mudmagnet

Wow! Looks incredible. It's good to see the locos on the inspection pits and certainly gives a good feel on how the interior is going to look when finished (!)

Thanks for keeping us posted.

Hi, another week gone and a little more progress on Orchard Road.

The bridge has been built using plywood and now covered in ready mixed tile grout (from the usual DIY shed) and sanded flat once dry. The long process of scribing the stone work / bricks can now begin. It is easier to dampen a small area and allow to soak in a little before scribing. The edging stones around the arches are the first to be done and can be seen in the photos below. Since these were taken, a little more scribing has been done. This is not too bad a task, if spread over a few evenings sat in front of the TV (there's not usually much on anyway!...

The roof and vents on the low relief building at the over end of the layout have been added. The roof is corrugated plasticard and the vents have been scratchbuilt from plasticard, as is the down pipe. These have been painted and now ready for painting. Windows still to be done - only temporary windows for the moment. When this has all been finished, the building can then be glued in place and cardboard strips also glued ready for covering in scenic base (polyfilla or similar).

The class 33 started life as the Lima model, but roof modified for later version (the moulded roof being suitable for earlier versions) and additional details added (such as pipe work, wipers, flush-glaze windows etc). It does not run too bad, but could do with a wheel upgrade. However, I'm tempted to wait until Hornby re-issue this class 33 and swap the the chassis over, then fit DCC decoder. My current model has not been converted to DCC yet.

Looking great. The fencing seems to pull everything together nicely.

Hi

I have made a little progress on Orchard Road and have attached three photos showing some of the progress.

A start has been made on the low-relief factory buildings at the end of the layout. I have used Scalescene brick on a foamboard base. The windows are only temporary. Still to add will be the roof, guttering and other details. The building will then be lightly weathered using pastels - hopefully will make some progress over the weekend.

I have shown an interior shot of the engine shed and shows the relationship to the low-relief factory. The interior 'concrete' will be completed when the shed has been glued in position - still loose as I need to complete the scenary behind the shed as once this is place, I won't be able to get to the scenary. I have used triangular sections in the building for stiffness, but will be covered when glued and 'concreted' in position.

The third photo shows the cardboard bridge which will be used as a template for when I cut the plywood for the proper bridge.

Sorry, quality of photos not great. Will do better next time.

Made a little progress on the layout, now that the evenings are lighter and warmer. Layout currently living in the garage, but will need to be moved back to the shed.

Photos to follow over the weekend, but jobs completed:

1) Additional track laid and ballasted.

2) Bridge template cut from card before committing myself to cutting the plywood (should be cut and glued over the weekend ready for the DAS covering. This will then be carved to represent stone. This will be two arch - based very much on that at Lapford (Exeter to Barnstaple line).

3) A start has been made to the low relief buildings at the other end of the building.

Next jobs - finish interior floor in shed, finish low relief building and start scenary along rear of layout.

hi Dave

I've just picked up this thread. Looks great. Good to see after the test run on Bridport Town.

Cheers

I think that most modellers are mad, but you really take the trophy! Absolutely fantastic!!! I've been following for some weeks now and everytime you get a bit more done, it becomes even more impressive. Very well done. I don't think that many people would have the courage to take such a project on, so you should feel very proud to get the shed looking so good already and not even started on the cladding!

Thanks for sharing with us.

Hi

I've added a couple of photos taken during track laying, to give an idea of the track plan. However, I will post a better overall photo in the next few days (assuming the weather is dry!). The drawing pins are being used to hold the track down whilst the PVA dries - which are ready to lift.

Darren - thanks for the suggestion - I will have a look at this ballast.

Cheers

Hi Chris

Yes the shed is scratchbuilt.

The main structure is 40 thou plasticard (sheets joined together as standard sheets not long enough), with quite a few lengths of Evergreen channel being fitted inside (photos to be added), which provide additional stiffness and interior realism. The outside is clad with Slaters corrugated plasticard. The bricks being Scalescenes. Everything else (expect for the sings - also Scalescenes). The shed has been painted with Humbrol acrylics and then weathered using acrylics (from local artshop).

Cheers

Hi Georgie

The two locos shown both started as the Bachmann weathered versions, but I have added further weathering using acrylics / games workshop paints, using photos of real locos as a reference.

I will show a few more locos on the next set of photos that I will take.

Cheers

Hi,

I have been working, albeit slowly, on a new 00 gauge layout - yes another diesel depot. I have attached a couple of 'taster' photographs, but will follow these with some more over the coming weeks. Progress has been very slow, for a number of reasons, but will add updates when time permits. I will also add a photo showing the whole layout when I get chance and this will show the track plan as well.

Some months ago I bought a dynamis DCC and slowly have been collecting blue diesels and then weathering these (there are a couple yet to do). Then I needed somewhere to run them. A start was made on a layout in the shed, but progress was slow and thought that this would be difficult to take out to exhibitions, due to size / transportation / operators (my other operating being my 12 year son, although keen on railways may find this shed layout a bit tedious at a show). Therefore, the decision was made to built a smaller layout that could easily be exhibited. This can also be incorporated into the shed layout. A diesel depot was decided upon, being based in Devon, in Southern Region (concrete adornments to be added later) and between 1975 - 1983, when I was train spotting. I could then run classes 25, 33, 31, 50, 47, 37 etc - all being seen in Devon at this time.

The overall size is 2.2m x 0.4m, with integral fiddle yard, with only 4 points. Simple, but hopefully interesting. The main features being - maintenance shed (for simple inspections / day-to-day maintenance), two sidings for re-fueling, fuel off-loading siding and one further siding for class 08 or odd wagon or two. An additional siding is being added from beyond the scenic break, representing the end of a siding from beyond the bridge. The bridge will be based upon that at Lapford on the Exeter to Barnstaple line. The only main structure started so far being the maintenance shed. The exterior has largely been finished, but interior to be completed (interior supporting steelwork has been completed though). These has not been fixed to the base yet, due to the scenary behind not being started (once the building is in place, no space to work).

All the track is Peco 00 code 100 (thats what I had already) and wired for DCC, with the points fitted with SEEPS and will be wired for DCC operation. The track has been ballasted and partly painted, but still needs more work before I am happy with it. The track has been throughly tested (by my son with all of my locos on the layout at one time).

I had better get a move on, as booked for a show in July - more details to follow.

Thanks for looking. I will add updates as and when I get chance, but please feel free to comment / ask any questions.

Yes, I remember seeing the washing line!

Glad you liked the layout - which exhibit were you on? Yes, several boxes of forest got planted on the Saturday evening / Sunday morning. This layout changed appearance after this forestation!

 

Please feel free to post any photos you took on this thread!

Hi Chris,

I was operating on 'Bridport Town' so not that far away.

I will sort through my photos and see what there is that you've not shown already.

Great buildings and good to see the construction details on here.

I was fortunate to see the layout at Stafford in February and must say, very impressive. During the course of the weekend quite a few trees appeared on one side of the layout and was interesting to see the layout progress over the two days of the show. I only managed to take a dozen or so photos, was generally too busy to close to during the day and so had to rely on getting photos before the general public came in!

Look forward to seeing more photos and construction details.

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the feedback on the class 108. I will re-check the lighting connections on my 108. I need to have a look at it when I get chance, as when running on a non-DCC layout over the weekend, after a while it stopped working, so may be a problem with the pickups or worse! Will need to check that the decoders still work ok. I used two decoders as these older Bachmann DMU's do not have the wiring across the two units. I've been looking at running some small connectors across, but found a sensible solution.

I need to add drivers / passengers as well. I agree that buffer details would be worth doing - I only intend to run on it's own, so no issue with couplings.

The close-up of the 27 looks fanstatic. Extremely realistic - are you sure this is a model? The weathering is spot on. Very impressed.

Hi Dave,

Superb night photos! Very impressed.

On your 108, did you modify the interior lights? I assume that this is the Bachmann model. What other details / modifications did you make? I have a 108, but lights are not as good as yours.

Thanks

The lights look great. Nice glow and atmosphere.

First time that I have seen this thread - not sure how I missed it!

Will follow with interest.

I've used the washes along the chassis to add a little depth to the to the detail, but not tried it on the side of the tanks.

I forgot to mention that the joints between the moulded tanks (moulded in two halves) where filled and sanded to remove as much of the visible joint as possible.

I've recently weathered a couple of Hornby Railroad Shell Petrol Tank wagons, bought for about £3.80 each. Each have been weathered using acrylics. These are a mixture of the variety from an artists shop (i.e. those in a tube) and paints from the local Games Workshop (Citadel). I find that the later paints to be very good and am gradually building up a collection of paints. I usually use these for weathering only, but could prove to be quite useful for figure painting as well.

I still need to change the couplings to the smaller Bachmann variety and fit better wheels, but a for a few pounds worth doing.

Ballasting looks good. I've not seen this method before, a little less messy than applying ballast dry, soaking with water and than adding the glue. Will give this a try.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Hi Dave,

I thought that you guess who I was!

Hopefully no snow like last year!

Will give you a call to make arrangements, but likely to get the train down to you.

Have fun in the snow!!

Richard

Hi Dave

'Countess' looks great on the layout, but I suspect that it wouldn't fit into your engine shed! Looking forward to operating again at Stafford (6th / 7th Feb)!

Hi guys

Thanks for all of your replys. I am still waiting for the Bachmann 08 to arrive in stock at my local model shop, so will have a closer look at the decoder options when I have the loco in my hands. Eventually, sound will be fitted, so quite happy to fit a standard Bachmann decoder and seeing that the Bachmann have fitted with a 8-pin socket, then I assume that their own decoder would fit.

From comments read across the forum, either SWD or Howes offer a sound decoder / speaker combination that can be fitted, so will speak to them when i have the cash.

I am considering buying the Bachmann class 08, but not sure about fitting a decoder and which type to use. Can anyone advise the best option and any fitting details. I have fitted plug-in decoders to recent Bachmann models and hard-wired a couple of older locos, so quite confident that the wiring should not be a problem, but concerned about avaliable space within the body. A sound decoder is not possible at the moment, but may be something to be fitted at a later date.

Thanks

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