Swiss N-Gauge layout under construction.
 

John, how is the Swiss 'N' gauge model of yours coming along? It's almost 9 months since you last posted any photos of it. A track plan would also be good to see.
I am still waiting to start my '00' layout. I retire in April 2012 and hope to have found a new house with a railway room by then.
There are a lot of other models that were being built out there. An update on them would be good.

Hi Syd,
The layout is coming along slowly. Although all the track has been down for ages I am still plucking up the courage to complete the ballasting (not my favourite job:)) I seem to have spent most of the time building kits recently. I will post some pics and a trackplan soon.

Thank you John. How about the other modelers out there. Any progress since your last model posts.

I haven't got round to drawing up a proper trackplan yet but these are the track diagrams used on the layout control panels. The lines shown in BOLD are visible whilst the FAINT lines are hidden from view. The different colours are the individually switched isolating sections.
The first diagram shows the terminus station (Engelboden). This is the highest point on the layout (except for the mountains:) ) and is 9" higher than the lower station.
Attachment 697
After Engelboden there is a level section to a small country station (as yet unnamed) before the line starts to descend at a gradient of about 1 in 36 through a series of tunnels and tight curves.
Attachment 698
The line eventually reaches the lower board where the valley station (Primelbach) is situated.
Attachment 696
After passing through Primelbach trains can either enter the hidden storage sidings or be routed around the reversing loop ready to climb back up to the higher level. There is also a continuous loop on the lower level that can be used for testing or just watching the trains go by.

Here's a few photos that I took last night.
The first photo shows the hotel and station building at Engelboden. Still lots of work to do including track ballasting, platform painting and finally the overhead catenary.
Attachment 699
Another shot of Engelboden station showing the Postal facilities built over one of the tracks. This is actually two Kato Japanese kits cobbled together and mounted on concrete pillars.
Attachment 700
The mountain village. The surrounding rockfaces are virtually complete but there is still a lot of foliage, trees and grass to be added. I have yet to construct two station buildings for the cable-car in the background. The white areas are not snow:) but unpainted plaster bandage.
Attachment 701
A photo showing two of the three bridges spanning the valley. Like the other areas it is far from complete. The car-carrying train is descending to the lower level.
Attachment 702

It's looking like a great project John, very impressed with the standard of modelling you have acieved so far. The bridges look superb and Layout looks to provide many operating possibilties. Well done, I look forward to seeing future updates.
Regards

Thank You for the track plan and the photos John. I'm very impressed with your work. The mountains are very impressive, but I see what you mean about ballasting. What is the footprint of the layout? With hidden sidings and loops it must be quite big.

Thanks for the kind comments chaps.
The layout is roughly "U" shaped and measures 7' 6" x 9' 0" x 9' 0". It varies in depth between 2' and 3'.
Apologies for the Imperial measurements but I only use those Metric thingies for really small items:D

A few photos of parts of the layout not covered previously.
The first shot shows the hidden storage sidings which are located underneath the terminus station. The storage siding pointwork is mainly manually operated but some of the harder to reach ones are electric.
Attachment 708
The next photo shows the sharp curve running around the back of the castle. Because access is required to a window this has to be the narrowest part of the layout and although it requires a 12" radius curve I don't have any problems with my stock. I haven't yet decided what to use for the water in the river.
Attachment 709
The final shot shows a train (left) descending from the upper level and about to join the continuous lower-level loop around which a container train is passing. The factory is a Vollmer kit modified to represent a dried-milk factory. The chimney is made from a firework rocket tube found on one of our walks:)
Attachment 710

Looks fantastic John. Like the rock face!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Now I'm even more impressed and envious of you talent John. Thank you for going to the trouble of adding even more photos.Your rock modeling is really fantastic. With all that footage of track, I'm glad it is you that has to ballast it and not me. Please keep us up to date with your layout and if possible, a bit of video as well.

Bachmann/Liliput N-Gauge FLIRT
 

Although Bachmann has been involved with British N-Gauge since they took over Graham Farish they have never before ventured into European N-Gauge. That has now changed with the introduction of their first 1:160 model, the Swiss-built FLIRT electric multiple unit.
The prototype train has been a big success in Europe with versions being sold to many different countries and it looks like the Bachmann/Liliput FLIRT is also going to be a success as the German and Swiss versions, so far released, have both sold out at the factory.
The model has two motors, one at each end of the train and comes complete with factory fitted LED interior lighting. It also has directionally controlled white/red headlights/tail-lights and an illuminated destination panel.
Straight out of the box the model ran smoothly and quietly with very good slow speed control. My layout is DC but the model can easily be DCC chipped and comes with full instructions on how to do it.
I know we already have some Bachmann fans on the forum and if this model is anything to go by I will be joining them.
Below are a few pictures of the Swiss FLIRT on my layout. The model carries the Basel Regional version of the SBB livery. As per the prototype the model is equipped with two pantographs (Swiss and German) as these trains often operate cross-border services.
I shouldn’t think that I will be converting many of you to Mainland European modelling but I thought you might like to see what a familiar name is doing on the other side of the Channel.
Attachment 1628
Attachment 1629
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Attachment 1631

Bachmann/Liliput N-Gauge FLIRT
 

A couple more pics.
Incidentally the name FLIRT is derived from the German language Flinker Leichter Innovativer Regional Triebzug which roughly translates to Quick and Lightweight Innovative Regional Motor Coach.
Attachment 1632
Attachment 1633

Looks fantastic John. The whole layout is looking great. Like the backscene.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Thanks again for keeping us up to date with your layout John. I have was a fan of Graham Farish/Bachmann in 'N' before I went over to '00'. That looks like a well detailed EMU. Your ballast looks very good as well.

Hi John,

Very impressive indeed. Keep up the good work.

Alex

Your layout is truly fantastic the backscene is fantastic I like the rolling stock the continental outline seems to run well straight from the box and the detail is excellent.Were did you get the backscene from it is one of the best I have scene on a continental layout also your buuildings really fit the scene.Keep on posting I look forward to seeing more.

Thanks for the kind comments.
The backscene is basically "Neuschwanstein" made by Faller. Because the wall of my room was already sky blue I decided to remove the printed sky from the backscene and stick the outline of the mountains directly onto the wall. I also had a Busch CD with images of alpine buildings on it so I have printed some off and stuck them onto the backscene at strategic points to add a bit of interest.

Hi GF John.

Well, I have to say that the FLIRT is really a great modell. I have one in my collection, and I have to say I amamzed with quality and the detail of this awsome modell.

I just hope to have a layout soon to put it to run...

keep thos awsome photos coming!

Cheers!

Hello Luis Daniel,
Welcome to the forum.
Glad to see that you like the FLIRT. I have now bought a second one in the "Stadtbahn Zug" livery. My only (very small) complaint is that they can't be coupled together:(

Hi John.

Yeap, it is really a nice looking model. I sure hope that Liliput continues to produce SBB models...

I have a question: how have you done your passenger platforms?

Cheers!

Hi Luis,
I have used Balsa wood for all my platforms. Because it can be cut with a sharp knife curved platforms are very easy to make. I cover the balsa wood with a very thin skimming of model filler in order to smooth out any imperfections before rubbing down with very fine abrasive paper and painting. Old type platforms with edging stones can be represented by painting and then scribing with a very sharp knife. Newer style platforms with concrete edges can be represented by glueing strips of plastic card onto the edge of the balsa wood and then painting.

Awesome setup got to be one of the best I have seen so far!
Thanks
Phil

Hi John.

Thank you for your tips.

When will you post some more photos from your layout? I think that every one here would be glad to see some more of your great layout.

What about a video?

eheh!

Thank you.

I can't believe that it's nearly four years since I posted my last update and as there appears to be renewed modelling interest on the forum at the moment I thought this was as good a time as any to do one.
Progress has been slow but positive and generally speaking I am pleased with the way that the layout has developed. Many trees have been planted, the ballasting has finally been completed but still no overhead catenary.:( The main terminus has changed it's name to Schlossfelden but I still can't think of a name for the small mountain station.
I'm sure that many modellers will accuse me of cramming too much into too small a space but that's just the way I tend to do things. I construct a number of individual scenes that are supposed to represent things that I have seen when visiting Switzerland and then join them together to form a layout.
The first two photos show an area used by the P.W. Dept. to store materials and consists of a couple of sidings one of which holds an "Unterkunftswagen" or accommodation coach. These coaches have cooking facilities and until very recently lady cooks were often employed by the railway to conjure up tasty hot meals for the maintenance teams particularly when they were working in remote mountain locations. The first time I came across one of these coaches I just couldn't believe how civilised a Swiss railway lunchbreak could be. Beats eating your butties in a grubby transit van any day.:)
The next photo shows the goods depot at Schlossfelden. In the foreground I have created part of a lineside allotment. Once common in the UK these are still very common in Switzerland especially in the towns where a surprising number of people live in apartments. In my scene it would appear that the women are doing most of the work.:o
The fourth photo is the gravel loading facility. I originally intended modelling a quarry but underestimated the amount of space needed so I settled for just the loading facility which is connected by conveyor belt to the conveniently "out of sight" quarry.
The remaining photo is a general shots of the layout and shows just how many trees have sprung up since the last update.

Thanks for the update and photos John. My layout is at a stand still again as my wife has B-cell Lymphoma and is under going Chemo. Result is as well as running to and from the hospital and looking after her, I have all the house work, cooking, shopping etc to do. I'm not complaining as she looked after me when I was ill, and when I had my knee removed. It's just that I don't seem to find time to work in the modelling shed.

I'm not a great fan of N gauge usually Swisstrains but your layout is absolutely brilliant in my view!

DSY011 - You have my condolences and I'm now retired to assist looking after my wife who is undergoing cancer treatment (5 years and counting) so there's little time for railway modelling but I do find that the few model railway projects that I do most theraputic.

Sorry to hear about your wife Syd. You really seem to have been through it in the last few years.
Let's hope that the doctors can give her some relief from this terrible illness and that you can then both enjoy your retirement.
Best wishes.

Brilliant progress John. Its a joy to see the levels of detail applied. I would love to see a video of the actual running with the new parts added, if you have any?
Thank you for updating us and keep up the excellent work
All the best
Phil

Absolutely incredible layout. Stunning. Well done John!

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments.
Here's a few more photos......
Attachment 2884

Attachment 2885

Attachment 2886

I still remeber the times when we used to send e-mails one after another. Even today I still use much of your advises.

Fantastic work, as usual.

Makes me want to start with Swiss trains again...

Best wishes!

Luis Daniel Lopes
Lisbon, Portugal