Circularium
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2021 10:09 am
So the nights are drawing in and evening golf is no longer practical. That means the start of a new modelling season. It's been a long time since I last posted here but no, I didn't abandon the hobby. I fixed the problem locos I had (no track relaying needed) and at the end of last season moved all my rolling stock onto the board. One curious consequence of this was that the occasional breakaway stopped. My assumption is that since I don't shunt and have left the rakes fully assembled all summer it allowed the couplings to 'settle in'.
A view of Wilf's Junction (named in honour of my late father) looking toward the triple exit tunnel. The mainline is a large outer loop and inner figure of 8. Wilf's Junction can convert the layout from a single run to two separate runs.
A couple of members expressed concern about track/board expansion over summer and I'm pleased to report that there was no evidence of it. Least-wise the track remained happily in place. A couple of fishplates decided that they couldn't be bothered to conduct electricity any longer but that easy enough to fix by adding more droppers.
Beekle's Memorial Stone. The right-hand track is the approach to Wilf's Junction, the left-hand track is the exit from The Long Tunnel.
As you can see the track has been ballasted. The rails have also been painted. I'm still not 100% happy with the ballast but I think it looks pretty good. I re-did Wilf's Junction with smaller, lighter stones then painted them. I think my Dad would have liked it.
A view down Access Way. This is now tree-lined and has gantries. It's called Access Way because it's the only way to get from the sidings to/from the mainline.
I also ordered two 'covers' for my sidings. They were to keep dust off parked locos and provide some interest to the layout. They were custom made to my design and assembled by me. It's MDF with acetate for the roofs. It turns out that even UHU doesn't stick acetate to wood very well so the roofs are fragile. Still the effect works reasonably well.
The North Shed. From right to left, Blue Gorgeous, Little Bertha, Blue Horror.
The above is an old shot so it's not showing Queen Elizabeth who was away for repairs. But she's back now.
Far Corner. Not a great deal to see here but the fencing looks nice and I repurposed a tunnel mouth to act as the entrance to a pedestrian tunnel.
The lower entrance of Access Way. The scene of several incidents concerning my class 43 Miss Behaviour. As mentioned above I was able to fix her and now she's happy to make her way down the ramp. This year I hope to add more interest to this area but I'm not quite sure what should go there.
The North Shed. From left to right, DRS Bertha, Big Bertha, Miss Behaviour.
Projects for this season:
* Install turnouts on the North Shed entrance (currently in progress)
* Install turnouts on the South Shed entrance (might be problematic)
* Install signals around the board.
* Complete the South Siding embankment.
* Complete the second major area of scenery (in between The North Shed and Access Way. This is hoped to be a cutting through a forest with a stream running down the side of Access Way leading to a pond under the double bridge at the bottom of Access Way.
* Complete siding furniture. Various bits of stuff (like barrels, rolls of wire, pallets) and palisade fencing all around.
I reckon that ought to keep me busy until next spring
I'll leave you with Miss Behaviour strutting her stuff.
A view of Wilf's Junction (named in honour of my late father) looking toward the triple exit tunnel. The mainline is a large outer loop and inner figure of 8. Wilf's Junction can convert the layout from a single run to two separate runs.
A couple of members expressed concern about track/board expansion over summer and I'm pleased to report that there was no evidence of it. Least-wise the track remained happily in place. A couple of fishplates decided that they couldn't be bothered to conduct electricity any longer but that easy enough to fix by adding more droppers.
Beekle's Memorial Stone. The right-hand track is the approach to Wilf's Junction, the left-hand track is the exit from The Long Tunnel.
As you can see the track has been ballasted. The rails have also been painted. I'm still not 100% happy with the ballast but I think it looks pretty good. I re-did Wilf's Junction with smaller, lighter stones then painted them. I think my Dad would have liked it.
A view down Access Way. This is now tree-lined and has gantries. It's called Access Way because it's the only way to get from the sidings to/from the mainline.
I also ordered two 'covers' for my sidings. They were to keep dust off parked locos and provide some interest to the layout. They were custom made to my design and assembled by me. It's MDF with acetate for the roofs. It turns out that even UHU doesn't stick acetate to wood very well so the roofs are fragile. Still the effect works reasonably well.
The North Shed. From right to left, Blue Gorgeous, Little Bertha, Blue Horror.
The above is an old shot so it's not showing Queen Elizabeth who was away for repairs. But she's back now.
Far Corner. Not a great deal to see here but the fencing looks nice and I repurposed a tunnel mouth to act as the entrance to a pedestrian tunnel.
The lower entrance of Access Way. The scene of several incidents concerning my class 43 Miss Behaviour. As mentioned above I was able to fix her and now she's happy to make her way down the ramp. This year I hope to add more interest to this area but I'm not quite sure what should go there.
The North Shed. From left to right, DRS Bertha, Big Bertha, Miss Behaviour.
Projects for this season:
* Install turnouts on the North Shed entrance (currently in progress)
* Install turnouts on the South Shed entrance (might be problematic)
* Install signals around the board.
* Complete the South Siding embankment.
* Complete the second major area of scenery (in between The North Shed and Access Way. This is hoped to be a cutting through a forest with a stream running down the side of Access Way leading to a pond under the double bridge at the bottom of Access Way.
* Complete siding furniture. Various bits of stuff (like barrels, rolls of wire, pallets) and palisade fencing all around.
I reckon that ought to keep me busy until next spring
I'll leave you with Miss Behaviour strutting her stuff.