Norm's Loft Layout
Hi All,
Well here goes my first post on my WIP Loft OO guage model railway.
Having been away from the hobby for longer than I would care to mention, but its well into double figures, I decided a year or two ago, to sort out the loft & try to find all the boxes which have not seen the light of day since we moved to West Sussex over 13 years ago, & have another go at a hobby which I have loved since childhood in the 60's.
Well that took care of most of the 1st year ! Sorting the loft, clearing it sufficiently to be able to move, installing some velux rooflights & having the water tanks moved, to avoid them being a central island; then insulating & lining the loft with plastic sheeting & hardboard - were a few occassions I have to say when I thought am I sure I want to be doing this LOL !
Anyway in parallel to the "muck & bullets" prep. works in the loft, many an evening was spent scribbling possible plans, scouring the railway modelling press (* forgot to say I had built up a collection of about ten years worth of Railway Modeller still in the plastic wrappers, which were also found in the loft - lots of copies still to open / read !) & starting to visit a few local railway exhibitions / shows, including Worthing, Brighton & Chichester,to both get ideas & also try to play catch up on how the world of model railways had moved on during my "gap decade" - what on earth is this DCC thing; how can they have trains double headed, & numerous trains on the same track !!!!! What a learning curve I still have to climb.
Well eventually got to the stage that baseboards could be assembed / built, & plumbed for the more traditional 6mm marine ply solid deck, on the basis I could build upwards from that, with a timber softwood framework below. The loft space being rectangular about 18 feet x 6ft 6 based on a baseboard bottom level about 2ft 6 / stool / chair height off the ground, was what I had to paly with - seem like a lot to me !!! Big problem obviously being tight curves at each end, as I did want to be able to "watch the trains go round" to some extent at least - you have to relax sometime eh ?
Well having now built the baseboards (* hopefully see pics below), I then after much grey matter scratching opted for DC (* I can hear the groans now !!!), as I was keen to be able to run my old engines which I have accumulated over the last 40 years or so; also its what I thought I might remember (eventually). I also opted for Peco code 100 track & electrofrog points. As in the dim & distant past always had better running over that type of point.
So thats enough of the the history lesson, but just wanted to set the scene. I have now progressed quite a bit of track laying, which I have done on a cork base, generally one layer over the complete ply baseboards & then a second layer under the tracks themselves. Have added a few inclines to link some upper level sections, & also some hidden loops behind some demountable retaining walls, the current finish on which needs a lot of development - but thats on the to do list, or should that be to do "roll" !
Have hopefully attached a couple of overall pics of the loft as it currently stands, & look forward to using the knowledge of others & learning my way back into this great hobby, with the assistance of other members on this forum. Happy railway modelling & Cheers for now,
Norm
PS. Will try to add some pics a little later - after lesson 2 LOL !
PPS . Have added a few pics in an album, but cannot seem to get them on here - must try harder LOL !
Well here goes my first post on my WIP Loft OO guage model railway.
Having been away from the hobby for longer than I would care to mention, but its well into double figures, I decided a year or two ago, to sort out the loft & try to find all the boxes which have not seen the light of day since we moved to West Sussex over 13 years ago, & have another go at a hobby which I have loved since childhood in the 60's.
Well that took care of most of the 1st year ! Sorting the loft, clearing it sufficiently to be able to move, installing some velux rooflights & having the water tanks moved, to avoid them being a central island; then insulating & lining the loft with plastic sheeting & hardboard - were a few occassions I have to say when I thought am I sure I want to be doing this LOL !
Anyway in parallel to the "muck & bullets" prep. works in the loft, many an evening was spent scribbling possible plans, scouring the railway modelling press (* forgot to say I had built up a collection of about ten years worth of Railway Modeller still in the plastic wrappers, which were also found in the loft - lots of copies still to open / read !) & starting to visit a few local railway exhibitions / shows, including Worthing, Brighton & Chichester,to both get ideas & also try to play catch up on how the world of model railways had moved on during my "gap decade" - what on earth is this DCC thing; how can they have trains double headed, & numerous trains on the same track !!!!! What a learning curve I still have to climb.
Well eventually got to the stage that baseboards could be assembed / built, & plumbed for the more traditional 6mm marine ply solid deck, on the basis I could build upwards from that, with a timber softwood framework below. The loft space being rectangular about 18 feet x 6ft 6 based on a baseboard bottom level about 2ft 6 / stool / chair height off the ground, was what I had to paly with - seem like a lot to me !!! Big problem obviously being tight curves at each end, as I did want to be able to "watch the trains go round" to some extent at least - you have to relax sometime eh ?
Well having now built the baseboards (* hopefully see pics below), I then after much grey matter scratching opted for DC (* I can hear the groans now !!!), as I was keen to be able to run my old engines which I have accumulated over the last 40 years or so; also its what I thought I might remember (eventually). I also opted for Peco code 100 track & electrofrog points. As in the dim & distant past always had better running over that type of point.
So thats enough of the the history lesson, but just wanted to set the scene. I have now progressed quite a bit of track laying, which I have done on a cork base, generally one layer over the complete ply baseboards & then a second layer under the tracks themselves. Have added a few inclines to link some upper level sections, & also some hidden loops behind some demountable retaining walls, the current finish on which needs a lot of development - but thats on the to do list, or should that be to do "roll" !
Have hopefully attached a couple of overall pics of the loft as it currently stands, & look forward to using the knowledge of others & learning my way back into this great hobby, with the assistance of other members on this forum. Happy railway modelling & Cheers for now,
Norm
PS. Will try to add some pics a little later - after lesson 2 LOL !
PPS . Have added a few pics in an album, but cannot seem to get them on here - must try harder LOL !
Attachments
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![Train Vehicle Sky Wheel Rolling stock]()
i think the first is closest, you clearly want to cross tracks, this brick wall could be built and be sturdy, I think if your model is substantial enough to hold its own weight I think you are already a winner.
i think the first is closest, you clearly want to cross tracks, this brick wall could be built and be sturdy, I think if your model is substantial enough to hold its own weight I think you are already a winner.
Hi Jaz,
That’s such a wonderful thought / suggestion, and having seen your recent posts, it would no doubt do wonders to the developing model, which currently looks like this at cop today -
.... have started to look at handrails and the white backgrounds for the gantry mounted signals. Signal dolls and arms yet to be added of course 😉
Not sure whilst it does support itself, it’s a hold your breath time just moving in and out of the loft - so to travel any further might be one step beyond 🤣
But again Thank You, Cheers for now Norm
Hi All,
As always many thanks for your recent posts, thoughts, links and information, will do some replies too.
In the meantime, have test fitted the WIP High Level Signal Box back on to the layout, before progressing the remaining works, as pics below -
![Building Window Mode of transport Rolling stock Track]()
![Building Rolling stock Rolling Railway Track]()
..... it certainly already feels like an improvement on the previous version, if still quite a bit to yet be done / finished - but hopefully it’s progress.
Happy Modelling as always, Cheers for now Norm
As always many thanks for your recent posts, thoughts, links and information, will do some replies too.
In the meantime, have test fitted the WIP High Level Signal Box back on to the layout, before progressing the remaining works, as pics below -
..... it certainly already feels like an improvement on the previous version, if still quite a bit to yet be done / finished - but hopefully it’s progress.
Happy Modelling as always, Cheers for now Norm
Hi again All,
And the outside was the easy bit - 🤣
The attached is a very old interior signal box kit, started a long time ago - with a great reference photo too -
![Font Office equipment Wood Publication Musical instrument accessory]()
Given the time lapse; some “basic” suggestions on such kits would be much appreciated please ..... or alternatives too ?
Thanks as always, Happy Modelling, Cheers Norm
And the outside was the easy bit - 🤣
The attached is a very old interior signal box kit, started a long time ago - with a great reference photo too -
Given the time lapse; some “basic” suggestions on such kits would be much appreciated please ..... or alternatives too ?
Thanks as always, Happy Modelling, Cheers Norm
Hi David,
Thanks for the further research and reply.
Did find a Ratio kit in stock at Guagemaster, which sits on the floor, as against dropping through / into it -
www.gaugemasterretail.com
... think this kit would work with the High Level Signal Box, and can use the existing Willis kits in one of the other Boxes on the layout no doubt.
Thanks again, will see how it goes, Cheers for now Norm
Thanks for the further research and reply.
Did find a Ratio kit in stock at Guagemaster, which sits on the floor, as against dropping through / into it -
Signal Box Interior Kit-Ratio-553 | Gaugemaster
Gaugemaster:RO553 Signal Box Interior Kit - Ratio 553
www.gaugemasterretail.com
Thanks again, will see how it goes, Cheers for now Norm
Hi All,
Haven’t got to the Interior kits just yet, but hopefully at least make a start this long weekend.
However, have been progressing finding a home for the Willis Signal Box Interior Kit, within this very old Knightwing Kit shell, with some initial attempts at weathering / painting, from recent posts on the subject by Jaz and Others, very much WIP and Trial and Error, but fun. A few pics below -
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Any suggestions for a Blue Engineering type building plinth colour, dark grey / blue, would also be very much appreciated; maybe on the curved window arches too ?
Happy Railway Modelling All, Cheers Norm
Haven’t got to the Interior kits just yet, but hopefully at least make a start this long weekend.
However, have been progressing finding a home for the Willis Signal Box Interior Kit, within this very old Knightwing Kit shell, with some initial attempts at weathering / painting, from recent posts on the subject by Jaz and Others, very much WIP and Trial and Error, but fun. A few pics below -
Any suggestions for a Blue Engineering type building plinth colour, dark grey / blue, would also be very much appreciated; maybe on the curved window arches too ?
Happy Railway Modelling All, Cheers Norm
Hi Norm I tried to mix some paint to achieve blue brick and failed . Around hear most railway construction ie. viaducts, platforms ,retaining walls and some bridges are built with mostly blue engineering bricks but some have a little red in them. Where I worked our work shop was by the old Midland railway viaduct leading to the Stroud station and goods yard all though now gone the viaduct and it's arches still remain and are used by small businesses . So I was able to study them a little closer I found that a lot depends on the amount of light in the day as to how blue or grey they looked. I have used Superquick brick papers They of course are paper and not textured and won't help painting plastic brick but they are quite grey. I have some retaining walls to build and want them in blue brick I have looked at various paint manufactures and have not found any in Acrylic not sure about Enamel . The problem I found that with the Slaters sheets are quite shallow and to much paint filled the mortar spoiling the brick effect. It looks like your model has quite deep mortar grooves so you may be able to go over it a bit more. I look forward to your experimentation 
. Jim
. Jimthese may be of interest, if I searched weathered I got human painting models so I just used old signalbox, even graffitti if it appeals
And this if you use abandoned + signal box
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