ackers5861

I'm still working on a 6 x 4 roundy roundy garage layout. It doesn't unfortunately have castors, but there is walking space around the whole table (narrowest along the back wall being about 2.5 ft). You'd be surprised with what you can fit on when working with such a confined space to be honest. The layout plan is a basic double loop, with two sidings and a branch line. Being my first (and still only) layout, I admit it isn't perfect, but it gets the job done for my basic interests in train operation. The goods siding was designed to enable basic shunting operation without interfering with the main loops, allowing for a third loco to independently operate. The layout is also only DC, but uses a Gaugemaster double track (Model D) controller. /media/tinymce_upload/95fd2bd8ebbc49fbb28f23360484ebec.jpg

Thanks as always. Will do.

Layout update once again. Lots of progress made to the goods yard, plus some minor additions or changes to other parts of the total scenery. Still lots of miscellaneous things and mini projects to be done, but the layout scenery is all pretty much laid down now. No more bare baseboard for the first time. Further purchased some second hand wagons with modified coal loads (still need to get some decent goods wagons, however), alongside the little Bachmann 04 diesel shunter in BR weathered black. Not the right livery perhaps, but I just had to have it when I saw it on the stand especially given its asking price. Other than that, the trackwork needs to be retested and cleaned (esoecially with the excess static grass in parts), and the curved crossing connecting to the goods yard still needs to be added, which I think i'll make either out of plasticard or plaster. I also definitely need to get some little worker men to liven the layout up, along side more coal sacks, wooden barrels and crates to complete the look. I also debated whether or not a couple of ground signals will be justified. Will also attempt to interiorise both the goods and engine sheds as these will be lit up by my lighting system. Although not cheap, some stuff from Busch had been bought to go towards this. Quite looking forward to seeing how this will turn out. Anywhow, that's pretty much everything that's gone on over the past few weeks. Thanks again. Daniel /media/tinymce_upload/d66690c69bfe5a0fef2dd65e85440578.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/321625d1f97b83c397d5e818081d7894.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/324415c1d042cd741ff5f56e692d083f.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/90eb46cdb8521f34dd1b04e36e164376.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/40ca64ea605a5bab9a4414c7f04f634c.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/97ab408542a8b5463040fb54f0bd7b40.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/7aa12521b1cebf50c8f84abbb6082c8e.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/93ce2307f34d329d0af1945005f580c3.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/b610d82370c4cf82a7a95b2fbccc99d2.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/5a26e8e223ae16dab32f754d04288935.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/7e1344756397e4a8eee22c57bed25d1b.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/da01d5321019fbb10a497dc2005ff1ce.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/b7712b1d1ec8e27f6dd1bd25dc6cff84.jpg

That 08 shunter looks great in the BR blue. Should really get one myself at some point.

That’s a beautiful set right there, @Margate-Richmond. Right down to the packaging.

Thanks Jim. Yep, can’t go wrong with a shunter. Now that photo moderation is back on, I plan to post a new layout update early next week. Lots of new additions.

Acquired a second hand Bachmann 04 Shunter in BR weathered (Early Emblem) Black. I wanted a loco like this for the layout, so when I saw it on the stand at my local model shop, especially at the asking price, I just had to have it. A nice little runner that I thought would be a great addition to my layout. How can you not love an 04 diesel shunter? /media/tinymce_upload/40f9232f27114b1306322b03dce538a7.jpg

Thanks atom. To be fair, I probably would have attempted to compatmentalise the house interior in an ideal situation, but it's just one hollow piece with a hole at the base.

Thanks Gordon. Yes, accounting for all the breaks i've had up to this point (starting back in late July 2018, so nearly 1 year and 5 months), i'd say it's almost been exactly or just over a year that i've spent working on the layout. While I know a layout can never be 'truly finished' I suppose, I project to have this layout reach a near enough finishable state by the end of winter, as long as I can keep managing my time.

Figured I might as well try and light up some of the other buildings, including the signal box, which I felt needed lights of some kind if every other building was going to include such. Signal box had a sealed roof so I had to basically partially destroy it to fit in the led. The cottage was repainted externally and internally as the ceramic walls and roof were deceptively translucent. An accidental pinkish, whitish brown was first coated, which I actually thought looked quite nice and therefore kept on. Overall, quite happy with the result. Daniel /media/tinymce_upload/b3c636ed48b6b80e228bec61dbca5adb.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/9480c47adaaa08d1e86cc3b3b33b6486.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/88d98390d159506b41b6ab0dc6acb5f8.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/9abaa27d7e6d24d6f228ea0a63926381.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/e55dd2795bd9ea9d3fdcac708787a7ca.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/56a29b6b95c181a7b22638487c2d31e6.jpg

Sorry about all the typos that plague my previous post. Auto correct on my mobile device likes to play up and I rushed to have it sent.

Layout update: Started work on the goods/fiddle yard by relaying the track according to the revised trackplan. Just needs to be glued down and wired up now. Further got my hands on a Peco Ratio 534 GWR goods shed, and I have to say, it’s not a bade little model. My painting skills are novice level at best, but Inthought it turned out reasonably alright for my standards. Should make a good and relevant addition to the layout. /media/tinymce_upload/1df05d4aa19c7fe98a8d23571a896494.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/3632692b8c20e93d34b008bbf2cc6e95.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/b972df61faed1c03c37f879696a33ace.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/8f21c331467fd9fbb5ec6d16a6d0a4f7.jpg Further some developments to the lighting system. The plan is to power up to 13 3v or 12v led units via a 16/0.2mm power distribution circuit and DC adpater. I’m not the most competent solder so I wanted to minimise this as much as possible via terminal block usage; the only thing that should require soldering are the resistors for the 3v led street lamps. My intention was to hook them up to the circuit via 7/0.2mm wire, but the wires on the lamps are extremely thin somim not quite sure how to approach them. I have at least tested, and they do at least work with the resistors bought. Lights were successfully installed into the station main building - not an easy task considering that the building was not made with less originally in mind (beginner mistake). The gable end of the building was not accessible so interior lights we added only in the center. Although not that visingle, some interior deco was added to increase realism. Single white leds (1 on entrance side and 2 on platform side) were installed for under-canopy lighting. Given the limits I had, I think it was a fairly successful project, but the lack of full interior lighting I admit does let it down. I couldn’t get the background light levels right for my camera, but the images should hopefully demonstrate the difference made to the station with the leds on. Cheers. /media/tinymce_upload/5d113b9e0057423896887b6f9b89a071.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/3ba2226a66ad03e5d7c3ba8541a4c896.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/7ae8db5a3b3e191f816c0cdf7684700d.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/cbe2e30ce6b30dc89edce45816862c15.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/0306a3a181faf4523ff4156d5eb1e4fd.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/bc212cc09a47c988296b2a8a01bab2f0.jpg

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Always very encouraging to read.

Layout update, Made first big progress on layout in a while, which was by installing the backscene and doing some touch-ups to the scenery in places. Quite pleased with the difference it’s overall made. Backscene boards can be removed in sections if absolutely needed, but my arms are fortunately long enough, particularly with stand, to reach for the layout centre and still model. Next up on the list would be my lighting system and completing the fiddle yard. Cheers. Daniel /media/tinymce_upload/095cfa149da5f294ba9a43d442a58223.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/9b60a7ab16f394636d52d748673d7b62.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/592b0335ba79008a3cf6620b6101fa60.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/df8e977a86afc5ac81e999e568c6b295.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/7eef871d701942a8eff3b8a5e7e4a751.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/0277b9ec62d0850c341864489c929d5f.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/3eb599c2a588badfcabe84f09a8a6220.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/0eac03d37fe26d2aeb66d5cf95d0851f.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/c915999fddd4139868da3a88f3ceccd0.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/443a0b6a4867468765a85fe654724e5e.jpg /media/tinymce_upload/c3ff073a5768cb8501a97b509590c70f.jpg

Have to agree bulliedboy. Another great example, which I've taken significant inspiration off, is Mouldy Raspberry's first layout which is basically the original Hornby trakmat, but the scenery is really quite something.