Bratton Lane - Inglenook

[David68]

Hi,

Thanks for the kind words, to answer some queries.....

The mineral wagons are not my work, it is an out of the box Bachmann item.

I do plan to further bed in the buildings. I don't like to use grass all the way around as that does not seem right. I have some 'dirt' mix to run along the join.

yes the grass is done using a grasmaster - it is expensive but well worth it if, like me, you are a serial layout builder!

cheers
James

The pictures make the layout look much bigger than it actually is. Excellent work

What do you use as your "dirt" mix

Dave

[whynot]

You know best (by far!), but I think some of its massive appeal relative to actual space is a feeling of "emptiness" so it needs only a minimal approach to "... clutter, people and vehicles etc... beyond the railway necessities such as point levers.

Once I've tried N, Bratton Lane will be my blueprint for another micro!

Thanks for the photos.

[jamest]

Hi,

I haven't actually used that 'dirt' mix yet - and I think I only need it in a few places (I haven't shown the worst building/ground gaps yet!!). It Hornby product, a kind of autumn ground cover, which looks like the general crud that resides in corners. I plan to grind it into some gaps I'm not happy with and then spray over it with hairspray.

I also take the point on the people and vehicles - I know what you mean, I think a lazy industrial outpost is the feel I'm going for - with a lot of shunting activity!

Regards,
James

[SR/ScR Fan]

That is some beautiful work James. You should be very proud. Good call with the Kadees for uncoupling.

[jamest]

Thanks,

The kadees can be a pain to get to work right but it is worth the effort.

Since committing to their use I have read that british outline stuff is more problematical, or inconsistant with NEM height, than others. That does seem to be the case - i've simply plugged in NEM style kadees on some stock - and on others its been a right pain and I've had to butcher the coupling area and bolt on a 'No5' coupling. Someone did advise me to always use No5's and to bolt them down securely to avoid positioning 'creep' over time - I can see the sense in this, but most of my plug in stuff is still behaving itself.

On one other layout I've hidden the magnets under the track - but that is always difficult for me as I'm constantly changing my mind as I build layouts! I'd end up with a swiss cheese baseboard - which would be light but very little use!!

All the best,
James

[jamest]

Hi all,

I'm afraid I've been away from the forum for a while feverishly preparing Bratton Lane for its first exhibition on Saturday in Minehead. So I'm afraid this is a shameless publicity bump with a few update pictures of the recent detailing:

First here are the 'grafters' grabbing a break:


And I've also added some Knightwing point levers:


Some clutter at the back of the factory (a skip is being filled and dirtied to also go here):


And I've also acquired some scenecraft yard lamps - ready to plonk down I'm afraid, but they are very nice:


I reckon I've got around 12 ish wagons to play with - as most will know I will need 8 at a time for my inglenook puzzle. Here is an iron ore wagon weathered, kadee'd with load:

I've spent a lot of time getting the kadee's set right and the right running resistance on the wagons (sponge glued against the axles). But having twelve or so will mean I can discard any troublesome wagons on the day.

I plan to take my green 33, blue 24, green 08, blue 35 and perhaps a blue 20 to the show - that is a mix of DC and DCC. I find the sound 25 a bit of a pain with the kadee shuffle so I might leave it at home!
Here is my newly dirtied class 35 - I'd already airbrushed some acrylic sleeper grime, but I've now discovered weathering powders and had a go on this one after practicing on the wagons - all sealed with some humbrol matt varnish:








If you are in the Minehead area on Saturday please pop by and say hello.

Regards,
James

[whynot]

This deserves to steal the Show. A top layout - thanks for the latest shots.

[luckymucklebackit]

Fantastic stuff, I am a great fan of the Inglenook concept, but you have taken it that stage further and made it look less like an Inglenook and far more like a prototype yard. A great inspiration to younger modellers struggling for space - this is how it should be done guys.

Jim

[jamest]

Thanks chaps.

My one regret is not having the foresight to hide the kadee magnets. It could be rectified at a later date - but not before Saturday!!!!

Regards,
James

[js1975]

Good efforts.

[manna]

G'day Gents

A great looking layout, congratulations.

manna

[theunborn]

Hi that's a very nice little layout you have built there.

cheers

[hiffano]

I may have seen this a while back, but it was grand coming back to it and seeing what a great looking layout can be fit into such a small space, absolutely superb I have to say