Indomitable026

Next the messy bit. Coloured plaster mixed with water and pva is applied. Old net curtains are placed on top and then a further coat of plaster on top of that.

Once dry this gives the basic ground form. Slots & holes will have to be cut out of this at a later date to allow the bridges to be positioned.

Note the 'Jam' track weights......

When did we take those - Late 2009?

Yeah, I guess it was late Autumn 2009 as there are still leaves on the trees,

Its first show was the next February 2010!!

Following on from the picture above, the polystyrene has now been carved to resemble the basic land form.

This is the skill-full work of '2manyspams' and his ancient banana shaped saw blade!

Appologies for the quality of the pics - taking pics of white suff in a dark garage just doesn't work

I'm doing my best to avoid the camera!!!!

Another construction picture - the start of the scenics.

Layers of polystyrene have been glued down on top of each other to the maximum height required.

Both the canal and the river have then been cut out to their approximate depths and shapes.

Also marked on here is the approximate position of the curving 'Newquay line'.

I've now worked out how to get larger format pictures in the gallery!!

So i've updated all the pictures here

Oih, Spams

I've not been able to find any shots of the boards under construction for TG, so you'll have to go with the brightly painted boards posed in the serene surroundings of your garden......

Enjoyed the OUaTiTW modelling session with Owd Gringo yesterday.

Marking out.

- Shots 1 & 2. plan view drawings of the pub and the crossing keepers cottage are moved around to find best position, location of road is also determined - I think, as there are a lot lines on that board!

- Shots 3 & 4. the river, canal, tramway and railway have been marked on the baseboard. the sheet of paper in the middle contains Chris's more detailed drawings of the bridges for that location. Drawing in this way in situ ensures all the angles, widths and lengths of the bridges are correct, as Chris built the bridges seperate from the layout. the initial scenic work can then continue without the bridges.

- Shot 5. this is Owd Gringo. i've no idea what he's doing? - really. Answers on a post card........

Part 6. Damian thinks of boards....

 

So 8 days after John's initial letter, we'd done a site visit, taken photos and started thinking more about building something. Here Damian 'Mr Ripsaw (but no sandpaper)' comes into his own. A veteran of building many, many layout boards and of using other people's hands as sand paper! He's already built a test board down the Stafford Railway Circle using this new plywood material. Obviously this wouldn't catch on as the Railway Modeller standard was still 2"x1" timber at 1' centres topped with Sundella...

Chris

I can't believe you've kept all this stuff.

I'm dreading whats coming next......

In these shot's the front line to Par docks is down and ballasted. Note that its not laid on cork. Over the board joints the rail is soldered to small brass screws directly below. To get the track to flow and look right the whole length is laid at once. The screws are positioned between the sleepers so the spacing looks right and the rail soldered to them. The track is glued down using PVA. weight down with something flat (MDF) and heavy. Once this is dry, say the next day, the ballast is then applied - this has already been discussed earlier in the thread. Once the ballast is dry you can then use a fine rasor saw to cut the rail on the joint. Part the boards carefully.

Chris '2manyspams' sent a few pictures the other day of the layout under construction.

Heres one of some very rudimentary 3d 'mocking-up' going on. Perhaps we had been drinking.......

ah yes - Tren [nigh] glos

I've seen that somewhere recently.....

Oh dear Mr Ross, better start saving the pennies for more D1000s.... I see Dapol are going to produce the 'definitive' Western in 4mm using the CAD files produced by JLTRT for their 7mm kit. See this thread...

 

So that will be D1000, D6300 and D600 all RTR from Dapol.

Oh dear in deed.

Its decision time then, as I was just tinkering around with this 'O' gauge plan.

What a great use of resource though, Dapol using JLTRT CAD files.

A small amount of sense in a mad world.

Hi Damian, thanks for posting the photos of Diesels in the Duchy under construction, it is always interesting to see how layouts are built and how they come about. After seeing it in the flesh last year it is really good to see photos like the most recent ones showing the shed going up and the pits being constructed.

 

Funny isn’t it you mention that you used a router to cut out the channels for your pits. I used a jig saw and had an interesting time whilst my Father’s router sat on the shelf! Completely forgot it was there…it would have been a lot easier using the router!! Still, you live and learn.

 

Looking forward to seeing more photos.

Thats modelling for you - you realise the better solution after.....

I also often find its not until I get to the end of a new task that I actually think i'm making an OK job of things. However, when you then look back at your earlier offerings you think, hmmmm thats not as good.

This then gives me the itches to build something else - a new layout, because I now look at the layout and think; I (well actually we) will do better than this next time or if it can't be done better we will know a quicker easier way at least. Thats not to say i'm not pleased with it, i'm am - very, but as a builder you always look at the faults and what could be better. Others don't see that at a glance.

We found this when we built 'Diesels in the Duchy' having built 'Treneglos'.

I know for sure when 'Owd Gringo's' layout 'Once Upon a Time in the West' is complete we will have moved on again.

'Owd Gringo' is going to start his own thread about this layout soon, but to spur him on I've attached some picture's of his boards.

We are doing a little demo at the Stafford show with some of this - nothing too fancy tho...

John will probably kill me for saying......

Hi Damian, well you certainly made a good job of the inspection pits as the roundhouse looks superb.

 

A fantastic layout you have built, very inspirational.

 

I have to say that I am not overly looking forward to installing them permanently, I bet you probably felt the same way! Still it is just one of the many challenges that lie ahead……..can’t believe that it is almost a year since I first came up with this silly idea.

 

Melly I would say that you are right, about adding the orange stripe as it is quite relaxing and therapeutic adding transfers. But then I would be lying!

I remember the frustration and anger felt when trying to add the cantrail stripe to 56006, in the end I had to ask Mrs. Grimley for some assistance before I went completely mad!

 

I like the sound of Buccaneer! Superb aircraft! B)

 

Thanks Daryl for the kind comments I am glad that you like progress so far. Toton has certainly changed since I first visited it back in 1988. I have to agree with you about the number of locomotives on shed and the variety of traction which could be seen stabled, that certainly had a lasting impression on me. Also the shear size of the depot, quite overwhelming especially when a boy in his early teens!

 

Yesterday after work I decided to have a closer look at my Christmas present and ended up dry fitting one of the shorter inspection platforms. I have to say that I am very pleased with them and looking forward to seeing them built and in position.

 

Here are a few photos of the inspection platform minus the steps at the end:

 

Now I just need to make a start on putting them together!

 

Tomorrow I am planning to cover two more walls with lined plasticard which will leave just two more to go. One of those being the main wall which sits directly behind the dead-end roads.

I wouldn't worry about getting the pits in, you're doing a great job.

Just sit them on a slow curing glue and put some dead flat wood on top - say strips of MDF to weight the tracks down. If you're worried about getting them straight, butt them up against a straight edge whilst gluing - I use a 3 foot steel rule when gluing straight track..

As an aside, I've posted a couple of pictures of my pits (and the start of the shed) today on my thread.

Ive attached a couple of shots showing the basic construction of the round house.

The building was constructed 'in situ'

The 'pits' were cut out of the board using a router to the correct size. Plastic card angle was then stuck to the top edge, C&L chairs were then glued along this to gauge. Plastic card was then used to line the pit walls and create the floor.

This was repeated for all nine roads.

Hi Guys

 

I'm in absolute awe of the efforts put in to this layout, congrats!

 

Could I ask, what are the dimensions of the layout please, I've previously tried to lay down a plan of something resembling BZ but could never get it to work on a domestic sized layout?

 

Many Thanks

 

G

It depends what you call a domestic size layout, i'm not sure this is.....

The scenic section conists of 3 boards of 3' 7" (1100mm) square; giving a length of around 10' 9" (almost 3300mm).

The turntable, the tracks to the roundhouse and the roundhouse itself dictate the width of the boards at 3' 7".

This excludes fidles yards; one is 3' long and the other 7' long.

Only the scenic boards can be put up in 'their room'

These are the three boards not connected together.

Present from Santa?

No, not from Santa, off ebay a couple of weeks ago. I've not told santa about my latest fetish........

I've bought it at risk as I dont kow if it or any of the green ones got to BZ.

It looks nice tho, that combination of green with yellow panel and red buffer skirt. fffwwwooorrhhh

Wow! A green one on St Blazey, only seven of them to start with. D1004 and D1037 were the last two, both going blue in early 1967. So, given your proposed modelling period, it's 30/12/1966 then..................

What I could really do with is some record of which Westerns visited BZ, between say 66 & 69.

The approach I took for the later period with the 37's was that it only got modelled if I had evidence of it having been there.

Nipped down to the 'yard' tonight.

Light conditions were poor (ha ha), however below is what I saw.

Something for the medium term me thinks.........

It will be links next! Galery link

Ok smarty pants.

How do I do links then?

BTW, you seen this?

Your wish is my command. This one doesn't actually state it's St Blazey, but I'm certain it is:-

http://britishdiesel.../p63713808.html

The tight angle hides the embankment of the coal stage loading road, but the workshop in the background indicates it's St Blazey.

What the picture does show, are the detail differences between the first five of the class and the production locos.

Absolutely love it!!

Definetly St Blazey determined, as you say, by the engineering buildings at the back.

Also, isnt that a 600 on the right?

What a classic!!!!

Craig,

I've really enjoyed looking through these pictures of your fab layout.

This has clearly taken a very long time to build and captures the period nicely.

Thanks again for hosting our visit last year.

I've only just caught up with this layout.

I'm still licking my wounds from the nine inspection pits I built in the roundhouse on my layout of St Blazey.

This is insignificant compared with what you're doing!!!!

I need another drink.......

GREAT News!

I've now worked out how to use the RMweb Gallery.

I have posted 30 new pictures of the layout at 'Gallery - Diesels in the Duchy - St Blazey'

Hi Damian,

 

Sorry if this has been mentioned before, but which point kits did you use on the layout?

 

Colin

The points aren't kits a such just bought components, such as sleepers, chairs etc. I use C&L components for all track items.

For the templates its iether C&L or P4 track company modified as necessary