Model Railway Forum

I thought I'd open up a thread on my new layout which is still in the planning and acquisition stage. I am fortunate enough to have a 17 ft square area in which to build the layout, which will be an end-to-end layout using three sides of the available space. The space is subdivided by the beams and joists of the loft, therefore it will be built in three sections, involving three different scenes all linked by a double track line which will disappear through tunnels between the various sections. Hence, the 'Three-in-one' layout name.

Although I originally intended to do a perfect scale model of a historical scene, I take the point voiced by some that such layouts often appear a bit 'clinical' and lacking in charm. The layout will be thus be fictitious but using track plans of historical stations and totally scratchbuilt buildings, built as authentically as possible, and scenery. Somewhere on the south coast, it will be a Southern layout.

Aquired materiel so far: 2 Schools class, 1 King Arthur class, 1 Lord Nelson class, 1 0-6-0 tank and 1 0-4-0. I also have an 0-4-0 pug done up in Midland livery with its own little 4 wheeled coach. My partner insisted I bought this as MR are her initials and it is tiny, like her. My intent is to utilise this on a 'Sub branch line' run by the council and businesses of the fictitious town of Meglington (named after her) which will run from the station to a small halt on a proposed seaside promenade scene. This will be a partly for fun enterprise taking tourists and their children the half mile distance between their guest houses and the sea front. So MR will in this instance stand for 'Meglington Railbus'. It also allows me to use a geographically incorrect, possibly fictitious engine and a few car boot sale acquired first radius curves semi - authentically. Anyway less waffle - at least one photo is required here I think. Last evening I spent a couple of hours starting a scratchbuilt station based loosely on the one at Crewkerne.

Sounds like an interesting project. Will look forward to progress updates.

Many thanks. I will still be at the aquisition stage until Autumn, when outside work on the house ceases and I can start laying track. As space is plenty but the budget tight I am scratchbuilding as much as possible and buying bargains off ebay.

The scratchbuilt station looks very impressive. I look forward to seeing progress.

So... baseboards erected and cleared for action. I have a mammoth 18 x 11 foot rectangular circuit. 3 sides are delineated by a 2 ft. 6 inch wide board, whilst one of the long sides has a board 3 ft. 3 inches wide. It will represent part of a parallel world easily allowed for in the Theory of Quantum Mechanics and the Many Worlds Hypothesis, in which Britain's southern coast is about 25 miles longer than the one we inhabit, into which my layout fits snugly between Hastings and Brighton. Time to start laying track!

I am keeping the 3 in one idea, although I have dispensed with the idea of having an 'out and back'. No point when I have room for a continuous circuit.The wider baseboard will be the main station, with the smaller station and seaside area being positioned on one of the shorter axes. The remainder - dictated by the fact that space is plentiful but budget slight, will feature lots of running length passing through pretty countryside with lots of nice natural features. Self - made scratchbuilt constructions will be surrounding the stations. These will include the entire station and service buildings of Meglington - on - Sea central station, the harbour and seaside area of Meglington promenade, and low relief parts of the castle, a Norman keep built within the circuit of walls comprising the Roman Saxon Shore type fort of PORTVS MAGLONA. Lots of fun awaits! You will notice that the baseboards also function as a cunningly built storage facility for all kinds of household junk.

Too neat and tidy .
Looks lovely, a big space indeed.
Jim.

Ok... so its been a while since I was last here, but I have not been idle. Basically I've simplified things - got rid of the 3-in-one idea, and now have a double track 'Mainline' (in reality, it would probably be a branch line with moderate traffic) and a single track branch line which runs on the inside, functioning in the daytime as the semi - recreational 'Meglington Railbus' and at night functions as the goods line into the main town. As I live over the channel, thanks to you-know-what I am now obliged to buy continental stuff to finish off the layout. Thats fine in some respects - got a couple of nice Hornby made controllers which are oviously 50's or early 60's, in boxes and fully working, along with a beercrate full of Lima settrack - about 200 quids worth of stuff all for 20 Euros so thats saved me a few bob! All I need now are a couple of new turnouts to replace dodgy ones and the layout will be functional. I never knew Hornby made stuff for the continental market!

Ive made a start on the buildings - though Im a little miffed that my self-printed brickpaper has started to fade before Ive finished the station building. Looks like I'll have to get some of the commercial stuff. The tunnel is a bit of a cliche I know, but I find they act much as a 'time passes' brief musical interlude in a film - you can imagine that little Terrier eagerly enters the tunnel, emerges somewhere else, visits a through station, enters a tunnel again about 5 miles on, and hey presto - emerges again just in time to enter my main station. Schools Class Stowe says 'Stop nagging him, Terrier - the least work the better. The entire ensemble is supported on Station - type brackets with cheerful scalloped edging, and Double Bass painted up to look like an American Loco looks on impassively.

Good to see you making progress. You're certainly not alone in having changes of plan part way through.

My fiddle yard area went through several changes in track formation before I settled on the current version and then decided to make it scenic, efectively making into two back to back scenic areas.

With regard to your self printed brick paper, maybe spraying it with artists Matt varnish after printing would stop it fading?

I spray all my Ink Jet printed papers once the ink has fully dried for about an hour after printing with Matt Ghiant spray, once that has dried I bond them to the card and cut out and glue to shape etc and once completed respray with another coat of Ghiant matt. Mask off any window glazing before spraying. Example spray.... https://www.photopaperdirect.com/produc ... 400ml.html

Looks a very interesting project, General. Nice one! It seems you can get to the layout from the outside as well - good idea. And I agree with cheshire lines; my layout went through eleven versions and even now I'm wondering if I should or shouldn't have done this or that differently, the mainline tracks along the edge of the board on the south side being a case in point. I see also you've used OSB like I did. I had some trouble with inconsistent thickness of that stuff, to the extent of needing packing under one side of the join in places to keep it level.

Cheers,
Artur