Ralf

On 23/01/2021 at 17:02, Kris said:

The photos of the layout against a real background show some lovely blending. 

Don't they just Kris, I don't really 'do' or read N Gauge threads but having flown in from @Andrew Ds OO boxfile thread I'm VERY impressed. 

As an aside Andrew, I reckon those lichen trees looks fab esp for N! I wouldn't be so quick to rip them out with the JCB...

Ralf

3 hours ago, Andrew D said:

I think it’ll be superb with the open backed cab, really looking forward to it. Thanks for the info! 

Why did I have to spot this? I'm now consigned to going and pre-ordering an open backed one... 

Looking forward to seeing this develop Andrew, a Scottish bakery with private sidings sound blissful! I can see wagon loads of Pineapple Cakes and Snowballs being very popular with enthusiasts of bakery products and industrial steam... 

Ralf

Little to report but there's two more sets of points glued down etc and work is about to commence on the loop, rails held approx in place at the ends to form the curve while I start construction from the middle working either way out, I can then fettle and organise the ends as I get closer... 

Cheers

Ralf

3 hours ago, SR71 said:

So this weekend I've spent an inordinate amount of time making a forge.

It looks great, well worth it. 

Ralf

On 14/01/2021 at 22:55, Locksley said:

It's had a good coat of my new favourite ever matt varnish ever ever (VMS Supplies)

Wow! That's impressive looking stuff, for anyone curious check out their video.... - https://www.vms-supplies.com/vms-varnish-hd

Keep it up Locksley! 

Ralf

ps I went to TMC and grabbed a B4 after your bargain tip off! 

On 21/01/2021 at 02:14, SteveyDee68 said:

So apologies on two counts - (1) for misremembering and commenting without checking back and (2) for thinking you wouldn't have noticed this yourself!

Don't be daft Steve it's nice to have replies! 

On 21/01/2021 at 06:29, Bungus the Fogeyman said:

Can I lob a spanner in the works Ralf. How about something like this, based on the Piano line, which featured in the Railway Modeller in the early 60s.

You can indeed, the more the merrier... The layout will be based at home and operated from the front, although with my new found width (from narrowing the loop etc) there may be room for a cassette / traverser or some other magical jiggery pokery inside the factory... I don't think I fancy an invisible fiddle yard from the operating position, but your suggestions saves length and only adds a smidge of width... 

(Note to self - that siding does go inside doesn't it? - No it doesn't - maybe it should... ) 

Thanks 
Ralf

22 hours ago, SteveyDee68 said:

do I see the end warehouse now sitting correctly without hanging over the end of the quay?!

Isn't it supposed too? - See pics here. https://scalescenes.com/product/ly02-canal-wharf-boxfile-layout/

More track built and some glued with feeds etc too this evening. Little and often approach is certainly getting things done, thanks for the encouragement Steve. 

Ralf

So here we are (two days work), more track down and narrowed the run-round loop as @SteveyDee68 - the centre to centre measurement has reduced from 85mm to c60mm and can still accommodate the crane, why was it so wide?

Cheers!

Ralf

TMC Bargain makes a debut... (the black pen lines are where the crane rails will need to run...) 

Almost all stuck down and this is how it'll look... Geometery seems to have been eased a lot, hoping for similar results at the LH end... 

Looks good, I've visited Hope a couple of times (4?) and I'm always tempted with a model of the loco shed, coal unloading and the unused (?) rail served loading bay for bagged etc beyond the narrow bit between the buildings - then I remember how long those sidings etc really are it always seems quite dinky but never had enough space to warrant anything capable of 6 (min?) bogie wagons and a loco! 

Good luck with it...

Ralf

It looks just the same except in reality the points are now installed, glued, droppers, point motor holes etc etc all done... Next step who knows but I wish I could go back to playing with buildings and kits, I hate track laying it's all so (reasonably) final... 

Ralf

Dapol B4 £82.50 inc free UK postage at TMC - 5 left, it was 6 but something strange occurred as I viewed the bargain! 

Ta

Ralf

2 hours ago, Pokemonprime said:

In the shed I'll have some kind of elevator or similar, so that way I can drop cars beneath the layout instead of having to awkwardly shunt back out "scrapped" cars.

I've always fancied a magical ramp / Shute system that can make vehicles vanish behind or inside a building for purposes such as this, I shall be watching esp as you can't have too many scrap yard micro layouts... 

Good luck! 

Ralf

21 hours ago, SteveyDee68 said:

Wow! I need to take some modelling mojo boost pills! You have just got on and done it, whilst I am still procrastinating with bits of paper and second guessing myself whether to scrap the idea of a canal wharf

Don't worry that's my usual mode of operation, or even better the close the modelling room door and leave it closed for weeks.... 

Yes @sb67 I don't know why I ever made it so wide, so throwing caution to the wind here's it slimmed down a bit and it all looks quite feasible... Central points laid tomorrow and construction can re-begin from there outwards... We shall see!

I wonder why the points at the front of the layout are where they are? Moving them left further shortens the sidings, going right makes the geometry worse... Hmmmm

Ralf

So here's to progress folks... Not a lot to report the track plan I've printed isn't based on PECO points - I couldn't find the perfect one but never mind it's pretty close I include two pics of the critical areas for the track building - fingers crossed I'll get away with both...

Cheers

Ralf

Right! So having stated my intention to do it again and hopefully learn along the way tonight we started in earnest.

Soaking the copydex in white spirit (the first solvent that came to hand below the kitchen sink, plan B was the sticky stuff remover pictured but didn't need to venture that far) it all came up fairly easily - a few copper clad sleepers came adrift but I wasn't too careful and the soldering wasn't the best so I'm not surprised!

Left the solvent to evaporate before attacking the feeds with a soldering iron! Didn't want any nasty surprises and I suspect it's possible to get one with soldering iron and white spirit if you tried hard enough. Then I'll glue the track plan down and go from there... 

Cheers

Ralf

ps Image 3 is of terrible quality, apologies! If I remember tomorrow I'll retake it but can't right now as the track is all mid-air as per the second pic! - Pic 3 was taken first! 

19 hours ago, SteveyDee68 said:

Just to add, having now looked back to your previous posts, that your composition was looking so good perhaps you should bite the bullet and restart the tracklaying?

Sigh, yeah ok I agree but I don't want too I'd rather bury my head in the sand and ignore it... Ok track lifting gang start tomorrow - first up a reprint of the track plan to see if I can follow it this time! 

Thanks for the encouragement / feedback Steve.

Ralf

Here we are folks... As promised mostly wired up and checked but not the bit to the left of the weighted wagon chasis, seems the S curve is kinda tight and see to have a tight-spot even with a fairly short wheelbase wagon...  Not quite sure how to proceed - I suppose check it with some locos and stock before panicking. Glued the points down first so I'd know where to build the track in-between them maybe not the greatest idea ever. Thoughts please! 

The other giant cock-up is I've laid the front track way to close to the edge of the board so having the dockside crane isn't possible as it'd be hanging on the baseboard... For now I'm scrapping having the crane although it limits the dockside showing potential too - maybe if the layout isn't actually going to live in it's storage box I could cantilever more baseboard out of the front.... 

Ta

Ralf

EDIT - post forum image loss I'm unable to locate the original file that was here, Img 2493 apparently but it's seemingly gone! Apols... 

10 hours ago, SteveyDee68 said:

Any more progress, Ralf?

There is actually - an awful lot compared to where I thought I'd updated (and indeed read other than bargain hunters) RMWeb... Most of the track is down and I've almost finished the box file kit but it got to the stage I needed the track down before finalising buildings. I promise more of an update soon as this new lockdown has generated more time for modelling in my life! 

Cheers

Ralf

ps I don't remember how I printed it to be honest but it's a ball ache to imagine and build due to it not matching the instructions in some planes (is that the right word?)...

On 17/07/2020 at 13:38, MAP66 said:

I would glue and clamp a strip of wood to the reverse side of the back-scene along the length of the join to pull everything in flush. Then apply some filler on the join at the front and sand flat.

And here's what happened! Luckily yesterday I'd bought 2 Irwin 300mm light duty clamps from ToolStation which I'd been checking on daily and had never been in stock in my local (5 mins walk) branch. So they got their first outing...

First impressions they're certainly a good sturdy and strong clamp - unlike my 4 mini ones which leave a lot to be desired!

Now all I've got to do is leave the whole lot to dry properly before moving it! 

Cheers

Ralf

I would say I might actually find time to do some modelling but I'll actually be at Statfold Barn photographing the real thing on Monday so no chance of modelling happening - as usual! 

Ralf

A month of very little happening - mostly due to Borris & Co deciding I could return to work, lots of headaches and stuff ensued and very little modelling time...

Now you may recall I was struggling to obtain the required Peco points I tried various retailers and they either had insufficient stock or very high prices so I preordered with Hattons and popped the Seep motors in my trunk as the expected delivery was June (and I was ordering in late June so I assumed imminent)... So far so good. 

A couple of days ago I realised I hadn't heard anything - checks the Hattons site and delivery now showing Jul / Aug - oh... Checked the Trackshack website (satisfied customer) and they'd had a delivery (and perhaps Hattons have too but not enough for all pre-orders) so I promptly asked Hattons to send my SEEP Motors and order the points from TrackShack, both arrived this morning. 

Sorry for the rant and I'm not knocking Hattons if they don't receive sufficient stock dates slip I understand that but I'm glad I could cancel the order... 

So now been on a popular auction site to grab some clothes pegs - for this idea 

Thus the state of play is very unchanged and the Scalescenes kits have been paused to allow track laying before I bodge the warehouse and find it's too deep or shallow once I've hacked it up! More progress next week...

Meanwhile how to hide the back scene join? Either a single sheet of something or brace / bolt / gaffer tape it up from behind and fill the front if required as it'll never be split... 

Cheers

Ralf

I use one of these magnifying LED lamps from Machine Mart.

It's ok I happened on an ex display one at a bargain price! I don't use the magnifier and if I try the lid keeps flapping closed at the wrong moment! - https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-sam127-desk-mounted-magnifying-led-lamp/

Curious to see what others use...

Ralf

So very little to report, I'm ordered SEEP point motors and Peco points from Hattons but the Peco points are out of stock and on back order - and were most places I looked so that's a waiting game. 

On with the Scalescenes warehouse but blimey cutting these joists out of 2mm greyboard was an epic task! - Not that it looks it now they're done! 

One thing I have learnt - cut the first cut through the sticky covering label with a very sharp scalpel then use the snap off knife to motor through the greyboard it saves the label wrinkling up slightly which it does when hacked at with a less then 100% new wider snap off blade... 

Cheers

Ralf

Looks like very enthralling viewing, looking forward to some updates!

Cheers

Ralf

So enough procrastination and stalled progress, I don't think as my first serious layout I'm going to battle and go down the PCB custom track route... Partially I leapt into PCB because I thought I could / would during lockdown and because it allows so much flexibility in design... - BUT the stark truth is that my slightly increased modelling time has resulted in almost no track work being done in 3 months only excuses being made and fears not being challenged and I've millions of other things to tackle, learn and deal with. Also I realised tonight that actually short radius Peco can be used and almost straight away fits the track plan with very little messing - see below, so that's probably the final nail in the coffin so PCB track - this time.