Work - in - Progress:- The Diary of the building of my Layout.
LAYOUT CONSTRUCTION
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.......... THIS PAGE RUNS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM ..........
SUMMER 2008:- The layout design and trackplan "set in stone" and the Control Panel built and its switches wired to solder strips!!
SEPTEMBER to NOVEMBER 2008:- Baseboards completed and the track is insitu.
20th DECEMBER 2008:- The wiring (except for the signals' wiring) completed four days prior to Christmas, the target I had set myself. The Control Panel has unfortunately had to be amended in three places. Not the ideal situation, but I was certainly unwilling to return to square one and build that again from scratch.
The three main alterations to the Control Panel are quite noticeable to me. No doubt most of you think that I should have waited and construct the Control Panel last so that it mimics the Trackplan and not the reverse. I do now with the advantage of hindsight! The Control Panel was built during the spring and early summer 2008, whilst spare time in the UK permitted. Our experiences and reasons are well documented elsewhere. Building baseboards etc, was not an easy option at that time; hence the aforementioned reversal! I knew when I started, that there would have to be some alterations, but thought that they would be minor and that I could "camouflage" these quite easily.
The layout is again DC (analogue) controlled. I have neither the patience, the inclination nor the finances to retrospectively "chip" all my stock.
All baseboards, completed by late September 2008, have been bolted to each other; to battens on the walls and to the legs which are also screwed to the floor.
I have purposely left a gap between the wall and the station as seen in Photo One below. This is just wide enough (max 17") for me to get to and comfortably stand up and move about in. With my previous layout (STROLEY CENTRAL) which was housed in a narrower (6' 6") room, derailments etc in the rear of the station area needing the "big hand from the sky," were extremely awkward to rectify. With this layout and a room width of 11' 6"; I could afford the luxury of easier access to all areas. I just have to watch my weight now!!
OCTOBER 2008 - The Early Stages.
A view of the DMU sidings and some of the scenics (both recycled and new) prior to track laying. The three-line section (on the left in the track plan and shown above) is a raised section, supported by arches containing businesses. These arches I purchased from SCALESCENES.COM - an excellent and cheap way of building many many arches - you pay once and download / copy the kits as many times as you like or need! The low relief factory is scratch built from 2mm card. The brick paper is from METCALFE MODELS.COM and the corrugated roof and skylights are again from Scalescenes.com.
The station throat and DMU maintenance sidings; the start of the four track "country" section plus the loco refuelling area . This is the most important part of my layout. The throat is exactly like the original (STROLEY CENTRAL) with the exception of the lines to the DMU sidings (top in these photos) plus the Loco TMD / stabling areas. These are now via further double-slips from the right-hand ends of the "diagonals". This makes for an operational improvement; saving the necessity of blocked main lines with shunting and reversing manoeuvres. Network Rail would be proud of me!!!
23 - 10 - 08
Track laying completed.
Left) The main scenic section of the layout. The loco refuelling; station throat; loco washer unit; TMD lines and the platform roads are in this view.
Right) A birds eye view of the raised "arches" section taken from above where the Transport Interchange will be, looking north. Note the "recycled" multi storey car park from the original (STROLEY CENTRAL) layout.
A panoramic view of about half the layout prior to the Fiddle Yard revamp. The four track sweeping curve of the country section leading towards the fiddle yard past the site of the motorway bridge. This will be the scenic section boundary just below and to the right of the radio.
The first wiring to be completed was the BUFFER STOP LIGHTS purchased
from EXPRESS MODELS. I have thirteen of them wired up.
Five loco stabling roads (above); three DMU sidings; station platforms numbers one and two and lastly three roads in the TMD area.
"Dropper" wires abound under the station / throat boards. This was prior to the "RETURN" wires being joined in series. Each set of "droppers" have a "choc block" connection added for ease when wiring back to the Control Panel / Controller. The two blue and one green set of wires is for a point motor; the two purple set is for an isolation section. Also visible is a black and white set which is a feed and return set.
A visual aid to find the centre of a track in the fiddle yard. A section of concrete sleeper track has been inserted half way along each road. The "Isolation Sections" start at each end of the aforementioned concrete section with the "Feed" and "Return" between them. Double insulating rail joiners are at the outside ends of each track, therefore two shorter trains can occupy each fiddle yard track when required.
The TMD will have a couple of Hornby "Inspection Pits". As you can see, I've cut out the baseboard and accommodated them already. I have built up the surrounding area to track level with three layers of 2mm mounting card (available from all good stationers) and painted a concrete colour. In my humble opinion this textured concrete paint is the most realistic available. It can be purchased online and at exhibitions from GREEN SCENE.
The wiring (here in November 2008 on the original Control Panel) is well under way; ALL "droppers" are now in place and both the "COMMON RETURN" (white wire) and the "POINT MOTORS RETURN" (green wire) are all connected up in their appropriate series and back to the Control Panel / Controller.
I've wired up the first of the "FEEDS" (black wire) and "ISOLATION SECTIONS" (purple wire) and when I tested it I hit my first "snag". This resulted in a severe scratching of the grey matter for a few hours! Then .... "EUREKA!" and the light bulb in my head started to glow brightly again!
For the Isolation Sections I have used SPDT miniature toggle switches (the ones with three rear prongs). I have soldered each wire on ALL 73 (yes ... count them ... 73!!) switches to the top and BOTTOM prong! That should be the top and MIDDLE prong (or the middle and bottom prong)!!
I now have to delicately release and resolder 73 wires through what looks a lot like Spaghetti Junction (see photo fourteen above).
Oh ... Deep Joy!!
22nd DECEMBER 2008
Original Wiring Completed.
This is the original Control Panel, positioned adjacent to the loco refuelling roads is hinged to the baseboard to ease fault finding and with removeable legs. The Gaugemaster "D" controller is close to hand. All the layout wiring has been completed, with the exception of the wiring connecting the twenty-two signals that will add to the layout's realism. These will gain their power via the yellow wires, some of which can be seen attached to a solder tag, hanging beneath the Panel. Below the layout to the left, can be seen some of the masses of wire that has been used. These are in their "untidy" state, and will remain so, until I have checked that everything works satisfactorily, and until after I have completed the signals' wiring.
Spaghetti Junction has nothing on this!!
For my colour codes etc, see the "Trackplan & Electrics" page via this link.
This shot looks up to the underneath of the original Control Panel in its lowered "working" position. The solder strips can be easily seen that act as the "middlemen" between the Panel and the rest of the layout. All these individual wires (well over 400 from the switches to the layout) will be segregated via each solder strips and "cable-tied" after the layout has been successfully checked.
In the fiddle yard, Class 153s in Central Trains and Northern Rail livery sit alongside four Mk.3s in the Grand Central Trains black livery. Placed at the head of the coaches (and clearly featured in photo twenty on the right), is the latest Hornby Class 60, 60074 TEENAGE SPIRIT in the Teenage Cancer Trust light blue livery. This is a Rail Express Magazine limited edition locomotive.
Since my last update, just before Christmas 2008, shed action has been a bit on the scarce side. I gave myself a ten day break, due to Christmas but mainly because of the cold snap (I am a big girl's blouse aren't I ?!?!?!). I beavered on with other layout things in doors in the warmth of the spare (office) room.
The SCENERY has been STARTED.
Knightwing Diesel Refuelling Points (recycled):- Lighting units (Reference: EXL/103 from EXPRESS MODELS) and a fresh coat of paint, new signage and clutter.
Hornby Diesel Maintenance Depot (new purchase):- Lighting strips (Reference: EX/FLSTPL(Y) from EXPRESS MODELS) fitted to the ceiling. These items are work in progress.
The "LINDEVEN TMD" has been assembled and "fitted out" with H.S.E signs. The currently visible black and orange wires (for the ceiling lighting units) will disappear through holes in the baseboard when this building has been "planted" and finished off on the layout. Both the TMD and Refuelling Units are still to be completed.
Bachmann (44-010) "Hampton Hill" Signal Box (new purchase):- Extended (scratchbuilt) to become the "Stroley Signalling Centre."
The Stroley Signalling Centre has been completed.
Retail Park and Retaining Wall situated behind platforms (scratchbuilt):- Two stores to date, that are included, have succumbed to the economic downturn (Woolies & Land of Leather). I started building the Retail Park back in the summer before the fate of these stores were sealed. I will probably have to erect "For Sale" signs on these eventually!!
Still to be completed.
Road overbridge segregating the town and country scenic sections:- The arches are cut from 9mm ply (the same as that used for the baseboards) for both sides of this bridge. It will be completed by the filling in of the inside edges and coated with brick (or stone, I've not decided which yet!) paper and a road / pavement decking.
The cutting (country scene) will stretch out from this bridge through the curve and as far as the motorway bridge, which will act as the scenic boundary of this side of the layout.
STOCK BOXES / STORAGE UNITS.
I have come across some rather excellent stock boxes, sold flat packed. The Bachmann Collectors' Club actively promote these; the only difference being theirs have Bachmann printed on the lid. They are available from PACKAGING2U and are called Model Storage Box (Ref No:- MB01). If you click the link, be aware that the price quoted (£20.42) is NET of VAT. Certain delivery (UK) charges are now FREE (but "Next Day" is £3.99) per order.
These boxes are sold plain. This is my stock content label on the side. The dividers can be positioned literally any-which-way, allowing a maximum of ten large pieces of stock on two layers (see below). A maximum of approximately twenty small locos (Class 08s for example) could be accommodated.
Also worthy of a mention here are the "MALIBU 3 Drawer Bedside Chests" Code No: 630-9664 from ARGOS available in six different finishes / colours; this is beech. These units (Size (H)605, (W)390, (D)396mm) are excellent for stock storage and they fit easily under a normal height layout. Each drawer depth is in excess of 85mm and the length and width (internal measurements) are 310mm and 285mm. I've glued a thin layer of sponge to the bottom and all sides of each drawer. At under £25 per three drawer chest, these are a good value stock storage unit.
Eleven drawers are in view in this photo.
The CONTROL PANEL update.
I am going to completely renew the Control Panel.
I have agonised long and hard over this. I'm becoming increasingly aware of the errors that have been made during its construction prior to the layout being started, and the alterations that I have made already are really apparent to me. I'm very unhappy with the "Spaghetti Junction effect" below the Panel.
The Panel will look exactly the same - I really like its layout and cannot improve upon that. The colour scheme will also be the same. Just the switch "bases" will fall in line with the colours of the wires that run from them. I will also be changing the switches that operate the signals. The big bank of these (Eckon switches in the centre of the Panel) will be replaced by toggle switches in their appropriate sited "bases" like all the other toggle switches. These signal switches will be represented by blue covers.
Whilst making improvements, I will take this opportunity to fit point motors (and their corresponding switches on the Panel) to the five sidings in the DMU fiddle yard.
To improve the aforementioned "Spaghetti Junction" beneath the Control Panel, I will disconnect ALL wires (on the solder strips) from the switches. I will then construct a timber frame on which to screw each solder strip. I will use the current Panel framework; remove the existing Panel, keeping the switches in place until ready to swap to the new Panel, which I will fix in place prior to carefully drilling out all the holes, then transfer the switches.
Having carried out 75% of the layout testing prior to my Christmas break, I can report that just a small quantity of problems arose. These were generally dry joints made whilst track laying, either at track level or the solder prongs on the Panel switches. These I rectified along the way, but I am expecting more "problems" due to the uncharacteristically cold start to this Winter in Cambridgeshire, as some days I had a devil of a job!
The imminent Panel rebuild has (thankfully) also allowed me to remodel and increase the quantity of Main Fiddle Yard tracks to seventeen.
With the exception of the two fiddle yard tracks nearest the wall (which were unaffected), I completely removed this whole area. I took the opportunity to place the vast majority of point motors under the baseboard similar to the scenic area. It looks a lot better. THere are three point motors sited above the baseboard due to cross-bracing being in the way now.
The entrance / exit tracks, and associated pointwork have also been vastly improved, as can be seen, and have given longer tracks in some instances. It all looks much improved.
The additional switches / covers / wire etc were purchased from ALL COMPONENTS and the additional points / rail joiners etc from TOTALLY TRAINS who are the cheapest I've found for Peco items! Check out their ads in the model railway press or their online store via the link.
The DMU Fiddle Yard has also grown by increasing it to eight tracks. Ranging between 2' 3"and 3' 6" in length each track is long enough for 2 or 3 car sets.
The Fiddle (Main & DMU) Yards are now complete.
22 - 02 - 09
With the benefit of hindsight ....
I should have waited until the layout was complete
before building the Control Panel.
The Panel swap I will be leaving for a couple of months or so when the weather is warmer. I find that, out in the shed, the solder won't "take" when the air temperature is quite low. As I'm not too technical, I assume this to be fact whilst soldering?
Scenery construction is now the "order of the day" with both bridges and the "country end" scenics in full swing as can be seen in the following selection of photos.
These two photos show the incomplete bridge between the "town" and "country" scenic sections.
I've started on the motorway bridge which will be the scenic break on this side of the layout.
The seven photos above show the country scenic section taking shape. Hardboard; crumpled newspaper and Mod-Roc plaster bandages have been used to shape the cutting sides. This is prior to the whole lot setting and being painted. If you are going to use Mod-Roc may I suggest that you buy it from an Arts & Craft establishment (rather than a model railway supplier) as you can buy it for a fraction of the price! I purchased mine from CRAFTMILL.CO.UK They worked out at just over £2 per roll (inclusive of P & P). The more you purchase, the better the deal. I cut the Mod-Roc plaster bandages into strips and laid them vertically then horizontally upon the area to be covered ,and more than one layer in each direction. You will need to use quite a few rolls. I have used 11 rolls on the cutting in the photos above.
I just HAD to show you the excellent new(ish) wagons in 00-gauge from DAPOL. The FEAs are, in my opinion, by far the best freight wagons released to date. The particular ones featured above, are a limited edition run of FASTLINE FREIGHT FEAs made for RAIL EXPRESS MAGAZINE. The standard DAPOL releases feature Freightliner and GBRf freight companies. The intricate detailing is incredible. The containers are the standard Dapol releases.
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