Category Archives: Layout design

I risked having a go at the first FineTrax point last night, and as with all these things, there was two steps forward and one back. It didn’t take long to get to this stage, as shown below, and my … Continue reading →

The problem with leaving a layout for a period of time is what accumulates on it whilst you are away. My baseboard looked like this! It seemed to have accumulated some stray American stock, several Terriers, a Japanese brake van, … Continue reading →

When I last wrote about Minories, it was late 2021. Since then, building (successfully) a pair of modules for the N-mod and sorting out the ESNG exhibition has rather taken up my time. The modules need a little more scenery, … Continue reading →

With the exhibition over life is beginning to return to normal. It has taken 2 weeks for the layouts in the lounge to return to the loft. I’d made such a mess moving them out, that a little reordering was … Continue reading →

A little more progress on the new modules.  I’ve completed the ground cover and trees and bushes. I’m pleased with the final scenic addition.  I wanted to model a pair of, albeit short, carriage sidings, and model the cleaning platforms.  … Continue reading →

Suddenly there’s less than three weeks to the show, and I was intending to get these modules finished, or at least nearly finished.  So I’ve been at work with the ModRoc and brown paint and multicolour flock. The factory buildings … Continue reading →

But I didn’t.  I often visit this excellent show with an old work colleague, but he decided not to go this year.  I didn’t want to fight the Saturday crowds, and Sunday not only were there loads of railway engineering … Continue reading →

Next job, ballast the main line.  The secret of ballasting, I think, is to do a bit at a time.  Try and do metres at a go, and one gets careless and starts to make mistakes.  I’m pretty happy with … Continue reading →

Next job was to fit end plates to transport the modules and protect the track ends.  Nothing clever here, just thumbscrew bolts and retaining nuts.  All very carefully marked out, but of course they weren’t as square as they might … Continue reading →

And all the track is down, and the joints soldered.  I have to admit, that laying PECO code 80 is really rather easy, compared to code 55 and even easier than hand laid track.  Next job, wiring, then a coat … Continue reading →