Andymsa Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 (edited) Well I have taken the plunge and decided to post my exploits with my current layout, but how to keep it interesting without going into every detail so your feedback and thoughts will be my guidance here into what you like to here about. There will be photos posted as I have taken many over the years and a picture speaks a thousand words as they say. Some history first and my objectives for the future. As a child I had a few very basic layouts they never really came to much and as most teenagers I moved away from the hobby for many years with occasional dabbles here and there. Eventually I said to the boss one day how about a scalextrix set, I had fancied one for many years but the boss said a railway was better a decision she came to regret that one lol. The first layout was in our spare room but I was not happy with it and soon it was dismantled, I have a pitched roof above my garage and a move into there and another layout was started but still I was not happy. Both these layouts lacked one thing, size. I had always wanted a large railway and get all I wanted on it, it had to be big. I decided to build a purpose built building for the railway so started plans to build something. This was a huge undertaking as I decided to build it myself from scratch and took 11 months from start to finish and had to be inspected by the dreaded building inspector who was in fact very helpful and is built to such a standard that you could live in it. The size of the new layout would be 32x12 and a basic plan was drawn up, this was somewhat of an error some would say as no definitive plan was done it was just a concept and it just grew which is the case today which is why there have been so many changes to it over time. The Original concept was drawn from a continental modeller article about a Canadian who had a German layout which had the rule that when a train entered a tunnel you could not predict where it would re-appear from again, largely to this day I have achieved this to a degree. From the first layout I built in the spare room I took the route to go continental as I wanted to do something different from the norm as at that time uk trains were somewhat grey compared to European models, today that’s not the case and if I was starting out again I would go the uk route. After some years I extended the railway building to its current layout size. An L shaped layout 32x32. As part of this extension work the room was fitted with air con for several reasons and is relatively cheep to run, and it certainly saves the track in those very hot days although I do build expansion into the track anyways for backup which certainly came into its own when the Aircon developed a fault and was not working for a couple of weeks during a very hot period. I did much research on how to construct the base boards, after I found a book by kalbach about base board construction. I adopted a method used by our friends across the pond, that was the L girder method, I found this method very adaptable and lends itself to changes very easily. The track baseboard is made up from 9 or 12 mm plyboard with Sundela board screwed and glued to it, i know there are those who don’t rate sundela that much but I like it. It has proven a good strong track base and reduces the amount of bracing needed. I have used 3 different track manufacturers, for all the hidden stuff it’s our old friend Peco code 100. For the viewed areas it’s Roco and Tillig, all the points are tillig. Tillig points have a nice feature that they are flexible and can be adjusted to fit most situations. I pin my track down onto a cork roadbed of 1.5 mm, one of the best places I have found to get the cork is 4d models as they sell it flat and not in a roll and is generally much cheaper than the railway shops. Additionally the sundela sheets are about £10 a sheet. The layout is built on multiple levels and is based on a commuter station with a branch line serving a terminus, at this time I was hoping to have a massive goods yard but I may have to scale this back, more to come on this as I have yet again decided on big changes. This latest change I had been pondering about for some time but after seeing a video by Charlie bishop and ducking under layouts I have taken the plunge to get rid of a duck under, even although it destroys a somewhat finished area that only needed grass and ballast applied. The layout is controlled by a Digitrax DCC system and is controlled by a computer for full or semi automatic or full manual control this is quite a subject in its self and will be covered at a later date. Additionally there is overhead catenary by sommerfeldt which does take some thought in planning. I will stop here for the time being. Oh the title of the post is Llamberg which happens to be the layout name which translates from German as sheep mountain. I hope this has not been to boring and hope to upload various photos in time with updates on progress. And I look forward to all or any comments positive or negative if I’m lucky to get any to guide how this thread develops. Edited May 12, 2021 by Andymsa 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mick Bonwick Posted November 10, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2020 A good start! We need photographs. How can we pick holes in everything if we can't see what you've done? You're not likely to bore people. With an area and a story like yours we'll be drooling with envy. Well, I will, anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 10, 2020 Author Share Posted November 10, 2020 (edited) completed first stage of the building, later on the left side an addition was added to give an L shape building. Edited February 28, 2021 by Andymsa 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mick Bonwick Posted November 10, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2020 Splendid! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 10, 2020 Author Share Posted November 10, 2020 (edited) These photos show the various stages of L girder construction in the new extension, the photo makes it look narrower than it is Edited March 18, 2021 by Andymsa 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mick Bonwick Posted November 10, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2020 There are some interesting gradients there, and that track plan looks rather intriguing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 11, 2020 Author Share Posted November 11, 2020 (edited) Two methods for terrain are used. One is a card lattice method. After the lattice is laid builders scrim is glued with pva. The scrim acts as a temp support for the mod roc. The other method is something new I have tried where a frame of foam board is made and expanded foam is used and modroc applied on that. Both methods have worked quite well. After mod roc has dried its then painted if grass is being laid. Edited March 18, 2021 by Andymsa 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 Let there be trees 14 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 (edited) The bridge was kit bashed, over head masts were added, which needed additional supports under them. And small maintenance platforms added Edited March 18, 2021 by Andymsa 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold simonmcp Posted November 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 12, 2020 Very impressive, some stunning modelling. Is that the Faller Bietschtal bridge? I have the kit and intend trying to make it with the curved deck like the prototype, do you think that would be possible? Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mick Bonwick Posted November 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 12, 2020 Love those trees! The bridge looks impressive, too. How much modification did you have to do? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 27 minutes ago, simonmcp said: Very impressive, some stunning modelling. Is that the Faller Bietschtal bridge? I have the kit and intend trying to make it with the curved deck like the prototype, do you think that would be possible? Simon Hi simon, I have seen a you tube video of just what you want to do if I can find the video will send a link. andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 (edited) On 12/11/2020 at 14:15, Mick Bonwick said: Love those trees! The bridge looks impressive, too. How much modification did you have to do? in all I now put over 800 trees in and have twice as much to still put in. not much was needed to add the overheads, I used plastic I beams and square tubed plastic tube. The threaded part of the mast was inserted into the square tube and the deck it sits on. It is screwed onto the deck. There is a crossbeam that connects both sides also underneath if you can see it in photo. Edited February 28, 2021 by Andymsa 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 (edited) There is now another small bridge in front this is kit bashed from two bridges from vollmer Edited February 28, 2021 by Andymsa 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mick Bonwick Posted November 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 12, 2020 Just now, Andymsa said: There is now another small bridge in front this is kit bashed from two bridges from vollmer Aha! A box girder bridge. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 54 minutes ago, simonmcp said: Very impressive, some stunning modelling. Is that the Faller Bietschtal bridge? I have the kit and intend trying to make it with the curved deck like the prototype, do you think that would be possible? Simon found this So yes I think you can put a curve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 10 minutes ago, Mick Bonwick said: Aha! A box girder bridge. lol, they were holding it down whilst glue set Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold simonmcp Posted November 12, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 12, 2020 4 hours ago, Andymsa said: found this So yes I think you can put a curve Great, thanks. I have a 3d printer so can always print any extra bits I need. All I need now is the time and space. Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 14, 2020 Author Share Posted November 14, 2020 (edited) More trees and some rock faces Edited February 28, 2021 by Andymsa 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) New loco depot west end, east end not finished yet, I’m not quite happy with the colouring of the hard standing. There is more work to be done adding detail. The loco shed doors are fully operational as well as the traverser which can either be manual or automatic control. There is also catenary installed. The concrete effect is flexible tile grout which is further coloured which I’m not quite happy with. Lightning towers are installed but not wired at this time. Edited March 18, 2021 by Andymsa 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 26, 2020 Author Share Posted November 26, 2020 (edited) The commuter station takes shape, sorry it’s upside down can’t seem to correct it Edited February 28, 2021 by Andymsa 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted November 26, 2020 Author Share Posted November 26, 2020 (edited) Not sure if the subway steps are to wide for the platforms Edited February 28, 2021 by Andymsa 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIMorrison Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Andy some of the photographs look like they are of real places - makes me rather jealous and the completed layout - assuming that ever happens - will be truly amazing!!! on the subject of the steps the answer would be to think about a real platform and I think you get the answers - would passengers be expected to walk along a platform a couple of feet wide with trains on one side and a big hole on the other side? If the answer is no then the steps need to be narrower or the platform needs to be bigger - perhaps sticking a couple of model people on the platform will help you visually? Iain Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted December 3, 2020 Author Share Posted December 3, 2020 10 hours ago, WIMorrison said: Andy some of the photographs look like they are of real places - makes me rather jealous and the completed layout - assuming that ever happens - will be truly amazing!!! on the subject of the steps the answer would be to think about a real platform and I think you get the answers - would passengers be expected to walk along a platform a couple of feet wide with trains on one side and a big hole on the other side? If the answer is no then the steps need to be narrower or the platform needs to be bigger - perhaps sticking a couple of model people on the platform will help you visually? Iain thanks good idea about the figures Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andymsa Posted December 7, 2020 Author Share Posted December 7, 2020 (edited) The latest work, I have added 8 new storage sidings 3.5 meters long. Point motors are wired but yet to wire track power to the pointwork. Sidings are wired and tested. Edited March 18, 2021 by Andymsa 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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