coombe junction - Display height and backscene...
Update - After about 6 months of neglect due to the Boxfile Kyle layout I now turn my focus again to Coombe Junction. My renewed enthusiasm for it is twofold: Firstly, of disappointment that I had to withdraw it from the impending 2FS Golden Jubilee Layout Competition and secondly, after exhibiting Kyle, I realised it had been over 20 years since I had last exhibited and it was thoroughly enjoyable (albeit) a little stressful at times
Ironic then, that Coombe Junction was never conceived with 1) the GJLC in mind and 2) as an exhibition layout. It was planned as a layout on a few IKEA shelves in our spare room, without a backscene or lighting which just happened to fit within the GJLC requirements.
With the above in mind, and imposing on myself a target completion date of summer 2012, I started to seriously think again about the possibility of getting the layout to exhibitable standards and things which were never part of the original plan...i.e. display height, a proscenium arch, lighting, backscene etc.
The original 1/10 mock up model had been amended last year to show a proscenium type arch to frame and focus the view and looked something like this...
...where the height of the viaduct determined the backscene height. However, it occurred to me that any rolling stock crossing the viaduct would not be lit and may look unintegrated floating above.
So...having decided that the rail height of the Coombe to Moorswater dries section will be 1200mm above finished floor level, the backscene would need to be 500mm above that to clear the viaduct with some breathing space.
Of course, only then did it occur to me that the height of the layout would restrict the operator from actually seeing anything , so I decided that the middle section of the backscene will be slightly lower to facilitate this. This should prove a good vantage point to see any occuring disasters
As a test, this morning, I threw together a 1:50 scale model of the layout proposal so I could see it against some scale architectural figures I have from my work. Also, using some grey card, I mocked up the step in the backscene to see how that would feel and I think I am comfortable with this. The proscenium arch/lighting beam will remain at the same height across the front of the layout for uniformity and clarity.
I attach a sketch and a few photos and since this morning I have decided to reduce the backscene by 100mm giving 400mm above railheight lowering too 300mm for the centre section...
sketch showing overall display and cutout to centre section for operator visibility...
the viaduct will meet the backscene and may pass through an aperture...
this will allow rolling stock typically of the mainline to be lit as well from the front light bar...
1:50 scale model of display from the public viewing side...
the front arch frames and focuses the display...
view from the operators side...
We don't really have space in our apartment to erect the layout in its entire length and at the correct height so I may have to find a way of getting some legs built in the UK, and concentrate on just the layout here, however that's a little way off yet. I now feel that I have a target to aim for and that one day, perhaps I might get a chance to exhibit Coombe - Moorswater which was originally conceived as a 'stay at home' layout
Comments welcomed as always...
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