Building Up A Model Railway S1 Ep1

[@BigDuke6ixx]

Looking forward to watching these videos. Hope your loft doesn't get too hot in summer.

[@OONeal]

Great, It gets hot but since this video I have insulated it which has improved things.

[@JosephRailwayStudios2000]

Fascinating to see all the construction going on

[@grantfuller5011]

I'm copying 🤣 Love this idea 💡

[@PatrickSquires-g8s]

good video and a great railway in the making, may i suggest insulating your loft with foil insulation sheets as a loft will get VERY hot in the summer and could buckle the track , regards Pat

[@StewartWaddell]

This is brilliant I wanted to see someone else do this before I started mine

[@OONeal]

Super, it’s great that the video helps you

[@guswittering4466]

Magic! Found your channel by accident, subbed !! Looking forward to watching them all. All the very best to you.

[@OONeal]

Excellent I’m glad you like it 😊 same to you

[@ewoodrailway]

Good start Neil, now the fun begins mate.

[@OONeal]

Yes very much and much day dreaming about layouts!

[@ewoodrailway]

OO Neal exactly, feel free to return my sub, thanks

[@hukcoi]

Wow, always excited when I find a new channel to watch, GWR as well. Looking forward to catching up with your videos during lockdown.

[@OONeal]

Excellent 😊 enjoy

[@mikejpotts]

Good luck with the build looking forward to watch your progress.

[@OONeal]

Thank you, I hope you have seen my current progress.

[@silkytrack8091]

Always nice to find a new channel. Good luck with it all and will be watching the progress with interest. 👍👍

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

Greetings from the USA. Looks like you're off to a running start, even time lapsed running. Look forward to seeing where you go. Cheers.

[@OONeal]

Ah great! The satellites are our friends! Thank you!

[@thomaslord756]

Nice one Neal, liking the layout. keep up the good work mate 👍

[@OONeal]

Thank you!!

[@ThePeejRR]

Off to a good start. Cheers from the States and a Happy Christmas and New Year!

[@OONeal]

Paulville, Grovemont & New Jersey R.R. Ah great, it’s cool my videos are reaching you all the way over there. Same to you 😁

[@RobA500]

Just had your channel pop up in my recommendations. Good to see another journey from the start, I'm not so far in myself but do tend to just sit and play a lot rather than getting on with the build. I've got lots of ideas including a narrow gauge addition like you have mentioned, just need to give myself a kick and get on with them. You will probably be finished long before me.

[@privatepilotuk]

Pleasure to meet you tonight Tristam. Thanks for the channel......(Dave)

[@Western-be2zs]

Good luck with your build,looking good 👍

[@OONeal]

Thank you, I will keep working away when i can squeeze some hours in.

[@OONeal]

Thank you, I will keep working away when i can squeeze some hours in.

[@patrickhawes5007]

Just subscribed. Starting with this video. Looking forward to seeing your updates. Cheers 🍻

[@OONeal]

Welcome aboard!

[@edwardsargent4432]

Neal I saw your jigs for preparing the rails for a lift out section of 00 Track and hoped that you might be making these to sell which would include the copper spacers as well. Please let me know as I am in the process of planning a large lift out section and your excellent jig would be just the job to help. Regards Ted Sargent

[@Puni_19]

Good progress, congrats!

[@OONeal]

Thank you

[@skel3110]

Great start Neal and a GWR man like myself to boot as well! Have subbed and looking forward to seeing progress, cheers Steve

[@OONeal]

skel3110 super! I will get some new videos up soon

[@mikeryan959]

Just found a current one (June 2021) by accident. I was intrigued by it and so subscribed and will watch from #1. Nice style…and I have seen plenty similar that aren’t. Have you seen Chadwick and Everard Junction? Two great channels.

[@OONeal]

Hello Mike, thanks, yes they are two that I’ve been watching since getting back into the hobby 😊

[@NewJunction]

Very nice video, keep up the good work! I'm looking forward to more! 👍🏻

[@OONeal]

Ah great, I have been watching your channel for a little while now so its cool you've found me! You keep doing what your doing too :)

[@icmdead1]

Liking the laser cut station and platforms. I'm building my track as well, it's also hornby set track simply because it's what I got cheap in bulk and it works for me

[@MikeLangfordGoogle]

Great stuff, you: a gap from 13-35yrs, me: 13/14-50! Just getting back into it, started collecting early Triang, also some Hornby, bit of Wrenn, dublo metal kit-built, old-time USA, brass etc. for now, no layout as yet...all over the place...will find my way soon...and need to sell off a lot of items!

[@OONeal]

That’s really great. The rediscovery of it all is the best part. I hope you enjoy your journey with the hobby again.

[@MikeLangfordGoogle]

@@OONeal Thanks! I have even started a Redbubble store with model railway designs as a side-business as the travel industry is on hold here till probably March 2021.

[@richarddavis7457]

Have the same type of loft as this. You do get used to rafters etc after a while. My main problem is the track expanding and contracting. The peco flexytrack had about 1mm gaps, but last summer it wasn't enough. Now it's winter there's an awful lot of " clickety clacks". I've used led ribbons stuck to galvanized electrical cable channeling about 18 in above the layout. Looks real good. Just needed a beefy transformer. Keep up the good work.

[@olliebrown9761]

Sadly my mum won’t let me go into the loft to extend my layout. But as soon as I get a house or flat I’m definitely putting in a room for model railways. Keep up the videos loving them. 👍

[@OONeal]

I understand, just be patient and you will have what you wish for 😊

[@mattdutton2094]

Hoping to start a loft layout in the future, will be keeping an eye on your journey as I'm sure there will be some useful tips along the way for future me! Good luck with the channel and keep it up👍👍👍

[@IZZYINN2]

Hi mate looking good so far, I would take a look at Everard junction has he use MDF & it was twisted in lots of different ways. Has were to scale 4mm to the foot, Your boards only need to twist a little & in the real world they would be a foot or more out, your trains will derail, 9mm plywood painted is the best to use, I have seen to many use MDF for them to have to change it in 12 months time & undo all that hard work they have done. all the best mate.

[@OONeal]

Michael Tuffs thank you, I would like to change at a later date, I already had the mdf so my plan is to learn on it do the whole layout and if it warps which is suspect your correct I will make a fresh layout as I’m sure I will want to change everything once I’ve finished this 😊

[@Rowdale_Railway]

I'm having to move my model railway into the loft due to circumstance's, watched your vids for a while, this one seemed the best one to post this comment on. Have you had any troubles with having it in the loft, track warp due to extreme heat in the summer ect? Its the main thing worrying me, but the loft is my only option if i wish to carry on with the hobby..... Which of course i do!!

[@RightWing1]

I've just subscribed as you have given me hope after all that I could get a decent setup in my loft. Why do /I say this, well my loft has exactly the same roof truss arrangement as yours and I pretty much wrote it off as a viable space unless I basically remodelled the whole roof space at huge cost, but actually the way you have arranged the boards, the spacing and the backboards/scene boards it actually has more potential. I look forward to the rest of your videos as the layout progressed

[@Fr-jf3fs]

The peco crossover point is called a double slip point 👍

[@AntoekneeDE]

Jealous as this is what I want to do, but my loft is shallower and full of rubbish... look forward to following this build. I do like the InTheGreenwoodLaser kits, pretty forgiving to paint and a lot more robust than card

[@OONeal]

I guess you can do something about the rubbish at least and work with what you have. They have been fun and friendly. I want to have fun while doing my railway and enjoy it.

[@JPoulAndersson]

Lovely GWR theme looks like I’ve subscribed👍🏻😀

[@OONeal]

Thank you and Great! I will keep enjoying my time up there and pop the camera on at the same time.

Hello great layout and channel. I subscribe now !

[@patsquires3654]

I think its a great start to a great layout, the only thing to consider is a loft gets very very hot in the summer, so it might be worth insuliting your loft, this will reflect the heat in summer so your layout will not overheat and the track might buckle, stll I great layout, scenery and model building next , a great hobby don't you agree ?

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

what a great layout .Hope you enjoy mine diesels dave's.

[@SussexHistory]

If you don't mind a bit of gratuitous advice - I built a layout like this in my loft. From that experience, the height of the layout determines how wide the baseboard can be - the higher the baseboard, the more the rafters going down cut off space. If you lower the baseboard, you can get more space between where the track is and where the rafters come down. What happens when you lean forward to pick up a loco is that you bang your head. Now having learned this lesson, it is possible to set the baseboard lower, bearing in mind you will be seated when you are operating it. If you sit on a stool, you can determine the lowest sensible height which will give you another six inches between the back scene and the track. As you have it at the moment it is at standing room height, which is okay if you plan to bang your head.

[@OONeal]

Hello, Its always nice to have adivce thank you. Yes so on a future video I will show you the hidden beams which mean I can't do that. It seems they went extra safe when building my Loft so I have got it at the widest point where the beams intersect. I would love to have it lower as I saw Everard Juctions railway and I love the Idea. Maybe if funds allowed it one day ill get a builder to convert the loft so I can have it larger but I'm happy at the moment which is the main thing. Thank you for your message its very much appreciated.

[@SussexHistory]

@@OONeal Have you fixed up an extractor fan up there? I found last Summer my loft was a furnace! Too hot even at nighttime! I have now moved the layout to the spare bedroom - less space but not has hot! I am looking forward to watching progress on your layout. You had better get as much done as your can before it gets too hot up there!

[@kevinsmith9359]

Hi from Solihull, I retired last year and like so many people one of my retirement tasks is to build a train layout. It was 20 years ago when I last built one for my son in our garage, but this time I'm going to use the loft. Mine also looks similar to yours structure wise so I'm hoping to pick up lots of tips from you But first I've got boards to put down lights to install, aerials to move and 20 years of junk to sort through..I'm guessing it will be the winter before I start putting down the baseboards Stay safe Kevin

[@OONeal]

Kevin Smith winter will come quickly for you but there’s nothing stopping you from getting some set track out and having a play from time to time during the process 😊 stay safe and happy retirement

[@mattmaz2]

I'm here courtesy of Cottesmore's recommendation. Subbed. Good luck with your project 😊👍

[@OONeal]

mattmaz2 thank you, it’s nice to disapere into the loft and start tinkering away 😁

[@ianryan5727]

Very good. Love the music at the end. Who is it please?

[@gazclass58]

Great video looking forward to a future plans on the layout I've left you a couple of questions on the previous latest video. Take care stay safe kind regards Gary tmd.

[@Apogee02UK]

Hi, thanks for this video. Very much enjoyed it. Quick question: My loft space is similar to yours and would very much like to do something like this. But I see you have some exposed insulation there...is that not a problem? To be breathing in air with insulation like that?

[@grantfuller5011]

What thickness board did you use?

[@OONeal]

I use 8mm board or the closest I can find to it

[@grantfuller5011]

Your layout seems to be around the same size as mine. Can I ask if you need multiple power points? Also if you do how do you do this please?

[@OONeal]

I do in some areas but if you are DC it will help with the areas quite far from your controller otherwise you may see some slow down.

[@oscarkageson-loe]

I want to build like a loop track and then three branch lines going out but I don’t know if my attic big enough and its probably the same size as yours what’s your advice on this situation

[@darylskene1360]

Is the roof insolated?. Great space to wprk

[@OONeal]

It’s not yet but will be eventually

[@simontheplantsman]

Rest, please continue!

[@Ironbuket]

Your loft looks really similar to mine, even down to the badly mortared block wall joining us to our neighbour. Can you use this in the summer? My loft gets so hot in high summer I can only go in there for really short periods. Lofts without a window are just unusable in summer and its pretty rough in there in winter too as it gets freezing?

[@OONeal]

You can but for a few hours in the morning and then late in the evening. I’ve been insulating it lately which is helping in these colder days. I open the loft hatch for a few hours in the winter before going up there so the heat from the house helps to warm it and that does a nice job.

[@joerotchell4882]

Hi there. Really on time vid as I’m just about to start my loft layout. I’ve exactly same loft and interested in some of your choices. Can I ask what influenced your choice of base board material (it looks like mdf whereas I’m thinking 9mm ply) and my main dilemma is what height to set the bb at. You’ve gone higher than my thinking but not used all the width between the v of the truss. Also I wanted to retain some height at the back of the board for elevation. What height have you decided for back scene? I love the idea of incorporating other gauge sizes. Gosh so many questions. Please don’t feel obliged to respond but if you’re up for a chat to guide a newbie please let me know. Anyway great start I’ll be watching with great interest and good luck. Thanks to Cottismore for sharing. Cheers.

[@OONeal]

So I had quite alot of MDF from when I was in my last residence so It forced my hand. So I am 5'11" so I wanted to do something that I wasn't bending over too much plus the beams forced me to have them in there widest point. So with the 009 I've always had a dream to have a second layout as if the little narrow gauge engines have got up to there quarry which was up the tight mountainside. So I may even build a Hexes to levitate the engines up to the right height.

[@joerotchell4882]

OO Neal thanks for the reply. Like an idiot I sent the comment on the first vid before watching the second in which you explained using the mdf...but thanks anyway. One or two of the other youtubers building baseboards have suggested that mdf is harder to get track pins into which you seemed to experience. Before committing to any one type I'm going to get a bit of mdf and a bit of ply and do a test piece to see how each feels. I've also a mind to lay my track out without initially permanently fixing the boards down so that having laid the track I can lift the boards up to do the main bus wires and point motors. I'm going for a DCC system and the wiring is going to be the most challenging aspect of the modelling so maintaining maximum access for as long as possible seems a good idea. While testing the type of board I'll also test heights and take your point about bending over. I have plans to have a concrete recycling facility as one of two main features complete with r/c equipment so your development of the narrow gauge on an elevation change is also very interesting. Thanks for the videos and I'll keep you posted on my progress. Have a great Christmas. Cheers joe.

[@chrisseed4643]

Looks great and identical to my loft but see you have screwed into the roof struss and I've been told that that's a definite no no. Any problems with the roof?

[@haltonwarrenoo9]

Looking good, be good to watch your progress. Just a thought if that's a gas boiler and you're going to be spending time in the loft had you thought about a CO2 monitor ?

[@OONeal]

Good point, I never thought about it but I guess its worth having a little meter up there.

[@davidqueenan]

I hope you don't mind a real newbie question - could you explain a bit more about how you constructed the baseboard? I have a loft space very similar to yours and was thinking about putting in the baseboard supports across the angled trusses as you have done. But does the baseboard attach directly to these as it looks like you may have other supports running below the baseboard - it's quite hard to see in the time lapse though. Sorry if this is really basic level stuff but I've never built a layout before. I always had a train set when I was young - I still have my original Triang Hornby Flying Scotsman set - but was never allowed a baseboard as we never had space. I'm now in my 50's and would like to build something - nothing as fancy or as big as yours though - I thought I'd start with an end to end layout along one side and then see how I get on and maybe extend later.

[@RobA500]

You will also need support along the length of the boards in between the trusses otherwise they will bow. I am of a similar age to you and have inherited a board layout put in by my father, he got around this problem by using a load of old internal doors he had picked up from a job he'd done as base boards instead of the usual ply or MDF etc. Although they are the cheap hollow type with hardboard faces they work quite well but it does come with limitations due to their thickness. Point motors either have to sit in a large hole directly under the point or use surface mount as the motor pins are either to short or unable to operate a point at their full length just flexing instead. I did toy with the idea of changing them to proper boards but it would be a lot of work and expense so I just live with the compromise.

[@davidqueenan]

Thanks for the reply @@RobA500- I'll bear that in mind. I'd normally get a joiner, as I'm not very handy with things like that, but that's obviously not possible at the moment. Even getting the materials is not easy right now. I might start with just one side of the loft and see how I get and then expand :-)

[@redversb2347]

Hi Tris. I really enjoy your videos and at long last am planning on building a loft layout after being inspired by your progress. After watching your videos I was thinking it would be relatively straightforward. However, after recently reading a Hornby magazine guide to building layouts it mentions that loft layout 'cons' could include having to install insulation, lining, temperature variations, building regs and potential modification to roof timbers...Yikes! My loft looks very similar to yours, partly boarded but no roof insulation or lining fitted. I wondered if you'd had any issues with the cons mentioned above? I don't want to bring the roof down, nor do I want my layout or loco's rusting! Thanks in advance.

[@OONeal]

Hello, Im glad you are enjoying the videos. So with the temperatures yes they do get very warm but with the boards built in a solid nature and the tracks left with an expansion gap I don't have any issues. As for rust and things I don't have any moisture issues so can't report on any of that. I will be insulating it but more when funds become available but that is soon hopefully. If its going to be warm that day I just make sure I get up early and go up and enjoy it before it gets too warm. I hope that helps and Take care

[@wiseguy7722]

I’m 14 and building a 00 gauge railway in bedroom

[@OONeal]

Thats great Harry! I hope you are enjoying it and having lots of fun!

[@brianwoods9571]

OO Neal can you help me I got the ender 3D 3v2 printer I want to make my own building but I don't how to save the work on to a micro card so that it will print the building 00 gauge so do you think that you could help me with it and do you draw what you want could you show me how to do it as well I know you are busy if you can't help me I understand thank you I hope to hear from you soon Brian

[@samhunt387]

I remember my grandfather in his loft just like that when he would be building his railway and I’d be doing a tiny one at the side with spare parts at 7 years old. Hoping I can one day re do it as he can’t get up the ladder as much as he used too and this video has made me arrange to start tomorrow. Loving this series, keep it up! 👌

[@OONeal]

I understand, thats great you will get started and hopefully enjoy yourself alot! I'm glad your enjoying the series! Take care!

[@williambryant5946]

I've noticed that with British model railroads in the loft, what we in America would call an attic, that the loft is so small. Is your house this small? A loft (attic) in homes in the US cover the entire footprint of the house. So is your loft covering the entire footprint of your home? If it is I'd say that's a very small home. Is it like a townhouse in a row with a bunch of other homes? How is your home set up? Is it in town or city and multiple stories and does the loft only cover part of your house. I've wondered this since I've seen the first loft layout. You have a very small loft I'd say because what I've seen seem to be larger but still small to me. Please help a British architecturally incompetent person understand a loft. About the video now. You really got alot done in a short amount of time. Looks good and I'm going to keep up with your journey into model railroading. 👍

[@OONeal]

William Bryant hey, so yeah our attics in the uk are quite small. I live in a semi detached house which has a good amount of room inside but our houses arnt the biggest compared to what I’ve seen in America. The attic roof is in a Upside down V so the railway doesn’t cover the footprint of the house as the beams decide where I can put my boards. If you look up a lot of 3 bedroom semi detached houses in England you will see what I mean 😊 I’m enjoying the journey, I have lots of ideas and can’t wait to do the next part.

[@stonehartfloydfan]

Realize now how lucky I am with no kids at home and the wife is ok with me taking over one of the bedrooms to build my layout... 4m by 5m more or less so plenty of space.

[@OONeal]

coffee that’s plenty of space to fill up with a model Railway! Have fun!

[@stonehartfloydfan]

@@OONeal I am having fun but I am not sure the wallet is hahaha

[@andykenyon6879]

Very interesting set up, Im planning on using my loft one day ( been planning for years!), I have a question on the boards/ trusses - it looks like you have put timber between the V roof trusses and then erected your boards on this, what size timber did you use for these crossmembers and did you screw them to the V trusses, finally did you just rest the main boards on these cross members

[@OONeal]

It was I thnk 34mm by 20mm thickish. With enough of them crossing the V of the trusses the layout sits on them happily. I will put some supports on the brick each end at some point and get them to take the wieght a bit more but thats for another day.

[@81col]

Hi Andy. I'd use 2x1 and half dressed redwood for cross members. Colin the joiner

[@pidginmac]

Would be more interesting with music edited in.

[@OONeal]

Hello, it had quite a bit of music in it apart from when I was assembling some bits. Is that what you mean?

[@mac760]

I'm just getting my boards framed up , so it's great that I can follow your journey . Thanks to Cotttesmore for the suggestion . Good luck with the build 👍🚂

[@OONeal]

Thank you I will keep going and see what you all think :)