Chufferlands Holiday park. Time to rip it up and start again

[Big Al]

Cheers Gavin.

The ivy really looks the part. I think I will order some of that it would finish the wall off nicely.

Cheers Alan

[bbc100p]

Has anything happened to this???

[Michael Thornberry]

Hello bbc,
Things could be worse, mate. He could be living in Poverty Bay . It's years since I was in your "neck of the woods". I lived in Wellington(Hataitai), Auckland(Green Bay), Rotorua and a few Army Bases. I particularly miss Waikanai and the Schnapper fishing of Kapiti Island. I will be commencing my Lay-out, shortly, and hope to hear from you again,
Kind Regards,
Michael Thornberry.

[Big Al]

Hi All.

Haven't been doing much through the year (as you can see. Ha! Ha! ). Been up there a few times just watching trains go round, quite theraputic.

Still I intend to carry on with what has been started in the loft though. Back to basics. I had extended the layout but in hind sight (wonderful thing you know!) that only created more unfinished layout. I would rather focus on finishing the main part of the layout.

At the very start there was an old ikea sofa up there, this was removed to create more layout space . The sofa idea worked better so this is what I am going back to.

I had to reactivate my photo bucket account as it had been inactive for so long .

So I will have a peruse through the forum and see how you have all been getting on.

Cheers for now Alan

[Lewis Nash]

Hi Big Al

Completely forgot about this layout its been that long!

Hope to see more updates on this layout in the near future.
Any models expected over christmas?


Big Al wrote...

"Haven't been doing much through the year (as you can see. Ha! Ha! ). Been up there a few times just watching trains go round, quite theraputic. "


Totally agree,the sound of a heavy freight passing throught a scenic layout is relaxing!.

Regards
Lewis

[bbc100p]

This is very cool!!!
And So are you!!!

[Big Al]

Hi Lewis + bbc100p

Thanks for your comments.

No real plans for any more rolling stock but will get more buildings soon.

The main area of focus will be the fiddle yard area. I need to make as much train storage as possible but in quite a tight area. I initially had a multi-switch board made up to isolate sections of track but it was too complicated in relation to the rest of the track. I think I will reinstate the switched section but in a simpler configuration.

Cheers Alan

[Big Al]

Hi All

I have re laid the track in the fiddle yard.
It now has space for five trains of various length and a small goods area for two trains.

1 = A tendered loco and three coaches.
2 = Atendered loco and two coaches + room for a few wagons?
3 = A short loco and two coaches.
4 = short loco + 1 coach/auto coach or wagons.
5 = short loco + 1 coach/auto coach or wagons.

This area is laid with the tracks as close together as pos. I will create a station area above it and some how fit some low relief steps into the back to provide a passage to get to the trains.

before the main point/turn out to the station area there is another point/turn out this leads to a small goods platform with two tracks capable of taking a short loco and about three wagons.

This area will have scenics but is mainly for train storage???

I will sort out some photos soon, once I've done something worth photographing



These changes are set in stone and will never ever change, ever, not even once, never at all, ever, even a little bit.

Yeah right!!! Ha Ha


...

[Big Al]

Hi all.

Here's a photo of the receint fiddle yard changes



I also made one siding into a loop. I now have three loops that will run at the same time. Good for just watching stuff happen.



Trial run to see if all is well.



Cheers Alan

[Big Al]

Hi all.

I decided to make a start on a task that has been looming from the very begining. In th corner of the layout a hill is required, I also need access to the track underneath.
So a removable hill is needed and it needs to be strong enough to lift in and out on a regular basis to be worked on.



This is the first portal I started on and utilised a tunnel mouth that I had in the box. A bit of jigging around and it fit quite well.



The other tunnel entrance was not so easy so a brick retaining wall with lintles was constructed.

.

I am now not sure if I'm happy with the plastic tunnel mouth??? What do you all think does it make sense to have two different designs



When I have finnished the ply structure I will cover it with paper mache etc etc

Cheers for now Alan

[Big Al]

Hi all

A light bulb just switched on in my head .

If I make it in one piece it will be difficult to remove so I will do it in two pieces.

Cheers Alan

[Big Al]

Hi.

I have had a good bit of progress on the hills.

The hill section at the front has had its frame built and covering put on, it just needs some plaster-work to define the shape.



with a train emerging



The frame for the rear section of the hill is nearing completion




This was a bargain purchase from Hattons. £26 for this pannier tank. I think it needs it's wheels cleaned though a bit jittery at low speeds. Anyone else had one of these
The three buildings in the background were a good price also £6.50/£7.00 each not bad really



Just a mess around photo trying the camera in macro mode. I'm quite pleased with that photo really



Let me know what you all think, a bit of feed back good or bad.

Cheers for now alan

[Big Al]

Hi all

I Have had steady progress on the first hill

I poured a sloppy mix of bonding onto the hill then once dry have had a fair amount of sessoins with foliage/scatter, waiting for each one to dry before applying the next





Not quite sure what that nutter is pointing at, lost the plot



Different angle



Progress is slow it has to be said, but When I get the odd half hour here and there its relaxing to go and do a bit.

What do you think??

Cheers for now

Alan

[Big Al]

.
Hi all

Six weeks before Christmas 2007 I started this 6 x 4 layout in an already exsisting insulated loft.
I hadn't a clue about model railways but soon learned a few bits and bobs.
I made a decision and laid some track more or less all wrong. I have been trying to make up and get around these problems ever since.
The layout is not big by some of your layout standartds but I'll never get it finnished at this rate. Time to start again, rip it up, save all I can and do it better, it still may not be right but it will be better.

I am going to use a bigger area with a lift up section to get in and out. 6ft 6ins x 8ft, two tracks running around the perimeter with a good size storage area and fiddle yard.
The most important area will be the lift out section. It will be the only area with scenic's, it will measure approximately 54 inches by 12/14 inches. The trick will be that I will, over time, make other lift out sections to cover my various whims. They will have shelf storage spaces of their own and each one can be used on the layout at a time.
Different era's, styles, country station, city station etc etc.

It has been a learning curve and I have enjoyed it all so far.

This is not going to happen over night I have so many other things to do that I only get the odd time up in the loft. The odd bit of time on a smaller area will produce better and more pleasing results.

So there you have it. Please leave some comments or suggestions I would like to hear some.

This is a good decision, I'm glad I have made it.

Cheers Alan

[Big Al]

Hi All

The loco's, coaches, wagons, and buildings have been put back into there boxes

85%of the track has been saved, all the scenics exept the latest hill and that one nice bank (that I'm prooud of) have been binned.

The boards have been cut to managable sizes and taken out ready for the dump.

The frames have been taken down.

The floor has been hoovered.

If it wasnt for all the Bachman and Hornby boxes stored on the shelf you would think the layout was never there .

It has taken me around 7/8 hours to get it all cleared.

Cheers Alan