My plan was a simple one, fix the last 3 plywood tops to the base framework and then set about trying to lay the outer loop of my track plan – i.e. get something down so I can play trains Sadly this didn’t quite go to plan, what with my illness, the wife being home (wife distracting me) and the lack of cork underlay, it didnt happen.  Then I had to set the printer up to work off my laptop where the xtrkcad files are stored, this took about an hour. So come 14:30, having had some lunch I grabbed my wallet and headed over to Church Street Models in Basingstoke. Now I had a specific shopping list of things I had to get which was:

• Cork underlay
• Flexi track – lots
• Couple of Peco SL-88 Right Hand Large Slips
• Metal track joiners

However, as usual I didn’t come back with just the things I wanted. Church Street Models is one of the those places where I want everything, so I came back with:

• 11 Metres of Flexi track
• 3 rolls of cork underlay
• only 1 SL-88 (ordered the other)
• 3 packs of track joiners
• some track pins – I use the to hold things in place while glue sets
• Pack of 3 Hornby Tope wagons – 25% off rrp
• pair of Bachmann Intermodal wagons for my brother – 25% off
• New Hornby R2701 Intercity HST
• 4 Peco point motors

So having spent a good hour chatting with the owner and selecting my purchases I headed home. By the time I got home it was about 16:45 and one of the kids was back from nursery so the garage was a no go zone for the remainder of the day On the brightside though, tomorrow is a new day and I have no work again, woo.

Here are some pictures of the completed boards, just need to brush them off and tidy the rest of the garage up before I start laying track etc. I really would like to get some track down and powered tomorrow, just hope the man flu holds off.

• Smooth Planed Timber which comes in packs of 6. (L)2100 x (W)44 x (T)18mm
• 4 x 40mm wood screws – I bought a 500 pack from B&Q, very reasonable
• 4 x 40mm nuts with bolts to bolt framework sections together.
• 6mm Brazil Ply. This stuff comes in huge sheets, so I get B&Q to cut it down to 2′x4′ strips for me.

That’s all the ingredients I used, I couldn’t tell you how much of each I used as I lost track. The most expensive part is the timber, it came in at about £9 per pack and I used a lot as I was also using it to make the legs, which I did by screwining 2 lengths together into a kind of L shape. The first image below explains this better.

All that’s left to do at the moment is attach the plywood tops and brace the legs to stop them moving left and right when they are knocked. Then the plan is to get the tracked laid and wired before getting the tools back out and building a backscene to separate the main running line from the hidden sidings at the rear, that’s another post though.

Track layout planning is pretty much there and is being discussed on this thread. I am toying with the idea of losing the ‘depot area’ and really make it a nice mainline run with a station at the bottom. It has been pointed out that the layout bears resemblance to ‘Dawlish‘, something which wasn’t intentional.

The two things I do want is a) a really nice long mainline run and b) a small stabling point/depot to park my fleet of Class 50‘s in – I have about 25 now. As you can see from my layout plan ‘mark 1′, I haven’t included a single point! I wanted to get an idea of what I was shooting for first before adding the interesting bits. Anything to the left of the red line is off-scene and I intend to use this area for storage sidings and for the trains to run through. At the bottom of the plan I am going to fit a small depot in and move the back-scene to create more room. The back scene will be steep cliffs and hills, so I am intending to make the depot ‘cut’ into the cliffs so I can use some retaining walls etc.

Main concern at the moment is those curves! I used xtradcad obviously and the inner curves as you can see top and bottom have turned purple and I am not sure what this means… ? I also have a thread running on RMWeb while I get my plan sorted.

I have taken my inspiration so far from a bloody great book that I just got though the post this morning. ‘Aspects of Modelling: Track Layouts’ by Anthony New. Having bought loads of track plan type books in the last couple pf years – including the legendary  C J Freezer ones (Not a fan), this is by far the best I have come across. Importantly, it is up to date and ‘modern’, it is informative and full of colourful plans and ideas. I have to admit that when I opened it at work this morning, I read a few pages and was instantly inspired to go home and build something! Alas I settle for some layout planning instead.

Despite having rather a lot of space in which to house my layout I am struggling to decide what size this layout is going to be. Whatever it is, it needs at least one ’roundy roundy loop’ so that I and my 4 year old can watch stuff trundle by – plus I like the clickity clack the wagons and coaches make.

Baseboard Framework

Having already erected an 8 foot 3 by 2 foot board along the back wall I added one more 8 by 2 foot board to make it an ‘L’ shape. I also constructed the next 8 by 2 foot board but ran out of time to baton it to wall and attach it to the rest of the frame work.

So next visit to B&Q will require more timber and I may actually get some plywood for the tops too. The only problem is how to transport this home. Every time I use the cutting service B&Q offer the cut the wrong sizes and render it almost useless, ethier that or it comes out crooked.

Now I have built a few baseboards now and I feel that I am starting to actually get half decent at this carpentry lark, not an expert chippy by any means but my work is becoming neater.

For the frame work I bought packs of 6 Planed Smooth Timber (L)2100 x (W)44 x (T)18mm from B&Q. I put it altogether using 4mm wood crews and butt joints. If your just starting out on our first baseboard, then I could highly recommend you get the follow tools before you start.

• One handed clamps - three should do you.
• Mitre block – I use this one
• Square Set
• Tenon Saw to use with your mitre block

Obviously this list is far from complete but the above items were late additions to my tool box and have made my life and my wood work 100% better.

Here are a couple of pictures of the progress, you can’t really tell much as there is alot of rubble about the place, however it gives an idea of where I am headed.

Baseboard Frames

More Framework

See also: Baseboard framework completed

R2817 Devon Belle Pullman 'Wadebridge'

The Devon Pullman commenced service in 1947, operating for 7 months of the year over the summer period, carrying passengers from London to the west country. The final service was run in 1954.

There is a reason why I have picked this particular train out from the rest. Every year the wife and I take our son down to the Watercress Line (Mid Hants Railway)in Alton, Hampshire for a ride on the Santa Special. The service normally consists of 8 coaches pulled by a steam engine from Alton down to Alresford, where the engine is run around and we get puled back to Alton. During the ride the kids are visited by Santa and some of his elves. The children get a gift and the adults get served wine and mince pies. It’s not cheap – This year there were 5 adults and 2 small children and it cost £91, however it really is a lovely trip and the kids look forward to it all year.

This years train was a little different to normal. For our journey down to Alresford we were pulled by non other than 34007 ‘Wadebridge’ and rather unusually the rear of the train was taken up by a Class 33 – 33053 in BR Blue. Having consulted my grandfather – now retired train driver – the class 33 would have saved running the engine and around at each end and thus saved time ‘turning’ the service around for the next trip. Being more of a diesel fan myself I was far from disappointed.

I have also found a video of Wadebridge working in the Watercress Line back in the summer of 2007.

Here are a selection of pictures I took on the day.

This year see’s the release of just three new train sets, only one of which is digital, which surprises me as DCC is really starting to become more main stream and is being marketed as a way for new modellers young and old, as it negates the need for complex wiring of layouts, like its older sibling DC.

R1125 Somerset Belle Train Set

The only DCC set, R1125 Somerset Belle, is a small entry level set containing some of the popular items Hornby added to a series of train sets in 2008. These were a small 0-6-0 tank engine and three wagons, made up of a break van, tank wagon and a plank wagon. The set also includes the Select Digital Control Unit, which will be fine until you start to add more locos to your set, then I would advise getting yourself a Bachmann Dynamis.

R1121 Devon Flyer Train Set

The first of Hornby’s two DC/Analogue train sets is ANOTHER small entry level set.There seem to be many of 2007/2008′s sets, which are very similar in contents, still knocking about with many being sold at discounted prices. I think unless Hornby set the price around the sub £50 bracket, retailers will struggle to make this one sell too. The set is called the Devon Flyer and has a small 0-4-0 tank loco as well as three wagons, which are in the shape of a brake van and two plank wagons. The locomotive itself is carrying the ‘Blue Diamond’ livery.

Hornby’s thrid release is a called the Eastern Valleys Express. The set, part number R1122, contains an oval of track with a single siding. Two coches and an LNER B12 Class 4-6-0 Locomotive. I belive this local is a reproduction of an early Hornby model with part number R2165A. Please leave a comment if I am wrong! You will also find one of Hornby’s new DC controllers in this set.

R1122 Eastern Valleys Express Set

I do have a winter plan, that is to build some kits – I think I have about 15 to build of various wagons, coaches and 2 class 400 EMU’s – I have everything I need for the wagons, paints, glue etc etc. I just need to find the motivation to do it.

I did think about having the layout in the loft as it is immense, but its right above the kids bedrooms and would rule out working up there in the evenings. Thus the garage was selected. I am thinking about changing the garage doors to something that’s a bit more draft proof, not insulated but draught proof would be good. As the garage is integrated into the house the roof of the garage is insulated and boarded like a regular ceiling. So trying to contain some heat shouldn’t be a problem. I hope.

Currently the only affiliate program I have found is run by OnTracks. The program is run in house and despite the low commission amount, which is 2% of sales value. The program does track effectively and also converts well.

If you are looking to add links to OnTracks from your model railway website you will find that ‘deeplinks’ will convert better. e.g.

You could link to the section about Hornby Train Sets – click the link for the example.

Apart from the 2% commission they are paying the only other thing that lets them down is the severe lack of creative, however they are happy for you to take anything you need from their website when it comes to images and graphics.

You can sign up to the program here, adding links is easy, you just add you affiliate id variable to the end of any URL on their website.

Having now accepted that I won’t be adding a Traverser to my layout following my earlier ‘cock up’, I emailed Hugh asked him some amended plans which removed the traverser from the track plan and put the area it occupied to better use.

I thought I would give ballasting a bash as I have never attempted it before. Now I have to say that I am pretty happy with how it went, once I got passed a couple initial hurdles. Rather than use 00 Gauge ballast, I used N Gauge fine ballast and I have to say I think it looks quite realistic.

When I was laying the track I decided to lay it on 3mm cork that was slightly wider than the sleepers themselves. The result is the track looks like it is ‘sitting up’ on a bed of ballast.

Once I have an amended track plan I expect i will be relaying some track and wiring in some new point work. A backboard/backscene is also needed at some point too.

This morning I received my package from OnTracks, that contained a couple of bits I had ordered (2 weeks ago) a BR Railfreight Class 56 and some acrylic spray paint. In the box there was a Noch catalogue, so having 5 minutes spare I thought I would have a peruse and see what they had to offer.

Their catalogue is printed in German and also in English and having never looked at what they make, I flicked though a few pages and I have to say I was quite impressed and even manage to earmark a few items for potential purchases. While I was looking a page about H0/00 gauge figures I had to do a double take.

Sexy Scenes – H0 scale figures that allow modellers to “Create passionate scenes on your model railway layout”. As well as a selection of ‘furniture’ for your ‘scenes’, you can also adorn your layout with these lovely ladies, that is, if you can find somewhere to fit them in ‘prototypically’. They next thing you know, there will be motorised models of couples doing it… oh there already is.

Noch Sexy Scenes from Catalogue