Having been modelling in 00 gauge for a number of years, the urge to have a go at 0 gauge has finally caught up with me in the form of a "Connoisseur Models" 02 tank loco, still sticking with the 'Southern', but each to his own. My 00 gauge layout is in the loft, but as no further space is available, a layout in my garage is the only option since Mrs M is a keen gardener and has ruled out a garden layout in any form. I'm not too bothered about that as a garden layout in the UK climate isn't something I'd be keen on anyway, so I'm going to make the best of a garage layout. It will be a 'U' shaped setup, down part of one side, across the back and return along part of t'other side, so an 'End-to-end' in fact. I replaced the entire garage roof last year as the Asbestolux roofing was starting to degrade and leak, so it was replaced by box profile plastic coated steel sheets with anti-condensation covering on the underside. While I was at it, I completely lined out the walls with OSB timber sheet (Oriented Strand Board) , painting this and the concrete floor to make it easier to keep clean, then invested in some of Lidl's 'knock-together' shelving, and this is now going to form the longer side of the layout. Lidl's competitor Aldi has currently some rather useful steel right angle brackets on offer, so 2 packs of each of the 2 sizes were bought, these are going to be used to attach sheets of 9mm 'Far-Eastern' (the hardwood type) of ply to the shelving tops.
So this is the Lidl shelving which will form the basis of one side of my new layout. The ply will be fixed to the brackets using countersunk machine screws and nuts, layout width will be 600mm though the shelving is only 470mm, so some moderate overhang, hence the choice of a reasonable ply thickness, weight not being an issue.
With the supplied chipboard tops removed, the brackets were measured out, drilled and screwed into position. Doubtless I will ultimately find a use for the 'redundant' chipboard at some point.
Any slight discrepancy in levelling can be corrected using plastic window frame packers between bracket and ply, though most are fine and will not need to be packed out. The ply itself is scheduled for delivery tomorrow, so it will be out with the circular saw to cut the required lengths. Keith.
Well that's the thing Paul, I don't have a track plan in mind, so any suggestions on a plan welcomed. I 'm not into 'shunting planks', but as I can't have a 'roundy-roundy' in this situation, I do want slightly more than a branch line, reason being that I absolutely must have a "Merchant Navy" as my second loco, preferably unrebuilt if one's available, but I accept that more than a couple of carriages is unlikely due to the restricted length. I guess a goods shed/depot, some sort of factory or warehouse, possibly a coal yard is a possible, perhaps a moderate terminus at the 'longer' end with a small station at t'other. Wagon-wise, one of Jim's "Queen Mary" brake vans is on the cards, together with a small collection of other wagons, yet to be decided, depending on what gets built at each end. I'm currently working on the baseboards which I hope to finish by weekend, then I'll probably leave it for this year and concentrate on loco and rolling stock construction, buying in track etc over the winter ready for a start next spring. I'm intending going for another (Separate from my 00 gauge layout) Lenz DCC control as that's what I'm used to, but it'll not be new. Keith.
I've spent most of the last 3 days building the baseboards for my proposed layout (no track plan in mind yet though!), and it's all complete now so that's as far as I'll go with it until next spring as I've plenty to do building the '02' and some rolling stock, plus buying in track etc as funds allow. Here's what it all looks like, looking toward the rear of the garage, this is the 6.5M leg.
This is the rear corner. You'll note that I have built the layout around the racking as I didn't want to move it, though I did dismantle it to put down the boards, then rebuilt it afterwards. I'm thinking that I may either construct a tunnel around this racking, or perhaps a building, possibly a small loco shed depending on layout plan. Incidentally, I see that in the UK this week Lidl are again stocking the 'Knock-together' racking I used, very useful and strong!
And finally the return side, 2.35M. You'll note the 40mm 'upstand' around the outer edge of the boards. This is to hopefully keep any derailments on the boards rather than taking a nose dive onto the concrete floor below!
How about a heritage line using the station at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley line as an inspiration as terminus. You can justify any and all locos and rolling stock ancient and modern. The racking in the corner, maybe a tunnel similar to the Isle of Wight railway leading to a fiddle yard on the short side with a central run round to save handling your locos and stock. Pete.
An excellent suggestion Pete and one that gives me a wider remit with choice of loco's, knowing how I'm a fan of the oddball/prototype/one-offs apart from my usual "Southern" stuff. There isn't the range of "Southern" loco's in 0 gauge (either rtr or kits) that there is in 00 gauge, though I won't have room for many with the size of this layout, but then again I can't get all my 120+ 00 gauge loco's on the track at the same time! Keith.
