packed...unpacked...presented...repacked...epilogue...
Good evening,
An update on how the layout faired and some initial thoughts on my future modelling plans...
Yesterday, PWBIAB was launched at the BHMRC exhibition 2013, a one day exhibition which I exhibited KIAB at in 2010.
Time had run out on me last week, a mixture of work commitments, the untimely demise of the office laser cutter and a general over optimistic approach from me on how much I could get built between bcn and london. That said, I had committed to ChrisR (the exhibition manager) and I was determined to have something presentable for the show.
I set myself a number of targets which included a few compromises which would have to include the following:
- a canopy structure which would need further work/replacing afterwards
- a picture of the location modelled in lieu of the digital photo frame
- lack of dg couplings to the running stock
- mostly out of the box rtr rolling stock without detailing and unweathered
- restricted movements with the sidings
At 1:00am on the morning of the exhibition, I decided to call it a day as I still had to set up the morning the layout in its entirety for the first time
At 10:00am, the first punters were in and I was still unwrapping rolling stock etc...not my preferred choice but at least a few bits of stock were running. As time went on I was able to introduce some further rolling stock but unfortunately I even hadn't had time to run in any of the new locomotives
Overall, the layout performed ok for its first outing with all the main electrics working fine and just the fiddleyard cassette alignments causing the main problems as I had to change last minute the brass rod sleeved connections as this was snagging the bogies of some of the N gauge rolling stock.
The signals were terrific and these were plugged in and bedded in as per Matt's advice using bluetac around the base and a sprinkle of loose ballast.
Nice to meet a few RM web faces, Jon020 of course who was opposite with his Deltic beast Nimbus and also his new super detailed fab duff and Chris (Eastwestdivide) whose photo and original idea for the layout visited from Yorkshire coming via Paddock Wood in the process Cornish Trains Jez got behind the controls for a short stint and also present was David Walley of the 2mm Association. There may have been others but they perhaps didn't introduce themselves.
The three main things learnt from exhibiting KIAB were all addressed namely: viewing height increased from a table to 1200mm from FFL, internal integral layout lighting and a letterbox style viewing window and I was pleased with all three of these. This time I didn't bother to show sketches or in fact the boxfiles as no-one really commented on that 3 years ago.
The 4CEP ran like a dream from the fiddleyard to the bay platform all day without issue and the Dapol 56 performed effortlessly hauling seacows on the main line with a 73 on the vans and a large logo 73 on the VSOE pullmans. And I got through the day mostly running this sort of arrangement. Running qualities also due I think to the excellent PIC controller, a great tip off from Jerry.
I did make it clear to peeps that I had run out of time so the detailing and weathering were a product of that, but I thought better to have a mixed fleet than one detailed weathered bit of stock and nowt else.
Thanks to my brother (also exhibiting his collection of vintage BIG BIG TRAIN) for making the support frame structure for me to position the layout on and also the black sheet as I managed to fly mine back from bcn and then leave it in my digs in London My two children were helping my brother all day so it was nice to look up on occasion and see a small cheery recognisable face in front of my layout.
At 3pm, Jon020 and I had a well deserved Gin Tonic to get us through to the end on what was a thoroughly enjoyable day and good exhibition, noted from a few sprints around the other exhibits. Hopefully someone will post some layout shots on the BHMRC exhibition thread as ChrisR was a perfect host.
So here's a few shots how it all turned out and I will finish on a shot taken by my eldest son Zach with the iPhone 5, which I think captures the look I was after from the layout from the outset...a sort of gritty end of line snapshot extract of everyday life...
Overall from left end...
Overall from right end...
Looking through the letterbox...
And front on...
From the operator side...
End of platform and colour light signals...
Cornish trains Jez at the controls...
That T-shirt got worn...
Souvenir ticket from Chris from his trip...
Fiddleyard and cassettes reboxed (there were two of these)
Scenic section reboxed..
The shelf for the controls and...ahem...the 3pm revivers...
The shot which sums up the layout for me...
I now need to think on my modelling future as we will relocate in August to the UK and in downsizing I will have to thin out big time the layouts and general railway stuff I have accumulated. Some tough decisions may need to be made and I may ponder some more and do a separate blog entry on this some time.
Thanks all for your support during the build of this layout and for all the comments received to date.
Pete
- 28
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