Dyffryn y Tyllau

As you know from my other topic/layout - Crymmych Arms; I/we switched from TT to N gauge. Prior to us being given lots of N track and points, I ordered a box of N flexi track. Missordered, actually. I ended up with 009 instead of N.

It wasn't worth the hassle of sending it back for exchange, and by then we had yards of N track anyway.
I decided to build a 'rabbit warren' style 009 layout, as cheaply as possible, and not bothering too much on precision and accuracy (RM webb readers may leave at this point)

On a bit of left-over 9mm ply and some 1 x 2 softwood, I created this:



Bits of corrugated cardboard, polystyrene, polyurethane, cork, couple of bits on N track, and 1 in 15 gradients...

Gotta leave for a while -I'll come back to this later...

Shaun.

 

Thanks Pete and Paul.

There is a 'sort' of passing loop - it goes around the back, and has two isolating sections to hide other trains. Not tried it yet though, as I only did the wiring today. I only had three points, so I couldn't fit a loop in the front. £11 for a point? Thats two bottles of red...

I know about the frowning on Rabbits Pete, it crops up on 009 and NGRM forums, and as for RMWebb, I stopped visiting there a long time ago. More pedants on there than you can shake a stick at. Just let people get on with want they want to model...

Anyhow enough said. On with Dyffryn. For those not lucky enough to hail from Gods Country, it means Valley of the Holes...

Started building up infill with paper towels and Modroc:



and bits of cardboard!



It gradually started taking shape



Lots of Martys Gloop was applied, and some 3mm ply made up the sides and back (with suitable holes cut in them for access should (and when) derailments occur.



No more today, got a ChufferDuffer meeting!

Shaun.

 

Thanks everybody.
I'm not moving all that fast on it - I started three or four months ago!

I've been following Fablewood on other forums David - it has come on in leaps and bounds - you must be really proud of what you have achieved. Don't wait a couple of years to expand, do it now before we get nationalised...

Back to Dyffryn - I made a station:



Used my time proven method of planning/printing on computer then using card and Das clay.
Huge jump ahead in time (six weeks, I think)
the landscaping started, using any odd tubes of acrylic, bottom scrapings from tins of emulsion, and cast off Daler & Rowney that my wife had no more use for:



I had by this time checked that locos would actually handle the gradients and curves. Luckily we have a good stable of 009 engines for our Teifi Gorge layout, so there was no cost involved.
I did make a walk-about controller, which cost precious pennies.
Housed in the 'Oxford' die-cast box is a £4.50 chinese speed controller, the cable is redundant telephone hook-up, and the transformer 50p from the charity shop.
Works beautifully, and the locos no problem, except the ones with pony trucks. Best are the ones that Colin made using the Kato tram chassis.



Construction costs up to this stage I think I calculated to be £60 - not including a loco.

Using the right hand one pictured below, that would put another £20 onto the cost.



Quite a bit more done in the past three weeks, but you'll have to wait for a day or two!

Best regards,

Shaun.

 

Well, we've moved on a bit...

The right hand corner was looking bare, so I've made a few buildings. Not delicate or precise, you have to appreciate, as this layout is done on a wing and a prayer, and cheap and cheerful.

We have a feed and grain merchant, with our man busily hauling on a couple of sacks. There should be a cart underneath, but I haven't got one yet...



Next to that is a small (very small) pub, the 'Station Arms', with the old boy staggering in, and the locals having a fag outside.



To fill in the top corner I built a three storied house in situ, jamming it between the side panel and the cliff.
The ground floor is a shop, yet to designated, with accommodation above. The first floor has a verander with access to the cliff garden, where the lady of the house can hang out her washing.



There is also an engine shed in the foreground, which can be seen in this better view of the village:



Finally a shot of the village from front left:



I managed to squeeze in a keepers cottage between the line and the escarpment.

Originally the backscene was blue with fleecy clouds, but Mrs Butler was not impressed, and asked could she 'do something about the blue'...
We now have moonlight and distant thunderclouds.

Most buildings have LED lighting, with a flickering fire in the pub. Platform lights are GOW bulbs, in series with a resistor to prolong life. Power for lights come from a 9 volt 'wall wart', 50p from the charity shop.

This is the night-time shot:



Thats it so far - next move is to do something with the left hand side...

Shaun.