My extension to Oakamoor is taking a bit of a back seat at the moment due to the Boxfile project, so with some approval, I’m shifting back to Dads outside extension of the shed layout. The boards are down in the shed but only as an oval. We had intended to drop to a lower fiddle yard, but the incline in the 6x8ft shed was a bit too much to make with it curving. The project stalled with one or two ideas, but really we haven’t done anything for over 3 years (it stopped when I was preparing to move house 3 years ago today and things were stored in the railway shed for collection after move, one of these being Oakamoor layout). Late last year Dad dropped on a peco well turntable that we had planned to fit in the shed. It was a later conversation with mum (SWMBO Snr) who gave permission to have an outdoor layout. Others had been posting in the forum about outdoor layouts and a plan was drawn up at the back end of last year (i did post briefly somewhere here) but the winter months kind of put a stop to outdoors A simple double track out and back loop with a second line that will defend at the same time (shown crossing back) that goes to the lower fiddle yard. After the funeral we went to last week for my late railway colleague, we went to a fellow friends house afterwards to see his outdoor track and came away with some new ideas. Thanks to @Cidge at this time. As we have had some sun, I helped dad take the old pagoda down this morning. it’s posts may be cut down and reused yet! This afternoon after collecting the kids from school and heading to the best restaurant in town, dad and I have made a start on a test panel. The test panel is a UPVC facia board, with two battons screwed to it. It’s kver length as we wanted to see what flex etc was like. It’s quite ridged. The inside also has a grey face to it. Ignore the proud screws - dad only had ones that were too long in at this time so rather than rip skin on the shap edge under I left the head proud. It’s quite ridged with 2 x 2x1 battons. The bins need to go, but approx height. Happy at this start! Tea was great! Laters another day.
Ok, so I know the comp is over, but this thread may take a while.. @Toto feel free to move it if needs be... So dad took delivery of a new shed this morning, so phone call to be the second person (I ended up building half of it, but hey, if I can help my dad after all the years he's done stuff for me, I can’t grumble. ) to erect it. We had taken the old wooden shed down on Friday but apart from some timber rot in the roof beams, it was fairly sound.. so, we came up with a plan...! This old timber shed will now move to the other side of the layout shed and become a sidings/storage shed for our trains rather than have an under storage below the layout and the descending loop outside. It’s six foot by 2 1/2 foot so we will see what we can fit in loop wise or siding wise inside here and the original shed (some of which was going to be a hill now no longer needs to be as the 180 Curve will be outside not inside) so may just get 7 ft sidings. We have some painting to do externally as you can see, and also rebuild and re roof the smaller shed before we put a new board inside for the base. Then we start the fun bit of going outside!
That's a cracking nice looking new shed there your dad has... you could use it as a social clubhouse to drink Mulled wine in at Christmas
Sheds “in” but run out of paint for the front. Still needs a new roof making. Unsure if to build a new wooden one or go for Perspex to let the light in? My preference is for the wooden roof again. Track will come out the right hand side of the small shed and loop round in about 8 foot before returning back to the main shed about where the green bird feeder hangs down. I’ll try and get some “inside” photos.. not that there is much to show.
So, new shed is up, and painted. New roof - well done dad! We now turn to the dambusters.... sorry, hole in the wall gang, for tunnelling though. Bit of measuring and marking.. And away we go... We will be coming out in the far back corner. More to follow later.
So we continued from 4pm for another hour.... still have the frame to build to support the boards in the shed, but... We’re through. Three layers of wood! Bear in mind when we started there was no idea to come outside, and up till 2 weeks ago, there was no plan for the second shed, which will become the sidings/storage shed with the double track running through. Breakthrough.. as one fellow modeller has described.. like the channel tunnel! Clearance check. (Yes I did check beforehand. And with the arch, although this will be covered by a station on a bridge. Sizing up the next board in the 2nd shed. Levelling up. More in the next few days!
Frame went in for the track bed boards this morning, although I had to leave it with dad to complete due to starting work at 12pm. Hopefully some photos tomorrow or Thursday when we can do a bit more. May be a while before we start track laying yet though... but at least I can work out space for sidings etc. And then cut the outside holes... Then we are on to the outside planks! Woohoo. Thanks to @Cidge again for the inspiration....
e If I'd known that I was going to be so inspirational, I would have made a much better job of the sketch when I was explaining the construction to your dad! I wasn't expecting it to be published as part of your thread.
Well, the boards are done (when I visited today) but we need to add some bracing. Due to the thunderstorms, I didn’t get to take any photos as it was more a check for leaks with the new roof. Thankfully none found. More probably next week as I have a Triumph TR7 engine to work on and a diesel gala at Foxfield Railway on Sunday to attend to.
Triumph TR7 ....... The car of my childhood dreams. I remember mooching around Appleyard car dealers in Edinburgh trying to steal a brochure from the showroom when the salesmen were being kept bust selling Morris marinas and Austin princesses. I didn't bother with those brochures. I did get a jaguar XJS brochure. It came in a very fancy embossed sleeve. The envy of my mates.
Well the good news is, after converting to electronic ignition, it’s fired up! Had an issue with one of the SU float chambers over fuelling, so we went back to the old float system (we fitted new last week.) Test run tomorrow weather permitting.
I was more interested in the Triumph 'Stag' myself (always had a thing about V8 engines!), though the Stag engine was notorious for overheating and warping the cylinder heads. I had a Triumph 'Vitesse' 6 cylinder for a while back in the mid 60's, also a 'Herald' hard top coupe (not a lot of those around), then discovered Rover 3.5 V8's with a P6 saloon, then a Series 3 Land Rover followed by a Range Rover, various Citroen's and eventually a 3.9 litre V8 'Discovery'. Nowadays I can't justify running V8's (Daughters Range Rover is £550 a year just for the road tax!) so I'll stick to my Suzuki 'Vitara'. Keith.
Father in law has 2 of the straight 4 2 litre TR7’s. Soft top manual in Inca yellow which we spent 5 years restoring and this one, a fixed head automatic in red. I myself had a 1500 Triumph Spitfire but needs some work doing this year as she’s 41 year old!
As I’ve been at work and playing full size trains and dads been away with the tin snail, there hasn’t been any progress yet. Andy