A new update

Well i promised i would do a fuller update and here it is. Since my last post i have had to completely change one end of the layout. This being the town/station raised area. I have was having so much difficulty in doing the retaining wall that i decided i wouldnt bother for its first show and have changed it to a flat design as can be seen in the piccies. Since then i have added the foliage, some trees and the fence. The bridge has also been extended and modified to suit. Ive ordered some more Knightwing fencing so i will continue this up to the footbridge with an area of hardstanding behind the fence. I've also just finished the wiring for all the points. Although i still have the route setting for the 5 main fiddle yard roads which wont be done before the show all of the other points are operable. The only other electrical jobs is to now install some extra signals in the station area due to the extention, this will be done although i am having to replcace two tag strips as i didnt put enough capacity in the first time, lesson learnt! Anyway i hope to have more to show next week when there something to see.

Dont go away...

Literally as the title says. Ive been busy with everything and anything at the moment so i havent really had the time to update this blog as much as i would like. Having said all that i hope to put a post up tomorrow detailing everything to date and some things have changed quite drastically from what was planned. My plan has always been, make it up on the spot!

A new update for a new month....

Well its been a while again, so many things have taken over my time since update so here it is. The last few weeks, months even i have been debating to see if its possible to do hands off uncoupling. I was going to bodge a system using the tension locks but after having heard of various trials with them i decided it was the way to go. Basically my main problem was a 1st radius curve so having tried some out today they all sailed round fine. I could probably even drop it from the long to medium shank length which is what surprised me especially as i keep getting told you cant do it on less than 3rd radius, i proved that wrong! The layout was set up today and run for the first time and it all works fine. Not a single problem even on the uneven patio. This is something i wanted to get out of the way as if anything didn't work i wanted to find out as soon as possible. Ive also got my On-On-On switches courtesy of rapid and Ive also fitted some new signals to the front to protect the run round loop. This should mean the major electrics are done although i do need to sort out how many buffer stop lights i need so i can get an order off to Mr Barrow. The wiring is done for this however through the panel, Switch and onto a connection on the panel so it would be a quick job to install. I'm going to upload some video to youtube tomorrow showing it working and it up in its full size. It looks so small in a show hall but its massive at home. Still its just under 16 weeks to go now! Also for some reason it isnt putting the paragraphs in properley, i dont know why though!

Weird Posts

Some of you may have noticed three posts of utter gibberish this afternoon. Thats what happens when you let your three and half year old nephew use your smart phone! Anyway getting back to the layout. The other end of the fiddle yard has been completed. All i need to do now is to join it all up together. The only thing i need to do now is to lay all the straight tracks on the rear. They should be lined up ( i think im 2mm out) but until i set the 4 up together i cant really say for certain. Anyway just a quick one this as there isnt really very much to report.

Fiddling away

Well work is progressing on the fiddle yard. The other end is now up and tracklaying has commenced. Ive also extended the two sidings but ive left the loco headshunt the same length.

The only other thing to report is a change in location. Its now in the wessex area. My eventual plan is to fit 3rd rail to the main lines and the loop. This will mean i can add a Hornby 4Vep to my fleet. Assuming i can find one that works of course. A 4cig wouldnt go amiss either.

Nothing else however is changing as nothing needs to be changed. The only job i have to do is to add two shunt signals as the fixed signals will be off scene. Then its just a question of ballasting, flocking etc to make it look all presentable.

And im still waiting for my dynamis command station back from Bachmann Its been 7 weeks now!!

Fiddling it all

Well ive been working on the fiddle yard and have now got to the extent that one end is done. Ive used code 100 track with set track curves and points to save space. Once i cut two rails tomorrow i can start the other en and then set up the entire rear fiddle yard so i can get it all aligned. Then its wiring it all up so i can have auto matic route setting to make things easier.

Ive also been working on the other scenic break. Its difficult to describe but there is a station building along with a bus depot and a row of shops. I have a sketch of it which i will upload tomorrow. But for now youll have just imagine it all :D

Autoglym

The autoglym model number remover. Works on most models and doesnt damage paint work unless your silly with it.

Trackage

Well the Bristol show has passed without a hitch and ive now got some of the kit i need to continue on my fiddle yard. Its mainly s/h track but its all lightly used and clean so practically as new. I still have a few points left to get and the odd length of flexi but apart from that ive got most of it so i will get on with that this week.

Ive also had the chance to do some rolling stock work this weekend and have dismantled 7 lima TEA tanks for respray, denumbered and denamed a 37 and began removing the logo off the mobil TTA tanks. Ive begun using a car polish to remove the numbers and logos and found it worked quite well. Ill post a pic in the next post of the said polish but i know halfords stock. Tcut also works but is far more abrasive so this stuff is better as its less abrasive but still effective.

Anyway enough for now....

Timber!

The last few days has seen me back in the garage cutting up bits of wood into a vague attempt to sort out the woody problems. This included extending the boards so they all match. Along with building new legs and adding bracing to the exsisting boards. This is all done and has proved successful in that everything fits together. I still have the end plates to do but i shall probably do that closer the time.

The next task is to lay the track and add the wiring. I will begin from the current scenic break and work round so that i can have it in a working U shape initially. Then i will complete the last two boards to give me a continious circuit.

This means i need to consider the station again and how im going to do it as i currently dont have a clue so no change there then.

Flasher and Furniture

In an effort to finish the scenic section of the layout to a reasonable standard ive tried to get most things sqaured up. So today i fitted the last of the station furniture and did the last of the wiring (accept for fitting the two signal switches in the panel) the front section is nearly done. I might now look at the end plates for the layout as well as getting on building some more legs. While doing this i will crack on and look what the fiddle yard needs doing to it. In this case everything except the boards!

I would say im roughly half way through. There lots more to do and the clock is ticking. Better stop yakking and get cracking.

Fiddling Around

I decided to make an effort and get on with some jobs today. This has meant the fiddle yard boards are nearly ready to go and have track laid on them as they have been bolted together and aligned ready. I will take the scenic section down so i can box it up ready. I might as well do it now as it all needs doing.

One job i have to do is to build some legs for the fiddle yard. I have two legs i can widen by replacing the cross members but i need at least two more which will have to be constructed from scratch although i hope this shouldnt be too difficult.

In terms of the scenic section i have added the concrete barriers to the bus station today and stuck down some of the industrial estate details. Hopefully in the next day or two i will pack it down and do the end plates (see above) and then begin work on the fiddle yard.

Before i do this however i have also drilled the hole for the digger. This needs wiring in so i need to solder up some wires (should only take 10 minutes or so) so i can get this working. I will do this before i dismantle it so i know its done.

Anyway enough for now!

Latest Photos

Well trainwest has now passed so i thought id upload the latest photos for you all to enjoy.

Update

Well i wasnt able to get the switches but i did get some smaller details along with an ac to dc converter.
Also the last 47 needed has arrived in the form of 47975 in dutch for the princley sum of £59.99. I only need two more locos but i still have lots of dmu gaps.

Im also still considering the fiddle yard and what im going to do there but its late and another day beckons!!

Trainwest

Just a little note to say im at the Trainwest model railway exhibition at the christie miller sports centre in Bowerhill, Melksham. Some very good layouts to be seen, i also hope some of my stock will get a run. Or thats the plan anyway.

Fenced

Well fence has arrived and installed. I begun the job now of ballasting in the rear area and also sorting out the indsutrial units so they can be fitted. All being well this should be completed in a few days.

The paving in the bus station is now complete along with the platform slope. I still have the concrete barriers to add in the bus station.

Once the two sets of jobs above have been completed in terms of the main layout i can begin adding the details. Ive got two ice cream tubs of bits that came of Westleigh mk1 some of which will go on to mk2. I need to sort through and choose what i will use and what i wont.

I also need to get back to construction issues such as the fiddle yard. So far only the boards have been built so theres plenty to do but thankfully plenty of time to do it all in. Its still only 23 weeks though!

Bus stopping....

Today i did some work on the bus station. I fitted the tarmac sheet and surrounding wall and then proceeded to ballast in around that. I still have the platform to do along with the paving in the bus station area itself but if i can get the bits i will be able to finish this off tomorrow and sunday.

I also hope the fencing should arrive tomorrow. This will allow me to get on with this and finally finish it.

The to do list gets shorter and then gets longer when items related to things recently completed appear so it seems to be in a state of equilibrium.

Replatformed

Well not replatformed as such but restationed certainly. Ive decided to do away with the bridge and go back to something similar to Westleigh mk1 and have a footbridge and bus station. Once i have the continious run up together though i will be looking at putting the bridge in and hopefully by that time i should have a station building of some for or another.

Apart from that board 1 is virtually complete and work has commenced doing the back area of board 2. Im going to use the knightwing fencing and am currently awaiting its delivery. Hopfully it should be here Saturday so i could start it then. This mean i should be able to complete the majority of the layout over the weekend. It will then also mean i will need to consider the fiddle yards. But theres still stuff to do before then!

The illuminated shed

Well i installed the shed guides today as well as the socket for the shed lights. This has all been wired in and was checked and tested to ensure it works.

Apart from that the only other work today has been the fitting of the backscenes. This is so i can see what buildings im likely to use and see how they fit. Im definitley going to use the pikestuff buildings but the peco trainshed bits are touch and go so we shall have to see.

I hope tomorrow to get on and do some of the gap filling with flock and ballast so it will look more like a layout. I think then it will really come to life. But thats all for another day....

Concreted

Well today ive cut, painted and installed the shed base. The tarmac hard standing next to it has also been painted and stuck down which means this area is nearly done. I just need to install the shed guides and the socket for the shed lights and we are nearly good to begin adding in the extra flock and ballast. I will also begin looking at the backscenes so i can add the low relief units and fencing.

One further job for today concerens the station end. Ive attatched the mount so i can screw the walls to the boards. I can then also think about whats going to happen up here too.

But thats all for another day.....

The next step

Well the ballasting is more or less complete with just small touching up to do. The platform is now stuck down and ready to go.

One big change is by the exsisting scenic break, the more and i looked at it the more i thought it didnt look right. So i took it all up along with shortening one track and extending the other. This means i can put the shed further back and means adding the plasticard shed base will be easier.

Ive still not decided on a station building but dapols CO14 looks to be a good bet especially if two were merged and bashed together. I just need to get two kits and try. The other thing i need is the steps from building to platform. These are likely to be scratchbuillt from either a dapol or wills footbridge kit bashed so its just the steps dualed up.

The dynamis has also gone off for repair with the estimate being 4 weeks. Oh well plenty to do in the mean time like build a fiddle yard!

Palace calling

Well had a reasonably enjoyable trip to ally pally today. Managed to get some bits i was after including a bachmann parcels liveried 47 for £50! Only trouble is the motor works intermitantly so i stripped it down and indeed it was the motor and as its a can motor there isnt much you can do! A phone call to bachmann awaits on monday when i should hopefully find out about getting my dynamis repaired as its getting a bit of a pain without it.

Anyway enough for today as i was up at 5am and im already on bst which shows the current time as 11.14pm so at least you cant say im not prepared.

David Bayleys about!

A few images for you to see. These were taken a few days ago. The digital camera is on down time ready for the show this weekend so expect to see some new ones next week.

Ballasted

This week i have been mostly ballasting. Apologies to a fast show sketch there but it really is like that. After finishing the track painting and putting a new hardstanding in along with the shed foundations i could put off the dreaded job no longer!
The ballast is woodland scenics grey blend which i think gives a good colour especially when weathered down. So far i have done most of the straight sections of track leaving just the points to do which i will need to do very carefully to avoid problems from before!

As i mentioned above i have relaid the hardstanding at the shed end. It just looked odd and as id glued bits to it i reasoned just take it out and start again and cut it out complete of an A2 sheet of card which i did. I used the old as a template for part of it with the new section added on. This now means there is road access up past the shed which looks far more realistic. It just needs spraying with my grey primer mix and then sticking down, another job then completed!

Wires of many colours....

Well the wiring is almost finished with the completetion 3 of the 5 signals along with all the light feeds having been soldered up. I only have 10 solder joints to make. These include 8 for the two On-On-On switches and a pair for a flashing light which i cant wire up to a tag strip yet as i dont know where it goes! The wiring should be completed next month as i wont be getting the switches till trainwest. So in the meantime..

Im currently looking at station buildings. These will be on the bridge over th station. Thats about as much as i know so far as im not quite sure what building looks right there and even then no kit or even slightly kitbashed building may not look right so a period of research is called for.

Apart from that there isnt much else to report, the platform is more or less finished, just needs painting and then having a black wash applied to bring out the cracks. For what was my first scratchbuild im really quite pleased, it will look even better once finished!

Structural engineering

Well ive managed to intall the platform. Theres still a little fettling to do but overall im quite pleased! I just need to paint it all up.

I really do however need to consider the station end. My original plan was and still is to have the station up on high. I have visions about what it looks like. Im just not sure how to achieve it but im sure ill think of something. I suppose the first thing is to build a wooden support for it all so i can clad it in brick sheet and then go from there.

Also my dynamis unit has gone on the blink. The handset and the base station arent talking. Trouble is ive tried every suggestion all to no avail. I only have one option left and thats the change the batteries for a good quality set as that can sometimes make a difference. Its worth a shot otherwise its an expensive trip to bachmann!

Platforming

Well i spent some time doing something else and that was cleaning the spare room where the layout is located. Its now nice and tidy so i can find stuff again.

Anyway on to the layout, today i began platform work. All 25 peco platform sides are joined up ready for me to cut the wills victoria paving sheets tomorrow. I need to reduce the size of the sheets as they are currently to wide. I plan to build the platforms off the layout and then fit them. Doing it this way makes them much easier to construct. I can also strengthen them far better than i would otherwise be able to do. They should hopefully look much better than my previous attempt at a platform. I just need to decide now what colour to paint them, then once done i can give them a dirty wash of black to give the slab lines a bit more visability.

Anyway enough gibbering from me for now. Onwards to tomorrow.

Signalling the way.

Well ive spent today fitting the catch point and doing the copperclad so the track can be cut. Ive also been doing the signals, they are all now in with the wiring completed as far as the tag strip, although i havent wired the panel yet. One of the signals ,an eckon junction signal was quite tricky to put together as there was nowhere for the wires to go. A little bit of black paint later and its sorted. Im going to add some non working feathers to the main entry signals. I think i might use the model scene signal and kitbash them together, they dont need to be working as its too close to the curve and tunnel mouth. Its probably prototypically incorrect but its my train set and ill do what i like :). Anyway thats it for now although tomorrow i plan to wire up the panel and then i can test. Thats the wiring more or less done.

Why am i posting this at 2.30 am? Well im also stuffed full of a cold so as im awake now seemed an opportune time.

All electric

Well not terribly much has happened this week. Ive started looking at the scenery and have begun getting the bits needed. The platform parts are all here which are peco sides and wills victoria stone sheet tops, among with some wills cable trunking i hope to start that this week.

The wiring is more or less done, all the points havin been wired up although i am going to install a catch point for the loop which has proved very difficult to get hold of it although im told one should be waiting for me at the worcester show where i am now.

Ive also got all the signals now i just need to install them and wire them up. Thats one of this week jobs aong with the catch point and starting the scenic work. Ive only got 8 months left! Better get on with it!

Pointed....

Well ive managed to do most of what i set out to do today. All the feeds are done, the point motors are in and the copper clad is cut but not installed as ive run out of track pins. The panel is ready so tomorrow i will begin the task of wiring it up so that the points can be tested. I should have the pins by tuesday which means i can finish the joints and cut the tracks. Then its onto the signals or install the wiring at least and add the light feeds. This will finish the major electrics. Then its on to the scenery.

The first job will be to paint the tracks and put the platform edging in. I plan to use the wills victoria paving sheets for the tops. I will also get some more wills cable trunking and add that. Then its on to ballasting. It will be woodland scenics grey blend as before but this time done properley rather than rushed which is what i normally do. Will i be able to hold myself to that? Only time will tell!

Anyway enough for today onwards to tomorrow!

Copper cladding

Hopefully tomorrow i should be able to get on and finish the track as i picked up some copper clad sleeper strips for the board joints. I need to add a feed and then i can move on and install all the point motors. Im looking to start on the scenics next week although i will need to put the plasticard bases for the signals in as they will be added at a later date.

anyway enough for now but hopefully a very productive day tomorow!

Tracked and sorted

Spent most of this week laying the track. All the scenic section is laid and wired for dcc using 7amp wire in a bus formation except for one section which i forgot to add feeds to. I hope to fit the point motors of the next few days and add the plan to the front of the panel which is now black and railfreight grey with a red track diagram. Given i only started it on wednesday im quite pleased with amount done so far. I need to consider the signals and what is where etc but apart from that im more or less up together on the wiring and it will be time to add some scenics.

Further dismantling

Today i had planned to spend time at the Glasgow show but due to the weather it was not to be. Instead i spent today confirming the track plan and cleaning up all the electrical components from the layout so they can be reused.

Im quite pleased with the plan as i have finally got a layout that can take a loco and 5 coaches or a loco and 12 SLUs such as PCAs or HEAs, so i can finally operate it prototypically which must be a first for me.

I hope to get the track tomorrow so i can get on with it. I tend to work fairly fast as i tend to enjoy myself doing it. So therefore expect to see me wiring it up next week. I want to do the scenics better on this one however, although the previous layout was acceptable i thought i could do much much better so i will take longer and investigate different methods first before deciding what i want to do in the hope it improves.

Anyway enough for today.

TIMBER

Well new boards are built and ready to go. They follow the exsisting construction of 12mm chip on a 2x1 frame except these ones are braced and firmly screwed down and have been treated with a varnish to seal them.

Tonight i mainly played around with track plans using the peco templates and now have a virtually workable plan. Hopfully i can get some track in the comming days and begin laying!!

On a seperate note our new board band package was activated today and its just so much faster (averaging 16mb) so i hope to upload more photos than i did before.

A change...

Well it had to happen didnt it. Something went wrong with Westleigh and go wrong it did. Id noticed that there was a slight hump at th joins. On closer inspection it tuned out the boards were warping and saging. I tired to brace it but too late. They were shot so it had to be replaced so two boards have been scrapped. The orriginal scenic break board has been retained however as it is structurally sound but has been braced anyway.

All this mean is i can no start again with a new plan and eased curves. Im stil clarifying the new plan at present but hope to have something soon. Needless to say the new boards will be well braced!

A new expanding plan!

Well things have changed somewhat since the orriginal plan. I've redesigned the fiddle yard to provide me with a mainline and a siding yard. The mainline yard deals with through trains and the siding yard (the 3 roads) provides for the sidings. I'm planning to use setrack points on these simply because of cheapness and when i budgeted it all out orriginally it came to £260! By using S/H setrack points i can reduce it by nearly £90!

Its next show will actually be in Chippenham again in September this year. Well the exhibition manager was obviously desperate but it will be a useful shakedown.

A bigger better empire.....

Check back tomorrow for the full story!!

new year, New direction?

Well i said i would do a big update and here it is. The last few weeks have been busy as would be expected at this time of year. It doesnt mean however no modelling has been done. In fact quite the opposite actually as plenty has been done, however it does seem that for every job that has been completed another presents itself.

Firstly ive been busy on the presentation of the layout. The fascia has been rubbed down and resprayed. I prefer to spray rather than brush paint as A) its quicker and B) i think you can get a smoother finish and C) its alot easier!
Ive also made a new piece for the section in front of the scenic break. This now has got a single piece rather than the ugly fill in piece.
This teamed with some new signage which has been laminated looks far more professional. The curtain has also been given a wash.

The 3rd rail instalation has also been gaining pace. The chairs have been painted an are now attatched to rails. I'm planning to get the rails in place this week. Then i need to add some wiring using black multicore wire. I then need to add all of the associated boxes and signage.

The one job i havent started for lack of funds to do it is the fiddle yard. At the moment it isnt that important as the layout isnt being operated but i need to think about it seriously soon as it needs to be done. I'm just making sure i havent left any alternatives before i begin.

Ive also been adding some greenery of various shades to the areas that need to try and bring out some life and disorganisation. This in some respects is something that can be tweeked for years.

Apart from that its going to be a quiet start to 2012 for Westleigh. I hope however the start 2013 will be anything but.

Happy new year.