It's been quite a long time since I took on the challenge of constructing my first 009 layout, which you all know as Fablewood. After 7 odd years since the former was completed, the time has come for me to produce a sequel. This thread will explain the construction process of my new creation, as and how it unfolds. It all begins with a pile of thin 5ft x 1ft pieces of soft plywood (usually ideal for backscenes), kindly handed to me by a fellow member at Rainhill M.R.C. Having sat in the garage for some time, I felt that some of that plywood could come in handy as a challenge; to design and operate an end-to-end layout that would be ideal for table-top operation, and not take up so much space. The premise is for a small harbour, being the terminal point of the Fablewood Railway. Shunting of wagons can be expected to happen, as well as regular passenger trains moving in and out. The era? Well, anything goes I suspect; from the 60's onwards, up to the present day (a bit like Fablewood, due to the mix of classic and nearly up to date vehicles). Below is a rough idea knocked up in AnyRail5, as to how the plan looks (not to scale, and subject to alteration); any advice on power feeds, isolation points and other areas of wiring, would be appreciated. A few points to be made. A - The 'dotted' area is intended to be the fiddle yard, and a separate baseboard will be constructed for it. B - The tracks with the Peco wagon turntables are intended to resemble a short quay. C - The two sidings on the left of the plan, will be for goods wagons in the harbour. The ones on the right will be a storage siding, and engine shed. And now, let the fun begin! Here's the piece of wood, in question. This particular one is acting as the 'base', where the harbour area is intended to be, with a piece of 2400x34x18 mm white wood running across the top. The 2400x34x18 mm white wood piece alongside the plywood, prior to measuring and cutting to fit. After sawing to the required length, the soft white wood piece was glued to the plywood (wood glue being used, before screwed into place... Like so. A length-ways view of the white wood piece in place. Next, the 'quay' area was marked out with two straight lines drawn in pen... Before more of the white wood piece was cut to length, and glued into place. A spare piece of the plywood was measured and cut to length accordingly... Before being glued and nailed into position. With the bottom half completed, another piece of 5ft by 1ft was glued, nailed and screwed on top, with supports underneath for stability (these you will see, in due course). As I type, more of the white wood lengths are going underneath the bottom half of the baseboard, to provide stability. The top half will also get this treatment. Underneath, consideration has been given to leave deliberate gaps, in order to enable gradual wiring to be carried out. More to follow, as progress unfolds. Comments welcome as always.
02/09/2023 While tweaking with the plan continues (more on that, in due course), work on the main baseboard keeps on progressing. The under-frame (which probably should have been done first) has been successfully fitted underneath the main baseboard, using 1800mm lengths of 18x34mm soft white wood. Below is a pictorial record of the pieces fitted, with the likelihood of more to follow, to enable extra stability and flatness of the top. Some gaps below have been left deliberately, in order to enable wiring to be carried out at a later date. For now, the main section of the layout is completed. A separate board to accommodate extra space and a fiddle yard, will follow soon. Comments welcome as always.
27/09/2023 While construction of the second section of my new layout is yet to proceed, the main baseboard has already seen the arrival of the first vessel to dock at my proposed harbour! Introducing 'Odin'. Based on a Clyde 'Puffer' (or at least a loose resemblance), only registered in Caernarfon and carrying coal. Built by my uncle and kindly donated to the project, the 'Puffer' will no doubt be a very good centre-piece for my new layout. Slight trimming of the lower hull may be required to make it level with the dock-side, otherwise, 'Odin' looks the part. It is intended to not fix her into place permanently, but rather make her removable, for docking at either 'Port' or 'Starboard' (whichever way I feel inclined). Obviously there's still a matter of water to be added (and that won't be for a while yet), but the boat sits just about perfectly in the space provided! Any suggestions as to improving the vessel, would be greatly appreciated. Comments welcome as always.
I have an RC wooden Clydeside puffer. No where near as detailed as yours! The bonus of these boats is the almost flat bottom to them is that they could enter harbours where the tide had gone out. so you could always model a dry harbour, then your not having to model a gap in the water for it to sit in and limited on its orientation… Andy
06/10/23 In case you missed the last update, here is 'Odin' again... Although the above shot shows Odin docked at 'Port', it has since been decided to turn her around, in the 'Starboard' position. With that settled, a way had to be found to make a 'cradle hole' in one of the harbour areas, to slot the vessel through rather than chop half of the keel plates away. To do this, a makeshift 'stencil' had to be made. This was achieved with two pieces of A4 taped together, an outline carefully drawn around the hull/keel, cut out, and another outline drawn around the stencil. Like so: One problem to get around, is how to cut out the 'marked' area of the hole. Any suggestions? It is intended to thread some 'dowels' underneath to act as the cradle itself, enabling the boat to be inserted and removed after each use of the new layout. The track plan has not been forgotten about; more on that, in due course. Comments welcome as always.
If the hole is the same size as the outline of the hull surely the hull will only just fit in the hole. How thick is the ply. Thin ish ply can be cut with a sharp Stanley type knife.
Drill a hole and then insert a blade and cut from the hole. Or… drill another hole and another side by side till you can cut the small bits between with a stanley knife and then clean up with a file. just be mindful, if not already done so, thickness of any wall material you may be using for the harbour and also any of the rubber bouys they put down the sides to stop the side of the boat hitting the walls..
16/11/23 Before going further, the name for my new layout can now be revealed. Porth Chewdl (or Fable Port) is the confirmed title for Fablewood's sequel. I've tried to alter the threat title, but have had problems (if any admin knows how to do this, please get in touch). Anyway, moving on... A separate, 2ft long section has been constructed, to enable space for a fiddle yard. This was achieved with strips of 18mm x 34mm timber (in lengths of 1800mm) for the framework and wall, and some spare pieces of 5ft by 1ft plywood cut to length. The timber frame was the first thing to be put together: At the same time, securing latches were installed: The lower half of the second section was glued, and screwed into position, like so: Leftover pieces of the timer for the framework, were used for the wall: With the top half following suit. Guiding dowels were also installed. The completed second section. A lover section of harbour wall (complete with a slipway), was put together in the bottom left corner. The guide dowels and latches (bottom half being seen here), enabling a good fit. And finally for now, the end result of combining the 2ft and 5ft sections together (bringing the layout to an overall 7ft by 1.5ft, making it 84" x 18"). The next task is to paint both sections with a primer undercoat, before a couple of layers of ordinary paint, to seal in the woodwork. This will be done over the next few days or so. Comments welcome as always.
The change of name seems to have worked and needs no further intervention from Admin! looking good. I used similar suitcase snap locks on Oakamoor.. however I found I later needed dowl alignment to stop vertical movement at the board joints as you have done. I wish I had thought of that at origin (although the main board wasn’t made by myself)
17/11/23 The surface tops and 'wall' parts on both sections, were given a coat of white primer this morning. Both pieces are currently drying out, with one or two more layers of ordinary paint expected to be applied shortly. Once the painting has been done, the track laying can finally get underway. More on that, in due course. Comments welcome as always.
