PJ_model_trains

Thanks Rod As we progress with our layouts it is amazing how we look at other peoples layouts differently. I am certainly starting to look at the finer detail people include on their layouts and hoping I can try make mine look as realistic. Naturally I look at the locos people have, that is what we all enjoy, but I also like tinkering and making everything look as real as possible, even adding weeds! (real, except no steam, no oily rag, but room for my brew) 😎 Keep sharing your images guys, we are all learning and constantly looking for ideas. 😀

I love to look at other people's layouts, I believe we all learn from each other, viewing the layouts of others also gives us ideas we can adapt. Another important aspect, I believe, is it helps new members, people new to the hobby, not just to see what can be done but also encourage them to get into the hobby and enjoy it as much as we do. Inspiration (and a wallet or credit card and away you go). A couple of years ago I remember putting a message on here asking how to solder!!! Doesn't time fly. I do like Metcalfe's models, they look good, are well thought out and reallly strong when made. Again I would encourage people to adapt them, think outside the box, I have ended up with two buildings from one kit by making them differently.

Thank you RDS All the buildings, walls, platforms are Metcalfe's models, not all built as per kit, the Railway Inn is a kit made low profile but turned into an hotel. All the platforms are made from the Metcalfe platform kits, A4 sheets of tarmac and narrow strips for walls so you make them to suit your layout. Care has to be taken by running a pencil on the leading edge of a carriage, with minimum clearance, to get the curves right but it is really easy to do and as mentioned, you make them to suit your layout not plan track around ready made sections. 😉

Thanks, sadly I do not have your excellent modelling skills, my layout is just for running my collection of trains. I look forward to more images of your layout. I think you have excellent skills bigskybirds. Your layout is a credit to you. I enjoy the modelling side and adding the lighting was a challenge, but I look forward, eventually, to adding ballast, weeds, shrubs etc between the various tracks, may be even some workmen., so long as they promise to work and not stand talking and learning on the tools. 😉 There is a link in the footer message that goes to the layout diary, feel free to view anytiime, I do add images as I prgoress but only add a note on here if there is quite a few additions or substancuial changes to the layout. I think the diary on the RMWeb forum is a great idea, not just for shareing but also looking back at 'how it was'. Pity Hornby don't offer this, it helps to encourage others, we all learn from each other, and is good for beginners to the hobby as well.

Thank you Roger. I honestly cannot wait to play, programming routes will be one of my first I think, planning Express and station hoppers routes and including the sprinters inbetween them. Goods will be last. With 3 dozen signals and 14 RI's it is going to be fun, I just wish the RI's were completed in RM I have sent HRMS a few sample/plans of a small signalling program error tonight. Lets hope all the fixes are cleared this year and we can all move forward. Hope you noticed... I didn't mention LD either 😉

Layout Diary update I have today uploaded a further 4 images to at last include some of my locos. Page 2 of 'Layout Diary' link. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/album/3882-bottom-le-dale-railway-image-diary-building-from-scratch/?st=100 Click any image to see larger picture. The main link to the diary is always in footer message below

Fantastic layout Bigskybirds Excellent detailing shows us all what is possible. Nice video too.

I seem to have been working on the underside of the layout for a long time! It is like a telephone exchange under there only not as neat I am sure. I can't wait to start playing trains and planning routes. 😎 For any one who may be interested I have uploaded another ten images to my model Railway diary. As there are now over 100 images there are now two pages. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/album/3882-bottom-le-dale-railway-building-from-scratch/ There is also a link in my footer message below. I hope you like what you see but... there is a massive amount still to do. Work in progress 😉

Very nice Bulleidboy a credit to you. I also notice the picture of Poole, beautiful place, we lived there for almost eleven years, I would love to move back!

LFX1S Level crossing with sound and speaker http://www.dcpexpress.com/lfx1-level-crossing-light-controller-p-411.html The price was £20, I purchased the additional lights 'LED1 Submin LED pack for Level Crossing Barriers' at £5 so that I could include lights on both sides of the crossing. (Both are wired to the same decoder) When activated the sound begins, this can be continuous or run for 7 seconds, I have set it to sound for 7 seconds. The amber lights at either side come on, then the two red lights each side flash alternatively until cancelled. I must admit I find it very impressive. At a later date I will probably look to get the barrier to work but I have a lot more work on the layout first. The sound and lights for the crossing are controlled through RailMaster and was very easy to set up. I have included 3 images (on 2 pages) but they do not show the light on as it is impossible to catch these with a still picture. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/album/3882-bottom-le-dale-railway-building-from-scratch/ Programming into RM was easy, the lights and sound can be actived manually or in a route program.

Have you been watching them 'Who done it programs' again 2e0 Is the guy holding his head in his hands or is he holding someone elses head? 😳 It looks like he could be throttling someone. With the hole near-by it is not a case of whose done it but may be who is next? On a better note, thanks Monty for the pictures, we have now seen two great pictures... can't wait to see the full monty 😎

I almost forgot... a layout to lean on and room for a brew is a must 😎

Untidy, weedy and rusty 😉 I am not sure when it comes to smoke and smell though 😳

Brilliant 81F I like the cottages and the dry stone walling and gates. Its a credit to you. Thanks for sharing your layout images.

Class 43 HST Virgin East Coast with TTS Sound Looks good, sounds good, I just have to wait for carriages. I was initially put off by the price as TTS sound seems to be increasing steadily, but having received it, heard it and run, it I think it is an excellent addition to my layout.

I told my wife what I was looking for and the suggestion of vermicite! Ten minutes later she came in with a bag of the stuff from the garage!!! Is this what you want she said. I didn't even know we had any, she said she purchased it last year to add to compost when planting seeds! The bag is mixed sizes but around the sizes we have discussed; when ready I think I will get a couple of fine sieves and grade out the very fine and the larger pieces then give it a try.

Some times, some of our layouts are very neat and tidy, not like real life... having said that I wouldn't want mine 'littered' (Not there is such a thing as a real life layout) Sorry couldn't resist 😀

I have just taken this from another thread posted by LC&DR 0.5 to 0.8mm diameter That is very fine, to 00 scale it would be almost like saw dust in size! I do agree some stone ballast does look massive to a loco, even to a workman working line side. I bet he wouldn't want one to drop on his toes. Hopefully the plastic figure has 1/76th scale steel toe tectors in his boots. 😎 Aesthetically probably something between would be proportionally acceptable in appearance. I think. Interesting topic.

Ermmm Cat litter is not that light either, but it will no doubt soak up any engine oil from our locos 😉 It is good to consider as many ideas as possible, although I would worry if any of our two cats sat on my layout, I would need a rake of plank wagons. 🤐 Four lace holes for the cat comes to mind. 😮

I have considered a few different ones when I planned the hinged layout. If anything happens to my wife I would have someone fit a motor and pulleys to lift and drop the layout for me.

We have a few suggestion, I am sure there will be more. Thanks @NormanQ4/RAF96 virmiculite is light and if floatable in is not pourous therefore maybe a silk emulsion may coat it. Roll the stuff in the emulsion I think. Thanks @81F But my Rombouts ground coffee is out of the question. 😛 Nescafe coffee granules??? Thanks @LC&DR I am trying to get to grits with this one. Joking. It sounds feasible, fine enough to make it easy to add between sleepers. Lighter than stone ballast but weight adds up faster than we sometimes realise. My layout has to be lifted for work below and visitors a couple of times a year, and my wife lifts it, hense the reason for the question. I am a bit unsure of the 'old vacuum' though. We only have the modern Dyson and I get told off for using that. What? Deafness can sometimes be handy I think.

I railed this in a casual statement on another forum, but it could run on with ideas... we hope. My comments was... there has to be an alternative to ballast using real pebbles which can be quite heavy. A product that is very lightweight but of similar cale size, one which we could possible split in to batches and colour, each one slightly different, before mixing them together and using for ballest. NormanQ4 has mentioned vermiculite as an option http://www.dupreminerals.com/downloads/vermiculite/micron-grade-vermiculite-datasheet.pdf I am sure there has to be many options and float the idea here to see what you guys can come up with. Many thanks for any replies.

Hi Roger You are correct with some of the images, they are used via the program buttons, some are also programmed. Since the above image I have changed some items, the set all points and set all feathers are different icons now. In the top corner I now have 3 different iamges, they set the double slip and adjoining point, 3 options, 3 icons, all with there own programs. Position of signals are approximate, although many are correct there will be some tweeking as I work my way round the layout. The horizontal lines are just text, underscrore lines, but they help separate the layout from items to temporary help me get feathers working, these look really good. I remain humble, it is work in progress, I have seen a lot of much better layouts, we all have to try use what ever space we have the best way we can. The numbers on the signals are not RM ones, I have switched them off, the ones on my layout are text, I think they are neater, they include the address for the signal and a direction arrow e.g . They work for me, may be not everyones choice. Thanks for your comments Roger I think the items for programming the Cobalt Slow Action Point motors can be moved dow now, just off screen, but kept in case needed later. Back to work, I have some more sigals arrived and another 8 feathers 😉

I am not sure how I follow those great layouts and videos I have just been viewing so here goes with my latest Layout Diary update. I have just included another 9 images so I must have been busy... slowly it sometimes feels but there are some updates for anyone intersted. The Railway Inn now has some internal lighting as well as the external lighting. What lights used, which lights are permanent and which unplug can easily be seen. There are 3 cars in the car park two with lights are now wired in and individually switched. More work with signalling, 2 Train Tech signals with feather/route indicators have been moved and are working. I now have 7 working signals coming out of Bottom-le-Dale station, 2 more in place with wires dropped ready to connect on the next lift. There are also matching dummy signals. It has not been a bad week considering signals and feathers have been tested and reports submitted to HRMS. The signals with feathers are now controlled by the corrresponding points. This coming week my work will begin on the interchange where all the lines come together and cross each other. Signal postions are planned in RM and feathers have been accommodated for. I have been talking with HRMS over the last few weeks, signals and feathers have been discussed along with extensive testing/fault finding (Ray was also involved in the testing) I also asked when there will be a RailMaster update, I will confirm these things in a separate thread, in the RailMaster Forum, next week. Meanwhile I hope you like the latest updates and improvements which can be viewed from the Layout Gallery Link below.

I am not sure how I follow those great layouts and videos I have just been viewing so here goes with my latest Layout Diary update. I have just included another 9 images so I must have been busy... slowly it sometimes feels but there are some updates for anyone intersted. The Railway Inn now has some internal lighting as well as the external lighting. What lights used, which lights are permanent and which unplug can easily be seen. There are 3 cars in the car park two with lights are now wired in and individually switched. More work with signalling, 2 Train Tech signals with feather/route indicators have been moved and are working. I now have 7 working signals coming out of Bottom-le-Dale station, 2 more in place with wires dropped ready to connect on the next lift. There are also matching dummy signals. It has not been a bad week considering signals and feathers have been tested and reports submitted to HRMS. The signals with feathers are now controlled by the corrresponding points. This coming week my work will begin on the interchange where all the lines come together and cross each other. Signal postions are planned in RM and feathers have been accommodated for. I have been talking with HRMS over the last few weeks, signals and feathers have been disussed along with when there will be a RailMaster update. I will confirm this in a separate thread early next week. Meanwhile I hope you like the latest updates and improvements. /media/tinymce_upload/942f77ef98a85fe57780c8df690d855c.jpg