So what’s the plan, Stan?
Who’s Stan?
After my last rambling post I’ve not done much more, other than occasionally stare at the track plan. I’ve also got the base boards 99% complete.
I now have the two 700×300mm boards, which are bolted together in the middle by two M6 bolts and wingnuts. Originally I was going to use M8 bolts, but I drilled the holes a bit off-centre from eachother. M8 bolts resulted in an un-even join. Enlarging the hole was a bad idea. However, the M6 bolts have just the right amount of play to make everything fit nicely. The three leg pairs I’ve built are also attached with the same bolts. I’d messed up building them, and spaced them the same width as the frame. This means the legs didn’t go nicely under the frame. However, one side will go under, and the back will go outside the frame. It still fits, so it works for me! The M6 bolts again allow for my wonky drilled holes to align properly.
Both boards are topped off with cork now, and align beautifully. It looks like one piece until turned over! I know from last time that as long as I make sure to include a spacer between the boards when laying the track join, it’ll all fit spot on once cut through. I’ve also made sure to mark up on the top side where the screws are holding on the ply, so I don’t try fixing through them (another thing I encountered last time).
As base boards go, it’s not going to win any prizes, but I think it’s a vast improvement on the last ‘attempt’.
Pictures will follow…
As for the track plan, this is what I have so far:
The blue shaded section is a hidden ‘off-scene’ section for a fiddle yard. It uses code 80 track. I intend making one or more of the tracks go off onto a cassette storage system. That can come later though.
The section in front of it will be a fuelling area probably. A through line will probably end at a dead end for now, with a view that it could be extended off-scene in future.
A bridge viaduct provides a scenic break to allow trains to disappear into the non-scenic area, or move into the fuelling area. This will feature under-arch shops.
Next at the back right, we have a small motive depot of some description. It has no headshunt visible – we can pretend that’s off scene or something.
On the far right we have a bridge/retaining wall thing. The bridge will cover over the end of the platform, and hide the fact the tracks don’t go anywhere (yet). It provides for future expansion again.
As mentioned, there’s an island platform. I’m considering a bay platform on the lower track, turning it into a siding. A station building could then sit in front of it.
The white areas are, as yet, undecided in terms of function. Indeed, the area above the blue fiddle yard will probably end up with something on top of it. I’m considering a retaining wall along the front of it (to hide it) so something sitting on top could be plausible.
I think it’s a pretty workable layout idea. It’s not exactly prototypical, but I think it gives scope to play around. I came to the realisation I don’t have the space to run long trains at speed. Short trains shuttling in and out will have to do! Besides, this is small, and very manageable. It gives room to spend lots of time on small features, without the feeling of having a lot to do to attain a good result.
I have a tendency to lose interest in some things if it drags on too long, as there was just too much to do on the previous plan. This is a lot more manageable. So much so I can break it into halves and work on part at a time.
Tomorrow I’ll lay out the track as much as possible, and make sure things fit. All going well, I’ll get on with laying track properly next. I just have to be happy with it.