Light in the "Aquarium"

I installed two LED panels above the Elmslohe station modules. It's an amazing effect to stand in a dark room and see the layout brightly illuminated. There LED light distribution is such that you don't see any shadows on the layout or background. As Elmslohe is sandwiched in-between cupboards below and above, the lit layout has a sort of "aquarium" feel to it.

I still need to mount a front fascia, ca. 12-15 cm high. Also, I need to store the cables properly and out of sight.

Once the fascia is installed, I want to properly judge the light. Depending on how much light I also get on the sides of cars, buildings, etc. I might install some LED spots in addition to light the layout from the front. So far, I don't think this will be really necessary. But as always, the proof is in the pudding..

The panels are from Ledlichtstunter:

- 2 panels of 120 x 30 cm each
- 36W
- 4000K

It is impossible to capture the effect with the mobile camera. Unsurprisingly with the high dark-light differences. The below images therefore only give a very rough representation of my new "layout aquarium".

Stellprobe

I positioned the station buildings on the layout to see how everything works together. Ignore the bad, way-to-yellow lighting etc. I am keen to get started with ballasting and the scenery, but I am afraid that first the backdrop and lighting of the layout has priority. I have LED panels that I want to install above the layout and also want to frame it properly so that everything is integrated within the furniture.

The white styrene strip marks the platform position.

Bathed in morning sunlight the VT98 is ready for departure.

My inspiration for the station surroundings and the simple platform comes from Wakendorf-Götzberg on the former EBOE (Elmshorn-Barmstedt-Bad Oldeslohe Eisenbahn) in Schleswig-Hostein. Stately trees shall surround the brickstone buildings, thereby neatly covering the corners.

You might have noticed that the track plan of Elmslohe features a very special situation: the locomotive shed is located at the end of the main track. This was the case on a number of German short lines. The picture shows Neuenkirchen (Niedersachsen) at the Soltau-Neuenkirchen line. Another example is Arneburg in Sachsen-Anhalt. Franz Rittig has described some in his Eisenbahn Journal publication "Lokstationen".

Elmslohe freight shed

I have been working on the Elmslohe freight shed, a straightforward and very satisfying project as I made the decision to use the Auhagen shed (No. 11383) without any bigger adaptations or "personalisation". Why change a winning concept when you can use a model which is in my view absolutely perfect? I really like the proportions and the overall look of the building.

As Elmslohe is a small terminus station, I am only using the main building without the shed extension. I also prefer the look of the proportions of the main building as stand-alone more.

There are still some minor things to be done once interior lighting is installed, like timber frames supporting the roof above the doors, vertical rain pipes and general weathering.

Wilhem Klützig patiently waits on Elmslohe’s shed platform for the Köf to pick up and spot the daily “Stückgut” wagon.

With the Tillig Elite track that I am using in Elmslohe, the loading dock is at precisely the required height.

The buffer stop is a placeholder only.

I painted the brickwork with Humbrol No. 100 so that the shed fits to the Elmslohe station building in look and feel. The grooves were done with a 50/50 mixture of white and thinner. After drying I sanded grooves where the timber goes to allow a good fit.

The timber got first a layer of Tamiya primer and then a layer of Tamiya flat brown. After some sanding all has a quite irregular and slightly weathered look when the primer gets exposed in certain spots. 

Glueing everything together.

The four walls are up.