Back To My Childhood(i Never Left It Really)

Arty

Arty

Western Thunderer
Like a lot of modellers , as time goes on you drift to larger scales from 00 to 7mm, then maybe to G1, if you really brave ( or mad ) no definitely mad, even to G3. Well I was/am the latter.
Trouble is with all the larger scales, nothing happens quickly. In 7mm I built quite a lot of loco's and stock, the layout became small dockside effort with a Slaters Manning and a Peckett, no room for the big locos.

After spending most of 1 summer and some of the next I had a continous run around the garden -in G1 and got into US narrow gauge as well. all this takes an enormous amount of time before you can play trains.

Then I had a bout of G3, built some wagons, developed a Ruston 48DS kit from Mr Dales artwork,
and made a start on a G3 08.

Trouble is it's such a long time since I have sat down and watched the trains go round ( I think it must have been in the garden about 4 years ago !!!)

So now look what's happened


00exploit1.jpg

The plan is to install a "test track" around the workshop on a shelf so I can run my newly aquired DMU, 08 and somewhere under the Christmas tree should be a 9f, to re-create the iron ore trains on the Midland main line of the 60's - pure nostalgia.

I really want a blue pulman set when thay appear and a selection of GREEN diesels (sorry folks)

Regards

Richard
 
28ten

28ten

Guv'nor
I would say it is a G3 08
I have come to the conclusion that 7mm is a compromise scale :eek: , it is too big to easily build a layout (4mm wins here) yet it doesnt have the size appeal of 1/32 or even G3. i'll run for cover now :)):))
 
Arty

Arty

Western Thunderer
It certainly is G3, what a difference to my little Bachmann baby, I wonder when it will ever be finished ?

Just looking at all the brilliant stuff now available, it's so tempting. I want a 10000 in green, I remember seeing the pair in the sidings at Derby works when I went to the open days with my Dad, and I want a 31 in green, my father in law built them at the Brush.

Ahhhh so many memories .................


Rgds

Richard
 
28ten

28ten

Guv'nor
Jordan said:
Ah, yes... if I'd read the OP properly, I'd have seen that as well...

:rolleyes::oops:

Surely ALL model scales are a compromise one way or another.... we just have models because we can't afford/haven't space for 12"=1ft scale 'models' of our own.....;)
Click to expand...
Indeed so. it is a slightly tongue in cheek comment :)
 
ceejaydee

ceejaydee

Western Thunderer
My old sadly departed friend Ken B always used to tell me build in the scales you can see and play trains in OO gauge; as the years go by I can see he was right.

A test track is a great idea Richard...... some of the modern OO offerings are so mouthwateringly good as to be almost irresistible.

The recent OO activity on WT inspired me to get my boxes of Triang/Triang Hornby goodies out for inspection... maybe I'll set up an oval of track over the next couple of days for a play testing :)
 
Arty

Arty

Western Thunderer
Well, things have moved on and 80% of the boards/shelves are up around the garage.
Just been working my way around and the only bit missing now is the removable bridge section so that I can get in (and out)00exploits32.jpg00exploits33.jpg00exploits34.jpg00exploits35.jpg
 
Arty

Arty

Western Thunderer
I have to think about preparing the tops to lay track, so some suggestions would be useful.
I've just put a bit of track down just to show the relative size.

Originally this was going to be a "test track" but whilst moving accumulated junk/treasures around, the old imagination has seriously took hold, so an MPD along the far end , a mainline station along one side and a section of retaining walls, trying to re-create the stretch of Midland Main Line on the final approaches to St Pancras is planted in my mind.

Rgds
Richard
 
Arty

Arty

Western Thunderer
I chose to buy contiboard because it is instant shelf, ready to use. I did buy some half sheets of chip but it would have been a pain to set up my table saw ( and the dust ) that I picked the easy way out.
It looks quite nice, but is not a great surface for attaching "stuff"
I dont think I should get any probs with movement, the garage is attached to the house and is not damp, and as you can see, although it's really a big shelf, it is stiffened with extra framing.
 
ceejaydee

ceejaydee

Western Thunderer
You've got a decent amount of space there Richard and are going to have a nice run for your locos and stock.
I'd agree with Jordan that the shiny finish of the shelves is not the best surface for glue to adhere to but a thin track base from mdf, hardboard (as suggested) or cork stuck down is going to help.
I'd probably consider Evo-Stick impact adhesive which whilst smelly and a 'one-shot' type of stuff seems to give good adhesion on the more temperamental materials, I had success with it on black rubber in the past; no kinky stuff, I used it whilst repairing a conveyor belt ;)

Looking forward to the (albeit imaginary online) throb of Sulzer engines reminding me of my trainspotting days on the MML in the early 1980s.
 
Arty

Arty

Western Thunderer
Looking forward to the (albeit imaginary online) throb of Sulzer engines
Click to expand...

This is another aspect that has snowballed since I first came up with the "test track" plan, it was going to be 2 or 3 continuous runs with DC controllers which I have got "in stock" - but with the possibilities of DCC, I've took the plunge, bought a controller and am waiting delivery of a Bachmann 25 with sound on board.

Where will it all end ?

Rgds
Richard
 
Steve Cook

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Arty said:
Where will it all end ?
Click to expand...
When you've run out of space :D
Quick progress since Saturday Rich, guess theres a bit of re-arrangement of 'stuff' required now :)

No experience of using melamine as baseboard here, Jordans suggestions to rough the surface up before gluing seem sensible. Its been a while since I bought some cork flooring tiles, but they may be of use for covering the surface. You'll prbably get two foot of run per tile - unless you go for more than 2 running lines!
Steve
 
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