Hi all,

Well, this is the first time I will be sharing pictures of my layout with the forum members.

I have been working on my layout for a year now, which is a lot, if compared to the actual progress. However, since this is my first organized attempt for a layout, I wanted to take it easy and spend most of the time in the planning process, while staying within budget.

For the moment the only corner of the layout which is presentable, is the station area. Catenary, signals and lighting shown is by Viessmann – except one Marklin signal and the telephone boxes by Brawa. Catenary wires are not installed yet, for practical reasons. I have also used the Busch 7069 ballast for C Track which was excellent as it allowed me to blend the track into the scenery.

The station is an old Kibri station I have bought several years ago (it’s made in West Germany) and it was repainted and restored to fit the height of C Track while several details were also added (lamps, etc) and staircases were extended.

It’s not the best layout I could make – experience always makes you regret some things, especially those that were permanently fixed- but it is my first layout and I love it! Until the second ...
Kevin, thanks for your continuous support and advice which made this possible!

Thanos

PS: I decided to delete the first pictures as the ones that are posted later in this thread are much better.

Dear Kevin,

It's not a masterwerk really! <img src=icon_smile_shy.gif border=0 align=middle>
It is just an attempt to create a nice looking layout... It's getting better everyday...

Thanos <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hi Juan Carlos, all:

Thanks for your kind words Juan Carlos!

Landscaping is cool and is the key for a great layout. I have only created a little bit of landscape in front of the station and nothing more than that as I am terrified of doing something wrong and destroying the layout. I am now practising landscape application on a piece of plywood and I think that in a couple of weeks I will be confident enough to do some real landscaping work, on the layout.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I wasn't really into catenary as well, but then it would be silly to see an electric locomotive running around with it's pantographs down. Viessmann catenary is very good (maybe not as good as Sommerfeldt), economic and it matches other Viessmann equipment like the lamps between tracks (Viessmann 6363 Lattice Mast Lamp). On my layout I have mostly used standard masts (4110), middle masts (4112), but also the Suspended Box-Girders 4160 and 4161 for spanning two tracks and three tracks respectively with only one pillar. These look really great and save space as well. Also I have tensioning assemblies from time to time which are connected to pillars with twin brackets (4172).

Catenary really looks great and it gives another dimension which makes the layout look better... more real! You can also put catenary signals (thanx Kevin!)!!! <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Now, about the distance between pillars... It really depends on the track formation. If you have a turnout, a crossing section or a curve, catenary pillars will be close to each other and hence wires will be shorter. On straight sections you can have a longer distance between pillars and hence longer wires. Viessmann has variable catenary wires ranging from 140mm to 360mm. It's up to you how long the straight distances will be...

By the way, webmaster, I am thinking of writing a catenary manual for layouts with reference to Viessmann catenary as a contribution to the site! I think that I have studied the subject well enough. Should I? <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>What kind of paint/technique have you used to paint track? <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana" size=1 id=quote>

Well, I really tried a lot to see how C Track would look more real! I have used the Busch 7069 ballast to make the C Track a part of the landscape. It worked very nice and it looks great! Only the side of the rails has been permanently painted to give that rusty look. I have used a small brush, small enough for the side of the C track rails, and the Humbrol Matte Leather paint (062) with a pinch of black in it. It shines in the pictures (the flash?) but it looks great in reality. Each C track piece has been hand painted. Inside and outside... A lot of work but the result is excellent. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>


Thanos <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hi Mark, all:

The station platform is the Kibri B 9556 Platform "Sulzberg". It is 3.5 cm wide so it fits inbetween the C tracks. It was the only platform I found! I was very dissapointed, but what can you do! <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

The platform was placed on a base with an 1.3cm height that was made from balsa wood and it was decorated with the Noch 57891 beige stone styro-flex (it needs a little bit of weathering). The 1.3cm height was not a random decision. Some of the wider Kibri platforms have small, let's call them adaptors, that you can glue under the platform and raise it so that it can be C track compatible... They have an 1.3cm height. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Something else that it might be interesting to know. The roof of the kibri platforms is mounted on two pillars. When you assemble the platform the pillars come in two pieces that you glue to get the actual pillar. Inside the pillar there is enough room for cables to pass, if of course you want lights under the platform roof (I installed the Faller 180677 micro bulbs). I have also mounted a Brawa telephone box on one of those pillars and two Viessmann 6364 platform lamps were also mounted on the platform. Further platform decoration has not been applied, yet! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Thanos <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hi Thanos, all,
Thanks for the info<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>. Let´s go with that catenary manual!! I personally will wellcome it.
A big hug,

Juan Carlos

Sorry for "sleeping my head away".... "Catenary manual", what are you guys talking about? Suddenly feel like I'm in Disneyland After Dark...

If you suggest we should do a "catenary manual" on the site, I'm all for it, bring it on home to me... <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hi Thanos,all,

It really looks great with all the details such as the signals and the catenary(masts).Pictures like this makes it much easier to continue with my own layout.Thank you very much!

Mats P

Verrryyyyyy nice...

Hi Thanos
Very good job !!!
Can you explain me how did you paint the inner parts of turnouts ?
Have you got problems with power supply pick up after painting turnouts ?
Thank you
P.S.
It's a very good idea to write a " catenary manual "

Thank you Thanos
With your latest pictures now everything is clear !
I will follow your method in September when I will start to build the
landscape . In Milan now it's too hot to work at my layout.

Marco

Coooooooooool!!!

Love those lights Thanos!

Great job!

Charlie - Proud winner of the Thanos IQA

Thanos your layout looks really great, it is a good inspiration to us new members to get it right!
One question - could you post your layout plan? (so we get some ideas from it?)
Monique

Thanos,
You do some fantastic work! Seeing those pictures has really pushed me to get mine up and running. I had to take a break for a little while because of some things going on in my family. Now that everything is back to "normal" I can continue work on my layout. Again very, very nice work. It truely looks awesome![:p]
Brian.
PS Keep up the good work!!

Hi Jack, Brian:

Thanx for the morale boost! I have been thinking lately that I am not happy with my layout and I was ready to tear it down and start a new one... Monique, I will post the layout plan tonight!