Building Elvenhome, an N Gauge layout

I was able to finish the work at the front of layout to install the wall and complete the scenic work along it. Train cam got to take a trip down the branch line to see how it looked from track level. I also show how I went about building a brass etch kit from Severn Models of a church.

 

With the brass etch kit build completed it is time to paint it. An interesting time was had in the process as you will see. I also steeled myself to crawling under the layout so that I could remove the island platform at Weathertop to adjust it to allow the 8F to pass without biffing it. Finally I show some changes to the buildings for the gas works.

 

Time for the 100th episode of Elvenhome. I show the emerging design of the engine shed I intend to scratch build for the main depot at Weathertop. I also respond to a question asked of me as to how the Goods Yard and sidings work without a run around loop. Finally I look back to the plan I started you with 100 episodes ago and what has actually been built.

 

Over the last couple of weeks I have been refining the wall panels that make the exterior wall of the engine shed. I have also found a kit that may provide the dwellings for the workers at High Elven. I also give train cam a starring role just to show what I use at n gauge that keeps within gauge.

 

I have completed the work to build the wall panels for the first of the side walls for the engine shed. I was asked, in response to my last video, to show how I construct the frames for each wall panel, and I have included a section showing a wall panel frame being made. A new arrival or two on the layout this week, one of which fulfils a dream of a small boy many years ago...

 

In this video I keep my promise to show the process I used to paint and weather a Kestral Designs kit of a bungalow. I also provide a brief update on the build of the engine shed, and seek views as to which brick card I should use for the exterior walls.

 

More careful work in cutting out the apertures for the window frames on the wall panels for the scratch build engine shed. Fun with CVs provides me with more prototypical running. High Elven gets its final bungalows and the village layout starts to take shape.

 

Thanks Paul. I did have a look at turning the wall units upside down, but it would have put the bottom of the windows at a scale height over 10 feet with a titchy strip above the window. I can't remember for the life of me why I set the bottom of the window frame so low in the uprights. I am sure I had a good reason at the time. Still it has all worked out OK in the end. Steve

 

I am finally able in this update to start construction of the engine shed walls. I have also increased the number of trusses in the roof canopies. In response to a request following my last video I show how I programme the Zimo decoder to assign the active brake function on F2 and provide more prototypical acceleration and deceleration. Finally some running shots with the Standard 4 Tank engine, rejuvenated after having at the Zimo chip put in it, and the sound fitted 8F.

 

It seems to have taken an age to complete all the construction work on the wall panels for the engine shed. Finally I have been able to bring it all together. I now need to design the roof and I ask questions in the video to help me with decide how to go about lighting the building. Having got this far I have given myself time off construction of the engine shed to look at scenic work to create the gasworks and scrap yard.

 

Thanks very much Chris. Sorry to be slow in replying but we have been away from home. I have had a few people suggest brass rod, and I am off to the model shop tomorrow to take a look at what I can get locally. I think that will work much better. Stephen

 

After a much longer break than I intended I have returned to working on the layout . In particular I have finally settled on a design for the roof of the building. How I did that I describe in the video, and it was by a process that included me getting things wrong twice. I have also filmed this video using a new video app on my new iPhone, Filmic Pro. This has allowed me to take some shots for different video points as I explain. The gas works has also had some work done.

 

With the design for the roof finalised I can now finalise the design for the front of the shed, which I build in this video. I have also been able to do more scenic work on the Gas Works and the area around the viaduct. I also have two new locomotives that have joined the fleet, both of which get to run on the layout in the running session.

 

I have taken a bit of time off building the engine shed, and decided to do some scenic work to create the first part of the scrap yard at Weathertop. I've also been beguiling my time painting titchy little figures, which for some reason I enjoy doing. I have secured a few things to go in the engine shed from Germany which I show in this vide. Finally a chance encounter on eBay has increased my fleet of Gresley engines by one.

 

Having sent my poor eyes in search of balm I have completed the painting of the figures. In the end I completed painting 38 of them (1:160 scale). I show the finished result and the effect on the layout. I also return to the building of the roof of the engine shed, the completion of which is not in sight I think. Another Pacific loco from the LNER stable joins the fleet.

 

I am in the final stages of building the engine shed. In the episode I complete part of the roof build and also see how accurately I have produced the pieces to build the roof panel for the outer sections - do the windows line up with the spaces between the roof trusses?

 

I have completed building the outer panels of the roof of the engine shed. In the last video I mentioned that I had ordered some 1:150 scale painted figures. They duly arrived and in this video I compare 1:148, 1:150 and 1:160 scale figures both in terms of relative size, and quality of production. It is a long while since my Castle Class locomotives, both sound fitted got to stretch their legs on the layout. In this video I put that right, with Nunney Castle and Earl of Dunraven doing the honours.

 

The engine shed now looks nearer to being a finished building with its roof in place. I have also installed the central column to support the roof and the front wall above the entrance with the depot name. I seek help in this video, from those more experienced in lighting buildings, on what LEDs I might use to light the market stalls. A B1 and B17 feature in the running session.