Lancaster Lane & Dewar’s Street

[NHY 581]

On 06/05/2022 at 10:12, LDM34046 said:

A 1:1 scale print out is a great way to start visualising how the layout is going to look and weather I wanted to make any changes.

 

 

The first think I did was check the length of the sidings and more importantly the length of the loop. The loop will hold 3-4 wagons or 1 suburban coach which is my intended plan.

The lengths of all the sidings are larger than those on Lancaster Lane so no issues there I’ve also made the headshunt much larger as the size of the previous one has been quite restrictive.

 

 

 

 

I’ve also been accumulating the various buildings for the layout. There will be a real mix of Bachmann Scenecraft, wills kits and scratch aid kits.

 

With having the scenecraft buildings, it was also good to visualise the ‘street’ element of the layout.

 

 

A scratch-aid pub with go to the left of the Peckett to create that narrow corridor for the locomotive to pass through. A small garage will also be built where the two Land Rovers are currently placed.

 

Although there is a lot of buildings in a small space I wanted to create a real sense of a small town with lots of business going on. Lots of scope for plenty of details!

 

 

The ‘shot’ I’ve been wanting to create since the beginning as the Peckett winds it’s way over crossing through the street. Looking at this angle I will definitely make the street wider, probably by an inch or two just so it frames the locomotive a bit nicer.

 

 

A mock-up of one of the vehicles travelling down the street. With a wider street as well as good lighting I think this will be a real key area for the layout.

 

With planning done, it’s time to build the boards and make a start on messing around with track work to get the most out of the layout space.

 

 

This is all looking jolly nice, LD. 

 

That's the beauty of RTP buildings at the planning stage. Instant layout ! 

 

I find I can come up with a basic plan/ idea but until I plonk the buildings down and move them around, I can't really finalise things. I think I simply lack sufficient imagination to visulise it all before hand. 

 

I like this a lot. 

 

Rob

[LDM34046]

8 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

 

 

This is all looking jolly nice, LD. 

 

That's the beauty of RTP buildings at the planning stage. Instant layout ! 

 

I find I can come up with a basic plan/ idea but until I plonk the buildings down and move them around, I can't really finalise things. I think I simply lack sufficient imagination to visulise it all before hand. 

 

I like this a lot. 

 

Rob

Thanks Rob!

 

Really means a lot. Lancaster Lane was thrown together over about 3 months as a project to keep me busy during lockdown.

 

I felt with ‘Layout Two’ more time should be spent on the planning side and hopefully it’ll pay off. Lancaster Lane didn’t feature any prominent buildings so I’m really looking forward to building some kits, scratch building and creating lots of detailed areas.

[LDM34046]

A late entry but Lancaster Lane will be exhibiting next weekend at the Party’s Bottom Model Railway Exhibition!

 

 

12 layouts on display and usually very well attending. Looking forward to meeting some new faces!

[LDM34046]

‘Extensive’ testing last night and this afternoon on Lancaster Lane ahead of the exhibition next weekend. Still need to weather a few more items of rolling stock but for now, everything is running smoothly.

 

 

[Graham T]

All looking rather splendid!

[LDM34046]

Vans the word. Still on my list of items to weather. 
 

[MrWolf]

That is looking too much like one of those "natural" spray on sun tans at the moment. 😆

Definitely in need of a little weathering!

[LDM34046]

Home and settled after a busy weekend at the Pratts Bottom Model Railway Exhibition. Only a small show but very well organised and well attended.

 

Pleased to report that Lancaster Lane performed flawlessly without a single issue. After the issues at the Gravesend show and the subsequent electrical gremlins that followed for three months it was a real treat to operate hassle free.

 

Both Peckett’s proved to be real crowd pleasers with their smooth running. A great conversation starter for DCC with the stay-alive chips.

 

 

 

A busy show meant I was only able to grab a few pictures of the layout during quieter times.

 

 

 

One of my favourite views from the operators view point. Watching the locomotives creep through the cutting through a small gap in the trees.

 

 

Some great conversations and lots of interest in how the layout came about. A few more provisional dates means that Lancaster Lane should be kept busy for the rest of the year at local shows! 

[LDM34046]

A few purchases yesterday with the new layout in mind.

 

Oh, how very 1950’s. Need a few more vehicles outside my love of Series 1 Land Rovers and got an absolute bargain on these two.

 

 

A lovely Bachmann private wagon was also found on one stall for a crisp £3. Complete with metal wheels and NEM socket. Another one to add to the seemingly growing weathering list!

 

[LDM34046]

Happy Platinum Jubilee Weekend! 💜🇬🇧👑

The nation has been painted purple this weekend and Lancaster Lane has been struck  by with Jubilee fever. A rather patriotic workman has laid his hands on the resident Peckett in the local paint shop!

The foreman won't be happy with the spilt blue paint on the running plate. 
 

Rumours amongst the yard is it's only a temporary paint scheme, but of course, the rivet counters aren't happy!

 

Edited June 3, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

An update as everything seems quiet.

 

Currently in the process of starting a new job so time has been a bit limited as of late.

 

As for the new layout I’m STILL waiting on Peco for the order of bullhead trackwork. Currently just waiting for the remaining one point and a few lengths of flexi-track! It’s seems they’re still struggling with demand post-covid.

 

Boards are waiting to be assembled, buildings ready to be built, electrics and point motors arriving this week.
 

Once the track finally arrives I’ll be ready to hit the ground running!

[Graham T]

Did you consider looking at a different source for your track?

[LDM34046]

23 minutes ago, Graham T said:

Did you consider looking at a different source for your track?

Lots of online retailers stock the track however my local store seems to be the only place that’ll order single lengths of flexi-track so I can collect them.

 

Online retailers will only sell a minimum of 25 lengths due to the delicate nature of the track.

[Graham T]

Sorry, what I meant was, did you think about using different trackwork i.e. not Peco.

[MrWolf]

1 hour ago, LDM34046 said:

An update as everything seems quiet.

 

Currently in the process of starting a new job so time has been a bit limited as of late.

 

If you know that you've made the right move, it's always worth putting it in the time and effort to get yourself established.

If not, it's worth devoting the same to finding something better!

 

1 hour ago, LDM34046 said:

 

As for the new layout I’m STILL waiting on Peco for the order of bullhead trackwork. Currently just waiting for the remaining one point and a few lengths of flexi-track! It’s seems they’re still struggling with demand post-covid.

 

It's frustrating when progress on any projects is seemingly out of your hands. I get that with machining jobs I don't have the equipment for, could do in a morning if I had, but have to wait a month for someone else to do!

 

1 hour ago, LDM34046 said:

 

Boards are waiting to be assembled, buildings ready to be built, electrics and point motors arriving this week.

 

At least you have some other jobs you might be able to get ahead on if you've a spare hour.

 

1 hour ago, LDM34046 said:

 

Once the track finally arrives I’ll be ready to hit the ground running!

 

With the exception of a particularly gentle parachute landing into a headwind, that's never a good idea. 😁

The amount of times I've heard someone say that in a meeting and I visualise them jumping out of the back of a moving truck, legs flailing.

I have seen a couple of people trying it, misjudging the speed and taking a very close look at the ground.

It's highly amusing for everyone else at least!

[LDM34046]

41 minutes ago, Graham T said:

Sorry, what I meant was, did you think about using different trackwork i.e. not Peco.

Not really sure what else I could use.

 

I don’t particularly want to go down the hand built route and I’ve heard working with the pre-made C&L can be a pain although I might look into it again.

 

DCC Concepts has their legacy track but I could only find that available in packs of 25 lengths.

Edited June 4, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

8 minutes ago, MrWolf said:

It's frustrating when progress on any projects is seemingly out of your hands. I get that with machining jobs I don't have the equipment for, could do in a morning if I had, but have to wait a month for someone else to do!

 

It's proving very frustrating! The cosmetic benefits of bullhead are endless but trying to actually get hold of any, plus trying to get updates on orders are proving a nightmare! 

 

As with all aspects of modelling, there's no real rush. I'm just keen to get stuck in on this new project!

[MrWolf]

I did consider bulkhead track myself, but stuck with FB code 100 in deference to some of my antiquated locos and stock.

 

Ballasted, painted and weathered, it doesn't look too out of scale IMO.

 

 

 

 

[LDM34046]

A few felines have made their way onto Lancaster Lane. Testing the eyesight for painting!

 

[LDM34046]

A rare video from Lancaster Lane.

A special delivery for the local merchant in the form of his new Austin Somerset in Buckingham Green!

 

 

[LDM34046]

Rome wasn’t built in a day but I’m glad that baseboards are!

 

Sat down this evening and assembled the Tim Horn boards ready for the next project. 
 

 

 

Still need to add in the cross members however I’m going to leave them until I know where the point motors are going! Saves a lot of leg work later on. Metal alignment dowels are also in place along with retaining bolts.

 

 

I might add an additional bolt in the centre or add some latch catches on either side to create a stronger join between the fiddle yard. 
 

Some IKEA adjustable legs might also be a good idea to help support the weight as the fiddle yard will be hanging off the end of the desk.

 

A small lip was also integrated into the fiddle to stop any rolling stock rolling off the edge. Always one of my biggest fears when exhibiting!

 

 

The finished boards, currently drying overnight. Peckett for scale!  😲 Started to dawn on me how much bigger this project is but I’m excited to get modelling. Will be nice to give locos a good run from one end of the board to the other.

 

 

Work hours permitting, off to the model shop at the weekend to pick up the last bits of track and scenic items. 

[LDM34046]

Boards are finally in their new home (minus the fiddle yard). Still need to clear some bits of the desk so it'll sit further back. Lancaster Lane can attach to the left hand far end of the board should the space allow. 

 

 

1:1 Scale drawings were printed out and laid out so I can start working out where to drill holes for point motors etc. Now seeing the track plan on the boards I've decided that the design is too 'front heavy' and the track sits too close to the edge of the board. I've altered the plan by changing the furthest point from a left hand to a right hand. This will shift the whole track plan backwards about an inch and a half and will hopefully balance the space out front and back.

 

 

A quick mock up of the house on the hill. A Fair Price scratch-aid kit ready to be build and clad in brick. The house will sit about an inch off the base on a small embankment with the path rising up the house.

 

Edited June 9, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

The busy end of the layout with the village. Bachmann Scenecraft buildings with another Fair Price Scratch-Aid kit sitting behind the pub. A small car garage will sit to the left of the pub with open doors to allow different cameos.

 

 

After mocking up the original plan I've decided to widen then street to allow a bit more breathing room for people and cars. You'll also be able to get a clearer view of the trains passing over the crossing.

 

 

 

I haven't decided what to put at the far end of the street. Originally I was going to do the distillery building however I might do that slightly further along the layout. Trying to create a believable perspective of cars driving down the road will take some thinking.

 

[LDM34046]

The ever familiar Peckett makes it's way over the crossing, framed perfectly by the buildings either side. I'm yet to decide whether to have the crossing gated, maybe operated by a servo.

 

 

Mainline 5775 sits light engine in what will be the station halt with the cottage (high) on the hill in the background.

 

 

The Peckett emerges from between the buildings as 5775 sits in the foreground. Very much looking forward to trying out lots of new photography angles and creating little cameos.

 

 

Couldn't resist sizing up a few of the bullhead points. Having used medium radius points on the previous board it was satisfying to see the long gradual curves of these new points. The correct sleeper spacing also makes a huge difference to how the track appears in photos.

 

 

 

[NHY 581]

9 hours ago, LDM34046 said:

The ever familiar Peckett makes it's way over the crossing, framed perfectly by the buildings either side. I'm yet to decide whether to have the crossing gated, maybe operated by a servo.

 

 

Mainline 5775 sits light engine in what will be the station halt with the cottage (high) on the hill in the background.

 

 

The Peckett emerges from between the buildings as 5775 sits in the foreground. Very much looking forward to trying out lots of new photography angles and creating little cameos.

 

 

Couldn't resist sizing up a few of the bullhead points. Having used medium radius points on the previous board it was satisfying to see the long gradual curves of these new points. The correct sleeper spacing also makes a huge difference to how the track appears in photos.

 

 

 

 

 

Morning LD. 

 

In my humble opinion...........

 

Unless you are attached to the notion of crossing gates, I would go without. Others may differ on this but there are a few such locations which are ungated. 

 

As to the rest of the layout, I think it looks great. I do feel that you are at the optimum point for buildings and I  would keep the space between the street and house on the hill uncluttered, to preserve the open feel. Maybe a slight, grassy slope back towards the backscene. 

 

The view of the Pannier against the buildings is very Albion Yard. 

 

 

Rob.