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wollastonblue

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  1. wollastonblue

    All Systems go.

    By wollastonblue,

    To keep costs down, and as I've also had a play with Scarm. I am going to stick with the 3 APA boxes as the boards for the layout. This is what should be the final track plan:
     

     
    I have found a couple of Youtube videos with KATO RhB stock going round the 140mm Radius tomix Track no problem. So I have the curves on order from Japan.
     
    I have also discovered that Tomix turnouts can be controlled by Kato switched, by splicing the wires with a Kato Point extension cord.
     
    While the good lady is watching I'm a Z List humiliate me on TV, I have these fresh from Germany to build:
     

  2. wollastonblue

    Photos at last.

    By wollastonblue,

    A couple of photos of the progress, as promised. Having major problems with Kadee Height at the moment, so any advice is gratefully received, as is any critism or advice. By the way the hoover needs to visit to tidy everything up.
     
    Cheers for now.
     

     

     

     

     

  3. wollastonblue

    Why do we do it?

    By wollastonblue,

    A few more bits and pieces have been done to the layout, and I will update with photos later on tonight.
     
    A huge curve ball was thrown at me, while on a quick visit to Tennents on Wednesday lunchtime, all I bought was some more trees, a decoder, and some Plastic Cement for me to crack on with the Kadees for my wagons. But there in the cabinet all shiny, new, and looking absolutely stunning, was a Blue Grey 4CEP, and all I have thought about is going three rail, how I can adjust the fiddle yard to take it, and what to do with the sidings that are in place for use as a timber loading facility.
     
    So before I plunge in and purchase said 4CEP, I though I would open up a Poll to see what other peoples thoughts were on this.
     
    So thank you for taking part in the poll, and any advice or suggestions or critisism is highly welcome.
  4. wollastonblue
    OK so as things have started to progress, I have realised that I have made 2 massive mistakes:
     

     
    I tried the loco is both directions the weekend, and it got stuck in the tunnel, which in my opinion is probably down to dirty track.
     

     
    I have built a plaster and wire structure to go over this helix and it's too big.
     
    So which leads me to ask for advise. I need the 2 helices covered in order for scenery and to give the impression of the helix style tunnels that are on the RhB, but also due to the tight radius of the curves, give me access to clean the track and get to any possible derailments.
     
    What would others do in my situation? Do I build it out of hardboard, and the plaster the relevant scenery required or its there something else I can do?
     
    Thank you in advance for any help or advice.
  5. wollastonblue
    Right then, firstly a huge thanks to Andy and the team for this superb new forum.
     
    Secondly, a big thank you to those who proffered advice, and suggestions on my previous Layout post "Norton St. Georges".
     
    Right then, down to brass tacks.
     
    Tigh Charran.
     
    The name Tigh Charrann comes from a house we stop at during Hogmanay in Lochcarron, and thought (and hope) this layout would be a fitting tribute to the hospitality we receive up there.
     
    The History:
     
    Tigh Charrann is a large village situated on the banks of Loch Torridon, and is famous for it's Loch Torridon prawns. In order to get the catch to market a railway built from Achnasheen as a branch from the Kyle of Lochalsh line. In order to get the prawns to market in peak condition, a locomotive shed was built in order for the locos to be ready early in the morning for the run to Inverness with the catch. A station was also built to allow the villagers a direct access to Inverness. The local timber merchants also saw the benefits of using the railway so two sidings were attached to the layout, so that the local timber could be transported to Inverness, and then onto the world.
     
    After seeing the railway, the Laird of Shieldaig was eager to get in on the act, and has a branch line built to Shieldaig, where his estate saw traffic mainly from Shooting and Fishing parties. So a bay siding was added to the station. Life continued serenly until the 1950s when the fish traffic declined, but a local oil distributor saw the opportunity of utilising the sidings and set up an oil loading facility on the old fish van sidings. By some remote miracle Dr Beeching over looked the branch line, and traffic still continues to the day. Although the diesel depot has gone.
     
    The Layout.
     
    Tigh Charrann is set in the mid 1980's when the traffic was still quite heavy for such a branch line. Stock consists (or will consist of) numerous 37s, 24s, 25s, 26s, 27s and a 101 for the Shieldaig branch. Buildings are mainly Hornby/Bachmann RTP. The track is PECO code 100, and of course DCC sound will feature.
     
    To date the baseboards have been built, the track laid, some electric work, mostly from it's previous incarnation, and soon ballasting will begin.
     
    Photos will follow later. Any comments or critisism is most welcome.
     
    Cheers for now.
     
    Track Plan:
     

  6. wollastonblue
    One of the parts of Railway Modelling I find really fun is creating the fictional history, and locations for my layouts. So with the purchase of a 3rd Rail EMU, a scottish layout seems to be a bit too far fetched.
     
    So here goes with Smallbridge. The name comes from one of my literary heroes Hornblower, who after his exploits against the French was made Baron Hornblower of Smallbridge, and a bit of a google has found no Smallbridge in Kent. I did try and find something with a Doctor Syn reference, but couldn't find anything fictitional locations. Small references to Hornblower will hopefully be made on and around the layout.
     
    The Location:
     
    Smallbridge is a medium sized seaside town between Camber Sands and Dungeness. Smallbridge had a large fishing fleet, and as result of this a railway built to serve the town, and the fishing fleet. During the 20th Century, the fishing fleet dwindled, but the tourism boomed. The Southern Railway deemed it big enough to add to the 3 Rail network. A small terminus station serves the town, and a TMD, and a Coachwork Shed are also in operation up until the late 1980s.
     
    Passenger Rail Services to Smallbridge:
     
    4CEP The hourly service to and from London Victoria.
    205 DEMU (On order from Kernow) Service to Brighton/Ashford
    2EPB Frequent service to Canterbury via Dover
    Loco with Mk1 Cross Country Service to Edinburgh (formed of 3 coaches, and formed into a larger train at Reading)
     
    The New Bachmann FNA will provide a Nuclear Flask service from the Dungeness Power Station.
    The Coachwork Shed will provide a fitting out for Pullmans from VSOE, and Mk1 Pullmans
     
    A service train of TTAs, and VDAs will also run to service the Coachworks and TMD
     
    So other locos are due to join the fleet.
     
    The fuel unloading depot as featured on the previous layour will be going.
     
    I will update the current layout building situation, later today.
     
    As usual all comments, critism, suggestions etc welcome.
  7. wollastonblue
    Just some more photos of the progress with Shaunbachdorf.
     

     

     

     
    I did lay some of the track down to check everything, and the loco and stock I have, and it doesn't have any problems with the 140mm Radius curves. The issue I do have at the moment it, is the R140 Points they do need wiring up properly, as they don't set the route properly using the manual switch. So another order will be placed for the relevant items, along with some more stock.
     
    Hopefully some scenic work can start in the next week or so.
  8. wollastonblue
    A quick update on proceedings so far. The Kibri Castle kit was quite a monster as the photos show, the Faller viaduct kit is rather straight forward.
     
    Work is due to start on the track bed, as soon as the weather improves so I can cut the hardboard required.
     
    A few photos:
     
    The Viaduct:
     

     
    My little one thought it would better with a train on:
     

    The Kibri Castle:
     

     

     

     

     

     
    On another note I have actually finished a layout!!:
     

  9. wollastonblue
    While having glass of beer the other night, I was pouring over different areas of Switzerland to visit next year, and which railway journeys I could do within the time frame without boring my good lady, and letting the little one splash around in the pool. I think a Eurocamp (other mobile home holiday companies are available) holiday next year will tick the majority of the boxes for us as a family.
     
    This led me on to the my proposed layout, and the small amount of stock available to me. Usually, when starting a layout and I think a lot of us are guilty of buying more stock than we actually need. So I did start wish listing for more stock from Kato, my list is as follows:
     
    i) GE 4/4 II with normal RhB stock (they probably have a name but I don't know it yet)
     
    The loco provides a number of livery options
     
    ii) GE 6/6 I Krok with Alpine Pullman Coaches
     
    This would make a lovely set.
     
    iii) Good stock suitable (Again they all probably have names, but I don't them yet)
     
    The RhB is used a lot for freight.
     
    iv) ABe 8/12 Allegra unit in "Arosa" blue livery
     
    Possibly already on the cards.
     
    v) Moving away from the RhB, a MOB Golden Pass set
     
    I just love the livery. The loco is there, some of the coaches are there, just the end panoramic coaches to produce. (I'm sure someone will tell me they are a lot different)
     
    I am also hoping for more liveries of the GE 4/4 III, I'd love the HC Davos version in particular.
     
    I'm loving my on-line research at the moment, but I would like some reading material, and I wondered if there was a sort of "Swiss Metre Gauge Railways for Dummies" book.
     
    I have some hardboard ready for cutting, just awaiting for someone to pay me for some items on eBay so I can buy the APA boxes.
     
    There may be more reflections to come before work really begins, but I'm eager to get cracking.
  10. wollastonblue
    Thanks to Keith at Traintrax, this arrived for me on Saturday morning. It's easy to set up and have a play good look at everything. I am very impressed with how it looks. The coaches are excellently moulded. The only criticism I do have is that the the Rapido couplings are very obtrusive on the locomotive. However, the close coupling system offered by Kato should remedy that.
     
    With a visit to France round the corner, my spending is to be curbed, but some addition Kato track and the all important APA boxes are next on the shopping list.
     
    Below is a Scarm 3D Drawing of the proposed layout, if I keep all four posts of the boxes in tact, and I have to say I don't think it detracts from the overall view of the layout.
     
    ]
     
    I hinting at the wife that a December break to Switzerland would be brilliant, but as she's getting broody again, it may depend on her situation.
  11. wollastonblue
    Much has happened since I got made redundant a fortnight ago. Although searching for a new career is a priority, I have managed to get quite a bit done in the last fortnight.
     
    Some relief has appeared on the terminus side of the station, and along the back scene, I have also managed to finish the inset rails. Awaiting to see how my finances go before the station buildings start to appear, but the space has been made ready for it. Photos of work so far below.
     
    As usual any comments or critism, highly welcome.
     
    Cheers for now.
  12. wollastonblue
    As promised a photographic update of how the layout has bee progressing. Rather slowly, but hope to speed up a little over the next few weeks, as I've got a fortnight off soon to recuperate from an operation.
     
    As usual any comment etc. all gratefully received.
  13. wollastonblue
    Little Wollastonblue and I have a little progress to report, there is a major chunk that i haven't got photos of and I will get round to taking photos of it and putting them up here.
     
    Little Wollastonblue and I have planted some trees and the Alpine Chapel, along with some bushes, and a small embankment as the viaduct pops up a little higher than the trackbed I cut. I also put some fine OO ballast around the edge of the river and the piers on the viaduct, I have put some larger gravel on but I think they're too large.
     
    Here is some photos:
     

     

     

     

     
    Thanks for reading, and I will be posting some more updates soon.
  14. wollastonblue
    Over the last weeks little Wollastonblue and I have had good fun with scatter, and trees. It was little Wollastonblue who suggested we had a path up to the castle, so we added a hedge around a gravel path. The hedge coming from Mrs Wollastonblues cleaning cupboard.
     
    Photos of our progress:
     
    Spooning on some scatter:
     

     
    Spreading the scatter out:
     

     
    Halfway there:
     

     
    Static grassing:
     

     
    Waiting for the glue to dry:
     

     

     
    Up on the supports in the box:
     

     

     
    We have also made a start on the other side, with some foil, newspaper, and plastercloth.
     
    Thanks for looking.
  15. wollastonblue
    Thank you to Dave John for the advice, and the bulldozers went in a cleared a lot of plaster, wire and paper, and I have rearranged the buildings so that i can fit my Hotel and Pool in the left hand board, meaning I can fit some more on the right hand board. I also think that I might build a wall around the castle now. The helix covers have been fashioned from Foamboard, and I am working on how to install the tunnel mouths and other mountain faces. I have also discovered the scrunched foil is better than scrunched newspaper for setting plaster cloth to. I have got the lower mountain face done, awaiting painting.
     
    In the middle box some more foliage and trees have been planted along with a good covering of tinted EZ water. i want to have a go at the water effects next, and install a small waterfall, to the right. I will try and get some close up photos as the work progresses.
     
    The left hand box:
     

     

     
    The centre box:
     

  16. wollastonblue
    Little Wollastonblue, wanted to do some more work on the layout last night. So we set about the piece of foamboard the castle is going to site on, for the left hand box.
     
    So after one of Mrs Wollastonblues wonderful dinners, we broke out the scatter, trees, etc. and created a pathway to the castle, laid down some forest floor,and planted some trees.
     
    More Photos of the progress:
     

     

     

     

     
    As I'm pub quizzing tonight, we're aiming to get this bit finished by the weekend, so we can crack on with getting the full track laid, tested so we can play run some trains.
     
    Cheers for now.
  17. wollastonblue
    Well with the excitement of Christmas and Mrs and Little Wollastonblues birthdays, I could only get the electrics all finally sorted. I have found out that Peco fish plates are not compatible with Tomix track, and with the rails not accepting solder at all, I discovered that underneath the track I could solder connection wires to the rails. I have also wired up another point.
     
    I received the EW1 coach set from Mommy Wollastonblue this Christmas, and I have the Glacier Express on advance order from Japan. Still have a massive shopping list, and funds and time will allow for it slowly but surely.
     
    It is nice to see that other companies are supporting this range, and I will be ordering some wagons soon. But other bits need to be purchase first.
     
    In other news, I am finally going to actually see and ride on the Rhatische Bahn this year. As Little Wollastonblue is starting school in September, we have decided that this year we are off on a European adventure. We are driving from Glorious Kidderminster all the way to the Venetian Riviera and back, but not all in one go. We are going to spend 1 night in Boppard, Germany, hopefully see some ICE action along the Rhine Valley for me and Little Wollastonblue, I did stay in Boppard on a School trip in 1993, and I kept all my spending money back so I could buy a Marklin Train Set to bring home, relatives weren't impressed due to the lack of gifts.
     
    After stocking up at a Supermarket in Boppard, we are driving down to Celerina for 2 nights where we have an apartment. On the Sunday we are off on the RhB from Celerina to Filisur, where we are going to have a picnic overlooking the magnificent Landwasser Viaduct, back up to Bergun to go round the museum.
     
    From Switzerland skirting Lake Como, we head to the Venetian Riviera for 4 nights, so the little one can have some beach and pool time. I am hoping for a trip to Venice itself and wander round Venice Santa Lucia station, hopefully get to see the Orient Express too, but I not going to push it if the beach is too much of a pull.
     
    From Italy back up to Munich for a night of beer, sausages and sauerkraut, then across to Lille via Luxembourg for 2 nights so we can visit Paira Daiza zoo in Belgium for Pandas!
     
    Cheers for now.
  18. wollastonblue
    After getting very little time with Shaunbury, and my little one growing too fast. Shaunbury is being consigned to the great unfinished layout yard in the sky (eBay).
     
    I have always had a fondness for continental railways, and the one layout if you can call it that I did finish was a Noch Colorado Pre Formed layout board. I enjoyed learning about German DB locomotives, and watching countless videos on you tube. This was then sold, so I could move to various guises of OO gauge, and then when I moved in with my wife N gauge beckoned, but with the trials and tribulations of raising a little boy, my down time is short at the best of times, and when I can work on the layout I can't as my son is in bed in the room I use.
     
    So, looking forward I have looked intently at the APA boxes as a medium for a layout I can work on and store in the living room. After playing around with Scarm and Anyrail, I soon discovered that I could fit an oval of KATO unitrack in the constraints of the box dimensions. The oval in question comes from KATOs Glacier Express Starter set. As I like a roundy roundy layout, I started to delve in to the wonderful world of the Swiss Narrow Gauge Railways. I will point out I have never set foot on Swiss soil, although plans are afoot to take the family next year.
     
    So the idea for the layout was sown, and I started playing with Scarm and Anyrail, and one APA box became 2, and then eventually 3. So the plan is to use 3 APA boxes as the base for the layout.
     

     

     
    The plan and design is for a station on RhB Glacier Express route to serve a small village called Shaunbachdorf, which is home to the Shaunbach Falls. The Faller, Kibri and Vollmer websites have been bookmarked and kits have been found. Stugl Stuhl's station building by Faller along with the KATO platforms will be used for the station. A lovely Alpine Inn by Faller with a balcony will overlook the waterfall and a Faller Cable Car set covering the right hand helix, and a Kibri Castle covering the other helix. Maybe a church and chalet to feature too.
     
    I am about to place the order for the train set, and the APA boxes, I have a sheet of hardboard in store ready to make a start.
     
    I will warn blog readers I may ask a lot of silly questions regarding the RhB and Switzerland in general. Fingers crossed I can come up with something good this time round.
  19. wollastonblue
    Progress is really being made on my little slice of Switzerland. The last helix has been cut and tested, as has the track bed and river bed at the bottom of the Waterfall. Followed by a load of scrunched newspaper and plaster cloth.
     
    I am a little stumped on how to top the mountain off as I do want it relatively flat so I can place my Alpine restaurant and Hotel and Swimming Pool. So more complicated woodwork is required I think. I also sealed off the castle mountain so I need to cut a hole in it so that I can keep the track clean and attend to any derailments. (Any suggestions are welcome).
     
    Some photos of that end of the layout:
     

     

     

     
    On the middle board a thin layer of Woodland Scenics EZ water has been placed so I can set the viaduct, a load of boulders and rocks need to be placed in and around the bottom pool:
     

     
    A little testing has allowed my to hard wire the Tomix point motors directly to the Kato Turnout switches. So I will be constructing a control panel and Mug or glass holder on the one end of the layout.
     
    Little Wollastonblue is excited as when I place my next order with Japan, he spotted a certain Blue Tank engine that would be ideal for Daddy's layout. He'll have to be a good boy for me to add it.
     
    I would also like to thank Noch and AB Model for making this an expensive year in stock purchases, with a Hockey Club Chur GE 4/4 III on pre-order, and then a Green GE 4/4 II on order along with a rake of 4 Einheitswagen to go with it. Also some Pirata Flatbed wagons that would suit my siding to load some logs. But the main items I need are the expansion set for the Glacier express, and an Allegra unit.
     
    Now then where can I buy some Swiss beer?
  20. wollastonblue
    Well if you haven't cottoned on by now, I have a new love in my life. I couldn't help myself.
     
    This is the story anyway. I was helping out at Churchrail on Saturday, and after a really enjoyable stint operating Summat Colliery, and then relieving the gentleman of Highley Unlikely for a while, the guys at Castle Trains had bought with them a Shiny New Bachmann Blue Grey 4CEP. To say I was seduced is an understatement, before I knew I had whipped out the Debit Card, and purchased the unit. After a short run on Hythe Parkway, she was boxed up and returned to Stourbridge, where a brief run on my layout she looks right at home.
     
    Time to rethink a building or two, and also the history and location of the layout. Dungeness way may be an idea to make use of the FNA being brought out by Bachmann.
     
    I have done some more work on the layout, which I will update the blog later today with piccies.
     
    As always any suggestions, critism, or advice welcome.
  21. wollastonblue
    After that brief stall on the location of the layout. The decision has been made to stay in North West Scotland. The arrival of another Tractor to the locomotive stable, in the form of 37/0 with Split Headcode, thanks to Oldfield Park.
     
    So a list of the Jobs to do:
     
    1. Re-model the fiddle yard, with a curved point to allow a 3 coach train with locomotive to fit in the fiddle yard.
    2. Complete the Ballasting and Track weathering.
    3. Paint a Backscene, and time to add some relief to the layout.
    4. More Trees to plant.
    5. Stock Weathering to take place.
    6. Sort out Uncoupler magnet positions.
     
    This may take some time, but bear with me, as I will update as and when jobs get completed.
     
    The two things, I'm unsure about at the moment are:
     
    1. A Class 27, is it far too north for this loco?
    2. The Road Over Bridge I have is that too urban for use in the Scottish Highland?
     
    As usual, any comments, critism, etc all welcome.
  22. wollastonblue

    Update Pictures.

    By wollastonblue,

    As promised now that the server seems to be stable. All week when I have tried to update my blog, I have been unable to get on.
     
    A couple of boxed of the Bachmann Scenescape Trees have been used to create an evergreen woodland. Along with Javis Flexible Drystone Walling.
     
    Thank you to all those that have taken part in the poll, and if you haven't voted please feel free to, as the decision to move my layout situation from the far highlands of Scotland, to the South Kent Coast, is yet to be made.
     
    The Class 27 will be going in part ex for a Blue/Grey 4CEP, IF I do take the plunge.
     
    Any critism, comments etc, all gratefully received.
  23. wollastonblue
    Now I can get onto the computer at home. I can now update with what is happening with Tigh Charrann. I have started to weather the rails using Railmatch Aerosol Enamels, a little more ballasting, and also planted a field. The photographs are pretty self explanatory.
     

     

     

     
    I managed to get a few more bits and pieces at Warley, to sort out the Kadee issues with british rolling stock. Also picked up a Mk1 BG blue grey and Mk1 BG in full blue to form the parcels train. A Large Logo 37 and a class 27 have entered the stable of locomotives aswell.
     
    I feel that work may slow down on Tigh Charrann in order to concentrate on the 2010 layout challenge. A layout thread has been started on the ideas stage, but I will set up a blog with the progress of that layout as well.
     
    Any comments or critism is highly welcome.
     
    Cheer for now.
  24. wollastonblue
    Ballasting work and bushes are appearing on the layout, and I promise some more photos later today.
     
    The only thing bothering me now is the capacity of the fiddle yard. I need to make room for a Deltic and 3 coaches, where at the moment I can only hold a deltic and 2 coaches. So a curved point, will be used to make on long siding along the back of the yard, and the 3 way point making up the other 3 sidings. I think that makes sense.
     
    With pay day looming another shopping list is being formulated, and I will get most of it before the Warley Exhibition, but if a bargain appears then who knows. More locos to enter the stable, and more scenic materials, and couple more buildings should do it.
     
    Any advice or critism welcome.
  25. wollastonblue
    Well with RMWeb down, and EBay short on bargains, I have carried on with the scenic side of the Tigh Charrann. Ballast is appearing as are bushes in strategic places. Although a long way off from complete, I should be able to get the ballasting completed by the end of this weekend.
     
    New building have also appeared in the form of the Bachmann Scenecraft Site Office, and Welded Tank from the Cement Works range. The Site Office will form the office unit for the fuel depot, and the Welded Tank will form a pair of Diesel Fuel Tanks.
     
    With the sound loco out of action at the moment, I will concentrate on scenery, and creaing as much as I can for the layout, and with this new blog business, updates will be more frequent than they were with the on the old forum, as I feel a Blog has be kept fresh.
     
    I will update with photographs later.
     
    Any advice or critism on work so far is gratefully received.
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