Thanks Peter sharing. Agree with Martin


Are these scratchbuilt platforms please? Chris

That's come on so well.
What are your plans for the station on the road above the tracks please? (you can't just leave an overhang )

Quote from: crewearpley40 on October 12, 2025, 09:09:13 PMThanks Peter sharing. Agree with Martin


Are these scratchbuilt platforms please? Chris

Thanks Chris

They are Metcalfe Platforms. Haven't quite decided what to do with them. Will have a couple of canopies, but would like some buildings, but need to find something cost effective.

Quote from: Newportnobby on October 12, 2025, 09:39:13 PMThat's come on so well.
What are your plans for the station on the road above the tracks please? (you can't just leave an overhang )

Thanks.

I will be putting a backscene on eventually. Haven't quite decided how it's going to work yet. Hiding the fiddle yard, but yet still being able to see when a train reaches the end of its allotted siding.

Probably some form of mirror or camera. Will need to be removable to get at the fiddle yard if needed, or on a hinge.

Peter

Quote from: Greygreaser on October 01, 2025, 06:55:55 PMI'm wondering if someone has discovered a conversion say to a Kato or Tramfabriek powered bogie? Suspect the tower arrangement would be harder to convert in the replacement of the whole bogie?

I'd suggest a complete replacement of the GF works with a suitable chassis, not just a power bogie, from GreenMax or Tomix would be a far better solution. They run super smooth and are powerful, but if you are DCC would be difficult to convert. I've used a GreenMax chassis in three DMUs I've built from kits/GF Mk1 coach shells/Electra vinyls.

Not a lot these days, old age is no longer creeping up on me- it's galloping  sold a lot of stock and the layout, just got an oval of Kato track and a couple of locos; got a backscene but no other scenic work, just a basic test tack. I've been testing the cheapy controller I've put together from bits bought from Amazon. Also got a couple of white metal kits to hack. Hand/eye coordination is deteriorating hence taking a lot of time to do a little bit of work.
PC problems don't help, spent much of today changing parts, one PC has lost USB, the other has sound problems so instead of listening to my playlists I'm having to put up with Classic FM whilst swapping hard drives etc.

These past couple of weeks I have been mostly removing oversized ballast from some Dapol JNA's that I picked up second hand. Nearly there now and getting ready to repaint the interiors to represent rust.

Put lights in the buildings - very pleased too. I`ll be adding depot and goods yard lights soon.

Had an hour this morning, before it got hot, to start on some wiring mods on the train set.

Organised chaos (truly) allowed me to get some additional droppers in from the top and point operation switches wired to the terminal blocks for the 10 points.

There has been a major track rationalisation with the double track being singled, (and the Peco points replaced by Tomix) another turn back siding added as well as a small goods yard for the local services and better play value.

Mark

Would you happen to have a 'before' and 'after' track plan, Mark?

@Newportnobby

How about an almost complete history of this piece of 4' by 2' marine ply which has had 6 play layouts on it.

From 2017 until 2026.

1st track layout 2017 - An oval, an inglenook and a terminus


A 2nd track layout followed the first very quickly because the PECO curved setrack point was a pain. Was replaced with a re-positioned small radius Code 55 point.

3rd track layout 2021 - Terminus to terminus - Ashburton to Town


4th track layout and major baseboard work - Nice try, but needed more storage on the oval.


Previous track layout 2025 (The Before) A quickie using Tomix F and a Peco code 80 crossover.


New track layout 2026 (The After (and the LAST)) All Tomix F plain track and electric points.


I've used what has been to hand or something I wanted to try. PECO Setrack, Peco Code 80, Peco Code 55, Tomix Fine and mixes of these. I do have some Kato Unitrack, but prefer the Tomix.

There was a larger 2 level layout as well, but I've cut that up and reused the ply on some other layouts.

Mark

Strewth! Do you have 'settling' issues?
Huge difference between 'before' and 'after. How long d'you think the 'after' will last?

Nothing on my layout, as I don't have one, as I write now.

But Steve Wright (James Street) has designed a layout for me, after giving him the sort of things I want to have on it.

And because he is 'bored', with nothing much to do on JS, since the New Year, he has built me the baseboards and frames for it......and they should be arriving over the weekend for erection. It's a sort of payback for the work and running around I have done for him on JS.

Just need another mortgage for the pointwork needed......

Roughly 9' x 7', two levels with terminus, loop, and a low level harbour. If I get anywhere, I'll have to start a new thread about it, but progress is likely to be slow, and I'm not very good-or enthusiastic-about scenery, though I will be doing some.

Martyn

I look forward to some pics/progress reports when you get started, Martyn

Just received 48m of 50x25mm treated timber in 4.8m lengths. The delivery guy seemed to think I was going be repairing as roof 

Now to finish trackplans and confirm measurements. I have about 3 layout designs for it and only room for one however.