Portandoo Updates
Lockdown Update
The best-laid plans…Though clearly my plans hadn’t actually been that well laid.
About a month ago, baseboards had progressed to the point where I could think about starting to lay track. One of the conditions of planning permission for the layout from the domestic authorities was that it had to able to be stowed away in the loft. So boards had been sized to fit through the loft hatch. Just to check, I tried putting the boards in the loft – and they wouldn't fit. They fit through the hatch (just), but because of the position of a few significant items like roof joists, I couldn't turn them to store them in the intended place.
“Oh dear me, how disappointing”, I said (or words to that effect).
To be store-able, the layout has had to shrink a bit; from 10’ to 9’ overall length, and from 2’ wide to about 19”. I warmed up the brain cell and pondered various options for next steps, including some radical revisions to station design. After consultation with the others, I concluded that I can keep essentially the original trackplan, without too much squeezing. The street scene behind the station will have to go on separate add-on boards, which will make it easier to work on away from the layout. I’m OK with that; I like the idea of that street – it will hopefully be reminiscent of Portrush and will help set the scene. There should still be room for at least one siding in front of the sector plate.
The sector plate itself has to be shortened by about 6”, which will limit the maximum train length a bit, but won’t affect the everyday railcars. The plate will stick out further behind the backscene when in operation, so I will need something to stop hard-to-get stock plummeting to the floor because I put the wrong number in the controller. I have some initial thoughts for a restraint, which will have to get refined as work goes on.
Over the last few weeks, I have started trying to salvage as much of the material of the original baseboards as possible to make the smaller versions. To add to the challenge, I am trying to do this with the minimum requirement for new wood, etc. so that I don’t have to break lockdown for the relatively trivial purposes of shopping for my hobby.
So far, I have managed to rebuild the fiddle yard board, as seen in the photos. A backscene will go in between the sector plate and the flat triangle ‘in front’ of it, but my thinner plywood has warped, so that will have to wait for a while. I definitely have enough timber for the next board, and it’s looking a bit tight for the third board, so that shopping trip might have to happen at some point, hopefully when lockdown restrictions ease a little in the future.
Still, it makes a nice change from sitting on a computer all day.
About a month ago, baseboards had progressed to the point where I could think about starting to lay track. One of the conditions of planning permission for the layout from the domestic authorities was that it had to able to be stowed away in the loft. So boards had been sized to fit through the loft hatch. Just to check, I tried putting the boards in the loft – and they wouldn't fit. They fit through the hatch (just), but because of the position of a few significant items like roof joists, I couldn't turn them to store them in the intended place.
“Oh dear me, how disappointing”, I said (or words to that effect).
To be store-able, the layout has had to shrink a bit; from 10’ to 9’ overall length, and from 2’ wide to about 19”. I warmed up the brain cell and pondered various options for next steps, including some radical revisions to station design. After consultation with the others, I concluded that I can keep essentially the original trackplan, without too much squeezing. The street scene behind the station will have to go on separate add-on boards, which will make it easier to work on away from the layout. I’m OK with that; I like the idea of that street – it will hopefully be reminiscent of Portrush and will help set the scene. There should still be room for at least one siding in front of the sector plate.
The sector plate itself has to be shortened by about 6”, which will limit the maximum train length a bit, but won’t affect the everyday railcars. The plate will stick out further behind the backscene when in operation, so I will need something to stop hard-to-get stock plummeting to the floor because I put the wrong number in the controller. I have some initial thoughts for a restraint, which will have to get refined as work goes on.
Over the last few weeks, I have started trying to salvage as much of the material of the original baseboards as possible to make the smaller versions. To add to the challenge, I am trying to do this with the minimum requirement for new wood, etc. so that I don’t have to break lockdown for the relatively trivial purposes of shopping for my hobby.
So far, I have managed to rebuild the fiddle yard board, as seen in the photos. A backscene will go in between the sector plate and the flat triangle ‘in front’ of it, but my thinner plywood has warped, so that will have to wait for a while. I definitely have enough timber for the next board, and it’s looking a bit tight for the third board, so that shopping trip might have to happen at some point, hopefully when lockdown restrictions ease a little in the future.
Still, it makes a nice change from sitting on a computer all day.
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NIR 80 Class DEMU
The first tentative steps have been taken to create a stalwart of the NIR passenger carrying fleet, the 80 Class DEMU
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The first vehicle, a driving trailer, takes shape. 2 Hornby BR Mark 2a coaches have given up their plastic, along with a scratchbuilt plasticard cab. Obviously there is a lot more to do, I'll post updates as and when progress is made.
February 20 Update
Work on Portandoo has been slow over the last few months, not helped by the fact that the "railway work room", aka garage, hasn't been the nicest place to spend time over the winter.
However, creating a short test track (see pics below) has been possible in more indoors conditions, and has let me fit DCC chips to some stock and try them out. The photos show the test board and a couple of Murphy Models' fine products.
Also, a bit more track planning has been going on.
However, creating a short test track (see pics below) has been possible in more indoors conditions, and has let me fit DCC chips to some stock and try them out. The photos show the test board and a couple of Murphy Models' fine products.
Also, a bit more track planning has been going on.
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Progress
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Whilst layout planning is continuing, a start has been made on the rolling stock...a 'Brown Van', which in typical Irish style, will be maroon. Of course.
The Chassis with the right wheelbase from a Hornby Railroad van, scratchbuilt plasticard body and roof from an old Mk. 1. Still some work to do but its getting there |
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