Steve Cook
Flying Squad
Quick and easy, small and manageable, based on a plan from a book. Three aims for this project, and I have comprehensively failed to achieve any of them
The very original idea was to build a plan from a book, knocking one off the 'to do' list. The selected plan had been Penthalk Junction by Ken Gibbons, but I was intending to do it in EM as opposed to OO (although as Ken noted noted, it was suitable for any of the 4mm gauges). The plan was based in Cornwall, inspired by Coombe Junction and fitted into 8' x 10" including two fiddle yards. I'm not sure whether it was intended or not, but the whole layout (scenic, fiddle yards and traversers) could have been built from one sheet of 4 x 2 ply, very clever. An email to Neil to enquire whether he was still building points to order elicited the response that he was not, but he was happy to build me a couple anyway, marvellous! A shopping trip at Warley netted a Warship (seen in the Cambrian News thread posed on Shell Island) so things were looking good.
Alas, I was outmanouvred by Cynric and Geoff with the result that I ended up purchasing a Hymek from the Guv, throwing my plans into turmoil - Hymeks never worked the clays down that way - and I had just spent the money that was going to go on a bubble car. A great surprise from the Guv was that he had included a Bachmann 08 in the box we shall have to count that as a favour owed I think ;D I now had three locos and four wagons, so ditching the 'plan from a book' idea, I set to trying to come up with a yard type layout. As is usual for these things, with no definite space established, the plan grew in size and complexity until I had completely drifted away from anything representing the original scope. I have pulled it back a little from that point, so with that brief description of how I got here established, onto the layout proper.
After scrapping Tunnel 4 last weekend, one board was salvaged to become the basis for this layout. The dropped section was raised back up to create a level surface, then some of the old legs rebuilt to fit. I added adjustable feet this time, although the main aim was to raise the board up from 40" tall to 42", I found 40" too low when standing operating or working on the layout.
In order to loose a bit of the 'planky look', L girders were made to carry additional scenery - these were added to the front and left hand side (4" deep) and one for the rear (2" deep). These additions are removable so I can get the layout up into the loft if required.
With the space now defined, the track plan was up next. Since my first procrastinations, Neil had very kindly sent through a single slip and I couldn't turn down the opportunity to use it. The board length of 63" made including a run round loop very difficult, but by using two locos in a 'tag team' style (that 08 turned out to be very useful Guv ) I could just worry about trying to create some reasonably long siding to shunt and shuffle with. After moving bits of track around, the following plan seemed to be best use of space to me whilst giving me enough operating capability (this is intended to be a quick layout that I can just turn on for 10 mins or so of shunting)
As it turns out, the plan is a shortened version of Newent on the Daffodil line. The original line ran from Ledbury to Gloucester with Newent being approx halfway through. The line ran until 1964 (freight only), but I reckoned I could stretch the time out a bit and run a couple of hydraulics. The revised history is that the line closure was delayed until the early 70's, the line being lifted from Gloucester back towards Ledbury. As the mid point, Newent was left open as a yard, albeit truncated from the original station layout to provide storage for all of the lineside items removed during the demolition. The model will assume that the line has just been truncated, hence I can get away with no running through. The original platforms will actually cross the joint between fiddleyard and layout, the idea is to have the fiddleyard almosy completely scenic to increase the layout length in photographs. There will be no backscene at all to avoid unsightly edges - I shall just remove the pictures from the wall when required!
Fast forward from last weekend to today and we have both the layout and fiddle yard boards up, the fascias fitted and the first scenic contours added (its all a bit loosely bolted together as I still have some sanding to do on the fascia boards)
Fully assembled its 107" long and 17.5" deep at the widest point. The fiddleyard will be a single track that I can place or remove stock on at will. A small lift out section has been added to the front edge of the FY
This section hides all of the DCC controllers and associated wiring when the layout is not in use - as it will be on display in the lounge I felt a tidy approach was required.
Lifting the lid (it will have a small border added to the underside to stop stock rolling off when it is mounted the other way up) shows all the kit thrown in. The main controller has enough space to be connected permanently, but out of the way as I prefer the knob style of speed controller on the additional cab.
The small brace which doubles as a support for the shelf also hides the back of the PowerCab connector and the layout wiring (once I've added it)
The view from underneath
Putting the connectors here keeps them out of sight, hopefully adding an uncluttered look to the layout. The Fascia boards will eventually become white, whilst a white curtain will be used to mask the legs, mains wiring etc.
Right, I'm sure I've waffled enough...
Steve
The very original idea was to build a plan from a book, knocking one off the 'to do' list. The selected plan had been Penthalk Junction by Ken Gibbons, but I was intending to do it in EM as opposed to OO (although as Ken noted noted, it was suitable for any of the 4mm gauges). The plan was based in Cornwall, inspired by Coombe Junction and fitted into 8' x 10" including two fiddle yards. I'm not sure whether it was intended or not, but the whole layout (scenic, fiddle yards and traversers) could have been built from one sheet of 4 x 2 ply, very clever. An email to Neil to enquire whether he was still building points to order elicited the response that he was not, but he was happy to build me a couple anyway, marvellous! A shopping trip at Warley netted a Warship (seen in the Cambrian News thread posed on Shell Island) so things were looking good.
Alas, I was outmanouvred by Cynric and Geoff with the result that I ended up purchasing a Hymek from the Guv, throwing my plans into turmoil - Hymeks never worked the clays down that way - and I had just spent the money that was going to go on a bubble car. A great surprise from the Guv was that he had included a Bachmann 08 in the box we shall have to count that as a favour owed I think ;D I now had three locos and four wagons, so ditching the 'plan from a book' idea, I set to trying to come up with a yard type layout. As is usual for these things, with no definite space established, the plan grew in size and complexity until I had completely drifted away from anything representing the original scope. I have pulled it back a little from that point, so with that brief description of how I got here established, onto the layout proper.
After scrapping Tunnel 4 last weekend, one board was salvaged to become the basis for this layout. The dropped section was raised back up to create a level surface, then some of the old legs rebuilt to fit. I added adjustable feet this time, although the main aim was to raise the board up from 40" tall to 42", I found 40" too low when standing operating or working on the layout.
In order to loose a bit of the 'planky look', L girders were made to carry additional scenery - these were added to the front and left hand side (4" deep) and one for the rear (2" deep). These additions are removable so I can get the layout up into the loft if required.
With the space now defined, the track plan was up next. Since my first procrastinations, Neil had very kindly sent through a single slip and I couldn't turn down the opportunity to use it. The board length of 63" made including a run round loop very difficult, but by using two locos in a 'tag team' style (that 08 turned out to be very useful Guv ) I could just worry about trying to create some reasonably long siding to shunt and shuffle with. After moving bits of track around, the following plan seemed to be best use of space to me whilst giving me enough operating capability (this is intended to be a quick layout that I can just turn on for 10 mins or so of shunting)
As it turns out, the plan is a shortened version of Newent on the Daffodil line. The original line ran from Ledbury to Gloucester with Newent being approx halfway through. The line ran until 1964 (freight only), but I reckoned I could stretch the time out a bit and run a couple of hydraulics. The revised history is that the line closure was delayed until the early 70's, the line being lifted from Gloucester back towards Ledbury. As the mid point, Newent was left open as a yard, albeit truncated from the original station layout to provide storage for all of the lineside items removed during the demolition. The model will assume that the line has just been truncated, hence I can get away with no running through. The original platforms will actually cross the joint between fiddleyard and layout, the idea is to have the fiddleyard almosy completely scenic to increase the layout length in photographs. There will be no backscene at all to avoid unsightly edges - I shall just remove the pictures from the wall when required!
Fast forward from last weekend to today and we have both the layout and fiddle yard boards up, the fascias fitted and the first scenic contours added (its all a bit loosely bolted together as I still have some sanding to do on the fascia boards)
Fully assembled its 107" long and 17.5" deep at the widest point. The fiddleyard will be a single track that I can place or remove stock on at will. A small lift out section has been added to the front edge of the FY
This section hides all of the DCC controllers and associated wiring when the layout is not in use - as it will be on display in the lounge I felt a tidy approach was required.
Lifting the lid (it will have a small border added to the underside to stop stock rolling off when it is mounted the other way up) shows all the kit thrown in. The main controller has enough space to be connected permanently, but out of the way as I prefer the knob style of speed controller on the additional cab.
The small brace which doubles as a support for the shelf also hides the back of the PowerCab connector and the layout wiring (once I've added it)
The view from underneath
Putting the connectors here keeps them out of sight, hopefully adding an uncluttered look to the layout. The Fascia boards will eventually become white, whilst a white curtain will be used to mask the legs, mains wiring etc.
Right, I'm sure I've waffled enough...
Steve