Jay Dee's new layout

[Jaydee]

Hi guys it has been a long time from my last post but I will now explain why. After much head scratching and procrastination I have left the layout dormant for quite a while so that I could finish a few projects, sell some machinery and tidy up the layout space. I had previously to model trains, been enjoying the building of model boats and planes. They have a lot of sad memories for me now and my life over a long period of time, so I have cleaned them up and sold the lot, well nearly all I still have the plane and 1 boat. My biggest project over the last few years has been the building of a 1.5M Mississippi paddle steamer The Robert E Lee originally supposed to be steam powered but later changed to Battery RC. See following photos, the 1st one was taken at the Queencliffe Model boat show it was unfinished then no handrails around the decks.

The 2nd photo is of it all lit up with 100 lights. This boat has now been sold.

If you want to have a look at the build of this boat copy and paste this link into your browser.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/modelan ... t2228.html
This is one of the planes that I have left. AIRVAN

Tri wing AVRO. This plane has been sold.

That’s all of the old stuff, I have finished with them all . Now for some progress reports bon my layout as I said I have done quite a few changes on my original drawing and have started on my right hand sheet. The layout is made up of 3 full sheets with the middle sheet cut into 2 pieces, this makes it 2.4 long x 3.6wide, there will be an extension onto the end of the left hand sheet in the future, this will be the railway yard with the turntable and a 6 bay round house, I have not got the room for that at the moment until after lockdown. Hope everyone is coping with this virus Ok we are all fine here so far.
In my next post I will be showing the progress on my layout.

[Ironduke]

I do like the boat. But is the railway gone?

[Jaydee]

I have had a rethink about the layout that I want to build. I have scrapped the idea of using Bachmann track and have gone with a lot of Peco flex track. I have found it easy to use and looks better than the Bachmann track. Most of my layout will be on a bed of foam and cork track bed. I am now planning a mostly industrial layout as I have worked in some interesting industries all of my life (ie) Quarrying, heavy steel construction and lighter steel fabrication. I have started my layout as a reminder of my days working in most of the quarries around Melbourne these are a few photos of the quarry. I have a lot to do to finish this part, a lot of loose rock lying around, crushing plant has been ordered. While waiting for parts I have started on my water feature more about this soon.

[Lachute]

Nice pics. Now it's a layout under construction !

[Jaydee]

Hi guys. I have just about run out of bits and pieces for the layout plenty on order but none arriving, thanks Australian post. anyhow I haven't been idle. my wife is in hospital all this week so I have done a bit of work on my water feature, this will have water falling down the right wall and back the left side will be rocky outcrops and bushes and other shrubbery the water will flow over another short fall into a river that flows into a lake then into more river this is my first attempt at any scenery of this size so I hope it goes ok.

[Ironduke]

Looks interesting so far. We have a few deliveries waiting on Australia Post. I think they're all stuck in the same place.

[Jaydee]

Just pottering this week, started to mold some of the water falls slowly coming along, also my crushing plant arrived and I have been assembling that to many fiddly parts for my thick fingers but it looks good, I have done a temporary install to get the conveyors right. I have had to move part of the buildings to the rear of this section, this will be for filling trucks.

Received this little crane for lifting blasting mats

[Jaydee]

Here are a couple more photos of the Bringmire Blue metal mine.

[BrightonMan]

Looking good jay Dee. It's nice to see something different on a layout, and I have to say that's the first time I've seen an open cast mine modelled.

[Jaydee]

Thanks BrightonMan just playing around a bit at the moment, the mine came to me one day I was looking at some photos and had a light bulb moment.
No set era or going to be both steam and electric just about got the track layout figured out now.and the scenery for this right hand sheet the middle sheet has waterfalls rivers and lakes and plenty of bridges but that is as far as I have got so far.

[Jaydee]

I have been doing a bit more work on the waterfalls this week not enough hours in a day to get much done.
I only get about 1 hour each day to work on this stuff.

This photo was my inspiration for the waterfalls.

Roughing out the rock formations.

Adding a bit of colour to the rock work and I have formed the water coarse at the top of the falls.
The river at the top will disappear into the back drop among the trees.

[joshv8]

Awesome work on the rock formations! Cant wait to see it progress mate.
Cheers
Josh

[Jaydee]

I have managed to get some more work in on the waterfalls with some more rocks added and coloured a 1st coat of paint on the water coarse and some work on the access to the lookout, this access is through a tunnel in the base of the falls to a spiral staircase at the back bringing the people up to the top of the falls. By the way these photos are just taken with my phone so the water detail is not showing up properly and the colour is not good.

This photo shows the top of the staircase and part off the safety fencing.

This photo shows the entrance to the tunnel at the base of the falls.

This photo shows the start of the water being temporary fixed to the falls just to get some idea of the sizes they need to be. I will need to do the clear resin yet and some more colours in the rocks then the shrubbery and trees.

These last photo is showing where the lookout tower will be placed. it to is only Temp fitted.

[Jaydee]

Had some trouble with the resin in the waterfall area, the mix was exactly 2 part resin to 1 part hardener as it says on the instructions, but it took a long time to cure and it is not a smooth finish like I have seen others do it, mine looks like strong currents in the water, I am not worried about it as I think it will look ok with the highlights done on it but I was just wondering for future reference. I have just placed some trains on the layout for the photos.

[attachment=0]Waterfall 16.jpg[/attachment}


I have located most of the equipment for the Mine operations I had to adjust some of the building positions and adjust the conveyors.

[Jaydee]

I have located most of the equipment for the Mine operations I had to adjust some of the building positions and adjust the conveyors.