Progress on my new Ivor-themed layout

That's brilliant Doug.  I can't wait to see how it develops. But I do think that you've been overfeeding your dragon, he looks chubby enough to be mistaken for a Zeppelin. 

Nice work Doug, Keep us updated with progress photo's

 

Thanks, Alex

Thank you both! Nicole, I am working on Smoke Hill, and hope to use two slightly oversized plastic bears which fit perfectly instead of the airplanes in Lionel's WWII pylon. As odd as that sounds, I'm ooking forward to seeing how it turns out.

Looking good, Doug! Keep us posted with updates.

Doug it looks like your having fun and that's what toy trains are really for...Jim

You're sure right, Jim. It is so fun!

What is Ivor?

Super cool!  Love the old Ivor cartoons and love your layout - so fun!  Can't wait to see what you do next  You need a fish and chips shop!

Looking good Doug!

Silver Lake, 

Ivor the Engine is an old BBC TV show that featured an Welsh 0-4-0. Kind of like Thomas. 

See http://www.smallfilms.co.uk/ivor/  and http://www.ivortheengineonline.com/ 

How come the pictures are upside down? Very nice anyway.

Progress over the weekend. I've been experimenting with cardstock 'slate' roofing and brick siding on Ivor's shed. Added a fence, tree line, little (Britains) pond and Smoke Hill in the background with dragons.

Here's the signal box, and MTH semaphore I'm trying to get to work correctly - I don't think it is getting enough power from the CW-80 I'm using to 'trigger'. You can see the brick siding better. I spraypainted a tea tin glossy black. It fits neatly over the MTH water column to be more of a water tank for Ivor. 

After Ivor passes the signal box, there's a view block with a Lionel and MTH tunnel portal and old Lionel bridge. he stops in Llaniog. Dai's station is a Marx Girard station, with Lionel passenger platform tricked out with Britains figures (behind Ivor / Percy), bikes, milk churns, flowers and trees... Smoke Hill and Grumbly Town in the background

Pugh's Farm is expanding. The haystacks are those little weights you see holding down bunches of helium balloons. The cattle are old Britains figures. I'm considering the engine shed to be where Ivor would go on the main line to get a major refit. Grumbly Town in the back. I'm going to paint the coffee cans representing the gasworks. 

A straight-on view of Mrs. Porty's which is behind Pugh's (coal) Pit. I've used a Scrooge figure for Mrs. P. There's Bluebell on the left. I've used a customized 'moose' figure for her since my scale donkey is too small to make up. The red ensign is raised so Ivor should stop. The grazing sheep are a mix of Britains and Woodland Scenics. Home-made Scotchguard trees. 

Dimwiddie's gold mine, complete with a pile of iron pyrite, a kite line reel, an old gateman and truck-less MILW boxcar.... 

Fake fur cut in rows for some vegetation on Pugh's farm. The aeroplane is from World Market - it will advertise Charlie Bangers Circus. 

I'll paint some of Grumbly's gaswork tanks, and move things around a bit. Just someplace for Ivor to disappear for choir practice. 

Very nice, Doug! Keep 'em coming! 

 

 

Celebrate with me - I'm easily proud of myself. Had a productive day: I found a nice wiring diagram for the 151 semaphores and set them up; I painted a few 'coffee cans' I've converting to gaswork tanks, as well as the interior of Ivor's shed and the piece de resistance: I was able to disassemble, fix and reassemble the AF coal elevator because the strings lifting and lowering the bucket became tangled in the gears. It even works. 

 

Congratulations on a great day Doug. 

 

Pugh's Pit or Pugh Fuel Ltd. now has a working AF coal elevator and a large pile of coal in the background. 

Look who's dropped in! 

Aha, I see the first photos are upside-down if viewed from the iPhone app. I'm sorry about that- wonder why?

Hi Doug.....

Missed this the first time around....been under the weather and in a hospital bed so now that I am back home, I am catching up. 

 

Love your theme....something that I bet nobody else is doing!!  Great idea and it will be interesting to see how it all comes along....

 

Thanks,

Alan

Glad you are well, Alan! Here is some testing with cardboard for Ivor. I got a nice paint for his color. Ivor doesn't have cylinders under the frame, among other things...

Hello:  new guy here.... I'm anticipating doing a layout in our crawlspace also.  How do you find having low clearance?    I have aprox 4 feet.  (I'm not so limber anymore either).

Awesome layout btw!  

Welcome to the Forum! I have a bit more than that. Enough to let me sit up and even 'crab-walk'. The main thing for me was to prepare the top. This crawlspace was rock-filled and covered with a thick canvas tarp. Then I had it sealed against radon, which was a heavy plastic 'cloth' stapled around the perimeter. Finally for the layout, I put as many 4x8 sheets of 2-3 inch thick foam board that I could fit - I think it was eight or seven, then covered that with indoor/outdoor carpet. It still has some gentle 'grades'.  Much easier on the knees though. I found a stepladder that lets me walk right up into the space, whilst ducking my head.

I laid 027 track atop the carpet - not tagged down or anything but 'reinforced' at the joins with rubber bands. That was the only part I had to crawl around to secure together. Everything that is 'fun' is against the front of the layout where I can easily reach it. In addition to leaving large open areas where i can 'stretch out' if necessary, I also have a secret weapon, a ten-year old I can send up in my stead. 

Ivor in the paint shop... 

Very interesting.  I will take your advise on the padded floor.  I had a friend pour concrete over the gravel floor a few years back.  It works great but would be tough on the knees. I too have a 10 year old, along with the 2 and 7 year old assistants.... I'm starting around the first of the year.  (Knockin open an access area first so I can get in and out easier).

Assistants can be wonderful. Look forward to hearing about what you create. I was curious about the actual clearance I have as I've never measured it - it's a tad over 4 ft.

More progress... 

Looks Ivor is coming along Doug.

Thanks Charlie! I hope to go get some red paint later today for his wheels and buffers. Dug through two huge bins of Legos to find the perfect bits for Ivor's unique whistle (former calliope pipes - Ivor 'sings' first bass in the local choir) They used to be air tanks for SCUBA divers.  Also, you can see the 'bug' I'm using to represent Idris the dragon. Looks perfect from a few feet away. Later I have to figure out the LEDs.

Very creative.

 

It's looking nice!

 

--Greg

Well done, Doug! Please keep the pictures coming!

Painted Ivor's wheels today. Next, I'll try to figure out a cupola for his shed.

Here's a brief video look...