Ashburton -

[Dikitriki]

It took me about the same time, four days with multiple tea breaks to build the baseboards for Morfa (18'x12' - permanent fixture) as it did to build those for Abergwynant (5'9"x11" - highly portable) though the Abergwynant time also includes the lighting rig. Having said that I'm not sure if speed of build is ever a virtue in our hobby, if we enjoy making models then spending longer doing it would seem to be a better goal to aim for. I like the notion of savouring each phase of the build, rather than charging ahead to the finish. [sweeping generalisation] If as I suspect we tend to prefer the making to playing [/sweeping generalisation] then once a layout is finished what next?

Interesting points.

My experience with Heyside is that it took a huge amount of time to redesign and rebuild it as an exhibition layout. It would have been far, far easier to build it in situ without thinking of such things as height adjustable legs, baseboard alignment, track alignment, electric jumpers etc. I suspect it's taken maybe 8 times as long.

The last question raised has occupied my mind too. I don't really enjoy building layouts, and Heyside, though built I hope to the highest standard I can, will be my first and last 'serious' layout (though once it is 'finished' I shall help the others in the group build their layouts) . I have decided that the interest will be maintained over a long period of time by varying the time period. Initially it will be steam/diesel crossover, we can nearly run it as diesel only anyway, even now, and then it can go to immediate post WWII, which means I can build the ex L&Y 0-8-0s, 2-4-2T, and a host of ex LMS and ex LNWR locos, as well as some very interesting coaching stock. As I am principally a builder of locos and to a lesser extent stock, that will keep me happy for the rest of my days, and enable us to ring the changes with only minimal alterations to eg signboards etc. The layout will be in effect a showcase for the stock.

That's the theory anyway.

Richard

 

[Simon Dunkley]

I  would never join any club that would accept me as a member !

Not sure what that says about this place...

 

[Steve Cook]

Thats really nice Cynric  I love how the depth of the scene effectively gives layers to view as your eye wanders from front to back - it will be even better with the two tracks running in the foreground. That said, the view up the road will look pretty inspiring too, the bigger scale means you are under the eaves which is a big step towards immersion. It'll be great, that thing is for sure.

I have no doubt that if you build the layout, there will be enough volunteers to bring stock around for a running session  ;D

The constructional side will be interesting - at least you know you are into van territory anyway so are not so restricted on sizes. Hows the access to your basement  :scratch:

Steve

 

[Simon Dunkley]

Cynric,

Re the baseboards, can I suggest an idea given to me by Steve Cook of this parish (he does have his uses), when discussing train set boards for my son?

Get some dense polystyrene foam (the pink or blue stuff) and sandwich it between two sheets of 1/4" ply. This should provide you with a rigid, firm and lightweight base.

Furthermore, if you go down the route of using keyfob control, you won't have to worry about wiring the track, and in this scale you can use 1/16" rod to prototypically represent what little working rodding there was at Ashburton.

 

[28ten]

Simon, that is just the method I was thinking for the boards  I have double French doors at one end and I have got 8x4 sheets of ply in through there, so given light boards 6x4 would be possible.
I plan to control all turnouts manually from the front, control will be dcc so in theory only two wires, but I need to look into that  ideally I would like the wiring above the board covered by removable scenery, again this needs some thought, but my  overall philosophy is KISS

 

[marsa69]

Get some dense polystyrene foam (the pink or blue stuff)

Where's the best place to acquire this? I was thinking of using some of this for my station platform topped off with some thin ply/balsa wood for the platform surface,

regards,

Mark

 

[Steve Cook]

Re the baseboards, can I suggest an idea given to me by Steve Cook of this parish (he does have his uses)

Aw, shucks Simon  :-[ 

I'd be inclined to consider 6x2 boards that can be bolted face to face for transportation Cynric, giving three boards along the front and three along the rear. I guess this best suits a set up where one has a table structure on which each of the layout parts are placed. Thus when exhibiting, the table structure goes in first and is levelled up, then the boards are placed on top and located together, similar to Iain Rices jigsaw theory. It also has the benefit of making it easier to remove one section for working on at home. The downside is more things to make and increased chances of leaving something at home.

I look forward to watching you tackle the problem 

Steve

 

[Steve Cook]

Where's the best place to acquire this? I was thinking of using some of this for my station platform topped off with some thin ply/balsa wood for the platform surface,

Hi Mark

John Dale of this parish got his from ebay but it is 2" thick - not sure how that relates to your platform height.

Some B&Q branches stock the pink foam apparently, might be worth pm'ing Re6/6 (John) who frequents here occasionally - his latest layout of Ouse Viaduct uses the very same.

HTH
Steve

Edited to add, found the stuff on B&Q's website here - look for extruded polystyrene or Knauf Space Board Insulation

 

[28ten]

Aw, shucks Simon  :-[ 

I'd be inclined to consider 6x2 boards that can be bolted face to face for transportation Cynric, giving three boards along the front and three along the rear. I guess this best suits a set up where one has a table structure on which each of the layout parts are placed. Thus when exhibiting, the table structure goes in first and is levelled up, then the boards are placed on top and located together, similar to Iain Rices jigsaw theory. It also has the benefit of making it easier to remove one section for working on at home. The downside is more things to make and increased chances of leaving something at home.

I look forward to watching you tackle the problem 

Steve

Thats only 18ft, I need 28ft 
If they are light and flat there are a lot of plus points to a full 4ft width in terms of less complication and fewer joints to hide.
I shall have to get some of this foam after christmas and start experimenting

 

[Steve Cook]

Thats only 18ft, I need 28ft 

Doh  :-[
I'll go and join Jordan and CME at the back of the class then 
Steve

 

[Steve Cook]

So why include me in that - I dont want to have to wear a hat with a D on it (again)

Hadn't realised you'd been let forward so soon after missing the link in Simon D's Cadeby thread  ;D

I shall wear mine with pride 

Steve

 

[28ten]

I have been looking at cutting machines, but I need to make it pay for it's keep. I have spare computers and the CAD skills so it's not beyond possibility

 

[Graham Powell]

Hi,
This was the link on the Guild webstie

www.laserscript.co.uk


The buildings on there are excellent. Made from mdf and plywood.  Maybe I should have bought one instead of buying a steam engine!.
rgds
Graham Powell

 

[28ten]

Thanks Graham. I have some experience running cnc machines so it is not totally alien to me 
I have been to see a Reprap today http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page and they are quite interesting to play with.

 

[Phill Dyson]

Cynric,

Re the baseboards, can I suggest an idea given to me by Steve Cook of this parish (he does have his uses), when discussing train set boards for my son?

Get some dense polystyrene foam (the pink or blue stuff) and sandwich it between two sheets of 1/4" ply. This should provide you with a rigid, firm and lightweight base.

This large 7mm exhibition layout was constructed very sucsesfully using this method, I will probably be using it myself in  future   

 

[Phill Dyson]

Cynric,

Where do you get your foam board supplies for your building mock ups ? & is it less prone to warping than plasticard ? (I am considering using it for my canopy roof)

Phill 

P.S. Like the Santa smiley's (little things eh  ;D )

 

[lancer1027]

Phill,  Squires sell foamboard we ordered some for the club layout about 6 months ago

Rob :wave:

 

[28ten]

Cynric,

Where do you get your foam board supplies for your building mock ups ? & is it less prone to warping than plasticard ? (I am considering using it for my canopy roof)

Phill 

P.S. Like the Santa smiley's (little things eh  ;D )

The foamboard came from Art discount http://www.artdiscount.co.uk/department/foam_board/?gclid=CIuh_aHMgKYCFcxO4QodI0AOoQ I got 10 sheets of A1 for ?26
It will be ok for a canopy roof as long as you keep it unstressed and well braced,I wouldnt say that it is less prone to warping than plastikard though.

 

[Phill Dyson]

Cheers guys  , sorry to ask more stupid questions  :-[ , but is the outer board card ?

 

[28ten]

Some work on in AutoCad has produced an accurate layout of the buildings, none of the many plans were entirely correct when overlaid on the buildings in Google earth, and as this is the basis for everything I made my own outline drawing. Nothing very sophisticated at this stage, but I know all the structures have the correct relationship and I can start to plan any slight compression in the lenght