Building a train layout.
started out by getting the hornby Virgin Pendolino basic set that gives me an ovel track with a single siding. i then have desinged a trackplan around that base, i am limited with space, i have just a 4' x 6' board. with this i have raised the back of the board to give abit of interest and then i plan on building up a maintainance depot and sidings in the middle with an oil/fuel depot to the righthand side of the middle.
my view of a trainset is not to build half a city or big scene, i want to build a diorama with movement, so i will be focusing on the detailing and the groundwork of the layout, rather than moving trains through and opperating them to a timetable.
my view of a trainset is not to build half a city or big scene, i want to build a diorama with movement, so i will be focusing on the detailing and the groundwork of the layout, rather than moving trains through and opperating them to a timetable.
Baseboard built and basic set layed out.
Started adding more track and first building.
Brick walls
bricks_1.doc | |
File Size: | 2668 kb |
File Type: | doc |
here is a file you can save and print, its a picture of brickwork, i have used it to cover the wall of the raised area at the back of my baseboard.
Trackplan complete...
In the photo above you can see the deisel maintainance shed and that area will also have a works platform down the side of the HST siding and probubly an office block there too.
On the other side there are the sidings and next to the long siding (pictured with the train on) will be an oil/fuel depot with unloading pipes and storage tanks.
Then up the back is the raised station where the HSt is parked in the photo.
In total the track is 45 feet and 6inch (13m65) long
On the other side there are the sidings and next to the long siding (pictured with the train on) will be an oil/fuel depot with unloading pipes and storage tanks.
Then up the back is the raised station where the HSt is parked in the photo.
In total the track is 45 feet and 6inch (13m65) long
My 2 goods engines. A class:37, by Vi Trains & a class:66, by hornby.
laying the gravel bed.
I've now started laying the gravel bed for the track. the gravel i have i acturly swept up off a freshly resurfaced road, at the time i collected it to use as boat ballast but its about the right size for the railway, and after i have weathered it with pastles i think it will look ok.
To start the process, i masked the tracks and painted the sleepers and bed area gray for an undercoat. Then using a small hopper i made, with a slot in the bottom, spread the gravel along the line. This was then it is glued in place with a mix 50/50 of PVA glue and water with jsut a little washing up liquid to help it flow.
To start the process, i masked the tracks and painted the sleepers and bed area gray for an undercoat. Then using a small hopper i made, with a slot in the bottom, spread the gravel along the line. This was then it is glued in place with a mix 50/50 of PVA glue and water with jsut a little washing up liquid to help it flow.
First groundwork....
Here is the first bit of groundwork i have constructed on the track. its the small corner between the sidings and the main track. i have built it up abit with cardboard and plaster, then painted it gray and green. To this i then added static grass mat, i didnt just stick it on, i break it into peaces a couple of cm big and fix one at a time until its covered, that way it fits to the ground better. To finish it off i have added a mix of green paint to give diffrent shades like in nature.
Later on i will add some bits of rubbish or brambles to make it abit more realistic.
Later on i will add some bits of rubbish or brambles to make it abit more realistic.
Here is the second bit of ground work underway. Its a raised bank in the back corner between the high walled area of the station and the main level. its got a little cut-out that will be bricked and have a little electric box or something like that in it. over the top i will put some bushes or trees to give it some hight.
The groundwork is progressing slowly. the 2 pieces of metal you can see sticking out of the front of the base in the photo above are control levers for the points further back on the board. electronic pointmotors and control switches are to expencive for now so i built a manual version myself. i will ne adding a third for the other points upto the station line, but the control lever needs to be longer.
To make use of the small flat corner at the front of the layout i decided to put in the remains of a branch line thats been cut off from use. the old track remains, but the bushes and grass is taking over slowly. the rails will be painted rusty and weathered further after i have finished the groundwork on the other side of the line.