Money, its a hit

So, what did all the dosh get spent on at Expo? A major purchase for me, and the guys seemed to be doing a brisk trade all round, was a batch of Easitrac. I am hoping that this will speed the Layout Challenge entry along a bit faster; there are only 24 months to go after all!

From the main shop, I got a roll of rail. I'm still concerned how this curves about especially in the vertical plane. A Blackburn jig to help soldering Bob Jones point chairplates was also acquired; I don't think I can wait this time for the Easitrac guys to get their point system to the table. Additionally all the bits and bobs required to make a start on the J72 were assembled; wheels, bushes, gears etc. I already had a suitable motor so this eased the pain a little.

Finally, a major purchase; Association Loco Kit No1 - 350hp diesel shunter (08 to you youngsters!) - this will be some time coming as I've plenty to do before starting this kit!

Making Tracks

Things seem a bit quiet of late here on the blog. Everyone must be busy modelling!

For my own part, I've spent what little modelling time I've had available making track for my GJLC entry. Most of the plain track is now finished and I've started on the pointwork. These are being made using the excellent jigs available from Shop 1.


The photo shows the first turnout part-completed. There will only be two turnouts on the layout, both of standard B7 left hand geometry. Once these are done I will move onto the traintables planned for each end of the layout. In the background of the photo can be seen some of the rolling stock also under construction for the layout.

And as if making track in 2mm scale wasn't enough, I spend the occasional weekend working in a slightly larger scale:

The photo shows some 2ft gauge track panels that have been built as part of the Moseley Railway Trust's project to build a railway at the Apedale Heritage Centre near Stoke-on-Trent. The railway will eventually carry passengers from an existing museum and cafe up into the adjacent country park.

Andy

A Grand Day Out

In the spirit of cooperation for all of you building Challenge Layouts here are some photos taken at Beamish today; perhaps they will prove useful to budding crane builders or point interlacers.

Golden Years

Another NEAG meeting and more interesting stuff than I can take in! Once again Bob has a bit of Fencehouses up and running and we get to see his beautiful double junction. The D49 gets a bit of a run out and some useful tips are picked up for its improvement.

Meanwhile the rest of Bournmoor is in brown-out as we get the similtaneous use of several RSUs. It was interesting as a commited iron-user to see these in use; bravo to Rod for taking the plunge after all of these years. It was also good to see the Judith Edge kits brought along by Steve; a challenge if ever I saw one.

Finally, I managed to get a first view of the baseboards for "Brafferton". Again I've benefitted from the knowledge and skills of members where I have little to speak of! Alan Smith redesigned my boards and I now have five making the full circle. This avoids the layout potentially "breaking its back" as each joint is opposite a solid piece of baseboard; something which six boards singularly fails to do! Alan cut the wood with his CNC facilities making an all but perfect job - the circle is perfect and the edges require only slight sanding to be baby's-bum smooth. Additionally I have taken the opportunity to stretch the scenic section to three boards or 60% of the circle as opposed to 50% originally. This may take it slightly outside the Layout Challenge criteria, but I'm sure I can blag that somehow...

Thanks to Mick Simpson for the photo.

Next step is to get the boards assembled and start on some legs; these should be within my capability (I hope!).

Lay It All Out

Progress on the Challenge Layout:

i. Here is the basic plan for "Brafferton". The yard lines aren't sketched in yet, but I've incorporated that into the subsequent 3D model. Ultimately the layout will be circular, but to meet the Challenge Rules I've restricted the staging to keep the overall area within 9.42 sqft.

ii. I spent a day or so making a 1/8th scale 3D model to get a better understanding of how the layout might look. The "baseboards" actually represent how the real ones will be constructed.

iii. When modelling, I often do little doodles as below. These aren't necessarily accurate or used in the actual model making. However I use them as inspiration and to get ideas bouncing around.

Golden Jubilee Layout Challenge

Happy New Year!

Now down to business; you have only 30 months to complete your 2mm layout for the said competition. A start now would definitely be a good idea. There are a plethora of blogs springing up detailing progress by various members. Unless I'm expelled for verbal verbosity, I'll tell you about my plans and their execution here on the NEAG blog.

I'll keep my powder relatively dry until I've committed a registration form, but at this time, I can tell you the following:

1. The layout will be based on a real location.
2. It is somewhere in the North East of England and set c.1960.
3. It will utilise almost all of the alloted 9.42 sq ft.
4. It will be DCC.
5. Post competition there will be some changes; principally that the staging will be larger and a continuous run established.
6. I will need to get my finger out post-haste if it is to be anything like!

The Scalefour Society ran a similar challenge a little while ago. If we can emulate the success demonstrated there within our own Association, it would be amazing. There are however, in my opinion, lessons to be learned from our larger brethren:

1. Make and keep to some sort of timetable, so you aren't building a whole layout two weeks before the show.
2. Try to work to an overall standard; certain layouts had very poor scenic qualities despite being in "finescale".
3. Get a bloody backscene. Nobody wants to see a beer belly as a backdrop to a railway!

There we are. I intend to refine my plan over the next week and proceed to cut baseboard material in the middle of January. Meanwhile I need to keep the loco activity moving forward too...!