Tom ,if it,s of any interest this is how i fixed and ballasted my track.
Firstly i placed the track in the position it was to be when finished .
I then marked the outside of the sleepers each side with a ball point pen ( or fine magic marker)
Remove the track ,place masking tape each side of the proposed track position ,using the pen lines as a guide ,but allow extra 3/8 inch old money each side .
Paint the track position with thickish PVA keepiong within the masking tape areas, place the track in to the PVA final position and hold temporarily with pins.
Sprinkle your ballast over the area treated with PVA ,  Before the PVA is completely dry pull away the masking tape to leave a clean edge to your ballasting.
Then pour yourself something and take a break.
When you come back.  job done.
Easier and faster to do than type this .
try a short test piece ,see how you get on.

Take a look at Blossom Hill for an example  post 118.

Hi all, 
      Back again, thanks Sparky, sorry for delay in responding, like your idea and working, i'll let you know how things progress in that area when i get to it, just purchased a head mag and light, comes with 6 lens and it really is powerful,:shock::) so, i  will keep the main model builder lamp and light unit in my model building room and, the head mag unit for the layout room, as the garage is now formally known as.……

                                     More to come and very best regards to all……………………Tom………:);-):cool:

Hi All,
       Just ripped up the 6 yards of track i had put down as not happy with the concept i was trying to do, also, just been to opticians and, they want me to see an eye specialist because of hereditary glaucoma mum granny cousins, etc, and because i have diabetes which can cause this eye problem in D type 1 and 2 suffers; seems that, every time i try to get started on my layout, health problems cause me to stop and start to worry about the future, or, perhaps something is trying to tell me its not really worth starting a layout due to what is going to happen to me in the near future, my depression is at an all time low and going lower, so, not sure when or if their will be an update to my modelling, won't get to see the specialist till around October, plus, it was my birthday today, i hated it:sad::sad::sad::sad:………..

                                                                    Regards……………………….Tom……   

Tom don't give up mate, Fight every bloomin step of the way!  Just do one piece of track….get that right , then do another..at least that's two pieces that haven't beaten you :thumbs.  Then another and you almost have something long enough to run on even if it IS just back and forth…Go on mate  Have another go :pedal


cheers

  Matt

Every reason to get stuck into the layout then Tom, I've got a mate modelling who has significant vision loss… And he's modelling in N scale… And very successfully too… Taught me a thing or two about it.

Don't wait for the go, you'll miss the boat, just get on and do it… You know you want to and there's a great bunch of folks on here to give tips and suggestions.

Marty

Belated Happy Birthday Tom, even if you did have a rotten day.

Lost count of how many times I've ripped up track because 'it wasn't quite right' and then relaid it. It's always worth doing as you feel much better when it's back down, even if it's not that much different from what it was in the first place.

I can only echo what Matt and Marty have said, and don't give up.

My backs got worse over the last couple of years so I can't now get under the baseboard very easily. Even if I did want to install point motors under the board it would be extremely difficult. Just have to adapt, if I do want point motors they'll have to be surface mounted and hidden under buildings etc.

There's always a way around these things and if you can just get a small section of track relaid, I'll bet you'll feel better :thumbs


Ed

Hi Tom,

Keep going at it mate. Take it from someone who has had fair share of knocks and disappointments. Let me tell you something …….. If ever there is a place to be when your having troubles ….. Both hobby related or otherwise ……. It's here. This health lark seems to get to us all in some shape or another. I can totally sympathise with your plight and would urge you to carry on.

I've been in these dark places as well ( and not that long ago either ). As far as the layout goes, keep trying and asking all the questions you need to …….. Time and time again if need be. There will always be support.  Health issues ……… If you ever want someone to have a chat with …… Or …… Shout and scream at ……. PM me and I'll give you my number. I've been very fortunate on this forum to have been offered the same.

Don't let it get the better of you.

Now ……. Let's go through what you want to achieve and get stared. Get something basic down to start with and then we'll take it from there.

Chin up

Toto

Tom, I like some others on here are dealing with health problems which sometimes get on top of you. But, don't give up please. I don't do as much as I would like due to health and other problems. I just do a bit of work on the layout when I can. It helps me to get through as I'm sure it will you.

Hi all,
        A VERY BIG thanks for your kind thoughts and advice, well, i think this shows a commitment, that is, i have ordered a Morley Vortex N controller twin type, and, two Kato 11-103 chassis to get under some models in the very near time:), also, sent and received some card models from Smart models and Scalescenes, which the latter, alas, have gotten my order downloaded wrong:twisted:.
        I sent for a download of  Warehouse part A and also Workshop part C, but, after it had been accepted and dealt with via Paypal, seems it gave me two of the Warehouse part A which seeing as you can print off as many as you need, it is quite strange for anyone to order a model twice, so, i am hoping my e mail to ask and explain will get me the correct model downloaded to me AKA, Warehouse part C, unless the person who runs the site Scalescenes happens to be a member of our forum:???::roll:;-), and could be pointed to my problem and the sites own problems:shock::), still, their you have it, models to make so as to see how much space one thing or another will take up, well, thats the plan, o, and i am going back into 3dsmax 2013 and start to design some card models to see where what will look good where;-), any building plans gratefully received, 4mm 1/76 scale of cause;-)…………

        Many grateful thanks to every one and i will keep you all very updated as i go, boring and otherwise picture the lot,, so my very best regards and respects to one and all…………..
                                                                           Tom………………….:);-):cool:

Hi Tom.
Sorry to hear you are feeling down at the mo, and hope you soon start to recover.
Re Scalescenes ,I think John Wiffen is a member of this forum .  I have found him to be gent and willing in my case anyway to put right any mistakes
I think you will find him sympathetic to your dilemma.    If you need his e-mail address  PM me with your e-mail.
Chin up .
Reg

Hi Reg,
         Have sent him an e mail and so will allow him to respond if not, will take you up on your nice offer my friend………

                                                     My regards…………………………….Tom……….:)

Just checked Tom.  John is a member of the forum ,you will find him listed under Scalescenes his e_mail address can be found in the members list.:thumbs  He has his customers ordering data on file ,and will be able to see what has happened in your case.
Good Luck.;-)

Hi all,
           This is just to show that i AM going to try and keep going, and, as such, have turned to my trusty 3dsmax 2013 for some play time;-), here you see the beginnings of a loco for the popular Kato 11-103 chassis in the guise of a tram style body, covers a lot of sins chassis whys :shock:;-):roll:.
           The chassis in question will be either made from card or plastic card stock, but, am not to sure which, also, i have been playing around a standard type 3rd and guard coach and this i think could be laminated as follows, inner laminate of clear plastic with, card overlays printed off as per the colours and marking of said coach; the clear plastic inner would double up for strength and, for glazing duties:).
            I hope you all like the model as such, its standard yes, but, fits into the mind set for NG style locos, about 2" long, so, thats it for now, going to Warley Bus Museum today with three mates, helping out selling and doing some nostalgic bus traveling as well, hope the weather is nice but who cares, its going to be great as usual, i hope:shock::???:..

             All the very best and kindest regards to every one………………………..Tom……:);-):cool:
PS, much more to do, stack and dome etc etc etc will be purchased in in brass or the like just so you all get a better idea……:)

Hi Tom,

Glad you are back on track.looking forward to following your progress.

Cheers

Toto.

Cheers Tom,
           BTW, any thoughts on best wheel sets/bogies for coaches, as, my model of a coach 3rd and brake is going along fine but want a good running chassis for it; this model will be if it works out OK, a base for 1st and all brake and dinner, mmmmm, well, i hope so, have made 009 models before many years ago scratch built that is, but its the hands, still, as they say, a little and often :???::shock:;-)…..

                                                               All the very best my dear friend…….Tom….:);-):cool:.

PS……Better get to bed, early start later on this morning:shock::shock::shock::shock::roll:……………………………………………………………….

:hmm

I don't have any scratch build experience. In fact even kit builds for that matter. What you read of me on this forum ( and that may take a bit of digesting ) is what I've done so unfortunately I'm probably not the best person to advise on wheel sets etc.

However, I do know that there are others that have covered various builds  elsewhere on the forum and have covered the subject very well and speaking with authority.
Have a look about as they will be there. If I can find them myself , I'll come back and tell you where to look. I will be replacing wheel sets myself at some point ( not part of a scratch build though ) as some of the back to backs on my stock leave a bit to be desired.
I envy ( in a polite way ) you guys who can build your own stock etc. it must feel so rewarding to see the completed item.

So even if it's taking you a bit longer due to dexterity issues with the old fingers or / and eyesight……… All the more reason to keep doing it albeit at a slower pace. There is no race here my friend.

I'll see if I can locate some of the threads I've mentioned. Brossards threads may be a good place to start from memory. If anyone else can lead Tom directly to a thread, chip in.

Cheers

Toto

Hi ALL,
       Well, heres a little coach i have been working on, the smaller details like had grabs etc etc, will be made from brass as such:), glazing will be laminated within the two sides, an inner and an outer, which, will give strength to the model, any way, hope you like it so far;-):)..

                                                              My very best regards…..Tom…:);-):cool:……
PS…. it is saved as an PDF for my use………

Very nice Tom. Cheerful, bright colours. Looking forward to seeing how you put these together.

Marty

Hi all,
     Thanks Marty, have a little more to do still tho`, really this is also a very quick update of play regarding my layout; had a point over locking spring and blades do the nasty and come apart:shock::sad:, still, after some very careful work and some tentative soldering at certain points, its now back in one piece:), i am thinking that due to not being to hot anymore with regards to clipping point motors under point thus causing this mess up:???::shock:, i will as suggested, place motors on bases and position them constructively, at the side of the layout and use scenery as needed and sympathetically to hide said point motors and bases;-).
      When this section of the layout is laid as such, i will post some picture to show what is what regarding the general state of play to that point:), their in after will report as i get to the next stage and complete it, and so on:).

       My very best regards to all and thanks for viewing my ramblings , also to close, i am thinking of building Rothbury Stn and using it for my NG layout at on or other station site, and also, some of the great Col Herbert Stephens, a hero of mine;-), so bye for now..

                                                         Best wishes to all………………..Tom……:);-):cool: