mikem64 wrote:
The Bridge baseboard Idea came from another layout on this forum Starlingford (Which I find just 100% stunning in every detail and now that I feel like I know what I'm doing within this forum area I MUST start to leave posts in all the other threads I'm reading as without them I don't think I'd be where I am now with my own design) and as I was trying to say this helped solve the problem on putting bridges into a layout when you have trouble thinking in 3D like I do, therefore drop the baseboard and the bridges just drop in, a super idea.
Thank you! Although I'm all embarrassed now at such fulsome praise, so let's quickly move on to save my blushes.
mikem64 wrote:
Also this board is one that is giving me a few problems, mainly because I have too many ideas for what I want to do in this little area. I have this idea for a canal scene with lock gates, I have another for a lake area with a water wheel / mill house and weeping willow trees, another with a river scene and some country cottage style houses, but jumping the gun as I still have a long way too go before I even get too this stage.
So there we are, not sure what the plan for today is. I still have the remaining track work to put down, another 18 seep point motors to install, the truntable to be powered up and test, etc etc etc.... should be done for lunch time then ?
This seems to me to have the potential for being a really interesting scenic development. If it were me, I would combine several of these ideas, because they
can be combined, and in such a way as to save you a potential headache...
I would have the canal lock scene, with a waterwheel as well, and with cottages and weeping willows. I'll tell you the 'why' first, and then - because the 'why isn't very helpful by itself, my thoughts on the 'how' you could do it.
I would do it because you have the potential here for a split-level baseboard. The upper level (on which you could have your cottages and canalside buildings - as I recall, the Hornby Skaledale canal stores building looks lovely) could extend at least as far as the suspension bridge. Doing this will save you all the hassle of trying to construct matching extended supports for your suspension bridge, which will, I know from experience, save you a considerable amount of time and effort. From the edge of that baseboard back to the required length you can cut a slot into which you can simply drop either a ready-made lock, like the Skaledale one, or build one yourself - I think, though I'm not sure, that Wills might manufacture the components. Incidentally, by having a baseboard that can be so readily carved up, you can easily make a channel 15mm deep for your canal. Now, from that upper-level canal you can cut a further groove, but this one should be narrower, joining up to the canal but angling away from the lock, and the channel you construct beneath it should be on a slope. This will lead to your watermill, which, like the lock, will also be on the edge of your upper baseboard - the change in height gives you exactly the landscape scenario you need for the water wheel. There is a kit available for a water mill and water wheel, made by Wills, but a word of warning - it's in their 'craftsman' range, which is halfway between scratchbuilding and kitbuilding (they give you the materials, and the plans for the buildings you need, but you have to cut out the pieces you need to construct it). As far as other scenic things for this area go, Metcalfe make very nice cottages (as I'm sure you know), and in my experience the best willow trees are made by Gaugemaster. If you like I can send you a link.
One more point about the 'split-level baseboard'. Although I think it would be very interesting and unusual visually, I would have it with the lower level towards the operating well - it will make it easier for the viewer to see what there is to be seen! However, I realise that this would entail chopping and changing your viaduct so that it isn't as tall. If it is made of cardboard this should be relatively easy, but I appreciate it would be a pain if you've already gone to a lot of trouble building it! As always, it's your railway, so do what you like.
Aside from that, you're clearly more electrically adventurous than me: I didn't motorise any of my points (something I regret in the case of my station throat!) and I have yet to lower the turntable into the baseboard. Oh well... Can I also say how intrigued I was to see your abbreviated suspension bridge? This is something I had always thought was possible (I had a discussion with Gareth [Dr Stroganoff] on his thread about this a while ago) but, to the best of my knowledge, I've never actually seen it done before. Great stuff!
Sorry for bending your ear for so long (and I didn't even get to the LNER rolling stock I saw in the background...) but I hope I gave you something to think about, if nothing else.
Thanks again for your kind comments,
Gavin
PS I don't know how you feel about place names on layouts (stations, yards, scenic features etc) but these might be of interest: Cockermouth, Hawkshead, Alfoxton and Tintern. All are related in some form or another to the poet Wordsworth, so they would seem to have some form of connection!
G