Dunmar

Just now, Dunmar said:

Hi, 

Finally got round to getting power flowing into scenic board one. DCC bus in and droppers soldered and tested, all working. Next will be scenic board two and then eight Tortoise point motors. Will also shortly embarking on a mock up of the station building which will be based loosely on that which exists at Wick. 

Hi, 

Finally got round to getting power flowing into scenic board one. DCC bus in and droppers soldered and tested, all working. Next will be scenic board two and then eight Tortoise point motors. Will also shortly embarking on a mock up of the station building which will be based loosely on that which exists at Wick. 

Hi, 

No! didnt get it right so here is the first of the bus wires going in. And oh! I'm looking to do less soldering, it's not that I'm not good at it. It's just that it's a pain in the *!!? 

Bill. 

Hi, 

This board contains the approaches to the station via the curved point and just below that two spurs, one for a small maintenance depot and the other for a refuelling point. Both will be scratchbuilt. If I can load the photos right I will show the bus wire going in. 

Bill. 

This photo shows the approaches to the station which from under a large stone road bridge and the track will be dwarfed by large stone walling stretching towards the platform for some distance and a working signal box and semiphores to boot. That's the plan anyway! 

The next photo shows where I intend to build the station building similar to that which exists at Wick. Provision will also be made for a timber loading yard next to the station. 

Hi, 

Yes its me! Well I did say it would be some time before things would start to happen. Finally got some track down. You can see by the photo, which is an overall view of the two scenic boards which are 10ft x 20ins. I decided I would use my existing stock of C+L code 75 track and Peco code 75 points. 

Hi, 

Today I said my goodbyes to Glenfinnan! I can now crack on with the next project. Over the next few weeks I will be busy laying cork sheet, track, and wiring and fitting points and point motors. Oh! the joys!!! I will wait until I have something to show before I post again, so I may be some time. Meantime I have prepared the boards and a couple of rolls of cork sheet with primer for starters! 

Bill. 

2 hours ago, MartynJPearson said:

I had a go at building the Scalescenes modern diesel depot. Never actually finished it, more down to circumstances rather than a reflection on the kit, but some observations...

 

The concrete "ribbing" can be rather time consuming, you have to cut a "comb" of card and it can be a bit fiddly to make it even. The discontinued older version of the depot was worse as it have even more of the stuff.

I seem to remember having issues with the roof - being slightly out of line when scoring the centre line meant it was a bit of an effort to get it to look right again. I think the designer does try to allow for some inaccuracy with cutting, but in my case not enough!

 

I had a go building an alternative out of Wills bits following a similar design; not sure which was easier or more effective. One thing that I was a bit miffed to find was that the OHP film I printed the windows on has turned a little opaque with a blue hue. Of course, other manufacturers / products may vary.

 

On the whole it was a nice looking kit - I think the Scalescenes brickwork looks a lot better than some of the other printable kits out there. 

I take it Martyn you're referring to the modern version? I don't mind a challenge, as I normally scratchbuild. But, I did think I could use one of them as a basis for a depot shed. Will give it some thought. Thanks. 

Bill. 

Hi ,

As I will be using my 70's / 80's existing stock with a few more additions , I had been looking at the Scalescenes  offerings and wondered how they would fit in with my era. I'm leaning more towards the older  of the two buildings. I had thought of building my own from foam board and mounting board and covering with Scalemodelscenery textured papers, , but wondered what folks thought of Scalescenes buildings in general.

Bill.

Hi,

With the impending departure of  Glenfinnan fast approaching and in my efforts to avoid severe withdrawal  effects I have finally decided that this will be the planned project.

Having  had to ditch Helmsdale  due to space restraints and wanting to build Wick, but being put off with the lack of facilities for my chosen era, I decided on a compromise.

Laggan Bridge will be a fictitious  location, although the Laggan I had in mind is taken from the place just south of Invergarry. Only in my case I have moved it some several dozen or so miles north of Inverness. 

As can be seen from the plan I intend to use the available space to include a small loco servicing area and fuel depot  along with a timber loading and holding area. I also intend to construct my own version of  the station  building at Wick and a diesel servicing shed typical of the type found in the area. Whilst my MSE signals never made it to Glenfinnnan I have every intention of ensuring that they do make an appearance on this layout. 

Bill.

2 hours ago, David Bell said:

Good luck with the new plan Bill. Looking forward to seeing it develop.

Cheers

David

Thanks David, will be following this one through !

Bill.

1 minute ago, mallaig1983 said:

Looking forward to this Bill.

Good luck with it.

Thanks, can't wait, it's been too  long!

Bill.

Hi,

Apologies for my absence of late, but I have been busy gathering details for my forthcoming project - YES!!! FINALLY!!! 

Glenfinnan will be moving out in a couple of weeks and I have been busy giving the boards  a coat of grey undercoat as well as 4 rolls of 1/8th cork sheet. Have finally got hold of my Code 75 pointwork  to go with my  C + L Finescale track. ( sorry I didn't go for the Bullhead track option, but opted for the 2 Accurascale 37's and the Heljan 25, with the option on another! Have opted for the Cobalt point motors, so loads of switches and wiring, AGAIN!!! GRRRRrrr!!!!.  Oh! yes! I did say The Far North Line. But, you will have to wait and see what I have planned - I will post it in due course in the Layout Topics. It will have a Wick style station, small loco servicing shed, timber loading area,  and a small fuel depot. All in 10ft. !!! I will also  reveal the name!

Bill.

Hi,

That's the plan. I couldn't be more delighted that it's  remaining here. The new owners are housing it in a railway carriage, not sure what the details are yet.

I do hope they find time to take it out on the road as well.

Cheers, Bill.

Hi,

Just to let everyone know here that the new owners of Glenfinnan are the Friends of Glenfinnan Museum. The layout will be on display at the museum and may possibly go out on the show circuit.

Another chapter opens for this superb layout and to finish up on the West Highland Line makes me justly proud of what I have achieved with this layout.

I can finally sleep sound at night!

Bill.

Hi,

Just to let everyone know here that Glenfinnan has found a new home and where better than the Glenfinnan Museum on the West Highland Line. The Friends might even consider taking it out to exhibitions. Finally, I will be able to sleep at night. A fitting end.

Bill.

On 15/03/2021 at 23:07, Ben Alder said:

Sorry to hear that, but it does take up a lot of space to do the whole station. As an alternative ,have you thought about The Mound? A what if that the Dornoch branch survived, The Mound is compact, on a curve and with convenient bridge at one end and can vanish behind trees at the other. If you are planning a terminus, Thurso offers a bit more - it is far more compact than Wick and retained its goods yard for decades, and had passing freight as well whereas Wick sprawled, had all its yard lifted and has had no freight since the early eighties.

 

Hi,

Wish you hadn't said all that! Kinda thought that Wick had that look of simplicity about it, hence the reason for choosing it over Thurso. As the thread was going to be titled Looks like Wick , thought I might get away with some details such as keeping the signal box, semiphores and even dropping in a goods shed  just for the hell of it. I would be exhibiting the layout but I want to play with it at home as well. Is that wrong of me ?

Bill.

Hi, 

Not been on here in a long time, so I'll come straight to the point. There is no easy way to say this, but something has to give. With a new project on the go, and a distinct lack of space, then it is time to part company with Glenfinnan. So if you are interested in owning an award winning exhibition layout, get in touch. My thanks to everyone on here who helped out with various bits of info during the build. Watch this Space! 

Bill. 

Hi,

Firstly I must apologise for my non-appearance of late. However, after giving it some serious thought I have decided not to continue with Helmsdale. In simple terms, it is going to result in another large layout, approx 25ft long, which I do not have the space to both operate and accommodate. My plan was to advertise Glenfinnan but due to the ongoing situation that did not happen, but that now has become a priority.

I haven't given up on the Far North Line as I am now looking at Wick as an alternative ! Can I just thank those of  you that have helped me out with the various bits of info which I truly appreciate and that I shall still be on the lookout for some of the same related to the area around Wick and Thurso.

I will leave this thread here meantime and will  remove it in due course, the heading of " Looks Like Wick " will appear in the Layout Topics very soon.

Regards,Bill.

Hi Mark, 

Thanks for the info. Appears I'd been looking at the wrong item. Will be following your progress. Cheers, Bill. 

On 21/02/2021 at 18:18, Auchend1nny said:

A few more pics of the layout under conversion;

 

Board track joints in DCC concepts pre-tinned sleeper strips - once ballasted and weathered I hope they will be virtually un-noticeable.

 

Simple fiddle yard;

 

Track laying in EM almost complete, just the three siding ends and buffers to lay...

 

 

Mark

 

Hi Mark,

Just catching up with your layout. The buildings are superb. Can you please let me have the correct description of the DCC Concepts track section that you are using to bridge the join as I can't seem to find it on their website. Cheers, Bill.

Hi,

Exactly!!! I had the same problem with Glenfinnan which started out as a circular layout and because I didn't have enough single line running to give the right effect it ended up with a 15ft scenic section either side, plus a 5ft fiddle yard.

I think because I'm only going to model the station , the line from Inverness will appear from the scenic break under the road bridge.

At the other end I intend to make the scenic break in the form of overgrown trees and bushes, thats the plan at the moment, unless I come up with something else for the Wick end.

As I have said it will be reduced some what in length, but hopefully still believeable!

Bill.

Hi, 

As previously mentioned, it will be tight as can be seen by this photo. This train has taken up almost 5ft of baseboard. I'm going to have to make compromises along the way but I've made the decision to continue with Helmsdale. 

Bill.