Little Siddington

[Irishrailwayman]

Early in 2018 Wexford Model Railway Club started an ambitious project to develop a modular exhibition layout in O gauge. New techniques were deployed for building base-boards using Scandinavian 6mm birch-ply  hot-glued to the baseboard which are then strengthened with glass fibre/PVA. Advanced wiring and custom electronic control boards were used. Simple but robust trestles were developed which fold flat. A couple of photos for the record:

 

 

By Easter 2018, the early stages of the project were in place and exhibited at the Wexford Exhibition:

 

Edited October 20, 2018 by Irishrailwayman

[Irishrailwayman]

Since Easter, a small but active team at Wexford have kept up the work and the layout was shown at Crosshaven in August. Since then much progress has been made. The layout will be shown at the Dublin Exhibition at end-October as a work-in-progress. Come and see how far we have got!

[Irishrailwayman]

Little Siddington generated lots of interest at the MRSI Exhibition:

[Mayner]

O Gauge and larger scales have  a great "presence" as exhibition layouts, the sheer mass and momentum of the models means you need to model very little outside of the railway fence, just tracks and trains. Multiple tracks and complex pointwork add to the main line atmosphere, somewhere on the Western Region judging by the buildings and structures.

[Irishrailwayman]

11 hours ago, Mayner said:

O Gauge and larger scales have  a great "presence" as exhibition layouts, the sheer mass and momentum of the models means you need to model very little outside of the railway fence, just tracks and trains. Multiple tracks and complex pointwork add to the main line atmosphere, somewhere on the Western Region judging by the buildings and structures.

Totally agree. The complex track-work on Little Siddington is based on the classic GWR/BR WR prototype stations between Bristol and South Wales. Obviously in time we will be adding more detail including working semaphores and scenery. Showing the lay-out as a work-in-progress allows us to explain how we put the innovative base-boards/electronics together (before they get covered), road-test the layout as well as getting feedback from modellers and the public.

[Georgeconna]

Ah I see some Steamers on show!. All I I saw was a Solo Class 15 and a 37 bombing around. TBH it did not hold my interest too long.

However the layout should be some set up when it is complete. Some nice LNER pacific's Clattering down the P/way I hope at some stage would be sweet.

The Control Panel is some set up too.

 

[Lewey13]

The large steam locos are coming just waiting for Hattons to release A4s and A3s early in 2019

[Georgeconna]

Yes, A nice Showpiece Blue A4 would be very tempting for sure along with  a great price!

 

[Irishrailwayman]

Work is continuing on Little Siddington including finalising the platforms, adding four long head-shunts onto the fiddle-yard and test runs on a weekly basis:

[jhb171achill]

 Looks great so far!

[Irishrailwayman]

Little Siddington is booked to appear at the Wexford Easter Exhibition. Come and see what progress we have made!

[Irishrailwayman]

More progress on Little Siddington in preparation for the Exhibition at Easter 2019 in Wexford. Plans are in place also to exhibit at the Ulster MRC Exhibition at end-August 2019. Note that the electrical connections are being simplified for transport by putting panel plugs/sockets on each board to be connected by flying cables during set-up! The work on the fiddle-yard has since been completed also and a second bridge and signals are in preparation off-site. So, a photographic tour up and down the line:

 

 

Edited February 3, 2019 by Irishrailwayman

[Past-Avenue]

Great work lads and Ladys roll on Easter

[enniscorthyman]

Looking fantastic.

[Irishrailwayman]

Further progress with the installation of the second road bridge over the main lines and goods-yard head-shunt line. Parts for this scratch-built bridge were made by David McCabe using 3-D printing! A road-bed will be added shortly and the scenery banks completed ready for grassing etc.

[Noel]

The weathering job on that bridge looks spectacular 

[Irishrailwayman]

Much progress as we approach Easter with all ballasting now complete, main bus-bars complete and the fiddle-yard fully functioning. The outlines for all scenery is in place with fascia and back-boards fitted and plastering commenced:

 

[Past-Avenue]

Looking great and nice attention to detail 

[Rob]

Looks great allright-    what have you used for the scenery banks base here?

[Irishrailwayman]

10 hours ago, Rob said:

Looks great allright-    what have you used for the scenery banks base here?

Its a form of builders expanded polystyrene (I must check the brand) that is very robust, doesn't crumble, yet is easily cut with a saw or a hot-wire tool. Plasterers cement is then used on top to form the landscape. The result is a rock-hard sub-stratum that is also very light! Finally, an emulsion paint will form the basis for the static-grassing stage.

[Kinvara-Train]

On ‎10‎/‎19‎/‎2018 at 1:46 PM, Irishrailwayman said:

Early in 2018 Wexford Model Railway Club started an ambitious project to develop a modular exhibition layout in O gauge. New techniques were deployed for building base-boards using Scandinavian 6mm birch-ply  hot-glued to the baseboard which are then strengthened with glass fibre/PVA. Advanced wiring and custom electronic control boards were used. Simple but robust trestles were developed which fold flat. A couple of photos for the record:

 

 

By Easter 2018, the early stages of the project were in place and exhibited at the Wexford Exhibition:

 

Yes Plywood is the Job

[Junctionmad]

On 3/2/2019 at 10:18 AM, Irishrailwayman said:

Its a form of builders expanded polystyrene (I must check the brand) that is very robust, doesn't crumble, yet is easily cut with a saw or a hot-wire tool. Plasterers cement is then used on top to form the landscape. The result is a rock-hard sub-stratum that is also very light! Finally, an emulsion paint will form the basis for the static-grassing stage.

Ive been asked this several times , so heres a longer description 

The foam is extruded Polystrene underfloor insulation , XPS300 , typically known as "XPS" insulation and is available in typically three densities XPS100, 200,300 , 300 is capable of withstanding concrete walls being built on top of it , so is a "bit" overkill here , XPS100 would be fine 

Its a good bit dearer then expanded polystyrene ( which is the nasty white  crumbly stuff) 

XPS is cut with a " Knife saw " a handsaw shaped like a wood saw but with a form of knife blade . It can be cut with a conventional saw.  we use a hot wire cutter and it can be shaped quite nicely with "surfoam " tools  or or a sharp cheese grater on a handle 

It will not deform under thumbprints and create far less mess that the very inferior ( by comparison ) expanded polystrene ( which is often referred to by its Dow trade name , Styrofoam ) Most smaller builder providers may not stock it , but will order its from Kingspan or Quinn Insulation 

 

Note the stuff with the silver foil installation is somewhat different as its a very low density ( because its designed for non structural applications in walls etc )  and can crumble and deform ( even if it is extruded ) 

 

Its then covered in a thin layer of patching plaster ( mixed with PVA ) 

 

we expect to be doing the initial static grass next week , so some pics soon , Signals being installed thereafter 

 

Edited March 8, 2019 by Junctionmad

[Irishrailwayman]

A couple of pics showing additional work completed on building the scenery base around the tracks:

 

[Irishrailwayman]

More progress with scenic base cement and base-coat painting:

[Noel]

It must be interesting and extra work keeping the many board joins free through the extra layers of scenic landscaping. Looking good.

[Irishrailwayman]

Little Siddington scenes from the Wexford Easter Exhibition:

 

[Irishrailwayman]

More scenes from the Wexford Easter Exhibition:

[Noel]

Some fabulous layout photo scenes. Little siddington looks amazing and has come on a long way since the scenic elements have been added. Excellent photos BTW.

[Irishrailwayman]

Work is ongoing on LS over the last few months with more boards being prepared for scenery and lights added to buildings and around the station area:

 

 

[Irishrailwayman]

Last bit of work done before the clubrooms closed last week:

[Irishrailwayman]

A neat GWR Pagoda Skytrex kit is in development for LS:

[Irishrailwayman]

Update on Little Siddington: work continues to develop more of the countryside areas around the layout with plaster contouring, painting, static grass application, wire fencing and telegraph pole installation, addition of extension to head-shunt to form a branch in the centre of the layout (which will be adaptable to take a variety of club/members' layouts) etc.

[TimO]

I have been very impressed with this layout since I first saw it at Wexford on its first outing. Progress since has been continual and always worth more study. I noted from the start that you used cork as a base under the rails so with this and the 6mm plywood base a lot of “baseboard” noise might be expected. I don’t recall any so I am wondering what adhesive you used for both the cork and the rails?

The work on the scenery contours looks very neat and I think justifies your use of the XP300 foam as explained earlier.

I have also noted in the recent photos that you seem to have painted some of the baseboard edges in green. This will add another level of professionalism to the finish.

[Irishrailwayman]

Thanks Tim. The 6mm cork was glued down with strong builders' neat PVA and weighed down until set over a few days. The rails were laid down precisely in accordance with printed templates (Templot) placed directly on the baseboard cork. The rails were then tacked in place with track nails mainly on the outer sleepers to avoid compacting them. The cork was cut away at an angle to provide a shoulder for the ballast. Finally, dry ballast was dusted over the rails and distributed/shaped with a fine brush. This was then wetted by spraying with much water/wash-up liquid mix and a strong solution of builders' PVA was added by dropper. Once set over a few days this holds the rails in place in a concrete-like grip!

[Irishrailwayman]

Good progress on Little Siddington since the lockdown was eased with more scenery and a servo-operated level-crossing added: