richrua

Hi guys. It's been a fair while since I posted on here. (I have been lurking in the background). A combination of a very busy time and feeling very tired because of a painful shoulder (which isn't quite right yet). Anyway . Enough excuses! I've had an idea in my mind for a small (4'x2' ) shunting layout for a while. Basically I was tired of the dull and dark attic  and needed a small self contained unit that I could set away when not in use. It will feature an imaginary cement depot with three sidings and a single line to the rear (Not connected on the baseboard) there will be a simple cassete based fiddle section that detaches (keeping the size to 4x2).

Here is the main unit. I have wheels on the side so I can move it about with ease.

The beading will hold mdf cover that will slide in. 

I have already mocked up the track plan. I'll do it again and take a pic later. I also plan to recycle some of my buildings from upstairs attic layout, which is handy because it lets me get a good idea if what it will look like without having to fork out too much. I also recycled the boards, the other side is fairly grubby but that won't matter. 

Stock wise - probably 80s stuff . The lovely cement bubbles of course. Gonna need a bit of advice on liveries . Have a good range of eras 141 and 071s etc so I might be able to go fairly wide era. Not sure!

It is the flats that do it for me. There is absolutely no doubt you're in inner city Dublin when you see them. Unique. Really marvellous.

Wow . Must start saving a bit !!!!

Very nice indeed

Very nice. I really like your jig for holding the parts in place as they set/are soldered

I wonder if I could pick mine up tomorrow ? I didn't send an email as I wasn't expecting to be able to go along to the show

I might make it to the show tomorrow or Monday. Can't wait to see them in the flesh

Wow great price for the Tara wagons

Very nice

Super looking ! I'll be pleased

General painting and weathering skills would be great. Good idea

Suddenly there's a prototype for running loads of different 071s at once!

Lol, as the kids say

I saw them too ! Really would have been a cracker shot. Good memory , though.

Very cool

Whacking the photos straight up here seems easiest to be honest. Google drive keeps all the backups for me ( not that the model train pics are important, more the family stuff...)

I doubt these companies take the decision lightly. It would seem that advertising revenue is drying up in that sector of the Internet and so they are trying to make ends meet ( until they are taken over by Google, or Facebook, perhaps) .

I've been working on this folding layout which will fit under the couch in the back room . Up to the wiring stage. The droppers are not droppers as they will have to lie on top of the baseboard due to the tight clearance. I'll hide them under scenery etc. The buildings will lift off for storage. Here is 222 successfully negotiating all the points . Happy with that as it's a longer loco. The cement works are just waiting for the lovely new bubbles. I'll probably go for a fairly modern image theme.

I've layed and sliced the track in the key areas. Has kept alignment. Next step wiring.

Dave and Dive, I had a look back through and found the previous advice and useful photos given. Thanks folks.

Thanks Noel, I haven't been on much lately. Very busy, but have been following the progress on your spray and 121 jobs. V. Nice indeed.

Yes - I have 3 braces across on the back to ensure rigidity, with the 'open' join braced on the back at the join. It is unusual in the sense that it is more like a box to let me fold it over onto itself, rather than the mdf on top of the supports. I will fix the track direct to the baseboard at the join I think, with a little underlay to create a shoulder for the ballast.

Hi folks. I've been having some shoulder and neck problems for a while now and I am not sure if there's a connection, but I'm taking a break from the attic for a while. It isn't quite tall enough for me to sit/stand comfortably. Also, I really want to see the models in daylight ! Not giving up the attic forever , I've put a lot of work in. Just trying this different. Basically the best place I have now is under the couch in the back room. The layout needs to be less than 3.5" high in order to slide under for storage. All buildings etc will have to be removable to be stored in a box, also I plan to have short trains in little storage cassettes. It is a small shunting type layout but I am pleased to date. It will also mean I am downstairs near the family more !

My only question concerns the join. I was going to underlay the track, but I was thinking that at the baseboard join it might make it harder to keep the track aligned once I've cut through. Underlay or not?

That is very crisp and really well detailed. Super job all round!