FLEETWELL

Having retired at the end of last year I was thinking what can I do to fill my days. Discussed things with Deb, my partner and said I would like to build a model railway, the first one in about 50 years and lots have changed. A couple of months before retirement I started buying the monthly magazines and spent countless hours on the internet reading reviews following forums and online stores. I downloaded a copy of SCARM but found the free version only allowed the user to place 100 pieces of track and luckily just before Christmas there was an offer to upgrade to the full version at a50% discount. I've spent hours of fun designing layouts and finally came up with what I thought had a good operating potential.
The start of the new year and building work alterations to the garage - up and over door removed, clad with Upvc cladding, then the entire inside insulation boards and plasterboard and finally emulsioned. The original roof taken off and replaced with industrial profile sheets and insulated with expanding fire retardant foam. The lights were replaced with 2no 5ft LED battens that I suspended from the roof timbers, cable trunking added and lots of power points as well. Luckily my neighbour who is an electrician by trade helped me with the power supply. This gave me a working space of approx 4.2mtrs x 2.2 mtrs. (13ft 10in x 7ft 3in in old money for those of us that can remember)



It's a permanent layout with the rear and sides being 700mm wide, so easy to reach across and 800mm wide at the front as I can access from either side with a 600mm central walkway.
The baseboards are on two levels with the rear approx 50mm higher than the front with a third level at the front higher again.

 

My SCARM design - I highlighted the various levels of track in different colours to help me visualise what it might look like:

 

Missed the important bit.
Modelling OO gauge / DCC - have the NCE Powercab / more of a modern day era as I wanted a dockside / container terminal

 

Thanks Ian, this is a real learning curve for me and I am acquiring new skills, woodworking, soldering...…….patience

 

Thanks guys for your encouraging comments, really appreciated.

Malc

 

Finally finished laying the trackbed. I opted for the DCC Concepts TBH3, box of 50 2ft pieces and I also purchased a box of 10mo 600 x 300 sheets. I chose this because each piece has a chamfered ballast edge and is scored down the centre on the underside, so using craft knife it was easy to split and cutting into about 8 inch lengths was very easy to lay round the curves. Fix the one piece in place then easy to add the second piece fitted alongside. The sheets I've used where I want a concrete hardstanding in the docks and engine shed and maintenance depot areas.



For the inclines I used the Woodland Scenics risers and inclines, selecting the 2% - 1 in 50 gradient and glued card on top of the inclines before laying the trackbed. I found that the Foam Tack Glue for securing the risers was ideal for glueing the trackbed down.




Where I have the elevated track at the front of the layout I want to put a viaduct. I've decided to scratchbuild this myself and found an arch template on the Scalescenes site which is a freebie to download. I printed off a load of copies then glued each one to card. When dry I cut them out then over the next couple of weeks glued to a further 2 layers of card - well Frosties cereal boxes to give them some stability.





Haven't decided whether to have 14 or 12 arches. The next job will be to clad them with brick paper.
Usual disclaimer - I have no connection or any affiliation with any suppliers mentioned.

Malc

 

I've started looking at how to build the viaduct, so thought I would do some tests and started with downloading some brick papers from Railway Modellers Club website. I glued these the some arch templates then stood them alongside the elevated track and my preference is the Ashlar stone finish


My next thought was how was I going to line the arches where they will be open for access for vehicles etc. into the station area. When I cut the arches from the template I was careful enough to remove the inner of the arch in one piece. I took two of these and glued another sheet of the brick paper around the circumference of each one:


Then I inset this into the arch and glued in place then trimmed the edges:


Looking good, impressed with my efforts.


For the quoins and keyblocks I literally hand drew small blocks on an arch template, photocopied then cut with a craft knife. I first tested with the facing edge.



Will obviously need painting to match the Ashlar but happy with what I'd produced. Now I needed to add the quoins for the return under the arch, so taking another copy I drew a second set of blocks for the inner underside of the arch, cut out then lightly scored the centre line so I could fold and glue on the two faces.




Making good progress, and I've documented all my processes along the way so I know how to do this on the layout arch templates. Will need a little tidying but overall happy with this.

 

Couple more pics;



For the arches not open I can glue brick paper on the inner face:


Scalescenes produce a kit which includes a set of arch infills with workshops etc in them so I'll download a set of these at some stage.

 

For the viaduct I need to build a total of 28 arches, 14 per side. Most of them will have infills, those facing into the station area will have some with small businesses etc. in them, those on the other face will mostly be infilled with stonework as the arches themselves. As I need to make a considerable number of these I've drawn a template for gluing the formers to the stone facing paper.


In order to save coloured ink and sheets to print I'm able to put the required pieces on one sheet, formers in place ready to glue:


Completed viaduct piece:


Viaduct arch and a tunnel portal (which I need a couple of) with facing added:


Rear view, ready to wrap and glue ( the Fosters was drunk some time ago !!)

 

Have been continuing with the build of the viaduct pieces. One completed arch and one with arch infils.



A few completed pieces just laid where I intend to fix them.


And with rolling stock on the viaduct line.


Back to completing more templates.

 

I downloaded the Scalescenes Arch Infills set and have been adding to the arches on the viaduct.

There is a good choice of finishes and doors etc to add details. The 'Secondhand' one will eventually have lighting inside so will a couple of others jut to add interest. Scalescenes have a kit that includes household white goods, so at some stage I'll download that, build the items and have them in the shop.
Another selection of infills to add to arches:

 

As well as building the viaduct I've made a start on the build of the platforms. I'm using 1mm grey board for the sides and 2mm for the bracing.


next was to add the opposite side:

Each platform made in two sections that I'll join together when permanently placed on the layout:

 

Today I made a start on the platform surfaces, just placed on the base to see result.

 

Today I completed the first of the two platforms. I have just put it in place on the layout, not fixed it down:



The height is spot on too - Well pleased