Blueeighties
Western Thunderer
Good afternoon. Back end of last year, I purchased a small exhibition layout, 'Mill Bank Alley'.
I'm sure many of you know I run the repainting and weathering company Lee's Locos.
Over the years I have had a couple of layout projects on the go, but as is usually the case, personal time is very limited so they frustratingly never came to fruition.
When I started the business all of my work was 4mm. In recent years, this has changed to 95% 7mm, and my personal interests are now also firmly on 7mm.
I enjoy photographing finished models, and was on the lookout for a small well finished layout that would cater for this, and as a bonus maybes allow me to run/test/play (!) With them.
So when this opportunity became available, it seemed perfect.
The layout measures just over 16', this consists of 2 5' scenic boards, and 1 6' off scene traverser storage board.
Whilst finished to an excellent standard, I decided on a few small, but hopefully manageable changes to make the layout my own. I plan to document and discuss these via this thread.
I have previously used computer control for driving the trains, for this one I wanted to return to my old favourite, the NCE Powercab.
Photography is important, so existing layout illumination to be improved.
The baseboards are constructed from mdf, and the scenic trackbeds display serious warping which needs rectification.
Improve the scenic background.
The layout is set 1960-70s, my interest is 1980s, so I plan the following.
Remove the steam era coal storage. Replace the cobbled ground surface area in the yard with something more appropriate for the period.
Remove the provender goods store, area to be made derelict, again more era appropriate.
Appropriate signage.
And no doubt various other things as I go along.
I enjoy documenting projects, so hope this will be of interest.
Regards,
Lee.
I'm sure many of you know I run the repainting and weathering company Lee's Locos.
Over the years I have had a couple of layout projects on the go, but as is usually the case, personal time is very limited so they frustratingly never came to fruition.
When I started the business all of my work was 4mm. In recent years, this has changed to 95% 7mm, and my personal interests are now also firmly on 7mm.
I enjoy photographing finished models, and was on the lookout for a small well finished layout that would cater for this, and as a bonus maybes allow me to run/test/play (!) With them.
So when this opportunity became available, it seemed perfect.
The layout measures just over 16', this consists of 2 5' scenic boards, and 1 6' off scene traverser storage board.
Whilst finished to an excellent standard, I decided on a few small, but hopefully manageable changes to make the layout my own. I plan to document and discuss these via this thread.
I have previously used computer control for driving the trains, for this one I wanted to return to my old favourite, the NCE Powercab.
Photography is important, so existing layout illumination to be improved.
The baseboards are constructed from mdf, and the scenic trackbeds display serious warping which needs rectification.
Improve the scenic background.
The layout is set 1960-70s, my interest is 1980s, so I plan the following.
Remove the steam era coal storage. Replace the cobbled ground surface area in the yard with something more appropriate for the period.
Remove the provender goods store, area to be made derelict, again more era appropriate.
Appropriate signage.
And no doubt various other things as I go along.
I enjoy documenting projects, so hope this will be of interest.
Regards,
Lee.