Stage three- finding a place for the buildings

All the buildings were packed away after I took the end to end layout apart, so I am now trying to see how to fit them in the slightly smaller new space I hace created with the new layout. Here's an early look. Remember, you can click on the pictures to view larger versions.

Testing the newly laid track

After a bit more work I have finished the two main loops around the board and added some buildings.

Now it's time to see if a train will go round the board. You can make the videos run full screen by clicking on the broken square shaped icon beow the picture. Never mind the rather strange loco, its what they call 'Steampunk'. Being used here with a DC power supply to test the inner and outer circuits around the newly laid baseboard.

The end of the End to End layout.

After some thought I have decided I do not like end to end layouts, I want a layout with the ability to continuously run trains as it helps to run locos in and allows me to sit back and watch (or even video them) for a while while they run. So the end to end layout has been removed and I am once again creating a layout that allows continuous running.

I also want to be able to access all around the layout easily without having to duck down under it, so the layout is now in the centre of the room and I can access from the side, the front and the rear. It does mean the laout is back to being slightly shorter than before but it does have extension sections on one end.Pictures might explain it better, this is an early stage as I plan a track layout. All the stuff on the board is there as it has no-where else to go until layout is ready.
Here is a general view of the new layout:

A new part of the extension

The extension part that exisited on previous layout.

As you can see I have a bit of work to do. Watch this space.

Colouring the approach road.

The road to this station comes over a bridge and down to the side of the station where you have to cross the line to get onto the platform. Today I fixed and coloured the approach road to the station and fixed a wall to the front of the road. I also started a bit more ballasting of the track through the station.
Stan and Ollie are still trying to move that Piano in a box.


I will need a wall at the rear of the approach road next and a parapet for the bridge.

Remember you can click on the photos to see larger versions.

Two new pictuures of the 009 layout, I've put it where I can work on it now, so hopwefully will get a bit more done.

A few more pictures of the 009 Layout.

Two layouts - one room

Now i have rearranged the 00 layout to take up three sides of room there is a space in the middle so i put the 009 layout in there fora while. Both layouts now need loads of work to finish them but at least trains run, all be it erratically due to contact issues. you can see both layouts on thiss picture:-

The 009 layout

and the 00 middle section of the end to end layout.

The 00 Layout now departing bed 5

Well, not quite. but I have decided that in view of the number of times I had to climb under the table to resolve issues that happened at the back of the layout, this layout has to go to be replaced by an end to end layout running round three sides of the room.

Previous attempts at a lifting section were unsuccessful so everythin has to go while I build a new layout.

Stage one is to clear the space in the room.

There's a lot to do here! watchthis space.

The track laying is complete, and because this will be DC not DCC I need to wire it up in segments so I can isolate sections when I don't want the trains in them to move.

Here is a picture of the layout and wiring so far. I hope it works.

Work has slowed down at present as I have more important issues to deal with, but I hope to carry on at some time later this year.

I have now almost competed laying the track on my new baseboard and am testing a train on it.

I have also decided where to put the Engine Shed.

Next the electrics will need to be sorted out and the track fixed down properly, as its currently held in place with nails into the polystyrene base. I' hoping it will relax to the shape it is in now, rather than springing back to straight as soon as I take out the nails. Lets see the track test again.

A new Layout

I decided to make use of the old 4 x 2 piece of wood with the abandoned N gauge project to create a new layout, in Narrow Gauge or 009. Using a couple of examples from Railway Modeller Magazine I have started this and was woring on it in the garden the other day. To see what I am planning you will have to wait a while but I have been watching videos on youtube related to 009 layout building and hope to have something to look at soon, in the meantime here I am in the garden with a few bits and pieces.

N

Unhappy with the trucks purchased for the Narrow Gauge section, I have bought some slightly larger ones, together with a second loco.

Here they are as delivered, as finished and on the layout. I still have a bit of work to do on the couplings, it appears these small locos have various types of couplings, but they aren't all compatible with each other.

I have been doing further work on the narrow gauge railway and have now laid all the track, ballasted some of it and can run a loco from end to end.

Here is a video of the loco in action.

Building an 009 Loco.

009 Locos, (Narrow Gauge 4mm scale) loco's are quite expensive but you can buy 3D printed models which you construct yourself.

To go with these you need an electric chassis and I used a KATO 11-109 Chassis purchased from Tramfabriek, the owner of who I saw at Rattery Exhibition.

The kit (shown in last blog) itself was purchased from Brooks 3D Models.

It was supposed to be easy to put together without instructions but I followed a Youtube video Constructing the Glyn Valley Loco which was very good.

Pictures follow of various stages in the construction. The scale is very small and it wasn't that easy. Tweezers are essential as are good eyes, mine could be better!

And here it is on my layout with some slate trucks also bought fron Brooks 3D Models and put together by me.

Further changes to the layout

Inspired by a trip to a model railway exhibition in Rattery which was mostly Narrow gauge (009 gauge) and by a free backscene which came with a railway modeller magazine, i decided to add a narrow gauge line on my layout. I was surprised by how small people could make a narrow gauge layout and just how much detail they could add.

I have decided that my narrow gauge will run from behind houses at the back of the layout, through the town and on to the front right corner, running over one of the storage sidings which will become a hidden siding.

For Christmas I rquested a 009 locomotive kit and a chassis to fit it on, and I now have to construct and paint the kit, add the backscene on the layout and modify it to take the narrow gauge track. That will keep me busy for a while.

While adding the people etc. I just thought I'd get a quick video of a couple of the trains running.

I've added a couple of coaches to one of the trains.

Adding a few vehicles and people

I have added a few vehicles and people to the layout, so it isn't just trains. Here are a few pictures of various parts of the layout.