jamest

Hi, Thanks for the interest and kind comments - the layout is now sold and handed over to its new owner today. Regards, James

Hi again, Ok here is the anyrail plan of the simplification modernisation: I'm sure most got the idea from the above post but I'm pleased with the improvement made quite simply. The approach road now runs into either terminus road and the run-around loop is in good proportion to the capacity of the fiddle yard/station sidings. So lots of potential for all sorts of freight that wants to run around and make its way back down the line. I did wonder about having an 'industry' or branch off from the short siding/trap point near the fiddle yard but I want to convey the image of a single line approach to the station, and I need the two points on this board as close to the fiddle yard as possible to keep the run around large enough. I'm coming to the conclusion that 'less is more' when it comes to track and I can have a nice scenic run on the appraoch board. All the best, James

Hi Deltic, Thanks for the interest - I've sent you a PM. Regards, James

Thanks, As I said in my first post - I was unsure what to do with this experiment when finished, but since there are always new ideas in my mind I think I'm going to offer this layout for sale. My local shop will kindly put it on display but I thought there was no harm in offering it on here first. The layout is for sale as seen, with a DC controller and possibly a Dapol DCC ready Northern Rail class 153 DMU if desired. The layout is currently wired for DC with the points isolating the sidings - but feeds are soldered to the sidings and can be simply connected up with choc blocks if you want the layout to be DCC or 'all live'. Ideal Xmas present for the space starved modeller, or first 'set' for someone (ok, sales platter over). Thanks for looking. James

Hi all, Back with some belated updates on Greenwood. I'm afraid it has been gathering dust under my sons bed for quite a while - I did think of selling it "as is" but I recently got a bit more storage space in the form of a new garden workshop (12'x8') - so I've had a place to set it up and mull over my options: I've decided to simplify the trackplan and set the layout in a more modern era. I was going to try to accomodate 3 coaches but I think the station board will remain very similar - I plan to remove the small bay and extend the platform a little. It won't give me three coaches, but it will mean two will look a little better. The main changes will be to the station approach board. I plan to remove the engine shed road and make the 'entry' road the longest line nearest the front - not the back line. I will attempt to explain with photos but maybe an anyrail mock will follow. The board will also be shortened by about 5 inches to allow me to have a 42" fiddle yard along one side of the workshop. I did not design the layout with the shed in mind, or buy a shed with this layout in mind! This will mean I will run mainly DMU's for passengers, with the odd loco service too, and also have freight and departmental stack arriving, running around or unloading in the sparten goods line. Not enough room for a denet fiddle yard here - I don't want to make the layout permanent in the shed, or go around the corner: Ok here is the new point layout the entry road will be into the first right hand point and the other point will be a trap or lead to an overgrown short siding. The left hand siding that was to be the engine shed will go. The bay will go and the platform will lengthen slightly and become a little more realistic (but only a little!!) So the coaches are in the new loop the exit to the fiddle yard will be on the line to the right of the coaches - the siding will go. I've made a start lifting track and cutting the board today - so I hope to report progress soon. Mojo returned on this one! Regards, James

Hi all, Time to bring you up to speed.... I have made the scalescenes high street, cinema and department store. They took a while, but look go and are very flexible - but after making the first lot I did not fancy making more, so I cheated a bit, and bought some easier metcalfe kits. I was a bit worried about the footbridge on the right but I''m pretty happy with the end result - the black railings are actually shutters from the high street kit. I have finished off the walling with capping and added bushes to cover gaps, etc. I have also produced a lid so that it can be packed away safely and offer the card kits increased protection. I thought the 'complete' set of a simple layout, controller and box would appeal at this time of year: And the overall view with lid open: Closed lid: Back view: I've really enjoyed working in N gauge for a change but I have decided to move the layout on to provide funds for a new controller (my Hornby select needs an update). So I plan to offer the layout for sale with a DC controller and possibly the 153 as 'train set'. The layout will store vertically or horizontally and can easily be set up and closed. The one thing I should have put more thought into was the weight - if i do this sort of layout again I will use less softwood and do the frame in ply to make it even lighter - because I started without a clear plan I added wood here and there for support which all adds up at the end. Its not too bad - and it is sturdy - but it could be lighter. All the best, James

Hi again, Plaster bandage next - I then painted the white landscape with a wicks brown tester pot. I was going to use normal scatter for the basic ground cover as I thought all my Noch grassmaster stock is more suited to OO and would be too long for N. I then remembered my sample Noch fibres - they are shorter but a little 'green' for my liking - but I thought I could tone it down with scatter etc. Some of the White plaster bandage staining will be removed, some covered and some left as white staining on the brickwork. So here is the basic covering - you can also see the front fascia board in place in the same profile as the hills: I then added the various scatters and bushes from my scenic box. I'm working on the basic rule that a short tree, bush and scrub in OO roughly halves to become a tall tree, large bush and bush in N - get what I mean? I'm pretty confident in OO now but I'm still learning what looks 'right' in N - after all this was supposed to be a learning exercise in N. So here are my efforts to build on the base scenic's - I tends to blob pva around and throw things on it. If it is too fine I spray with hairspray, scatter, and then spray again after it has set for a bit - and then hoover up the stuff propelled around the conservatory! Not finished with the green yet but it is getting there. I will run over the track with sleeper grime again - and leave the wider ballast grey. I wish I had put some thin cork around now to create a shoulder and better define the track work. Regards, James

Hi, I too am tempted by the lure of O gauge so I'll watch your efforts with interest - the 08 looks good. I have planned to convert an old triang Hymek using a detail kit but I'm afraid I am very tempted by the new Heljan 25, but I'm still getting my head around next to £500 for a loco! You seem to have made a good start and have the sense to take baby steps in O before committing to much space or money. All the best, James

Hi all, Time for another update. Next was the pavements and dreaded double yellows: Those photos are a little cruel as the light shows up the joins a little more than is normally obvious. I've also added the retaining wall to the upper section, ready to place the polystyrene bank against: Next the rough polystyrene shapes are added with pva and allowed to dry, before cutting to shape: I decided to add a 6mm mdf sheet to the front of the layout contoured to the terrain shape after I had shaped it with a knife - mainly because I was not exactly sure what would look right before I cut it. Regards, James

Hi, Thanks for the updates - really inspirational stuff. And you get the award for understatement of the year with "Usual weathering job" :-) Regards, James

Hi, Looking forward to seeing this develop - you sure can fit a nice continuous run in a convenient space with N gauge. all the best, James

Hi again, Hmmm yes Colin, you could have a series of layouts in a drawer set-up - but think I'll settle for one for now! More updates - remember this is much further on in reality, but I want to record it in a step by step fashion in case it is vaguely helpful for others.... I wanted to switch the hidden point from the front - cheaply. I got a 'rod' from my kids old tent that we were chucking out and used some solid core wire from some old electrical cable (the same stuff I used on Bratton Lane). The wire has the added bonus that it is strong and stiff without being too stiff - it will absorb the force from any enthusiastic point changes. I did clear a hole underneath the tie bar hole on the front point but I decided to leave it 'Hand of God' operated - I did muse over interlocking the mechanism in some way, but I want to cover it and forget it - so I want it as simple, robust and reliable as possible. I like to use scalescenes papers but the road needs to knik a bit - I know some have the ability to muck about with pdfs on the computer but I need to rely on the manual method of cutting slight angles and using the 'polygon approach': I decided to have the right hand bridge off the back-scene to add a little depth. I wanted to see how the undergrowth worked around the entry point but another option was a pedestrian bridge in parallel to the road bridge. Here is the road bridge in place, the 6mm ply was a direct substitute for the scalescenes card deck - I just covered it in concrete paper: Over on the station side I've created the pillars to support the peco girders, and the platform surface that fades out under the road into a subterrainian station: The stepped walling under the surface is to cover the wooden support but also suggests a hidden staircase. And here is a overall view - just three feet long! All the best, James

Hi all, I was not going to show this one online but, as usual, what started as a quick project has grown into something else! Background - I am thinking about new projects, possibly in O gauge. To generate some more cash I thought I could combine some of my excess 'inventory' (or crap depending on your viewpoint) and sell that on too. I have some track and a large radius point in N left over from my earlier attempt in the scale for my Son's Christmas pressie. I also have some spare ply and softwood so I thought I could knock something up for someone to buy and continue. I went with a previous arrangement of a back-scene down the middle of a 3' x 2' board with end caps of ply making a 'I' profile. This enables me to stand the layout on its end to help with storage. I was going to have a loop and a siding but decided to invest in a £3 second hand point and introduce a loop so that two trains can be managed with one controller in DC. I've also added feeds to the loops if DDC is required and all the track needs to be live. So here is the basic structure: I wanted to enable the layout to be stored vertically or horizontally: Fiddle yard/non-scenic side: Scenic side: I have blased the track with sleeper grime and ballasted with fine grey ballast: So I have primed the wood, laid the track directly on the ply, sprayed with sleeper grime on the scenic side (curved point) and ballasted. The plan was not to go much further than this and let whoever wanted it do the rest........but I sold all my N gauge rolling stock I had previously a few years ago to fund some OO stuff. Although I tested the wiring integrity with my trusty light-blub and crocodile clips, I thought I needed a train to test it - after all I could always sell it with the layout....right? So I bought a Dapol class 153 in northern livery second hand from my local shop for £45. Its a lovely model, DDC ready, with working lights, and a lovely level of detail (in my pretty uniformed opinion). And fatally I started Playing.....I mean testing.....the loops. So I was bitten by N again and decided to finish the layout, and......maybe....sell it! I'm a little disappointed I sold my N gauge stock now - note to self - I must keep things longer before deciding what to do with them! I have moved on to the end but to avoid a mammouth post I'll update this over the next few days. Regards, James

Hi David, Good progress indeed - the wiring doesn't look to bad to me - but my mantra tends to be "as long as it works, its ok". Which is fine until you have to troubleshoot something! The coaches look great - I remember being impressed with your weathering on the stock I saw on Poldeen at Minehead. All the best, James

Hi Scott, Different things suit us at different times of our lives. Sounds like you have a good circle of friends who will let you play trains if the urge returns. Might be a bit late, but don't sell all your rolling stock if you have the room to store it, you never know what you might fancy doing in the future and you can bet it will be twice as expensive to buy again. All the best, James

Hi David, It was great to meet you today and put a face to a thread/layout. Really impressed by Poldeen in the flesh, and the quality of weathering on your stock. I'm still learning about the real railway and it was nice to sit (it would have been a bit low for me otherwise :-)) and watch the multiple moves available. I know you were the first to admit the activity was a bit intense for a remote terminus but it certainly has a lot of operational interest. I'll be keeping an eye on your progress with Fort William, and I hope our paths cross again in the future. Regards, James

Great advert for N gauge - what you fit into 10 feet is amazing. But that is the only Clue as to the gauge - when you look/photo in close I defy anyone (unless you are a real expert) to tell whether it is N, OO or O. Absolutely superb - the 'best' on here is a subjective thing - but this has to be right up there. Thanks for sharing your methods/work Regards, James

Hi, I can only add to the compliments - that is as impressive as I've seen in 4X2. From some of the other comments I guess this is your thing (layouts in small places) - you've definately mastered it! It is a nice track plan too - it would transfer up well for the space starved modeller in OO. Regards, James

Hi, Looking forward to seeing this in the flesh at Minehead soon. Regards, James

Hi andy, Great job - I've enjoyed the progress and development of the layout. I make it 2 and a half months since early April though! That explains your progress though - you've had an extra month over the rest of us! All the best, James

Hi, Not a bad effort for a side project! Fantastic work on the station building - it looks great. Enjoying following your progress - your photo's are also well thought out and executed. regards, James

Hi Martyn, Thanks for the info - nothing wrong with a nice hand drawn track plan - most of us are not neat enough with the pencil to publish our scribbling's until they are transferred to a program! I had not noticed the alternative exit to the fiddle yard until I saw the track-plan and re-examined the photos. I thought it looked like the scenic section was longer than 8 feet, but my guess was 12 - you've done a cracking job in the space available. I particularly like the idea of a dis-used turntable. Looking forward to following your progress. Cheers, James

Hi, Thanks for sharing this - cracking layout with lots of nice touches and scenes. Do you have a track-plan? you can get a reasonable idea from your photo's - but I love a trackplan :-) Could I also ask the dimensions of the layout? I'm not aiming to copy it - but I always like to get an idea of what can be achieved in certain spaces. Regards, James

Can I also ask the length of the layout - Are those halves four feet?, i.e. 8 feet long Regards, James

Hi, You have made great progress - which is probably down to good planning! Do you plan to have strictly freight only? You seem to hint at that in your early posts. I only ask because the area to the right looks like it could have a platform. Whatever this ticks a lot of boxes for me - I'll watch with interest. All the best, James