TravisM

I've finally decided to model the single line section along the coast, probably a generic section, with nowhere in particular in mind. I'm going to see Tim Horn on Saturday, to discuss my baseboard requirements, and I know it will be expensive, but so be it. To be honest, I'm not really that bothered about shunting, but I do want to see my trains running, rather than sitting in boxes.

As I mentioned earlier, I put the roof section onto a glass shelf, and one end had a tiny upward warp. With the black tac applied, it’s settled nicely.

Done that first, but then put it on a glass shelf and it didn't quite sit square.

Has anyone had a problem with the removable roof section warping slightly? I’ve got 37423 and I’ve noticed that the roof section has a slight, but noticeable warp at the fan end, causing it to lift slightly. I’ve cured it by adding a tiny amount of black tac, but wondered if anyone else had experienced this problem?

Hi Phil, My main problem, apart from space is the ability to construct a decent baseboard, the 'big C' has robbed me of being able to stand for long periods or hold a saw for very long, which basically leaves me with laser cut boards. I can assemble them without much issue and with Tim Horn's help, have them made to fit exactly. The falling ground to the beach/sea had been considered and I had considered Woodland Scenic foam boards to give me the height difference. The hatch and hidden sidings would be built at the same height as the top of the foam boards, so the main scenic baseboards would be a few inches lower than the hatch and sidings, so the track would all be at the same level, if that makes sense? As @Cruachan said, my longest train will either be a Class 37 and 4 Mk2's, giving a total length of 4ft 4ins or a pair of Class 37's, top and tailing 3 Mk2's, which I assume would be the same length, so cassettes are out. Also, given the way my back and balance is, cassettes are possibly too unwieldly for me.

Oh okay, I wasn’t being hypercritical, just thought you hadn’t seen my first, well, second plan. I’m still struggling with how to get the best with the available space, it’s becoming a bit of a nightmare as a lot of people have come up with really good ideas and constructive criticism, which to be honest is starting to cloud the issue

Hi there, Thanks for your input, much appreciated but I think your plan in a lot of ways is very similar to my original plan, unfortunately, which is what I'm struggling with.

People have suggested Sellafield station, with it's sidings and loco spur, so I had a go at drawing something and I know it's double track south of the station, but it's a compromise. If anyone has any sensible ideas or suggestions, or happy to redraw it for me, happy to take their advice.

Hi Phil, I really liked the idea of two separate levels, but as I'm on limited budget since losing my job to ill health, and my wood butchery is exactly that, I'm going to have to pay someone like Tim Horn or White Rose to create my baseboards, so you can kiss the better part of £1000 - 1500 goodbye. If I wanted two levels, it's probably double the price.

I think I’ll pass, I was hoping it was just a simple renumber job. To be honest, I probably have enough AS Class 37’s anyway (6 in total).

Does anyone know if the line between St Bees and Sellafield is on a gentle falling gradient? I'm wondering if I can put St Bees where it is and then have the line follow the coast, dropping down slowly and put Sellafield/hidden sidings underneath.

Thank you for your comments and I’ve already got a Dapol Class 68, and a Rails/Dapol Class 88 on order, as well as a Bachmann FNA and a set of Accurascale FNA-D’s. I think that should represent the nuclear traffic, given the space I have. I’m going to get one of Realtrack’s recently released Northern Class 156’s in white livery and tempted to get the RAF liveried one as well, but as I want DCC & sound, that’s the best part of £500. Huge chunk out of my baseboard budget! I’m also struggling with the layout plan, but I’m constrained by space. I can’t seem to find a happy medium as both the coast section and station have plus and minus points.

Doesn't fit my time frame of 2017/18, and I already have 37402

I've been offered 37402 at a reasonable price and thought about renumbering it to 37424/37558. Is it easy to do without a lot of faff? I'll keep my DBSO as it is as I don't think I'm that a good a modeller to drill out the centre headlight and install lighting.

I've put more on my Cumbrian Coast thread, but here are some pictures I took earlier today of some of my DRS Class 37's, which of course will be running with my Bachmann Mk2's, on my Cumbrian Coast layout.

I will if I can't get the screws. If I've got the clips, I kinda want to use them

I thought as I'm not that busy, there's nothing really special going on that I'm aware of 😁, I'd take several pictures of the two DRS loco hauled trains I'm hoping to run on the layout. Sensible comments please.

I appreciate that and maybe I missed pointing out, yes, they just 'clip on' but on mine, there still a bit loose and really need the screws to firmly secure them in.

Which begs the question, why sell the retaining clips for the Class 37 if they don't need them? I've fitted the clips to my Class 55, but there was only two screws on the chassis to make it secure, when you really need four, so I've emailed support to see if I can get the other two. Fitting them certainly sorted out the vibration problem I was getting with the Deltic.

I got a similar email Friday, saying the refurbished Class 37 decoder was back in stock, so I ordered it straight away and I thought, it will arrive after Xmas. Got a email from DPD yesterday to say that it would arrive between 12.38 & 13.38, and at 12.35, there was a ring on the door bell. Great service from Accurascale and DPD. It was duly fitted last night, runs and sounds great but I bought some retaining clips for the Accurathrash speaker (still waiting for), but noticed the tiny screws needed to hold them in place are missing, and just holes where they need to screw them into. Are the screws available?

It's still a possibility but it would still be set in the 2017/18 time period because of the stock I already have.

Somebody else has suggested two ramps and put the hidden sidings under the main layout. The hatch, instead of a lifting or lift out, swing, so you can get two different levels.

It’s a really interesting thought, but I feel I’d be limited to only two trains running on the layout, as I’d have nowhere to hide a third passenger or nuclear train. Ideally, I’d like four trains with two being loco hauled, a Class 156 and a nuclear train. I would also like to run my inspection saloon and test train from time to time. I’m so, so tempted by the coastal route as scenery is stunning, so in the summer, I think I’m going to have to take a trip up there to get some pictures and make my decision before I start cutting wood.

Hi Phil, If I go for the St Bees option (plan nicked and adapted from your Kings Tawton plan…sorry 😝), then the scenic section will have to go as I don’t have enough space to do both. Shame as it would be great to do St Bees, then the line south, along the coast.

Hi there, I like what you have suggested regarding the hidden sidings/turnback sidings, and I'll have to give it some serious consideration, though the passenger trains would be either units, or if loco hauled, top & tailed or loco at one end & a DBSO at the other, so it would only work for nuclear trains. As to the siding at St Bees, it's very short and hardly used, so it's there for scenic purposes really.