GNRi1959

Is brass normally troublesome - is there an easier alternative?

Just had a most frustrating time trying to solder track work to solid brass screw heads at baseboard joints. Had to lift track and replace because there was a mess of solder on the rail and none taking too easily on the screw head! Frustrated........

Some interesting posts and advice here, thanks all. I found this one on eBay today and thought it good value at £21

any links to the favoured tool?

Can anyone recommend a good quality razor saw for cutting track at baseboard joints?

Patrick, this all looks very pleasing. Sometimes I just don't take the time to look at other modellers layouts on this forum and say - well done, its nice to see your layout too!

Started drilling holes for point motors under points today, finalising track and fitting brass screws to the baseboard joints for soldering. Slow and precise work but rewarding, I hope. Hope I am doing this right, haven't done it before;.

Thanks Paul. To get to this stage has taken months of debate and hair pulling- worth it. to be honest, much of the change and fine tuning came based on the advice of two members outside of the forum. Didn’t want to bore everyone to tears!

And here we have the results of some change. I moved the turntable onto the extension at the rear of the shed, this same board will house a goods shed. Additional track and paintwork was placed loosely in position for some serious track laying tomorrow.

Yes, I agree totally. However, with the additional baseboard comes the need to extend track work also!

Thanks Jonathan. Just ordered a few more points and believe me I'll be ordering no more. I believe I have enough pointwork and track to keep me busy now.

Jonathan, I made a quick adjustment to the pointwork and brought it forward to increase the length of the headshunt. I will probably add another siding or two beside it.

Jonathan you are so correct. I am aware of that and that’s the next thing on my list to change, thanks. The problem has been trying to keep pointwork clear of baseboard joints.

Jonathan, excuse my ignorance but can you explain ‘headshunt’ and are you referring to the siding next to the goods yard store.

Thanks Paul. There will be another siding between the turntable and good shed. The other end won't change much other than another point or possibly two.

Some more progress. Added additional board unit and moved turntable position. Created more space at North end for locos to exit the yard. Additional pointwork to be added.

Is it possible to travel from Sligo to Castlebar by train direct, I'm going down end of September and thought the train would break break the journey up for me?

I have to take my hat off to everyone involved in organising and exhibiting. It's a long jaunt from here but maybe someday i'll make it. Thanks for posting the photographs which were a pleasure to view and get plenty of ideas from.

Hi Ken, You may consider checking out the 'Hobbies Annual', always a good source for miniature hinges.

There has been a surge in sales of cheap Chinese ply which peels and Is poor quality.

9mm ply with 2 coats of primer 450mm wide screwed to a 60x20mm framework should be fine.

Over a period of several months i’ve used various types of plywood in my garden shed layout. As a carpenter I tend to go for quality over cost and was surprised by the behaviour of the various options. 9mm birch ply that I used cupped across the width of a 350mm board whilst 9mm Malaysian was quite coarse on the surface when primed. I normally avoid DIY stores (Homebase) but their 9mm ply, described as ‘hardwood’, was very flat and took two coats of Rustins grey primer on the edges and surfaces leaving a really smooth finish. On close inspection the hardwood is on the finished veneers only. I’m sure many layouts are built on what’s cheapest and easily obtained but it would be interesting to hear if primed plywood can withstand many happy years in an insulated shed before I starts to show its age.

Not only are the doors so realistic but they depict the workmanship that was typical of the 1950s, including the diagonal bracing on the door that just isn't perfect.

Here at long last is the makings of the Goods workings at Omagh complete with South Eastern Finecast well-type turntable and signal box. The paper template marks the position of the Goods Store. There are two more points to add to complete and these will allow wagons to move from the outside road to the inner sidings. By the way, all track work is pinned fairly loosely at the moment but it is the final layout design.

I think going slightly diagonal should improve things, thanks