I used to model in n gauge but got a bit fed up with the fiddling details so decided to sell up all my n gauge items and start on 00.
Naturally DCC seemed the best option, especially with a TMD style layout with many loco's on the layout at any time. The idea of having sound also set me off in the DCC direction.
The layout is going to be made in two parts. The first being 'Springfield Works' and then the second being 'Springfield Station'
Each section will be made on a 6ftx1ft board and the two boards will eventually be joined together to form a 12ft x 1ft layout. The trickiest thing I found was to create a trackplan that would make it possible to use each seperate layout with good operation interest, but also work well when the two boards were used together.
This is the track plan I came up with:
http://www.cass.eu.com/trains/12ft.jpg
With Springfield Works being the first part
http://www.cass.eu.com/trains/6ft.jpg
The station is on the left of the layout, having 3 platforms. Just outside the station near the baseboard join is going to be a Hornby Maintenance Shed, modified to make it look alot better! Then to the right is the loco maintenance shed.
Heres a view down the layout to show progress so far:
Track has been weathered with Railmatch Sleeper Grime and the sides of the rails painted with Humbrol Rust. The layout is 90% ballasted using a mix of Woodland Scenics ballast using the tried and tested PVA/Water/Washing Up Liquid)
I have also weathered and put some small detail on the buffers.
My most recent work has been on the base for the shed and the shed itself:
I have also started to detail the shed but it needs alot more doing to it yet:
In amoungst building the layout I received these through the post yesterday:
Witch has helped turn this old Sleeper coach from this:
Into this:
Any my bargain Hornby Crane from ebay from this:
Into this:
I just need some advice on how to 'seal' the weathering as I did try some hairspray on the crane but it did leave a slightly mottled effect. Maybe I was spraying too close to the crane?
Finally a nice view of one of my loco's sat in the shed:
Control is a Bachmann Dynamis controller. I will add lights to the whole layout eventually.
Rolling Stock so far is:
Hornby 08 'Freightliner'
Bachmann 37 Railfreight DCC Sound
Bachmann 66410 DRS fitted with a Loksound Decoder
Bachmann 66532 Freightliner fitted with Loksound Decoder
Bachmann 66610
Some HEA's, old intercity coach, some rail track ballast wagons and a Hornby Crane.
Any comments/suggestions would be greatly received! Thanks!
