Off at a tangent once more.

I see I`ve hit a nerve……..can you feel the rumblings Toto.
see ya
Gormo…….the fish are bitin` today :chicken:chicken:chicken:chicken

Quite Gormo, quite.

It takes a bit time to waken this lot up. Not a peep so far. Well unless you count the chubby one. Maybe should call it " silent hill " .

I'm going to chuck a couple of idea's in myself as they come into my head. The first being " Oliver's Sidings " . Keeping on the family pet theme as Oliver or " Ollie " was the name of my first Golden Retriever. He never saw past his second birthday as he was taken by " Post natal liver shunt " a version of meningitis. The shunt part being purely coincidental.

Anyway, I'm going to get myself geared up as I feel a dose of creativity coming on. I think I may finally have found a use for one of these laser cut MDF bridges that I bought and built some time ago.  If this turns out ok I have another couple of potential idea's that may just add a bit of a twist to the original idea. This layout plan could divert anywhere as I'm doing this on the hoof.

Just holler out if I go too far astray. No offence taken for honesty. Cheers for now chaps.

Toto

Can I suggest that the back of the scenery slopes down from the bridge to the other end of the layout. Something like this :


Or this :


The red line shows where the current frame is now. This will give a natural feel to the scenery, unless it is pure industrial ofcourse… ;-)

Cheers, Gary.

OK so all these wonderfull ideas I've come up with are just going to be ignored by you philistines, I'll just go off and trash someone else's thread…There plenty OTHERS I'm banned from you know !   I WAS going to suggest a heavy plant/ farm machinery/  road crane manufacturing factory. That would allow a nice display of shinies ( I'm thinking of the train to Glasgow where you pass one of these with all its wares on display in the yard …cherry pickers , Jcb's, small road cranes etc ). But its OK I'll just keep that idea to myself :roll:

To Late Mathew old boy.

 

You've let the cat out of the bag now. :hmm Things are opening up now. Gormo has rattled a few cages.:patheadCouldn't have done better myself. NOW …….. onto todays progress. I have a couple of idea's coming in from Gary but I'll post my changes first as I've been a busy boy.

first off ….. I wanted to include one of my laser cut bridges. A purchase that was made without ever really having a home for them. Well that has been rectified for one of them anyway. The double lane version.

 

this is where I began,



Then I started playing around.

The said bridge.




:hmm we need some bridge bearings don't we. So lets get started.



jumped a couple of photo's but I'm sure you are getting the idea.



another view.




And another




Getting there now




Even resembles a bridge …… well almost. And from the other end.



And some general shots.




and another,




more you say ( or do you )




another,




Getting a bit intoxicating with pictures now but there is only another couple ……. I promise.




And the last one for now.




Ok. that is where I am at for the moment. I need to catch up with the rest of you guys and a PM or two.

 

cheers for now. hope you like.

 

cheers

 

toto

 

Some dimensions as requested Gary,

From the edge of the bridge to the end of the layout.




and the same again but the other side,



the above measures as shown below,



next up, full length




and again, measures as below,




The full width,



You can probably make that out but here is another anyway,




and the bridge itself



and the bearings




and the other …… a different size just for the fun of it.





and then, the inside of the bridge to the baseboard edge,



height of the back verge




and the bridge height,



hope these are of use.

cheers for now. I think the shed needs a tidy up as its like a bomb site. I'll tackle that whilst I have a ponder on where I am now going with this.

Cheers

 

toto.






 

I have various building kits. A mixture of Metcalfe, Scalescenes and others. I'll look them out and see what I have to play with ……… Or butcher / destroy / whatever.

I'll need to catch up with the remaining track feeds etc and get the track tested before I go much further.  That may be tonight after I have tidied up the shed. We'll see. I am working from home again this week ( so far anyway unless I get a call ). So I am hoping to tackle some small jobs in the evenings.

Everything will come to a shuddering halt come Friday though as it's holiday time on Saturday. So that will be it until I get back. I should still manage to get a bit done between now and then though.

Cheers for now

Toto

Hi Gary,

I will take on board what you say with regards to the appearance of the embankment. I'll leave it at the short side of the bridge but alter it at the long side. I think it will look more natural as you say. Take the squareness away from it.:thumbs. Jigsaw at the ready.

Cheers

Toto.

Hi Gary,

 

I've reduced the land form a bit but will need to go back over it and smooth it out / tidy it up a bit.



another




and another,




I've left the other end at the moment until I see what is happening with it. It may get left as it is. We'll see.

more later,

 

cheers

 

toto

The creative juices are flowing now. The next move is …… The small area to the single track end. I am going to have a road running at 90 degree's to the bridge with a row of low relief shops and pub.

Below that , under the road to the front edge will be a retaining wall with workshops built in ( under the road ). And another ( single ) pedestrian bridge spanning the track. Same type as the double but pedestrian and cycle way only.

It will become clearer later as I push on with it after I have picked SWIMBO up at 5 o'clock.  If it looks crap, I'll demolish it but I can sort of see it and it could be ok I think.

Cheers

Toto.

Obviously not raining north of the border.

Coming on well Toto :thumbs



Ed

Hi Ed,

The weather has been great here over the last few days. I've taken to working al fresco.

Glad you like the scene so far. The idea's are coming thick and fast now. I can't wait to get fired up again after dinner. It will really start to tell the story shortly.

Cheers

Toto

Since you haven't got a name yet Toto, how about something with bridge in it.

Bridgetown or Highbridge Sidings or something like that.

Just a thought.


Ed

High bridge, that has a ring to it.  High bridge sidings. You could be on to a winner there Ed.

Give the man a coconut. High Bridge Sidings it is.

Alan,

You know my next question ………… Can we have High Bridge Sidings please.

Jesus …… That was easy. Stroke of genius  Ed. :thumbs:thumbs:pathead

Cheers

Toto

Blimey, I've only been away a couple of days and High Bridge Sidings is half done!! Thought I was a quick worker!! Lots of good idea's taking shape Tom, well done! Think I might build a plank my self, I have a 4'x9" board sitting at work and I think a visit to the local MR emporium could be on the cards! Fancy trying that Code 75 track instead of Code 100 for a change!

Cheers
Ron

Hi Ron,

Go for it ……… Another marathon build coming up then eh. it's code 75 that I am using and it's a little more fragile to work with than the code 100. There again, I am a little ham fisted so that doesn't help.

I'm sure you'll breeze it. Any idea what the theme will be ? I think the beauty of the planks is that you can choose little cameos that would not sit well with your main layout. Break free from the chains of bondage. Lol.

 I tried the wire in tube method for the points this time around as there was only two sets. Good to experiment. I'm also more or less just using kits etc that I bought previously with no intention of buying anything specific for this unless really necessary. I have some Metcalfe kits and some scalescene stuff that I bought for the R & GLR.

Period ….. Doesn't really matter. I've a mixture of 03's, 04's and 08's mostly in BR green or blue. I also have a couple of 08's in EWS. So that's it. I can use my NCE power pro but was intending getting a power cab when I am down at Warley so that will be used for this and Breadalbane leaving the power pro in residence for the R & GLR.

I'll go for now but will catch up when you break cover on your potential new venture.

Cheers

Toto

Still got my Digitrax Zephyr controller so will use that, I'm thinking sand/gravel/ballast?? BR using the 08 and maybe a steam 060?
Still some work to do on Weybourne, the farm end and more ballasting to do and the Kadee's to check on!
get's the old grey matter moving don't it!!

Cheers
Ron

 

Sure does Ron but you'll take it in your stride  All in a days work. Speaking of which, I've just done an evenings work. I was working inside this time as the rain started spitting. To be expected I suppose.

Anyway …… progress. bridge no 2 and hopefully not a bridge too far. Obviously the framework shall be hidden behind brick  & concrete parpets etc.

I started on the framework as usual.




and progressed a bit further,



and more,




and we are nearly there,




and another,




and again,




and more of this photo fest.




and from another angle,




nearly finished,




and the last one for now.




So, the idea now is that there will be a pedestrian precinct that joins the two bridges on the higher level. Underneath will be a retaining wall with smallish industrial units with arched frontages. A welders / fabricators and another, maybe an antiques dealer or upholsterer.

I have some Metcalfe kits that I am going to use for the high level shops / pub. I might try and butcher them a bit just to try and make them slightly different from the others that are out there. We'll see.

So, …… any questions, comments etc, ……. fire away.

 

cheers

toto 

Great work, Toto.  :thumbs

I'm guessing that the bridges lift out so you can complete the landform?

Hi Max,

Yes they can lift out. There will be a bit rework around the parapets as well. It's a little rough at the moment but I'm just trying to get the basics together then I'll sharpen it all up a bit.

It'll slow down a tad as I have a few things to sort out before going on holiday but generally it should be quite a quick build. Well, until the buildings start ……… Not my forte I'm afraid but maybe with a bit of practice and a dozen aborted kits.

Cheers for now

Toto