapol GWR railcar now runs up and down quite happily, with lights and sound and passengers on board. 

On 22/01/2020 at 20:17, Oncomin5torm said:

I wish it was, but a friend of mine told me about them and I was sold on them instantly, I do not have a lot of space and I do not want to loose too much to massive buffer stops taking up what could be used for a short wagon.

Thought you might like these pics as the buffer stop is now painted after being installed, insulated fishplates not yet fitted. The wagon shown is a Cambrian kit 'C2 10 ton Loco Coal Wagon'.

3 minutes ago, 4wDH said:

MAP66 can I ask what size is your baseboard..

Of course, it measures 6" wide and 42" long (15cm x 107cm). Its actually meant to serve as a test/program track but I am also experimenting with scenery and a bit of scratch building, so when not in use the idea is for it to also serve as a diorama and be on display with a GWR railcar sat at the station.

Regards

Mark

On 20/01/2020 at 22:36, Oncomin5torm said:

Thank you. 

Hopefully over the weekend I can get some fiddle yard connections setup and possibly even something running. 

Hope you have success over the weekend, build so far is excellent and I look forward to seeing it progress.

All the best

Mark

11 hours ago, 4wDH said:

Your platform build and detailing is very good. This is looking like an interesting build project..

Many thanks

Lots of more things to come in such a tiny space.

Regards

Mark

20 hours ago, Oncomin5torm said:

This looks fantastic, your attention to detail just on the platform alone is amazing.
I'm also going to be using lanarkshire models buffer stops on my layout, specifically the GWR short kit.

Cannot wait to see this progress.

Many thanks

Was it me who influenced your buffer choice or something you had already decided on? When you install them on the layout make sure you use insulated fishplates to avoid the buffer beam shorting actross the track!

Regards

Mark

Hi Steve

I only apply static grass in small areas at a time using a puffer bottle and get the fibres to stick up more by passing the hoover nozzle over them a couple of minutes after they have been sprinkled over the glue base.The suction pulls the fibers upwards. It takes a bit of practice for the desired effect as it is dependent on glue you use (I use diluted PVA) and how powerful the suction of your hoover is. So try on some scrap card first and vary times between laying the static grass before you apply any suction, otherwise you will suck everything back up the hoover if you do it too soon or hold the nozzle too close.

Also with the rock face do you have use of an airbrush as this helps blend in colours more subtly, also several washes of very diluted black and/or very dark brown can emphasis depth and shadows when the paint runs into all the crevices. There are also many dry brushing techniques as well which you normally finish the effect with to give the weathered look. By the way looks impressive already.

Good luck

Mark

Evening folks,

All comments appreciated and thanks for those received so far.

I have just started constructing the platform supports and am using Plastruct for this with grey board for the platform surface which will be scribed and painted to represent wooden planking.

As beneath the platform will be open, I will introduce some undergrowth. For those of you interested, the buffer stop is a GWR short type, 'BS14B'  from Lanarkshire models. Its a nice little kit and you get 3 in the box.  I stuck a red loco lamp on top of the buffer beam from DCC concepts, wired it up with a 50k resistor direct from the track feed and it sort of resembles an oil lit lamp when illuminated.

So that's it for tonight, an abridged entry complete with the pics of progress. More to follow.....

MAP66

Like most of us who frequent this particular forum, I am lacking in space to ever hope of constructing a layout of any real size, but I can keep on dreaming of the day when space finally comes available.

Until that day, I keep my hand in by dabbling in a bit of railway model making and thoroughly enjoyed entering the Cake Box Challenges with my 2018 entry ‘The Coal Drop’ and I actually had some success by winning round 2 of the 2019 CBC with my entry ‘Oh Bullocks’.

So what next? Well, thinking that at some point in the not too distant future I would be in a position to start on a model railway (I had already decided it would be P4) I would need a length of P4 test track for programming locos and generally seeing if they run back and forth OK after fettling about with re-gauging rtr models, not at the stage of kit building or scratch building just yet.

After checking the rule book there was nothing to say that the length of track needed had to be just plain track with no added features. So, I thought, why not add some scenery and few other items of interest.

Tyteford Halte was born, well in concept anyway. A fictitious small branch line terminus station on the GWR in the 1930’s which will serve as a test/program track and allow me to practice some modelling techniques in the process. Operationally it serves no purpose, apart from running a train back and forth, approaching and leaving the station. It does however allow me to construct something which is small enough to live on top of the wardrobe when not being worked on and can fit on the dining room table when being worked on without causing too much offence to the Mrs.

That’s enough spiel for now, here’s a few pics of the baseboard which is a mere 6” wide and 44” long, so it’s a shelfie. Track is C & L Finescale bullhead with Exactoscale 2 bolt chairs and scale 60’ track base panels.

I have a recently re-gauged (not by me) Dapol streamlined diesel railcar (4D-011-004D) which will be the first to grace the track. If I have my way, the finished test track would be fitted to a wall and also serve as a diorama when not in use, I just need to convince the Mrs that this will be a stylish furniture addition.

More of the build progress to follow….

MAP66

On 04/05/2019 at 20:39, Keith Addenbrooke said:

So, deep breath, and here I go...I'm going to start with the buildings I need, both for the practice piece and the layout.  Given the tight clearances on micro-layouts I'd like to be able to check the clearances around the buildings before cutting the baseboards or laying track.  I also have some Roket Card Glue to use up after completing another card kit.

 

Good luck with the kit builds Keith. With the Metcalfe card kits, some of them have a card base which you can use as the building footprint, you can then use this to check sizes, clearances and placement on the baseboard without completing all of the kit. Not sure if this is the case with the Brewery building kit?

Happy building

Mark

On 30/04/2019 at 18:12, Keith Addenbrooke said:

Thanks Joseph, it's a good idea. I am quite happy to do the woodwork - I enjoy it but it's just not a strong point. It'll help my snooker too, to get some practise.

Hi Keith

I like the idea of your layout, will be following with interest. I can actually cut wood in a straight line but am rubbish at snooker (not sure if that helps).

Good luck with the build.

Mark 

1 hour ago, Phil Parker said:

And the winner is:

 

Oh Bullocks

by @MAP66

 

 

More details on the web page.

 

Congratulations to Mark and thanks to everyone who entered. All the Cake Boxes received a score - basically, someone liked each and every one and voted it their 1st, 2nd or 3rd place model. 

Unbelievable, wow and thanks to all who voted for my entry and thanks to Phil and the BRM team for continuing to run the CBC's.

There were some really great entries for round 1 and so I feel overwhelmed to be chosen as the winner.

Good luck to all those entries for the reminder of 2019.

All the best

Mark