I’m about to embark on an exciting challenge, building a model railway! I’ve got some trains and an awesome idea for a layout, but first we have to fix our barn to make it dry and draught-free so we can start building our railway.
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#modelrailway #modelrailways #trains
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Colin,
If you need help designing the layout please shout as I have AnyRail which is a model railway design package. Once completed you can prinit it out and lay it on the boards and use it as track template. Happy to help.
AndyA
aka Manager of Silver Fox Secret Cupboard
Looking forward to watching the build 😊
Do the Go Fund me What you are doing is good for your mental health .Looking forward to seeing things progress x
Thumbs up on the go.fund.me idea! I’m a new viewer, and I love everything you two are doing! A big hurrah and much love to you from Tennessee!
The barn walls look like my house (1850's stone build, solid walls, dirt floors, etc). They usually consist of oversized rocks in a shallow trench as a foundation,, then twin faced stone walls built with soil and mud as mortar and cast off stone lining what would be a cavity between the face stones. They are then finished with lime mortar pointing to hold the stones and the soils in place. Lime is a strong alkaline that can burn skin and eyes, (not good for the lungs either) and comes in various types depending on the application. It is good in that once walls are pointed up, it can be used as "whitewash" to reduce dust and lighten up the interior, but will retain the rustic (traditional/correct) look and feel.
The walls in barns and houses like this are described as 'breathable', they are designed to absorb a small amount of moisture when it rains and the moisture evaporates when the surrounding air (inside and out) is dry. You have to be aware that if you ask the general YouTube public, although well meaning, many folk will recommend products, materials and methods that are NOT suitable for this type of traditional build and will do more harm than good in the medium and long term. These buildings need an amount of air flow, to the masonry and to the roof timbers, simply 'sealing' holes and gaps without correct consideration or knowledge of the consequences.
Although this is an outbuilding and so not so dependant on the rules that apply to habitable rooms, take some time out to read resources such as English Heritage>Renovating Properties and Cornish Lime among others. The process can be relatively simple or you can end up overwhelmed, worse still, get 5 years down the road and it comes back to bite you on your ass.
ps. I did a similar railway layout in the attic of my previous house for Junior. Full perimeter of the attic, 6 tracks of various routes, I didn't go down the scenery building route and thankfully, when I moved I left the 'room' for the next owner and was able to repack all the track and rolling stock and bring with me to this house, to one day be reutilised.
Good luck with the project, model railways and property renovations…. my juices will be flowing 😀
Look forward to seeing your new project. I loved doing a model train set up with my husband it was an N gage. We only had enough room for that. So be really good to see what you come up with.
A brilliant idea
Hi Foxes, this is an excellent idea, I can't wait to see your progress and follow your build, A couple of things I would say I had a layout when younger in the garage at my mums, it worked well in summer but in winter it was difficult the slightest condensation or damp in the air and it didn't work, tried cleaning it but I spent more time trying to get it working than enjoying using it, in the end I moved out of my mums and it was left for a few years, it corroded quite badly and ended up being skipped 😞 If you could create a heated environment with a fairly constant temperature hopefully you could avoid any issues. Other thought your channel is on another level to most vloggers, very professional, entertaining and well supported, have you thought about trying to link with a manufacturer? Hornby, Bachmann, Graham Farrish, Peco etc, maybe a way to positively promote their brand, model railways and receive discounted products, pre release models and generally bring the extensive cost of building your layout down. Keep up the good work Foxes, take care
Hi guys. I still have the first and only 'Hornby' train set that my dad bought me 45 years ago. Sadly, no track and the Peak Diesel Engine no longer works. The carriages are all logo'd as InterCity in blue and white. They are kept in the original box with a price stamp of £15.99. That must have been a lot of money in 1977. Thanks dad xx
You can re-use the bathtub as a lake in your train layout. 🤣 💖💖💖
Exciting news! My O gauge layout is in the cellar (5m x5m) of 240 yr old house – stone walls, earth floor (and has a 4m canal section- sent you a pic the other day). I’ve plenty of tips (if you need/want them). I’d recommend a concrete base under baseboard supports, gravel for rest of floor to keep dust down (and save money). My space is dry-ish, but I used proper marine ply for baseboard tops, just in case, and treated all woodwork with xylophene to avoid woodworm…no probs after 5 years. Mice are a real issue – layout’s a playground for them (model figures, bushes etc moved and found stuffed in cracks in wall, wiring chewed) – I’d recommend re-grouting, gluing everything movable down, and some sonic deterrents…or get a cat! Best of luck with the project!
The far north line is Y shape. The train splits in 2 at Georgemas Station, with 1 half going to Wick and the other going to Thurso.
I’d build a freestanding room inside the barn — floor, walls and ceiling with its own heat, lights and wiring.
What you could do is build an Aqueduct and get a miniature version of Narrowboat SilverFox crossing over when the TRAIIIIINS go by
Don’t know if you remember the 70s fad of “crazy paving “ ? But just north of you is Caithness Slab stone. There are bits lying about everywhere. Using mortar you could create a jigsaw type floor for very little cost. A farmer may actually be happy to give the stone away.
I'm excited. Imagine how much Colin is!
Wish I knew how to help with converting the barn 😔
Our house in the middle of our street, your going to make a lovely train set, Hope you can get some nice "Hornby" vintage trains
Be sure to include a canal and narrow boat, we will let you decide on her name, in the train set layout. Yes a go fund me would be brilliant Your fans Karen and John from Thurmont, Maryland, USA
as a railway modeler myselfi sugest you start by measuring you dimension and bying some track of ebay or whatever and star of and build your way up i reckomend buildings from metcalfe models😄👍
Surprised no one shouted " it's a layout, not a train set " !. Love to do my own but the prices !!. So build for all of us
Excellent idea chaps! In between your train vlogs could you let us see Shaun with his chickens?
A layout would be great. I've still got the station i built when i was in my early teens, found it in my Dad's loft, would love to get loco's on it again (now 56yo), also found my last train number book with nothing underlined, from when i got destracted!?
Now this is a great idea…
Loving this idea so glad and good luck with the conversion should be pretty easy fingers crossed
Oh my, I’m not really into trains, but I’m so looking forward to seeing this project unfold…..and yep, I’ll contribute to your GFM when you get it up and running Good luck boys xxx
You might reach out to "Depends" as a sponsor to help with the wetting problem. I'm glad I tuned back in, been very busy but I've also got a couple of boxes of train stuff in the attic and I'll be interested to see how you get on. Best of luck with the build and sponsorship.