Further O Gauge Layout Progress - Kimmington Quay

Over the last year I have not achieved as much modelling as I would have liked, life continually got in the way.  My work life has been very time consuming since August and as a result modelling has firmly taken a back seat.  One of the aims for the new year is really get modelling again and drive the new layout forward.

Track wiring complete and the first trains are running.

Anyway, the new O gauge layout has a name, Kimmington Quay, and of course is set in North Devon.  There has been sporadic progress on the layout over the last few months, but it has been very stop start, a consequence of having to work far too many weekends.  Anyhow, the layout is now all wired up.  It has a control panel, built as an extension for the layout providing enough room for a diesel to run around its train.  It is a compromise on space, but the thing with O gauge, is it is big!  The control panel has a DCC Concepts Alpha Unit to operate the point motors via S lever point switches and Cobalt point motors.  Whilst this is slightly more pricey than a standard point motor fired off a solenoid, the reduction in underboard wiring alone is worth the cost.  Add in the satisfaction of using the point levers and in my book it is a winner.

The control panel unit for the layout with track extension. The DCC Concepts Alpha unit will be mounted - another job to do!

The power to layout is supplied using a NCE Powercab, as per my OO gauge layouts.  However, as I plan to have at least 2 sound chipped locomotives in O gauge, I used a Tam Valley Booster to up the available current to around 3 amps. This is now all wired up and working.  The trackwork is all Peco FB Code 143, with electrofrog points, using Gaugemaster polarity switches.  All the trackwork is now glued and pinned down.  The curves are very tight for O gauge, but it all just about works. The Powerbus is the Express models kit, with 2 droppers soldered to every piece of rail.  

The curve heading towards the fiddle yard, aka Barnstaple Junction.

Kimmington Quay platform halt, viewed from the inter tidal estuary.

View out of the station heading for the control panel run around, aka towards Ilfracombe!

I ordered a Dapol class 122 with a decoder fitted, as I needed something to test the layout with.  This has been pottering around the layout to get a feel for how it will operate.  I think the layout will work well, although ideally it really needed to be 4ft longer, however, I just do not have the space.  The platform building is 4ft long and in O gauge this doesn't even accommodate 2 Mk1 coaches, so this is very much a halt rather than a mainline station.

The layout is finally operational with the class 122 pulling 2 mk1 coaches into the station.

So current tasks are to paint the track and then glue down the platform. At the same time I am going to start building the quay wall at the front of the layout using a combination of plaster bandage and DAS modelling clay.  As for the layout buildings, the pub is 99% finished, I just need to add some guttering and finish this off and I have started building the harbour masters office for the front of the layout.  There is a dairy located at the back of the layout, with the platform built and ready for painting, another job for the coming weeks.  So plenty to do, but hopefully progress will be a bit swifter than it previously has been.