ModellingMatt

This isgreat! I am so impressed by the weathering!

I'm impressed at your speed! It's great to see the landscape developing!

Great video - very nice and smooth!

What a great idea Kevin! Looking forward to seeing more.

Looking forward to seeing how this progresses - especially as I'm in the same situation as you, returning after a long break. I have plenty to (re)learn! Could you make the sidings for engineers' trains? I would suggest having just abandoned land between station and sidings. Some junk as you suggest. But I think less might be more in this case. I hope this helps?

It looks very interesting. If it was urban, could you have an underground station on the lower level?!

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with! I like Christian's idea of regulalrly producing a new extension!

I particularly like the photo taken from the fiddle yard end. It looks so run down!

Your buildings are superb!

What a nice layout. The fiddle yard looks like it could be a separate layout in it's own right. Just a thought...

Thank you Steve. My woodworking skills are non-existent (plus I hope this will be a quick and easy layout!) so the fiddle yard will simply be two lines and a loco lift. I'll be posting another update soon! Thanks Luke. I spent last night wiring the points up for live frogs. I'll be interested to see if everything runs well on these, rather than traditional points...

I humbly promise that I am feeding my frogs! Thanks for all the replies so far. Is 16/0.2 wire OK for all aspects of such a small layout, or do I need something heavier for the bus element?

My understanding of a common return is where all of the reds or greens are permanently connected together without the benefit of isolating points and switches. But it''s a long while since I've done any wiring so I may well be wrong!

I'm posting this with some trepidation. This will be my return to modelling after a 10-year plus gap. I was inspired after seeing the excellent Brewhouse Lane at Calne model railway show. This is designed to be a testbed layout where I can try out different types of building and couplings and gradually move over to DCC. Oh, and have some shunting fun! The layout is designed to be a run-down yard around 1980 in a city. A small amount of Speedlink traffic keeps it going, but it is a shadow of its former self and industrial buildings are gradually encroaching over what was once railway. So lots of grime and decay. The track plan is based on two 3-way points. The two lines to the bottom left of the picture are the top of the run-round loop from the main branch. The top two lines to the left are Speedlink sidings, the top right line is the top of the loop and there is a useful kickback siding bottom right. Layout sixe is 4 x 1ft with an optional 20" fiddle extension. I'm hoping posting here will mean that I am given plenty of encouragement to show some regular progress!

This is so good! I'll be delighted if I get get even near this level of atmosphere on my layout!

Love the urban decay. It looks great!

I have read that it is advisable to avoid common return when wiring DC for future DCC use. So, on a small shunting layout, am I best to isolate each section and attach via a DPST switch to a single wire leading to the controller (the equivalent of the DCC bus)? In other words, is the attached diagram the best way to approach this? Then, when running on DCC, just turn on all the sections? Other questions: - can I use 16/0.2 wire for all the wiring, or should I use something heavier for the main wires to the controller? - I will be using SEEP PM1s on PECO electrofrogs modified to live frog. Can I wire the DC 16v element of this with a common return? - is there anything else to be aware of? Thank you for all help and advice

Thank you for everyones' continuing help. I'll be ringing up a couple of reatilers soon to have a chat and book a trying out session. I'll let you know how I get on!

Thank you all for some very useful replies and suggestions. On looking at all the options you have suggested the Powercab is very appealing. The main reason is that it seems like one of the easiest to start off with. Is that assumption correct? I also like the fact it's not a massive investment so I can always change systems after a couple of years if I need more flexibility or feel I'm missing any features. Can I plug the additional cab straight into the Powercab, or do I then need to upgrade? When I was last active, a lot of people had Lenz. Is there any reason why they barely feature in the replies? I'll be sure to test at leat a couple of systems before buying.

I'm returning to modelling after a few years' break. I would like to control my shunting layout with DCC. Here are the requirements that I have: - Layout size will be 14 inches by 8 feet for shunting - Max four locos running on the layout at any one time - Need to be able to run more than one loco simultaneously from one cab/throttle - Would like the option to run all my accessories through the controller - Locomotives will use sound - Hand held throttle - Would prefer a knob or a regulator type lever to control speed - Would like to be able to programme inertia - One cab/throttle initially, but would like option to add a second later Are there any other issues that I shoud be considering at this point? What systems do people feel that I should go and look at? I'm based near Bath, so please also feel free to recommend any DCC retailers in the area - or shamelessly promote your own Thank you for all help received!