HO Poison Street Parcels - an H0 BR Parcels Depot micro.

[cloggydog]

With my 009 Vale of Rheidol micro Mynydd y Ddraig completed, I need a new layout project to keep the modelling juices flowing.

I also wanted to try an alternative baseboard, rather than use another Lack. Both Nové Město and Dounreay were maybe too constrained by the 110cm x 26cm of the Lack (and may yet get reworked slightly bigger)

And lastly I wanted to make more use of all that H0 scale NPCCS I've built (and continue to build) for Dounreay.

I'd initially though of something based on the the parcels bays at Worcester Shrub Hill and Oxford, 'V' - shaped platform with an overall roof

Worcester Shrub Hill (7th photo on this site). And at the DEMU Showcase last weekend I got a whole slab of inspiration from Steve Farmer's superb O Gauge micro Knype Bridge, so Poison Street will be an amalgam of the 2 ideas.

I'll be making the baseboard from 4mm ply and the overall dimensions will be 120cm long, x 30cm wide x 23cm tall, as a cameo type arrangment with integral lighting. Front-operated and table-top (like the Lack micros). The layout is pointless, 4 roads on the 70cm scenic section fed from a 2 or 3 road 50cm sector plate. Track will be Peco Code 75, as I have plenty on hand.

Here's the initial mock-up, testing road capacity. The Roco NS 500 will get Anglicised as a Class 11 in due course. Some DPUs would be an interesting addition, with a GRCW 128 doable from a Lima Mk2 and a Cravens 129 hacked out of a Playcraft shorty Mk1, both with Silhouette-cut sides.


I may also explore options to easily swap key structures and signage to allow dual use with my Deutsche Reichsbahn Epoch 4 H0 stock, as I have a quantity of DR parcels/mail vans in the stash...

As for the layout name... well, it's a song by my favourite band

 

[readingtype]

Note for tomorrow: you left your banana by the layout.

 

[DougT]

I must admit to be tempted to call my layout ‘Fascination Street’ for very similar reasons!

 

[John57sharp]

The banana is there for scale, confirming the poster’s use of HO.

John

 

[cloggydog]

Baseboard constructed, the back board just tacked in place at the mo to allow better access for track-laying, wiring and scenics.

The 4mm ply is easy enough to cut with a Stanley and long metal rule, so keeping construction mess to a minimum. And it's certainly light, about half the weight of any of the Lack-based projects at a similar stage.

Track-base, sector plate, wiring and testing to follow, probably next week (as we're away at a Steampunk event over the coming weekend.)

 

[cloggydog]

A bit of progress over the weekend on Poison Street Parcels, with track laid on the sector plate and the first line on the scenic section aligned and now setting. I've cut small blocks of 2mm plasticard 16.5mm wide to help align the tracks with the sector plate while the PVA goes off.

The integral switch panel has been drilled through for the 9 isolating switches (7 scenic and the 2 sector plate roads), plus the input sockets for track and lighting power.

I've also fitted the battens to the underside to take the folding ply risers, lifting the layout up off the tabletop to give a height floor to rail around 1m/3ft3in, comfortable to view and operate seated (and also quite accessible for youngsters and the wheelchair-bound).

Next job, once all 4 scenic tracks are in, will be to paint the ply carcass my customary light grey.

 

[jonte]

Hi

May I ask what underlay you are using for the track, please?

Also, what adhesive did you use to stick it and the track down with?

What do you consider the benefit over say cork?

Finally, what sort of life expectancy does the product have (I’m thinking of the eventual disintegration of the traditional Hornby type foam underlays)?

Many thanks, and good luck with your HO venture.

Jon

 

[cloggydog]

Hi

May I ask what underlay you are using for the track, please?

Also, what adhesive did you use to stick it and the track down with?

What do you consider the benefit over say cork?

Finally, what sort of life expectancy does the product have (I’m thinking of the eventual disintegration of the traditional Hornby type foam underlays)?

Many thanks, and good luck with your HO venture.

Jon

Hi Jon,

On this one, it's a sheet of 5mm black foamcore (thin card sandwiching an expanded foam core), bought in A1-sized sheets from Amazon some while back for another project. It's a bit of an experiment here, so cannot definitively answer your questions around longevity.

Glues to the ply with PVA, track glued to the foamcore with PVA, all seems to be holding very well.

On most of my other micros, I've used 2mm medium-density EVA foam sheet, 50 A4-sized sheets via ebay for about £15.again, glues down with PVA, cuts easily and is cheaper than cork whilst still giving similar results. Oldest of those layouts is about a decade old, no deterioration of the foam thus far.

Thanks

 

[steve1]

“Next job, once all 4 scenic tracks are in, will be to paint the ply carcass my customary light grey.”

Not Green & Grey?

steve

 

[jonte]

Hi Jon,

On this one, it's a sheet of 5mm black foamcore (thin card sandwiching an expanded foam core), bought in A1-sized sheets from Amazon some while back for another project. It's a bit of an experiment here, so cannot definitively answer your questions around longevity.

Glues to the ply with PVA, track glued to the foamcore with PVA, all seems to be holding very well.

On most of my other micros, I've used 2mm medium-density EVA foam sheet, 50 A4-sized sheets via ebay for about £15.again, glues down with PVA, cuts easily and is cheaper than cork whilst still giving similar results. Oldest of those layouts is about a decade old, no deterioration of the foam thus far.

Thanks

Many thanks, CD.

Jon

 

[Roger Pound]

Just caught up with this thread - most interesting. In respect of the foamboard I have used this under cork for many years - principally to deaden unwanted noise. Never had any problems, and I'm sure you are finding it satisfactory.

Roger.

 

[jonte]

I’m not doubting the longevity of foamboard having used it for several purposes in the past including a trial baseboard. However, it was never utilised as this was merely an experiment, but was robust enough for the purpose in my book (provided edges were covered with say veneer for protection). However, it did occur that if exposed to light, the foam could have proved problematic, but that was just a passing thought which was never tested as, following storage for a couple of years or so, it ended up in the bin.
Another short lived American themed layout utilised same for track underlay, as mentioned by Roger, but again it didn’t get much further to test its suitability.
That said, it has occurred that it might be suitably deployed for the purpose using Copydex to adhere to track and baseboard, with the exposed foam edges painted over in Pva to protect it from the potentially damaging effects of UV light.

jonte

 

[Roger Pound]

I’m not doubting the longevity of foamboard having used it for several purposes in the past including a trial baseboard. However, it was never utilised as this was merely an experiment, but was robust enough for the purpose in my book (provided edges were covered with say veneer for protection). However, it did occur that if exposed to light, the foam could have proved problematic, but that was just a passing thought which was never tested as, following storage for a couple of years or so, it ended up in the bin.
Another short lived American themed layout utilised same for track underlay, as mentioned by Roger, but again it didn’t get much further to test its suitability.
That said, it has occurred that it might be suitably deployed for the purpose using Copydex to adhere to track and baseboard, with the exposed foam edges painted over in Pva to protect it from the potentially damaging effects of UV light.

jonte

In the years I have used foam-board with cork overlay, I have never had a u/v deterioration problem. By the time track has been laid and scenics added, the foam exposed at the edges of the board is normally well covered. The outer surfaces are of different material to the foam centre - one presumes a form of card - so u/v degradation is unlikely there. I think you are being overcautious, Jon, but I would happily acknowledge it is better to err on the side of caution, old friend .

Roger

 

[Bigjohn]

Cloggey……
Puzzled by the location of what appears to be a handle. Seems an odd location for ‘carry’ purposes. Just curious.
Bigj

 

[daifly]

Puzzled by the location of what appears to be a handle. Seems an odd location for ‘carry’ purposes. Just curious.

Curious to know where you would have put it. CD has attached it to the heaviest and strongest part of the baseboard with the fragile switches uppermost. Seems entirely sensible to me.
Dave

 

[cloggydog]

Cloggey……
Puzzled by the location of what appears to be a handle. Seems an odd location for ‘carry’ purposes. Just curious.
Bigj

I don't drive, so exhibit using public transport, hence the need to carry the layout in one hand with (depending on which layout) stock and ancilliary kit in a holdall/wheelycase in the other. All my micros have a similar handle in pretty much the same location.

The handle has to be on the front face so the backboard is what goes down on the ground, protecting the switches and/or point handles on the front fascia.

As Dave points out, it's the strongest position on the fascia. At shows it would be hidden behind the 'skirt' that goes around the lower part of the display box.

 

[cloggydog]

The track is all now down and fixed, with alignment on/off the sector plate checked and double-checked.



Next job (hopefully Sunday) is to paint the ply. Once that's done I can wire it all up, test again, then start on the platform and other structures.

Poison Street also has it's first show invite, to Maidenhead club's summer show in Knowl Hill in early June.

 

[jonte]

In the years I have used foam-board with cork overlay, I have never had a u/v deterioration problem. By the time track has been laid and scenics added, the foam exposed at the edges of the board is normally well covered. The outer surfaces are of different material to the foam centre - one presumes a form of card - so u/v degradation is unlikely there. I think you are being overcautious, Jon, but I would happily acknowledge it is better to err on the side of caution, old friend .

Roger

Indeed, Roger, thank you

Still a bit up ‘n’ down at present so apologies for delay in response.

That seems a great idea, Roger. The thicker foam tiles I used on the Minories layout did okay to reduce noise, but are a tad on the expensive side, so the foamboard/thin layered cork sounds a viable alternative.

I’ve also heard about foam camping mattresses being utilised for the purpose, and also the foam that’s laid under engineered/laminate flooring. Again, however, I wonder what the longevity is for either?

Heigh, Ho.

Jon

 

[cloggydog]

Poison Street is now painted, the track wired-up and tested and ready for the structures and scenic work.



I have a show invite (Maidenhead club's summer show in Knowl Hill, early June) and will get cracking on things once Model Rail Scotland is out of the way.

 

[dseagull]

I don't know (and I did look, but may have missed the explanation!) if the 'ghosting' on the layout sign was deliberate, but either way I love it.