Finished!

[Filterlab]

After six weeks and an un-countable amount of cash, I've finally completed my son's (Jude) train set for his Christmas present.

He told me he wanted a "Bachmann James with moving eyes". He's been into Thomas and Friends since he was 1 year old, so absolutely loves trains. I had a quick look at Bachmann James and the door was liberally kicked open to the fascinating world of Hornby OO gauge railways. Man, I never knew one could get so much, and that the demand is still strong.

Now obviously I knew I had to build a track of some sort, but rather than just a loop of track on a piece wood, I thought I'd have a crack at building a 'little world' for Jude to enjoy. Now, I haven't gone for Thomas and Friends TV Production levels of perfection here, just a believable and fun environment to drive trains through.

I bought the track new, and a few of the little bits (lampposts, trees, hedges, benches etc), the rest comes from job lots of 'stuff' bought from eBay. It's amazing how when one gets creative, one can 'make' things from bits of other things.

I've made it so it can be moved in its entirety; it will be going in another room permanently after Christmas. :)

So, this is the sum of my efforts so far. I've left space for more things to be added, something Jude and I can do together....

(Click for higher resolution)
https://i.ibb.co/7CXndmB/01.jpg (https://ibb.co/jfTyPXq)

https://i.ibb.co/sWB3Vkg/02.jpg (https://ibb.co/6XdsWVy)

https://i.ibb.co/wYDFh9t/03.jpg (https://ibb.co/b7pM5St)

https://i.ibb.co/qsRwvRH/04.jpg (https://ibb.co/mqH73Hn)

https://i.ibb.co/gTxLLKq/05.jpg (https://ibb.co/mq3VVWZ)

https://i.ibb.co/NYWWZwK/06.jpg (https://ibb.co/tCYY8yD)

https://i.ibb.co/wLWNgpH/07.jpg (https://ibb.co/9vT9gyX)

https://i.ibb.co/34dZrhF/08.jpg (https://ibb.co/MZS02N1)

Obviously it's all illuminated; I've set an illuminated switch into one corner of the board which triggers the separate 3v circuit (and I won't tell Jude what it does, I'll let him discover that). :D

https://i.ibb.co/NtpNGTM/09.jpg (https://ibb.co/HBYP9hj)

https://i.ibb.co/0pNv4H1/10.jpg (https://ibb.co/bjhDwcY)

https://i.ibb.co/B3nFb7n/11.jpg (https://ibb.co/7CkLPTk)

https://i.ibb.co/SfM6XtX/12.jpg (https://ibb.co/sWNgvKv)

https://i.ibb.co/1vG1FFZ/13.jpg (https://ibb.co/ngM9xxr)

https://i.ibb.co/RQ62Pmy/15.jpg (https://ibb.co/mhyJtw8)

https://i.ibb.co/0VSjthC/16.jpg (https://ibb.co/M54D6Mc)

https://i.ibb.co/dKH777b/17.jpg (https://ibb.co/ggc666v)

https://i.ibb.co/C2Lrn4n/18.jpg (https://ibb.co/8ckhjGj)

Not bad for a budget-conscious, first attempt. Ok, maybe not budget - I think I've ploughed through about £700 building this! :lol:

[Ali Tait]

Very cool Rob, great job.

[Marco]

That's utterly fabulous, Rob! Big respect:youtheman:

I can just imagine the sheer joy and excitement on Jude's face on Christmas morning - and it's an experience you'll be giving him that he'll never forget and will treasure forever. Making such happy memories with your kids is a primo function of any good parent!:)

Hope you all have a great day... Just make sure he gets to play with it more than you!!:eek::eek::D

Marco.

[struth]

excellent. top job.. My brother had a big set when we lived up north in the full sized loft. it was big too. I love the lights etc. very well done and a lucky boy

[Filterlab]

Thanks guys for your kind words. Been a big undertaking to get it done in time.


I can just imagine the sheer joy and excitement on Jude's face on Christmas morning - and it's an experience you'll be giving him that he'll never forget and will treasure forever. Making such happy memories with your kids is a primo function of any good parent!:)



Thanks mate. Having missed the last two Christmasses with the kids, due to my horrible ex, I wanted to make this a Christmas to remember. He’ll completely lose his shit when he sees this! :lol:

I also have a plethora of gifts for Hannah, she wanted a pink skateboard. :lol:

[walpurgis]

Great work Rob :thumbsup:.

You'll have your work cut out wrapping it and putting it under the Christmas tree though. :D

[Filterlab]

:lol:

It’ll be wrapped in place, ready to go when he lifts off the paper. :lol:

[Marco]

Thanks guys for your kind words. Been a big undertaking to get it done in time.



Thanks mate. Having missed the last two Christmasses with the kids, due to my horrible ex, I wanted to make this a Christmas to remember. He’ll completely lose his shit when he sees this! :lol:


Lol, totally.. Try and capture a pic and share it with us sometime on the day:)


I also have a plethora of gifts for Hannah, she wanted a pink skateboard. :lol:

Ha - tell her she's got an 'aunty Del' who'd love something very similar!:D

Marco.

[rmcin626]

Great job, well done

[mad-moon]

Excellent !!.. a great size and I like the attention to detail...first class that man..:)

[Filterlab]

Thanks rmc and Moon!


Lol, totally.. Try and capture a pic and share it with us sometime on the day:)

Ha - tell her she's got an 'aunty Del' who'd love something very similar!:D

:lol:

I certainly will do, on both points. :D

[Pigmy Pony]

That looks great, Jude's a lucky lad... But be honest, you'll probably have as much fun yourself, real father-and-son stuff :)

When I was in York last week, there was this fantastic little model shop, which had a similar set up in the window, complete with people, dogs, cars etc, all to scale. This could all get expensive, hi fi should have taught you that lesson :D

[brian2957]

Wow ! That looks fantastic Rob , especially when it's all lit up . I would have loved something like that when I was a kid . Hell ...I would have fun with it now , as a big kid :)

[Ian7633]

What an absolutely brilliant job you've done Rob, the joy your lad will have and the joy it will give you is worth every penny.

[Alex_UK]

Great job Rob, I can see it's a real labour of love. I am sure Jude will love it and you'll all have a great Christmas, but we need to see video evidence of you trying out Hannah's pink skateboard! :lol:

[Filterlab]

Thanks chaps for the kind words.

As it happens Alex, I used to be a bit of a whizz on a skateboard. That was 30 years ago though! I could see it ending in permanent back injury if I tried now. :lol:

Now wrapped up...

https://i.ibb.co/s3wTyyk/B705-EC54-F068-45-C9-80-E1-6-FC75-A2-F1354.jpg (https://ibb.co/C07jhhN)

[guy]

Wow! that is such a wonderful present - certainly many happy memories being made there :thumbsup:

[Barry]

Wow - that's just phenomenal! :eek: :stalks:

It must have taken you an age to build such an imaginative layout. Well done!

I'm sure it will blow the lads socks off. :)

[Filterlab]

Thanks chaps. :)

[AJSki2fly]

Fantastic train set, I think Jude will be overwhelmed and will remain in his memory forever!

I remember very clearly when I was 5 and getting my first Hornby train set on Christmas dat, a lovely COCO diesel with 3 Pullman carriages and an 0-4-0 tank engine and some wagons and track, my dad sat with me and set it all up and we played with it what seemed like most of the day. I am sure you and your son will have a wonderful time.:)

[Filterlab]

Thanks man, I hope so too. I want this to be a Christmas for him to remember, so this should do the trick. He's sooooo looking forward to it (his words). :lol:

[AJSki2fly]

Thanks man, I hope so too. I want this to be a Christmas for him to remember, so this should do the trick. He's sooooo looking forward to it (his words). :lol:

My Mum said when I got a bit older that my Dad spent all his spare money on the train set after seeing my reaction to the huge train set running around one of the floors in Hamleys Regent St. it was when they took me to see Father Christmas(1963). I can still remember it to this day, red carpet on the floors, shining brass staircase railings, and I have a vague recollection that some of the shop floor staff were dressed as Elves. Also she said it was just as much a present for him as for me.:)

Have fun!!

[Audio Al]

Only one word for this " WOW "

[JohnJo]

Only one word for this " WOW "

Agreed, that is fabulous.

Well done dad :)

[Filterlab]

Thanks good sirs. I can't wait to see his face on Christmas day, he simply won't be expecting this.

Also some more buildings turned up the other day, heavily delayed in the post; so we'll be position and illuminating those together. A good time to learn soldering for him too. :D