Kimmington Quay further progress

So I have made some good progress on the new layout.  All of the DCC side of the layout is operational, with the points all working fine with DCC concepts point motors and levers.  I have now finally finished painting the track and alongside this I have managed to glue the platform into place.  Alongside this I have now managed to make a start on painting the dairy platform.  This is now the rate limiting step; as soon as this is painted then I can make a start on ballasting.  It really feels like I am making some progress now and can finally make a real start on detailing the layout and starting to add in the scenic details.

Platform at Kimmington Quay being glued down.

Track painted!

The view of the platform from the inter tidal muds!

In other modelling, I have managed to crack on with the painting with the 13t open wagon and also the 12t pipe wagon, both in O gauge.  I also managed to sound chip a Dapol class 122 DMU today and chip a Dapol class 08 to use as a run around to check the layout.  

Video showing the extent of the O gauge layout.

So all in all, very satisfying progress.  It really is a new world working in O gauge.  Whilst I am very confident whilst working in OO gauge, the step into O gauge has meant that I am learning again as I go.  However, it is a lot of fun and I currently have a little momentum with pushing on with the layout. Being able to run trains around transforms the perceptions of progress on the layout.  Hopefully, more progress to follow!

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. 

merry Christmas one and all

 A happy Christmas to everyone! I hope everyone has a fantastic xmas and gets some railway related models!

Next year I will be back to blogging, with the O gauge layout making good progress.  Until then - have a good one!

0 Gauge layout progress

I have recently been modelling away on a new 0 gauge layout, although progress has been a little slower than I would have liked.  The main job has been to construct a platform.  Once this bit is finished, I can glue it into place and line the track up.  I purchased some laser cut kits to construct the platform, with the top of the platform being made from 2mm plasticard.  This is now being painted ready to install. Having moved up to 0 gauge, the size of everything seems huge compared to modelling in 00 gauge - everything seems to have a bit more presence.

Finished platform ready for painting.

Platform is now slowly taking shape during the painting. Being 0 gauge, it is taking a lot of paint to cover it!

I am also building a Petite Properties building, which will be a pub.  All layouts seem to have a pub nowadays - and I am pretty happy with how this one is shaping up.  The exterior is scribed polyfilla, painted with some cheap enamel paints.  There is a bit of detailing to go, with a partially modelled interior, but it is getting there.  I am pretty happy with the finish so far.  I am scratch building a bit of interior furniture and will add some pub benches/flower pots, etc outside.  

Interior tables and bar during painting.

Overall the layout is 12ft long, although the end board to a fiddle yard is curved.  The track is running on a raised level, allowing me to model an estuary/sea front, just like Barnstaple. One of the next big jobs is to order some DAS clay and build the stonework at the front of the layout.  

The raised level on the layout.

I am finding modelling in 0 gauge so much more fulfilling than 00 gauge.  I am also finding that my capacity to scratch build bits and pieces is much easier in 0 gauge - to me it feels a lot more realistic to model in (although I have not made that much progress!).  I think that for now I am now definitely an 0 gauge modeller and have sold off quite a lot of my 00 gauge stuff.  I think this is definitely the way forward for me.

00 gauge 12T box vans

I have recently been ticking over a few projects in the modelling boxes, although my enthusiasm for finishing off the 00 gauge projects is quite low at the moment.  I have mainly been working on 0 gauge models and am really enjoying working in the larger scale.  I am currently wondering whether I will return to 00 gauge at all - I am not sure.  I need to get the 0 gauge layout working then see how this feels for space, etc, before committing.  However, right now I certainly feel that 0 gauge is the scale for me.

Weathered vanfit.

Anyhow, I did manage to finish off a couple of 00 gauge 12T box vans at the weekend.  The vanfit I weathered years ago, but I thought the finish could be improved, whilst the shocvan was a new model. Both are now finished and rehoused in their respective boxes, although the Charlton layout has now gone, so I have nowhere to run them.  It still feels good to finish these models off and I hope to clear all of the 00 gauge models from the paint boxes before refilling them with 0 gauge wagons!

Weathered shocvan.

End of the line and a new 0 gauge project

There have not been too many posts over the last few months.  However, a few projects have been slowly progressing and there has been a lot of mulling over what to do next.  I have had a set of baseboards on order for several months to complete a 00 gauge layout with two stations (well one station and a small platform halt). After finishing Charlton I feel I have developed the skills to tackle a larger project.  However, at the same time, my enthusiasm for this bigger project has been waning.  Charlton is soon to be rehomed, to free up some space for the new layout.  For the next layout I have finished building the smaller platform and the platform shelter has been in the paint boxes for several months.  However, there is no real momentum or excitement at the moment for the project (the fabled modellers mojo!).

The Charlton layout.

It certainly feels a bit strange to be passing Charlton onwards - it is where I test any rolling stock, but the time has come to tackle something new.  I really hope the new owner gets as much fun and use out of it, as I have. I have taken it to four exhibitions and when I started it, I never imagined that I would be capable of building and operating a layout at an exhibition.  It was a great learning curve and the layout has always performed near faultlessly. 

The new platform for Kimwick Halt in 00 gauge, pretty much complete, except for a bit of tidying up here and there.

Anyhow, I have decided to have a brief interlude from 00 gauge and although I will keep ticking over with 00 gauge modelling, finishing some projects in the model box, I have decided the next project will be an 0 gauge layout.  I hope to finish this layout within a year and I feel inspired to be able to build some bigger rolling stock for it.  It feels great to have a plan for the new layout and I hope to make some progress on it pretty quickly.

Class 25 and a herring wagon

Modelling progress has been very slow over the last two months, although I am not entirely sure why.  I am still waiting on the new baseboards and I am contemplating future projects.  I am more and more inclined to head to an 0 gauge layout, although I think I am going to stick with the 00 gauge layout for the next project and maybe start building a small 0 gauge layout at the same time, as a test run.  Anyhow, I have been very slowly ticking over a few projects in the paint boxes.  The first is a class 25; this is a very long term project that has continually been on the back burner.  I originally weathered this locomotive about a decade ago and was initially delighted with the finish.  However, as my weathering skills have (hopefully) developed, I decided to paint strip this locomotive and start again.  It has been in the paintboxes for probably 5 years now - making very little headway.  The application of the new BR Blue/yellow livery was not my best and added to this, I have already got two fully sound chipped working class 25s for the layout.  So I have decided to model this class 25 in a very dilapidated state - partly to cover the less than perfect livery and partly to provide something a bit different on the layout.  The model is currently being varnished ready for transfers.

A somewhat careworn appearance is being aimed for in the class 25 repaint.

I have also got a few other wagon building projects slowly progressing.  This is a the Cambrian Herring wagon, which I am going to build a small number of, for the layout.  These are tiny wagons and a bit of a headache to build, trying to work out where all the little bits fit - but it is starting to shape up now.  I used maskol to cover an initial rust coat on the wagon, before applying most of the livery (black!) and a bit of light weathering.  It is coming together now and I should be able to remove the maskol in the next week or so, just ready for transfers and final weathering.  

Herring wagon during painting.

So some progress here and there, although all my modelling is currently lacking a bit of motivation and momentum at the moment. Fingers crossed I will get a bit more time in the coming weeks.