My new layout design.

[capeklr]

Been a bit quiet, wiring the upper staging yard and can now run trains there as well. 
While working on the wiring Sunday night I had to move the castle out of the way and I placed it on the new frame section
where I was planning to have the lake with a few upmarket houses around it.

This stopped me in my tracks and started thinking about placing the castle there instead of the houses.

Or have the castle there with maybe two houses instead of three or four.

Decisions.

[capeklr]

This is the place that I had originally planned for the castle.
 
Same place from further away.

What do you think?

[LooVille]

Hey Jörg,

Mmmmmmm, new place much better 
You can lift the castle slightly so it is on a hill and still do the lake with 2 or so houses. Then it will also solve your problem with the tunnel under the castle. I would still build a small tunnel, but now you have the opportunity to do a nice mountain scene there.

So my vote is definitely for the new position....   

Cheers,
Evert

[capeklr]

Hey Jörg,

Mmmmmmm, new place much better 
You can lift the castle slightly so it is on a hill and still do the lake with 2 or so houses. Then it will also solve your problem with the tunnel under the castle. I would still build a small tunnel, but now you have the opportunity to do a nice mountain scene there.

So my vote is definitely for the new position....   

Cheers,
Evert

Just discussed it with my wife and she votes for the original position.
Reckons that the castle is to big to place in there.

[capeklr]

Update time. 
Started gluing down the cork strips with the 45° chamfer on the sides for the ballasted roadbed.
This also allowed me the get the heights for the bridges correct.

Then I could cut my bridge pillars and mount them and place the base for the river as well.

[capeklr]

Detail shot. Taking shape.

I am also elevateting the outside of the track slightly so that the trains lean slightly into the corners like the prototypes also do.

[capeklr]

Busy making the removable section that is going to make up the lake with a few houses around.
Placing them for effect.

Maybe I should build the one first. 

Another shot, different angle.

[LooVille]

Good Morning Jörg,

Awesome update 
Was wondering about those narrow cork strips, but now I see, 2 next too each other.
Really starting to take shape nicely now.

Next time I'm there by you we run a train all the way around..... LOL hint, hint 

Enjoy and speak again.....
Cheers,
Evert

[ColWer]

Hi Jörg, very nice. I love the idea of lifting the track on one side. It's effect is awesome. 

[BigEd]

I am also elevateting the outside of the track slightly so that the trains lean slightly into the corners like the prototypes also do.

Great plan. Very few people actually do this. Glynn Chamberlain up in Joburg did this IIRC.

Nice work. As soon as you have a loop running, we'll come a squatting...

[capeklr]

Rainy Sunday means working on the layout. 
Installed some bridge pillars, so those bridges at the back are now fitted.
Completed the cork strip around the 180° corner.
Also played a bit more with the house placements and drew in the outline for river and lake.

[BigEd]

 

[LooVille]

Nice

Will look awesome. Next step is to get some track around the 180 bend  HeHeHe....

Cheers,
Evert.

[capeklr]

Hi all,
I have a small, but nice update. 
Finally got the correct height or the castle and made and fitted the platform.
Of course I had to get some wires to it as well and connect it up.
So first building in place on the layout and lights working. 
Now I need to build the mountain for it.

[capeklr]

Another shot with some of the room lights off.

I also did a temporary track connection between the lower and upper staging yards, so now I can run my trains right around.