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My HO Loft Layout

37403 Views 194 Replies 21 Participants Last post by  alanoes
3
Hi all,
This is a brief overview of my HO layout in the loft.
I started collecting Fleischmann track, locos and rolling stock back in the seventies but only had the space, and time to create a couple of temporary layouts.
In 1989, after starting my own electrical contracting business, I decided I needed some permanent office space, so I moved up into the converted loft space. Well, I didn't need all the space for an office, did I
!
I spent the next 5 years or so, on and off, designing and building my layout. It is not meant to be prototypical in any way and is purely the product of my imagination. I wanted only steam locos, but there are
probably some items of scenery and signals that belong to a more modern era. By the mid nineties, I had a working railway that I could run 8 locos on and about two thirds of the scenery completed.
The layout includes 3 round and round tracks and a shuttle line from the main station, that works its way up over 3 levels to another station on the top level. Each of the 4 tracks has a passing zone hidden
behind the scenes.
This was of course, a DC layout, and I used block signalling to run 2 locos on each of the 4 track circuits.
By this time I had noticed the onset of DCC and was amazed at what it could do (and the prices
) This left me a bit disillusioned with my layout and I left it untouched for several years running it occasionally.
This time last year, my grandson was 2 years old, he is a typical boy who loves cars and trains. That was all the excuse I needed to re-start the layout build. Being of the age where I find myself with a bit more
disposable income, I decided to go DCC, and over the past year or so I have stripped out all the spaghetti of the DC control wiring, installed a DCC bus system, soldered up hundreds of droppers. completed a lot
more scenery, including the main railway station, and invested in several DCC sound locos (all Fleischmann) and had some of my old DC locos converted to DCC sound.
The layout also incorporates an original Faller Road System. When it ran with the DC layout, it was synced with the level crossing gates and lights to stop the cars when a train approached and the barriers closed.
That went when I stripped the old control wiring out, but I will eventually re-do it with DCC control. I have new Viessmann electronic barriers in place , as the original Faller ones were controlled with lengths of
cotton that eventually tangled and snapped, the Faller level crossing house is still standing though.
The next job is to rewire all the points back and connect them to DCC control.
At the moment I am using a Fleischmann MultiMAUS system to run the locos. I have purchased a Z21 system and eventually want to run the majority of the locos with Train Controller Gold.
Below is a track layout plan. The thin red line represents the loft wall or scenery line, all track above and to the right of it cannot be seen.



Below is a brief video overview of the layout to date, please excuse the dodgy video.

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xvQjgm8CjXo?rel=0

Regards
Alan
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Hi Alan Thanks for the Heads up with the glue for the back scenes. Ihave ordered two bottles from the bay.
Thank you
Babs
4
Hi all, hope you are safe and well,
I have completed Schwarzburg station (apart from additional figures and paraphernalia), got it in final position, and finalized platform positions.
The platform sections , apart from the pieces connected directly to the building, are just laid loosely in place for the moment as I still need to fit lighting, canopy's, kiosks ect.
I have ordered some Viessmann 6109's which are the Barden Barden, platform lamp posts, which I may or may not paint green. This is not Barden Barden but I am using its platform extension kits as already mentioned, and they are a nice looking lamp.
Once I have those, I can work out how I'm going to position them in relation to other parts, then I'll be able to fix down and join together the platform parts to make it look neater.

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed//LxTua-4SAyE?rel=0









Well, that's it for another update

Regards
Alan
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Hi Alan I have to say it looks fantastic. I know these kits are not cheap But they sure are worth it. The lighting you have done is very effective indeed. Nice One. Babs
The platform looks good and well worth the effort of having a consistent design.

David
2
Hi all
Thanks Babs and David for your comments. Faller do make lovely kits although I have added to mine a bit. The kit did supply 6 empty flower pots to position outside the open waiting room, but I added some Noch flowers in pots in those positions and elsewhere on the station as I did with Waldbrunn station.
David, yeah I'm very pleased with the way the platform conversion has come out, and as said, once I get all the sections properly joined together it will look a lot better.

One of the main reasons for all the work over the past few months
http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed//A9XL6vpSntE?rel=0
The two longest trains in my fleet will now fit into the new platform space


David, I have taken inspiration from your Continental Shelf layout and got myself this

My thoughts are to get a train, probably freight, to run on a single shuttle line going through the large archway from a depot on the other side of the layout and round to the back of the little goods handling area at the far end of Schwarzburg station, but I will have to se how that pans out.
Regards to all
Alan
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I will be interested to see how that turns out as I didn't have the space for that much wall.

David
Hi Alan I have now received the Glue, I am not sure what technique to use for the back scene What technique did you use. The bottles are not as large as i thought and it says on the bottles it dries Quickly So how and which surface did you spread it on. Thanking you in advance
Ps I ordered the the Shwartzburg Station it was to good to miss. Babs
Hi Babs,
For the most part, I actually fixed the top edge of the backscene with double sided tape to ensue it was in the right place / lined up with adjoining sections. Then rolled the scene up and held it in place with a cloths peg or similar, then applied the adhesive directly to the wall from the bottle in a criss cross pattern, and around the edges. Then lowered the scene down, pressing it against the wall as I went. Unfortunately, in my case, the top of the wall has a joining strip that hides the join between wall and ceiling, and several vertical joining strips along the wall, so nothing was completely flat which resulted in some visible creases , but overall, I'm happy with my results. On a completely flat backboard I'm sure you can get better results.
It does dry quickly, but you still get a couple of minutes to adjust, but that's why I went for the pre-fixed top technique so I didn't have to spend too much time getting it in place.
Good luck with yours
Regards
Alan
Hi Babs,
ps Glad you went for the Shwartzburg Station it is a very nice kit.
I know you mentioned that you were going to use wooden platforms, but if you do want platform extensions with the matching profile, although too late for me, I stumbled upon some Faller platforms last night while searching for something totally different in the Faller range
I have passed the information to David (dwb) as I know he was looking for something to extend his platforms, so if you want to go down that route, just let me know and I'll pass on the info.
Regards
Alan
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Alan Thank you for all the Info on everything I will have a look at the Platforms you were saying about. The lamps on the Station which make are they can you give me a heads up Thank you. I have Just also ordered Faller Faller Aktions-Set Stadthäuser Römerberg-Ostzeile
Really Great Price it is one of those Faller offers
Article-No.: 190077.

Ps Don't forget the Lights for me. Thank You. Babs

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Hi Babs,
The external lanterns on the station are Viessmann 6087, which I painted green. Internal lights are Faller 180671, as mentioned in the kit. I already had several of these so I used them, but they might do a LED version now.
That faller kit looks good, I will look into it, but I already have several Faller houses lying in wait.
In answer to your question to David (dwb) re glue, I use Faller Super Expert (article # 170490)
Regards
Alan
Hi Alan Thank you for the Info on the lights. I use the same Glue as yourself, but i am going to change as i need to use a brush to stop all the mess i make with those fine tubes on the faller bottle especially round the windows and the roofs.
Can you let me know which Platforms you think that maybe better for that Station. All my stations are Planned in for 6 feet lengths, because most of my Train Rakes are 6 feet long except the Swiss railcars from Hag that i have but i have accommodated them in planning as part of the main station where the platforms on two of the tracks will be 5 feet. I hope that makes sense. Thanking you in advance . Babs
QUOTE especially round the windows and the roofs.
Beware that even with a brush, the liquid glue still flows very freely.
For windows, I apply the glue from the inside wherever possible with a light touch to as few corners as possible - usually two diagonally opposite each other.

Despite all the practice I have had recently, I still find roofs a challenge. The glue flows so readily to the viewing side and as it dries over time you can see the marks where it overflowed. On occasions where I have been really badly caught out, there will be finger prints as well!

Gravity helps, so angle the roof so the flow tends to come back inside.

For ridge tiles, apply to the cavity for an initial stick and then if it's a gable end, try drop a teeny amount into the end and hope it flows deep inside to the middle.

One day I will come to weathering the roofs and I am hoping that will disguise the larger calamities...


David
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QUOTE (Babz @ 20 May 2021, 13:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Can you let me know which Platforms you think that maybe better for that Station. All my stations are Planned in for 6 feet lengths, because most of my Train Rakes are 6 feet long except the Swiss railcars from Hag that i have but i have accommodated them in planning as part of the main station where the platforms on two of the tracks will be 5 feet. I hope that makes sense. Thanking you in advance . Babs

Hi Babs,
If it were me, I would order one set of the Faller platforms we've mentioned just to double check they are the same profile/colour of the platform parts in the kit. If they did match up, I would then order enough to do the total platform length required as I think everything should look uniform. But ultimately its your choice, regarding how you want it to look and your budget, it looks like you would need about 5 kits to make up one 6ft platform, so could work out quite expensive if several platforms are required
Or you could go with the wooden platforms and replace the kit platform parts with them, but that's not as straightforward as it sounds, as one of the platform sections fits around 3 sides of one of the building bases, so the actual Faller platforms would be the easier way, to me its just about everything looking the same.
Regards
Alan
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Hi Alan & David, Thank you both on the Hints & Tips So i am not the only one who has problems with roofs & windows. It is such a shame. I don't feel so bad now. I will give the Platforms some more thought when i receive the Station. Thank you.
Back up in the loft over the weekend to move the baseboards after i remove the last set of screws Take care & stay safe. TTFN Babs
Browsing through the platforms listed on Faller's website and
  • Enlarging the photos
  • Viewing the instruction PDF

I think these are a close match:

https://www.faller.de/gb/en/Products/Track-...ms-sid4246.html

https://www.faller.de/gb/en/Products/Track-...on-sid4294.html

The second one is a bit cheaper because it doesn't have a canopy.
The instructions show that the platforms are delivered with a solid top. If you want to use make a subway you have to cut out the rectangle as shown in the instructions.

I think it would be hard to split them in two if the gap between your tracks is larger than the platform width. You might be better to get some platform edging like this instead:
https://www.faller.de/gb/en/Products/Track-...es-sid4302.html

Auhagen make platform edging in two heights:
https://www.auhagen-shop.de/?cat=c5_Bahnste..._2_5&page=2

David
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Hi David,
The first listed platforms are the ones I mentioned, and do look a good match.
I looked at the Faller platform edging but for some reason, which escapes me now, I disregarded the idea.
Glad to hear that the Continental Shelf layout will be populated, when I saw the tables and chairs I thought it was crying out for this Prieser set or something similar.
https://www.hobbylinc.com/preiser-spectator...-ho-scale-10368
Regards
Alan
Nice suggestion.
That set is on my wish list.

David
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2
Hi All, hope you are well.

Bit of a milestone reached today, the two additional main line loops have been joined up, not all the droppers are connected up and I still have to cut the tracks for removal of the baseboard section, but enough power in tracks to run the locos


http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed//HMMYwIo2svU?rel=0

I'll have to reduce the volume of that BR 18 111 on the Orient Express, it drowns out everything else

Regards
Alan
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Very nice


David
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