7mm Long Term Plan Coming to Fruition

Tim Humphreys ex Mudhen

Western Thunderer
For quite some time I’ve been considering build a small steam/diesel cross-over era loco shed. At the end of last year, I decided it was about time I got started.
First stage was a design and to help with that I thought I’d better learn how to use Templot. It took a couple of days but it has been really worth the effort., thank you Martin Wynne. My thoughts were that it was an old steam shed that had been modernised by the addition of a servicing facility for the diesel locos that were appearing. After a lot of trial and error the design was finalised as per the first photo.

MPD Build.png

Locos enter the yard at the top right. The end of the two top roads on the left will the location of a two track steam shed and the two below are for the coaling tracks.
The bottom left road provides access to a two-track diesel maintenance shed which will be situated on the far right bottom two tracks. Above these is a storage road for diesel fuel tankers.

The layout is 13’ 3” long and 3’ 6” wide, this being a size that will fit into the middle of my garage. It’s comprised three boards which whilst not designed to be exhibited will allow it to be moved fairly easily.

Layout Build 1.JPG


The track work is to be built to S7 standards. I wanted to speed up production as much as possible and so had a conversation with friend Phil Healey Pearce of Intentio models. His thoughts were to use the templot plan to laser cut the entire sleeper base out of 3mm plywood as a series of interlocking sheets. These could then be laid out on the baseboards, the surround supporting structure removed and the bases glued down. Twenty three sheets arrived from him and put in place. A great piece of work from Phil with no issues. Here's three photos to show the result, the laser cut sheets can be seen quite clearly


Layout Build 3.JPG

Layout Build 4.JPG

Layout Build 5.JPG


I'm now moving on to track building. One of the Love Lane team has machined the switch blades for me and I'm now working on putting together the crossing assemblies using the S7 jigs. Bags of chairs and other parts are on their way to me from the stores ready for track assembly.

More to follow in due course.


Tim
 

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
Please describe how you get from a stack of laser cut sheets to sleepers / timbers fixed to the baseboards

thank you, Graham
 

Tim Humphreys ex Mudhen

Western Thunderer
Graham,

As in the photos the sheets are laid out in the correct order and position on the baseboards. I will then lift each sleeper panel from its sheet and apply a thin layer of glue, then replace in the position from whence it came. The 'blanking panels' either side will be removed as this procedure takes place. it may be that I mark the position of the panel before its lifted to assist accuracy or perhaps using some locating pins.I won't try to do all at once but break it down into smaller sections that left to dry before proceeding. Gorilla wood glue will be used which has quite good instant grab but can still be manipulated if necessary.

Tim
 

Ressaldar

Western Thunderer
Hi Tom,

I like your plan but is the entry track (top right) a tad short, will you get a reasonable sized loco clear of the point blades to change the points?

regards

Mike
 

Tim Humphreys ex Mudhen

Western Thunderer
Good spot Mike, the plan is that there will an extension on that corner leading to a fiddle yard. That board will run to the side of the oak column in the fist of the layout photos.

Tim
 
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Crimson Rambler

Western Thunderer
Tim

May I ask please about the trestles you have used?

Would you kindly advise who the manufacturer/supplier is - they look just right for my train set!


Crimson Rambler
 

Crimson Rambler

Western Thunderer
Thank you @Mudhen for the information and link. Never thought of Screwfix - I had been Googling Builders' trestles, which resulted in much heavier and clumsy options.


Crimson Rambler
 

Marsh Lane

Western Thunderer
Try Toolstation too - rebadged variant much cheaper than Screwfix.
Dave
Its worth finding some you like, then doing a google for the type and model - then click on 'Shopping' at the top of the Google page and see what shops are offering. I bought some Draper tresses three/four years back .. and found a DIY shop in Edinburgh who would do mail order to Yorkshire and were offering buy three get a fourth free! As I wanted seven, I gained a spare at no cost! Also worked out cheaper than anywhere else, so well worth shopping around.

I bought my trestles in B&Q.
Dont know if its applicable to @Crimson Rambler but do B&W still do an over 60s day or afternoon where there is a discount. If its valid for you and they do, that can make a difference, especially with the saving in postage. Just a thought!

View attachment 156758

The track work is to be built to S7 standards. I wanted to speed up production as much as possible and so had a conversation with friend Phil Healey Pearce of Intentio models. His thoughts were to use the templot plan to laser cut the entire sleeper base out of 3mm plywood as a series of interlocking sheets. These could then be laid out on the baseboards, the surround supporting structure removed and the bases glued down. Twenty three sheets arrived from him and put in place. A great piece of work from Phil with no issues. Here's three photos to show the result, the laser cut sheets can be seen quite clearly


View attachment 156765

Tim

Nice plan Tim. I also like Phil's idea of the sleeper sheets, although it seems to waist quite a bit of ply (that's not being dismissive of the idea, you or Phil!) just my thought - given that the cost of wood has gone through the roof lately. But its certainly a good idea. can the 'infill' between roads be removed after you have stuck the sleepers down?

Richie
 

JimG

Western Thunderer
Just a note about these trestles. I got a couple a year or two ago to go under my US switching layout for an exhibition at Thornbury. I found them extremely difficult to get in the car along with the baseboards - they do take up a lot of room unless you partially strip them down. I finished up getting a pair of cheap trestles from B&Q which were much more compact - albeit placing the layout a bit lower than it would have been on the Screwfix adjustable trestles but I could live with that. The Screwfix trestles have sat unused in the garage ever since. :)

My car is a Dacia Logan estate which has a fair amount of room with the rear seats down.

Jim.
 

daifly

Western Thunderer
I found them extremely difficult to get in the car along with the baseboards - they do take up a lot of room unless you partially strip them down.
I agree. There's no doubt that they should not be considered as portable. Fine for home use - they are sturdy and adjustable for height but you'll need a van if you're taking even a small layout to a show!
Dave
 
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