[Alan D]

Hi Paul I can't quite get what you mean, I think the idea is that from the station throat a path can be set from any of the two tracks to any of the four platforms or even the little siding.

If we consider the inner circuit the up-line and the left side of the station as Platform 1 then a train would normally come up through the station On Platform 1 or 3 through the O/head building and up to the crossover section returning to the inner circuit. On the outer circuit it would pass the crossover splitting to either Platform 2 or 4 and this time set the path to continue on through the station throat to the outer circuit once more. (If you understood that the you are a better man than me!)

I Believe through my research that it was common in steam days for engines to run around trains this plan I think gives me this feature. Also there are a few shunting possibilties with the goods shed and the little siding to the right of the track plan. Or I could use this little siding to continue along the Platform and have an extra platform for DMU's or suburban branchline trains. It's all part of the adventure I guess, seeing how it develops.

Oh and BTW I'm using DC hence the Control panel and all the section switches. I like figuring out that bit

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Nice One Richard

I'll take note of those tips, although I've worked with wood a lot, and my brother in law's a joiner I've never heard of the soap trick. I also work with cables a lot, guitar and mics, etc and have a jar of vaseline in my toolbox for putting on tight jack plugs and such. A similar trick but I do get the odd look when people look through my toolbox to borrow stuff (

I'm a married man , Honest)

The sealant, I can honestly say I hadn't thought of so also cheers for that.I have a tin of varnish going spare. The platforms I think I'm going to make out of short planks, planed to the correct thickness, I'm hoping this will also help brace the board a little.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Funny you should say that Vase!

I have now completed the upper section baseboards, have one complete circuit and am now constructing platform 4 & 5. (1 to 3 will be later.)

Here is a couple of pics taken today. Hope you like.

First connections from the control panel go here. ( I seriously need to label these

)

Next the Control Panel connection and D-plug. I think this has given me good practice at soldering

Platform construction underway

Dry fit of the top to see what it looks like.

And lastly a shot showing how the platform sides are held until the glue is dry!

I really am enjoying this bit

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Thanx guys

I hope to finish the platform in a few days, time permitting. I'll post asap with the finished product. I don't know if i'll do any painting just now, I may wait until all the platforms are made and do them all at once.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Hi Everyone,

Bought some Slaters embossed plasticard today to try walling the platforms. Here is the result.

The small gaps will be filled and when painted hopefully you won't see the join.

Hope you like, comments appreciated.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

No - had to cut it in

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Just a couple of vids of one of my grandsons and myself "Playing Trains". I have 3 grandsons who love my shed and want to "help" all the time. BTW No engines were harmed during the making of these videos

For the confused- These videos were made before the upper section was completed!

Hope you enjoy.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

There are both old engines I had bought for my son years ago and have taken a lot of abuse. The grandson definitely doesn't get to drive the big ones.

And thanks for the comments. I have now painted the platform and I think it looks ok. I will post the updates soon.

Just a quick question for anybody in the know. Does anyone have any idea when the white edges on platforms were introduced? I don't know whether to include this or not, my main era is 60'/70's (however I will run a few experimental HST's etc)

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

They are built to withstand a nuclear holocaust. Mine must be that old too and they still fetch a good sum on ebay. The first thing that goes wrong usually is a loud humming but even then they still work. I know cause i've had 2 do that to me. But I am going to change soon to panel mount gaugemasters. I already have a dual feedback controller just need the transformer now.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Almost finished with the first platform. Here's an update!

Here's what I'm roughly trying to achieve

Hope you like!

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Cheers Paul

The colouring as you say is due to Madkitten's painting techniques. I've had a go at this before but her ideas were much quicker. Cheers Nikki.

Just shows how good and useful this forum is.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Cheers Erkut, I've been admiring Bayland for a while, and coming from yourself that's quite a compliment.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Cheers Guys more photo's soon - I have laid both tracks and am now about to begin the second platform.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Yes! It's been a while but the cold and the work have kept me from my beloved hobby. But now Spring has sprung (That's a laugh there's sleet falling outside at the moment!

) I am braving it back out to the shed with my trusty heater and fleece.

I have been doing a little now and then and have finally mannaged to get the 5 tracks of the station laid, It's all wired up but not sectionalised yet, I can run two loco's in either direction at the momentand I am currently working on the island Platform as the pictures show. Sounds a lot but doesn't actually look a lot.

Once I have finished the island platform, I will begin work on the final Platform and also venture into the realm of ballasting. Having never got this far with any of my layouts I'm really looking forward to this.

Here are some pics to show the progress. Hope you like!

The pointwork at the Station Throat.

Homemade weights to hold down the card whilst glueing

East View of the Station Throat

View of the Branchline Platform 5

I'm still learning especially with the painting techniques. I hope to have my station and surrounding area as grubby as real life. Although I won't be doing the same to the models, I still can't bring myself to weather them Sacrilege

Cheers

Alan

Quick Weather Update:- The sleet has just turned to snow -NO MORE PLEASE

 

[Alan D]

I Just took this photo of my shed!

So much for Springtime.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

QUOTE (craw @ 29 Mar 2010, 22:19) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hello Alan
Just so you do'nt feel to sad it's snowing in Glasgow
and I am just through the tunnel.
John

Howdy Neighbour. Don't you just hate the snaw!

And Robert, Superglue'll fix it.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

12 Days ago It was Snowing! The Last 2 Days I feel like I'm living in Spain! What a difference. So what have I been doing? Well ballsting was going to be my next task but I thought I would have a trial run at that with a plank and some scrap rail before I have a go at the real thing, so I haven't got round to it yet.

HOWEVER!!! The Platforms are finally complete and painted so I have begun construction of the walls of the station. I'm using a base of 6mm ply which I am going to laminate with plastikard which I will scribe myself. I was going to use embossed card but there is nothing really comes close to the red sandstone I am looking for. The blocks I'm trying to simulate are approximately 18" high and can be up to 6' wide. In "OO" this equates to 6mm high and up to 24mm long and lintels are even longer.

I've made a paper template to help guide me through the construcion process. I made it on Coreldraw, which I find to be an excellent tool for planning

So here are the pics of what's been done so far.

Paper Template for Station Wall

Marking Out For Cutting

Windows Cut out and Everything Smoothed and Sanded

The Station Wall in Situ

View from The Inside Of The Station

And I couldn't resist a little video to see how a train looked aginst the backdrop. Can't wait now till it's laminated and painted?

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I have kept up the pace at the moment. Amazing what you can do when you have a little time. The other wall is now in place. The supports are also in place for the covering board which will be home to the overhead station building,

My main aims are
1. To have a station building over the tracks.
2. Stairs for access from the main building to the platforms
3. Canopies over part of the Platforms where the windows are.
4. Lighting and signals for the Platforms.

When I type it out like this I'm begining to realise the enormity of the task ahead!

But I shall not be daunted! When I see some of the other layouts on this forum and the work people have put in I know it can be done. Patience is the main ingredient.

Anyway here are the updates:-

Other Station Wall in Place

First of The Supports for the Overhead Stuff

The board in Place for the Overhead Station and hopefully the part of the Main Street of the town. (This will be removable for access to the tracks below)
It should also give the illusion that the Platforms are longer than they actually are

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

QUOTE (Expat @ 29 Mar 2010, 20:36) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I think the novelty of balasting might wear off a bit after you've done a few metres of track and got some stuck in point mechanisms

.

Yep you were right, Expat. but not after a few metres just 6 inches.

Tonight I decided to do a little test area to see what it was like. I did it all by the book 50/50 pva/water and a dash of squeezy. A little syringe to apply the mixture and a little brush to push the gravel into the right position. I also used a wooden tea stirrer from a certain fast food company to tamp it down.

I found that when I applied the pva it still sat on the top (surface tension I believe) but if I dabbed it with the brush it mixed into the gravel quite well but then I found I had to re-position the gravel as it began to clump. I'm definitely a novice at this one. However I do believe that I got it right eventually. I will take a pic and post in the morning when the pva has dried and cleared (I hope).

So yes the novelty has worn off already. This is one job I'm not enjoying.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Alan D]

Thanks guys for the comments and the advice. I did indeed end up using the forefinger as you say Erkut but surprisingly I found the thin wooden tea stirrer to be a great tool as well. It was good for tamping down and scraping bits away. I was also amazed at how much got into my mouth. I wouldn't say I was particularly messy with it, but I found myself grinding my teeth on a couple of bits a few hours later. I felt like I had a sandwich at the beach.

I will look for some Meths today, although I don't know how available it is in the UK any more as I have not bought such a product in an extremely long time. I'm going to Braehead shopping Centre today, there's a Boots there. I'll check it out. I'll probably have to sign something. I'll also add more water to the mix. But just to be sure I'm getting this right. Do I add the meths to the Pva or just meths to water separately to wet the ballast before gluing?

Cheers

Alan