tich4472 Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 /media/tinymce_upload/5f1493ae397be44743019892d65718ac.jpgGood Morning Everyone,I have recently seen a picture online of shelving that was installed in a new house that involves timbers screwed to the loft roof supports to make shelving along the length of the property and wondered could this idea be used for a layout?So desperate to have somewhere to run my loco's on .. having 50 plus engines all boxed up in the house is no fun!RegardsRob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ73 Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 That's a good idea - can't see any thing wrong with that - just make sure your loft is well insulated & damp free - you don't want any of your track / rolling stock going rusty now!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morairamike Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 My house has a roof like that. I installed battens and slated shelves to store stuff in the space. The roof is layered with breathable membrane. The floor, chipboard, in the main area is laid on supports so the Rockwall insulation isn't compressed and pops the bedroom ceilings. However my railway is not up there as the temperature changes are too great. No doubt, adding foam sheets between the rafters would alleviate that but the surface area is large. The outer tiles are also Matt mid brown so good at getting hot. So much as I would have loved to build up there I use a bedroom. Access is easier and the temperature is fairly constant year round by using heating or opening the windows. Just something to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 My house roof trusses are also like that and I shall adopt the idea for better access to the CCTV DVR and Photo-Voltaic gubbins that are installed up there and also to use the shelves for general storage.The DVR was sited there by the last owner for its own security apparently, but it is a tad inconvenient to get at to say the least and it gets very dusty.The trains will be more sensibly lodged in a converted garage when I can make space in there to start building the track boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR63 Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 Tich,I have done exactly as you propose. It works well as you can set the height to suit you. I have created a 4-loop layout approx 5m x 3m and still in the process of landscaping. (ballasting can be a pain though!). Insulation to floor and underside of sarking is essential to avoid temperature difference issues. Won't solve it as it can be too hot or too cold at times. Good luck/media/tinymce_upload/c75a3e7672e9d650a546734884b72954.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancing Posted October 27, 2019 Share Posted October 27, 2019 Others have made the point also, but be aware that your loft space will likely be subject to seasonal extremes of temperature, from very hot to near freezing, which can have a damaging effect on stock stored and used there. Both plastic and metal will expand and contract with, sometimes, very expensive consequences. However, loft space can be used successfully, but ideally it should be insulated and boarded-out first by a reputable builder with loft space conversion experience. They will also move or adjust the loft hatch if required and can install a retractable ladder for better (and safer) access. Building Regulation approval may be necessary from your local authority. It will cost a bit, but you'll need to do it only once and well worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 That is exactly where my railway is. Yes it gets extremely hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter. In the summer a bought a big fan, I did think of getting a velux fitted just to get more air circulation, in the winter a big woolly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry50 Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 This is a really interesting idea. The rafters almost look like they are part of the scenery. Where did you get your railway station from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jane1707819582 Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 This is a really interesting idea. The rafters almost look like they are part of the scenery. Where did you get your railway station from?Looks like the Metcalfe mainline booking office po 320 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR63 Posted October 30, 2019 Share Posted October 30, 2019 Jane2, The staion is indeed a Metcalfe P0320 as Harry rightly surmised as were the platforms. Since that image was taken I have added a lot to the scene including Railway Shed, Signal box, Station Masters' house (all Metcalfe), siding infills, ballast, road and platform lighting etc. and currently installing siding lighting It looks a much more complete area now. If it is of interest I will take a further pic and let you see what I have managed in such a restricted space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB51 Posted October 30, 2019 Share Posted October 30, 2019 I would love to see an updated image of your layout when you can. Very impressive. R- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR63 Posted October 31, 2019 Share Posted October 31, 2019 RogerB,Pics as requested./media/tinymce_upload/98c27bba51fdc9fdbb68f2ff466b53ff.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/b620ff1f2186069ab6b1d2adb349e1e0.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/0ab108743c65de97d987c2046445cd6f.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/28afde27a4737687327303252efde31b.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Very nice.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB51 Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Thanks BR63. It is indeed a fantastic layout. I think I'll take up embroidery 😢 R- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ73 Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Just to double check...that photo that tich took & the photo that BR63 took thety are 2 different lofts because thety look very much 1 the same!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
37lover Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 JJ,One has vertical frame members on the inside of the layout, the other has inclined. There are other differences if you study the photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ73 Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Oh ok thanks - just wondered that's all!!! 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR63 Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 JJ,My roof trusses are dual pitch fink truses used maily on more post-war modern properties. The one Tich shows appear to be more akin to "attic" trusses or maybe "joiner built" (i.e. don't comform to standard roof dseigns and may not act as a trussed rafter). There is obviously a larger central area free from any veritcal or sloped members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huwsie Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 I did this once. It was a fantastic layout, but, as others have said already, extremely hot and then extremely cold. I also found that when it was windy there was a lot of rockwool insulation dust in the air which was an irritant and made me cough... horrible stuff. Also consider your status in the current house, because if you have to, or plan to move anytime soon, this is of course not moveable - at all.Maybe consider a good quality secure shed if you have the room? by the time you board out and then insulate an attic, and install a ladder, lighting, power.... a good shed may be equal cost and just easier... I also got fed-up of banging my head in the attic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR63 Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Howsie,I too bang my heid a lot so that is why I have fitted carpet off-cuts to the rafter undersides (just out of picture)! I have no intention of moving house in the foreseeable and therefore transportation/ demounting is not an issue. It may be for my children when I pop my clogs but I won't be there to worry| This is all about giving me pleasure which it does in buckets. Note the homage to "Glenfinnan" in the background. I did it long before the attempt on The Great Model Railway Challenge! The layout is called Glenhaddie (Scots amongst you may see the joke).Once I have finished tidying up the area in the pics I am moving onto the other side where I will be building a tunnel through a mountain that is being quarried for slate. Well, that is the plan! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to create a vertical face that looks like quarried slate? Any help would be appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 There is another big advantage in having it in the loft, theft. It is really easy to break into a shed, whereas according to most crime programs burglars usually avoid lofts as there is no easy way of escape. I like the idea of putting carpet on the underside of the rafters, I am always banging my head on mine. In a loft you also get a much bigger layout, mine is 16 by 10 feet, which is a rather large shed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huwsie Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 There is another big advantage in having it in the loft, theft. It is really easy to break into a shed, whereas according to most crime programs burglars usually avoid lofts as there is no easy way of escape. I like the idea of putting carpet on the underside of the rafters, I am always banging my head on mine. In a loft you also get a much bigger layout, mine is 16 by 10 feet, which is a rather large shed.Hi Colin,I take your very valid point, but I'm talking more timber-built out-house type 'shed' that will be properly insulated and very secure. I'm due to build one myself for another purpose in 2020. I will document and picture the build process, and if it's a success I will most likely publish it on this website with plans and costs.I wouldn't advise anyone to put their model trains in an ordinary shed type building that comes as a flat-pack from most DIY outlets. These have a ZERO security rating and are intended to merely keep your possessions partly protected from the elements.One point on security for everyone though - the less that's known about the location and value of a layout, the safer your collection will be. Thefts of model railway collections are always specifically targeted, based on 'lose-lips' knowledge... which start as innocent comments, but end up in the wrong places. Opportunist thieves will rarely want to take anything from a model railway - too hard to pack / carry / uncertain of values ..and never store original boxes with / near your layout, becasue of course without the box, it's even more difficult to transport a model train and the resale value will be significantly less.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81F Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 Not sure if someone has mentioned this or not, But you may need to leave gaps between the rails if laying them in the winter especially if usung long lengths of rail. One old magazine I read suggested inserting a post card between the two ends of the rail while nailing down the track. Although I've not used rail in the loft I did have a section of tracknext to a single glased, droughty door. I laid the track without gaps and during a really hot summer it pushed out of shape. Relaying with the expansion joints has solved the problem though I have improved the insulation and we have not had such a hot summer since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiteshield Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 I've built one in th eloft between the rafters and have had no temprature issues. I cross battened the ceiling joist with 4x2 timber and used 18mm flooring chipboard to strengthen everything, most had up there at one time was three children and three adults. Then used 3x2 cls to form a room with 20mm insulated plasterboard for walls and ceiling, used insulating foil as used for timber frame housing on the outside of the room. Have been using it for about four years now, though am still building the layout pretty much only scenery and buildings left to do Leave a small gap about 1mm between joins. Even during the snow at winter temprature raely dropped much below 10c. I only put heaters on when I'm actually up there. Maximum temprature when in use was 36c this year, no issue with track. Have put a bathroom/kitchen extractor up there but would suggest more than one ore a Velux window in the roof, which is what I should really have done. Have fitted carpet remanents over the floor. /media/tinymce_upload/5c05ef4c5095391211075a379327effe.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/602c1114d99368e468666e06bfcde47d.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/1f3de43c08159182bd808d05806e7949.JPG/media/tinymce_upload/36a16cb72e228b241e62673d20a3d1f0.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuart_waters Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Hi Rob,This looks like my loft. I have a 33' x 12' 00 layout in my loft space. I have about 120 engines, and have 4 independent tracks each divided into two at each side of the layout so I can store another train in either the station or a siding. 2 of the tracks are digital, and 2 are analogue. Thet do not interconnect with each other.It has been great fun building it, but I shall never finish it because I go and play rather than "construct".One word of warning don't make the depth, front to back, too wide so you cannot easily reach the track furthest away. Have fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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