My layout in the making

[wonwinglo]

There is a fair bit of lumber in that layout Steven,a labour of love for your subject and still plenty to do.

[dynamite25]

Hi John i would do but there's only room for one really as i need to move around the loft to attend to things but could squeeze another person in maybe,but i think for my next layout it will be built outside in a big shed so i have more room to move about but i wish i had £1000 to buy this 20'x10' shed i seen on the net so i could have this one out there but never mind.

Hi Rich my planning keeps changing all the time as i build the layout as i was wondering how to make it easier to re-rail a derailed loco at the back of the fiddle yard,as i can only reach to the second to last track after i increased the height of the upper level by 9mm so i came up with an idea to have the platforms removable so i can get to the rear tracks to clean the rails and to fix and derailed locos.

Barry yes there is alot of lumber in the layout and abit more to go for the upper level which i hope to have the rest of the supports done at the weekend,I'll be glad once all the wood work is done as i can move onto wiring the lower level up and then move onto laying the upper track work and then wire that up.

[Guest]

or get a step-ladder/box to stand on and reach over??

[dynamite25]

Hi rj the fiddle yard will have a board covering the whole area as the station will be above it so the platforms will be made removable to make access better,as the only access will be from the front of the fiddle yard and above through the holes where the platforms will sit in the station as at the back is a big beam thats attached to the rafters with no access to the fiddle yard from the back.

[Guest]

any possible way of making the track on the platforms easily detachable from the rest, then the board ontop of the fiddle yard with the platforms on top can just be lifted off??

i dont know just an idea!

[dynamite25]

It would just be easier to have the platforms made removable as they will be about 110mm wide to 120mm wide which will be wide enough to fix derailed locos and to clean track,than to have the whole station area removable as the supports i have made for the upper level will be attached to the upper level boards to keep them flat.

[Guest]

ah! ok, yes then your original idea is probably the best way to go about it!!!

dont pay any attention to me!! lol

[dynamite25]

Update Time

Here's a reminder of how the fiddle yard looked before i started the extention at the exit end,but i still need to fit two small pieces of cork under the track and i need to pin the last piece of flexi track at the back where the alloy ruler is.



And here's pics of the extended fiddle yard.

[Guest]

It always brings back fond memories of my childhood times making my own layout when i see your postings.

I really enjoyed making that and then just playing with it afterwards. I developed a lot of modelling skills on the scenery and buildings that stood me in good stead for years to come.

[dynamite25]

Managed to get the track pinned down tonite that i had to take up to do the cutout on the other end of the layout and to relay the track i had to reuse some of the cork that was cut up,when it was used on the layout in the bedroom so it's abit of a patch work but won't be noticed when i do the ballasting in afew months time.

Photos to follow tomorrow.

[dynamite25]

Here's the photos of the track i relayed yesterday and i still need to cut the cork along the track.







Also this weekend i will be fitting some new low watt lighting as the two fluorescent lights i got now are 36 watt and they are to big and give off to much heat,also i will be buying 4 more packs of cork as i ran out of it now so need some more to lay the rest of the track down.

[dynamite25]

I got a shock tonite from a member on Model Rail forum that my hardboard in the loft on the roof is a fire hazard so now it will be replaced with foil bubble wrapped insulation,i was going to get in the first place but decide not to due to the cost but my dad said he will buy three rolls and i buy two rolls and will still leave me money for the layout.

[Guest]

as i know nothing about model railways, what is the cork for? is it simply for cushoning and noise dampening?

[Guest]

Steven its really coming on now thanks for keeping us informed i cant wait to see it finished !!! by the way where did you get the xuron sprue cutters from???

[dynamite25]

The cork is really to lift the track of the baseboard so i can bank the ballast up like on the real thing and the xuron track cutters are from hattons and cost £15.