Hidden sidings update 2 - Ballasting and a new tunnel mouth

The project is moving on and I have tackled ballasting and started to construct a tunnel mouth over some of my very sharp curves.
I promised a mention for one of my subscribers, Trenton Lightninghammer who also came up with the idea of extending the area over the white boxes right to the end of the baseboard, where I am now thinking of putting a small town square. Thanks.

[@davidbarnett8199]

Looking good Keith. I do remember the ballasting video very well.

[@KV12543]

I had forgotten the problems I had....maybe I was blanking it from my mind!

[@fossil9559]

Another fine film Keith , I love following your layout 🙂

[@KV12543]

Thanks, ....more updates to come, Regards Keith

[@maxroberts1717]

It’s coming along nicely Keith. Good airbrushing! Good to hear Belper in gods own county of Derbyshire. Coincidentally I’m going to Belper Model Railway Clubs exhibition day this Saturday, looking forward to seeing some good layouts. Keep up the good work 👍👏

[@KV12543]

Cheers Max, enjoy the show, Keith.

[@gs425]

Keith may I make some suggestions....just up the line from Plymouth Station the line goes through Mutley tunnel. However in the 60s a concrete carpark was built in front of the tunnel and over the line. You've actually modelled that concrete structure quite well....just needs painting concrete grey and parking cars on top!!! Perhaps add another storey to it. My feeling on the original white box however is different to your town idea. I feel it is crying out to look like a factory building. Its 90% there already in fact. Putting a town on top would always be full of compromise and a squash. Firther more i think you'd struggle to make it fit in with that drop below to look prototypical. Just my thoughts. Gary

[@KV12543]

Thanks Gary for a very interesting suggestion - its always good to receive fresh thoughts and ideas. The white boxes are a problem - I did think about industrial buildings in this area, either on top or around the boxes but the space isn't quite right and they might be too tall. I thought they would look better at the other end of the layout. The fronts and sides of the boxes will hopefully be disguised by some arches which should run nicely into the tunnel mouth. Time will tell....keep watching, Regards Keith

[@TrentonLightninghammer]

Great job with the extension for the Top tier, your portal pieces look great! The great thing with what you've done there is as the layout evolves, you can always rotate the new tunnel platforms up to 45° forward if you ever decided you wanted to open up that top tier further, or create a curved road towards the end. Fantastic work as always mate. And thanks for the shout-out!!

[@KV12543]

Agreed...the top piece looks very good already and when it has some terraced houses on it and some arches in front it should look really good, Regards Keith

[@davidclough7346]

Agree with TrentonLightningHammer, bring the tunnel entrance back in an arc such that the entry to the tunnels is more at right angles with the track meaning standard tunnel portals could perhaps be used.

[@KV12543]

I have tried all sorts of positions for the tunnel mouths but the track layout and track centres mean that nothing standard fits. However I have now severely modified a Metcalfe kit and I now have a tunnel mouth that fits and gives ( just) sufficient clearance for my longest locos and coaches. A video will be out soon so keep watching, Regards Keith @@davidclough7346

[@arnolddavies6734]

I actually prefer to see sidings and freight yards on display. They always look interesting. Why would you want to hide them.? Shunting yards always look impressive when on display.

[@KV12543]

Hidden sidings are necessary to add to operational variety to a layout but are not always the most photogenic part. I still intend using my sidings as storage when I am operating the front part of my layout but adding scenery to the rear half will effectively give me a whole new layout. The best of both worlds? Regards Keith