Completed Benchwork

After many weeks of bashing about in my garage, I can finally sit back and go ...phew!

All the benchwork for the Southern and Central (excluding the helix, which will be a project for next year) is now completed. Over the last couple of weeks I completed the 3rd module, which will model a fairly deep ravine and mountain side in the lower module and a bay in the upper module. 

Probably the biggest challenge was to get these modules to marry up, but with a bit of huffing and puffing they do, and pretty much perfectly, although I am not completely happy with the height of the upper valance, so in time I will add a wider valance.

The other issue I had to deal with was gradients. Because I wanted to get the lower deck main line as high as possible before reaching the helix module, thus eliminating some of the helix work, I used a gradient of about 3%, which isn't particularly high, but I didn't dare go any steeper than that. The branch line in the upper module has a gradient of about 4.5%, way too steep for any serious train lengths, but since it's a branch line I figured it would be ok. I plan for that line to connect to a coal mine or quarry.

While the plan is to now install these in the spare bedroom, I think before that I will start running the wiring beneath the layout, just because of the ease of access. I will be installing an NCE DCC system, so it's just a matter of running the bus wires underneath and adding suitable plugs and sockets between module. My next update will document how I've done that and hopefully will show the modules installed in my "train room"!

Better Late Than Never

Well it's been a lot longer that I thought between posts, but finally I thought it was time to report some progress!

I am still working in the garage which is not ideal, a bit too cold at this time of the year, so not as much has been accomplished, well not as much as would have liked.

The bench work for the first 2 modules of my layout is now largely completed. I say largely, because there are a couple of minor things that need to be done such as fit castors to the legs which I have been putting off!

I am currently working on getting the backdrop right and this has been an ongoing mission. You can see from the picture that I have some basic hill shapes and the little dots are trees, all individually stamped with foam rubber cutouts. I still have a lot more trees to do, and I would love to get some clouds up on there. My intention was for it to just be a basic blue background, but it was not at all satisfactory so I have been teaching myself some rudimentary painting skills. I think it looks ok, though the picture does not do it justice, so I will take a couple of close up images next week and post them.

The other thing which I have completed is the coved corners, after all the world does not have corners! If you are wondering how I achieved it, well it was easy in the end. Some think cardboard, glued with contact adhesive and plastered over to hide the seam as much as possible. I think it came out as best as could be hoped and certainly looks a hundred times better than it was. I found the corners cast weird shadows that just ruined the effect!

By the way, the gap in the middle of the picture is where the modules join, can't be helped!

Over the next few weeks I will get the painting completed, the castors fitted and make some adjustments to the base itself for where there is a slight gradient (which I really should have planned for a lot earlier). Once that's done, I should finally be able to sneak the whole lot into the house....though now I am thinking about building the 3rd module since I am on a roll!

Painted Module

I ummed and ahhed, and researched and read a lot about painting the background. In the end I decided to go with a simple light blue with wisps of white, representing clouds. Long term I may continue to add to the background with photo images and building flats, but for now I am quite happy with the way it came out. I'm a big believer in less is more, and I don't really want people to be looking at the background scenery anyway, so low key and believable is what I want.

The baseboards received a coat of flat light brown latex paint, eventually it will be hidden under ground cover, and whatever else gets plonked down, so won't matter too much. I will use the same brown to make a wash with for use later on.

I gave the benchwork a coat of black semi gloss latex paint, mainly because I wanted to really frame the two levels, and I think it is very effective. I've seen greens and browns used, but for me black, really draws the eye into where the action is happening. Once flouro lights are installed above the levels I think it will look really dramatic!

One thing I will say...wow, the price of paint! So to keep the cost down, I scrounged old leftover paint (thankgod for people who paint their kitchens sky blue...yes, you know who you are!) and purchased test pots, which is a much more cost effective option.

Painted module.

I may not post much over the next few weeks as I will be building the second module, and this will largely be a duplicate of what I have already written. Winter is on the way, so it will be a mad rush to get done so I can spend the cooler months inside.

Completion of Yard Module Benchwork

So I got down to work this Easter weekend and have managed to get both the background boards and base boards into position. I've also filled the joints and given the whole thing a sanding, ready for some paint in the next couple of weeks.

I went with fairly lightweight MDF, 4.5mm for the backboard and 6mm for the base. It's a bit too heavy for the backboard, but I need the extra stability that it gives. That's going to cause some issues in the corners, since I want the backdrop to be curved, so I think I will end up using some card stock to provide the curve or find some other way of disguising the harsh edge, if I bother to curve it at all, seen some really effective backboards online that aren't curved, just well disguised, so I'm not 100% sure yet. I will experiment with some different materials and methods. The base is made from a heavier, 6mm MDF, although on reflection I could probably have easily gotten away with using the lighter 4.5mm stuff for that too.

Completed module.

I also made sure that I drilled some decent sized holes through the underneath beams on each deck, wide enough to hold the bus wires for track power and any other accessory power I am going to need. I haven't really planned that very well, other than knowing I am going to go Digital Command Control, track wiring is very much up in the air, so best thing is to plan for the unknown. Overall I am pretty happy with my efforts, considering my rather amateur woodworking skills!

hmmmm...I'm thinking I might make the second module, before the weather packs it in and it gets too cold for me to want to work in the unlighted, unheated garage, plus it will be a heck of a lot easier to ensure perfect alignment while they can be moved around easily. My next post probably won't be until next month, and hopefully it will be to display a painted (including backdrop....eeek) module.

Southern And Central Module One

I began the bench work for this module a couple of weeks ago, which I knew from the outset was going to involve a lot of trial and error, which was okay for the first module as it really was going to serve as a template for the next ones.

I wasn't sure what it was going to look like, other than some really rough sketches, or how it would behave structurally, since I am certainly no engineer. All I know is it has to be lightweight and look relatively professional. My carpentry skills are fairly weak, I know my way around a cordless drill and a spirit level, but when it comes to putting it all together it can be a bit hit and miss. My advice to anyone doing this, is not to get to bothered and just give it a go! Buy the cheapest lumber you can to start with, and be prepared to throw some of it away. Making mistakes is the best way to learn, and I'm damn good at learning!

This module will cover both levels for expediency, though only the bottom level will actually be modeled..I am going to use the top level for other "toys" in meantime. As an aside, the top level will have a harbor scene, hence the cutout in the front, this will be the quayside.

The lower level will contain the majority of the yard, there won't be much operational use to start with but it will be great for displaying the rolling stock I have and as a test bed for my modelling skills. I am looking forward to unpacking all of my equipment!

There are no names for yard or town yet, so I do need to start having a creative think about that. In the meantime my railroad is known as the Southern and Central, just because I liked the name and it's ambiguous! I don't want to get tied down to any particular geographical region.

The picture I have posted shows the module along with the size of the lumber...so I don't forget when it comes time to build the next module! What I have discovered is that at 1.3 m wide (which is how wide it needed to be to fit over my desk) is really inconvenient when it comes to buying pre-cut lumber!!!!