ThomasDadDurham
Really Useful Engine
Hello - totally new to G gauge, but had an HO layout as a kid. Experienced modeller, which I'll get to.
After living in a tiny new build far too small to raise boy number 1, not knowing where my medical wifes job would end up being, we're finally moving to a long, long saved for house with a decent sized garden and a bigger workshop for me.
For ten years Ive been modelmaking in some form as a dayjob: Props, replicas, rubber, foam, white metal casting - bit of everything. It was during the recession: after the sector I was working in post-graduation was cut to the bone, and a glut of quality machinery appeared 2nd hand due to companies going under, that it became my full time job. I realised I was making more money from 'selling hobby bits' than I was from my paycheque. I flip between projects as a contractor (TV, Theatre) and commissions (casting/making parts for other little garage companies, or my own things) The amount of machine-shop I have crammed into a single garage got to be a bit of a joke. Also I need to expand into 3d printing before im left behind the curve, and a decent lasercutter too: both processes which Im currently reliant on a friend one town over. So double garage it had to be!
Anyway both my little boy and my friends little boy who lives a few miles away, love Thomas and anything steam train related. Although toddlers they grasp the difference between a 'push it around' toy and a 'just watch it go around the track' toy, so Im not too worried. Theres also baby number two coming to us so I should get a few years out of Thomas and sodor theme. Once they're older I'll look at more 'realistic, grown up' trains. I came into a job lot of Bachmanns G Thomas, Percy, Toby, James, and lots of stock. Plain DC, no DCC or mods. I plan to expand the rolling stock with repainted cheapo NQD tankers and anything 2nd hand I can grab. Gathered just enough used LGB track for two parralel loops and a pair of 5Amp start controllers.
Im slapping an office/materials store on the back of the new double garage so that will be the layout start point, and my wife has agreed to let it take up one edge or corner completely (closest to the back of the double garage) and also a loop completely around the edge borders - with the condition Im also building rockeries and borders while Im on, and it is ground level and not a trip hazard besides the house - not a problem.
I want to have it ready to run outdoors next spring, so boy number 1 and his friend can play with it to distract from the upheaval of a baby sibling - I'll be taking less or even no work on at that point as I did when the first arrived. With me literally working in my garage its actually pretty easy to get 'garden' stuff done, theres always an hour here or there to go dig or shift gravel for a little bit when Im waiting for something to cure, cut, melt or set, and if Im on my feet in the workshop Id rather do that than go do admin. (I set aside one day a week for the 'sit on my arse staring at a screen stuff' because I get migraines from it. One of the reasons Ive never looked back after leaving employment!)
Ive got autumn and winter to play with it indoors and understand the more complex electronics for what I ultimately want to do!
If anyone reading this wants to links me to topics, manufacturers or websites for the following queries please do when saying Hello!
Thanks everyone!
After living in a tiny new build far too small to raise boy number 1, not knowing where my medical wifes job would end up being, we're finally moving to a long, long saved for house with a decent sized garden and a bigger workshop for me.
For ten years Ive been modelmaking in some form as a dayjob: Props, replicas, rubber, foam, white metal casting - bit of everything. It was during the recession: after the sector I was working in post-graduation was cut to the bone, and a glut of quality machinery appeared 2nd hand due to companies going under, that it became my full time job. I realised I was making more money from 'selling hobby bits' than I was from my paycheque. I flip between projects as a contractor (TV, Theatre) and commissions (casting/making parts for other little garage companies, or my own things) The amount of machine-shop I have crammed into a single garage got to be a bit of a joke. Also I need to expand into 3d printing before im left behind the curve, and a decent lasercutter too: both processes which Im currently reliant on a friend one town over. So double garage it had to be!
Anyway both my little boy and my friends little boy who lives a few miles away, love Thomas and anything steam train related. Although toddlers they grasp the difference between a 'push it around' toy and a 'just watch it go around the track' toy, so Im not too worried. Theres also baby number two coming to us so I should get a few years out of Thomas and sodor theme. Once they're older I'll look at more 'realistic, grown up' trains. I came into a job lot of Bachmanns G Thomas, Percy, Toby, James, and lots of stock. Plain DC, no DCC or mods. I plan to expand the rolling stock with repainted cheapo NQD tankers and anything 2nd hand I can grab. Gathered just enough used LGB track for two parralel loops and a pair of 5Amp start controllers.
Im slapping an office/materials store on the back of the new double garage so that will be the layout start point, and my wife has agreed to let it take up one edge or corner completely (closest to the back of the double garage) and also a loop completely around the edge borders - with the condition Im also building rockeries and borders while Im on, and it is ground level and not a trip hazard besides the house - not a problem.
I want to have it ready to run outdoors next spring, so boy number 1 and his friend can play with it to distract from the upheaval of a baby sibling - I'll be taking less or even no work on at that point as I did when the first arrived. With me literally working in my garage its actually pretty easy to get 'garden' stuff done, theres always an hour here or there to go dig or shift gravel for a little bit when Im waiting for something to cure, cut, melt or set, and if Im on my feet in the workshop Id rather do that than go do admin. (I set aside one day a week for the 'sit on my arse staring at a screen stuff' because I get migraines from it. One of the reasons Ive never looked back after leaving employment!)
Ive got autumn and winter to play with it indoors and understand the more complex electronics for what I ultimately want to do!
If anyone reading this wants to links me to topics, manufacturers or websites for the following queries please do when saying Hello!
- I was looking at the RRConcepts Stationmaster setup for alternating trains (Im planning one manually controlled track for shunting and play, and one automated to just let a pair run to watch - DCC seems too big a splashout while it remains primarily to enjoy with children) Ive been told that the 'one goes, one waits, then swap' setup is entirely possible to do with plug-and-play LGB components without buying the 'Stationmaster' modules from the US? This true? While there are piles of DC electronics for sale everywhere, theres zero information on what things are and how they all connect. Ive only just grasped how points work compared to self isolating HO ones, and that took a lot of Googling and decoding wiring plans. Stationmaster worth it, or can you tell me what I can buy that does the same from within Europe?
- Talking of printing and moulding - Troublesome truck faces for this scale anyone? Theres lots I can scratchbuild and convert for rolling stock, but if anyone has already made a variety of faces it saves me a lot of time!
- Inclines! I want at least one bridge or tunnel where the lines cross. I keep seeing '1 in 40' or 'no less than 1 in 30' bandied about but Ive seen videos that are clearly less than that, perhaps even 1 in 20! What have people reliably run on? Is it best to build inclines out of concrete beneath the ballast layer, so they dont sink over the years of weather?
- Has anyone (who isnt solely contactable by the digital binfire that is Twitter) made a Gordon model in this scale - its a future project I'd like to try. Remodelling a BR78 chassis isnt an issue (after all I have the entire workshop for cutting and milling small metal things), but if theres an existing 3D printable file out there for the bodywork it'd save me months of work!
- Buildings. Im fully skilled up and tooled up to make my own, mould them and cast multiples - but are there any producers out there making premade moulds? Silicone has become expensive the last few years.
Premade kits, Im aware of a two producers of 'UK style' buildings: Canforth Models and Modeltown. Any others?
- Shows and exhibitions: boy number 1 loves going to watch the HO and O layouts at Newton Aycliffe Rotary Clubs shows - any large gauge shows in the North, or are we cursed to have to drive 2+ hours to the Yorkshire show in September, making a weekend of it with some National Trust properties?
- Cheap LGB track? On joining here and browsing I see Ive been paying a few quid over the forum rates for R2 curves and points so far
Thanks everyone!
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