Welcome Wizmacnz

Thanks for the welcome, and yes Toto, you did have it right. Architect for my sins.
I haven't been doing very much modeling or layout building of late. We are having quite a building boom here in NZ, which means that apart from having a very busy time at work, builders have become scarce and expensive. This has happened just when I had demolished my last layout in preparation for demolishing the garage that it was based in. The construction of a new railway room is on hold while I wait for some sanity to return to construction pricing. Much of my budget has gone on house renovations that turned out far more expensive than anticipated. I should have used a QS to do some proper cost planning.
I have prepared a lay out plan and I'm thinking of building sections for the new layout in the old garage, then storing them "off-site" to put it all together when the new railway room eventually gets built. I'll start a thread in the Members Personal Layout section when I have something to show.
Peter

 

Welcome to the mad house Peter (I mean the forum!) Sounds like you need some extra Brit builders over there!!
CheersRon

 

Well my shed, when I finally get to it, is planned to be a one bedroom flat on top of a double garage. Except the flat will be built initially with just external walls. The idea being that when I pop my clogs, the railway can be stripped out and someone has an asset rather than a large unwanted shed. Obviously the initial cost is much higher and that's why I want to at least try and time the construction outside of the current building boom.
So unlike Toto's shed that was built plonk on the ground. Mine is going to be 2.7 metres up in the air. I don't know which is the greater madness.

 

G'day Peter.

How's the 3D printing?

Marty

 

paul_l wrote:

Well I think the layout I'm planning is over ambitious enough, without contemplating expanding downwards.

I prepared a layout plan some time ago and have to confess that the garage plan has been adjusted to suit the layout plan rather than the other way around. When I've worked out how to post some pictures I'll put up a copy of the plan.

Peter

 

Hi Marty

The 3D printing has had to take a bit of a back seat of late.

For those that don't know me from another forum, I've been using Cad software that I use for my architectural business to create models for model railways. Some simple things like doors, windows and chimney pots, some more complex like footbridges. Originally primarily for my own use, but more recently to satisfy a small but steady demand from others. The models are actually ordered, printed and dispatched by Shapeways. I get a small part of the cost as a designers mark-up. I'm probably averaging about $15 US a month. Not exactly enough to retire on. But I have hopes.

 

Ha ...

I've just found the very clear instructions on how to upload photo's. So here is the most recent version of my proposed track plan.



And here is a blow up of the main station area.



I'm fully aware it's complete madness to attempt something so big, but on the upside I do already have most of the points from my previous layout. (That was madness too.) The "Leeds Central" is completely fictitious. I just wanted a location that was likely to have interesting connections and applied Rule 1.

On the 3D print front here is a computer image of some modern seating, made by special request (too modern for my layout).



And a re-working of my footbridge model, which Marty might be familiar with. Again modified on special request for someone who wanted it in N Scale and connecting three platforms. I also put it for sale as an OO scale model, convinced that no one would ever buy one. It is kind of pricey. Then someone almost immediately bought two. Mind you haven't sold any since.



I'm sure I'll return to the Leeds layout and 3D printing in their own separate posting areas. So just a few final bits of introduction.. for those who have never come across me before in other places.
I'm now very much a kiwi having moved to NZ in 1986. A fervent All Black supporter. Not hard when they win all the time, although my former love Tottenham Hotspur is having a decent run this year. Still soccer is of a pretty low standard here. There's a limit to how much you can get up in the middle of the night to watch a decent game from the UK. So if you are into sport in NZ you are pretty much required to embrace Rugby.

As Toto remembered early in this thread I'm an Architect and have owned my own small architectural practice for the last 6 years. It's pretty much a do anything type of practice, other than single house residential architecture. I like variety.

Everything from Hindu Temples.



to Public Toilets



and quite a lot of Office/ warehouse developments



Having had model railways as a child, my interest was rekindled, what I used to say was quite recently, but when I do the maths, I realize that it is now getting on for nearly 20 years ago. Like many, I'm recreating the railways of my childhood. I can just about remember traveling with steam engine pulled trains. My model railway is therefore of the steam / green diesel transition. The diesels are now outnumbering the steam. They just seem to run so much more reliably.

My first layout was awful... a roundy roundy thing that was pulled apart again after a couple of months. The second layout was built on a Cyril Freezer plan, very similar in fact to the plan I'm proposing to use on my next layout. It had a large number of points and was very difficult to operate, even with DCC, I took the next step and went to full computer control, driven by RR&Co, with lots of little electronic boxes and gizmos, to identify where on the layout the trains were and control all the points. The main track laying and wiring were complete when the decision was made to demolish the garage which housed my railway room. Much of that layout has now been stripped out. Points and electronics have been salvaged, but the baseboards were never originally built in a manner that lent itself to later dismantling.

My next layout will also use the same technology. For the technically minded, its a combination of Digitrax, RR Cirkits, aand Lenz accessory decoders. I learnt many lessons getting it all working last time. I think I re-wired most of it at least three times. I think I can save myself at least two years in build time the next time around.

Well that's probably more than enough of an introduction for now. Looking forward to making new friends here. Learning more and helping where I can.

Peter

 

Great intro Peter.

Your excellent footbridge features in my recent, first ever posted video on my layout thread.

Cheers

Marty