Looking again at the new fiddle yard design, I quickly realised that I didn't really need five roads on the sector plate. On the first version of the layout I built, there were relatively few static sidings around the circumference of the sector plate, so incorporating five roads was pretty essential. On the current design, there are more and longer static sidings, so there is less need for five roads on the sector plate.
Redrawing things with a 3-road sector plate immediately showed
Further thoughts on fiddle yard operation and design, late last night, improved things a little. I have drawn a cleaned up copy which will be easier to interpret. Two turntables have also been added.
Apart from the issue of transferring full and empty stock from one end of the layout to the other, this solves the issues I had with the earlier attempt.
It's still very small overall - just 7ft long by 4ft 6in wide, if you exclude the little projection at the bottom of the f
Having had enough of decorating for the day, I started fiddling with a fiddle yard design. This one is based on the original, but bigger to allow roads of 600mm in length. Potentially, I have to allow for a loco at each end of the train - the one bringing a train in and the one taking it back out again, so 600mm is not too generous.
The basic design is a 5 road sector plate connecting with up to 15 static sidings and 2 through roads. The extra lines in the sector plate area on the di
Taking pause from my layout planning to do a bit of gardening and house renovation work, I wasn't expecting anything eventful on the modelling front for a while.
Then, in the Oct-Nov 2024 2mm Magazine, the 2mm Scale Association announced it's 'Platinum Jubilee New Layouts Push'. This invites layout builders to submit layouts for the 2030 Platinum Jubilee of the Association.
There are 2 categories. The first is for layouts between 8 and 16 square feet (0.743 and 1486 sq. m
I don't remember exactly when, but many years ago I built a tiny fiddle yard. Possibly because it was so small, it remained hidden away from sight whilst more ambitious, but ultimately flawed successors came and went. It's had a few minor modifications over time, but the basic design remains.
As a temporary fiddle yard for the new layout, it's just fine. Gives me time to think about the best design for the long term. The yellow pins are an easy way of making removable 'b
Final checks on the design included seeing how well everything fits together. I produced this overlay showing the track plan and the 1937 map of Wantage as it really was, complete with all the relevant buildings.
Given the exaggerated loop on my new design etc. everything fits surprisingly well. The platform line and train shed (marked with an asterisk) were always going to be straightened a bit to allow for an extended platform for longer trains and bigger locomotives.
Version one of the layout wasn't the answer, as described in previous entries. What to do?
Wantage is a good prototype to base my imaginary world on; a perfect stage for an eclectic range of locos and other stock. A few tweaks might be all that was needed. No longer being tied by the rules of the 2mm Scale Association's Diamond Jubilee Layout Competition was another thing to consider. I didn't want a layout any larger than it had to be, but a slight increase in dimensions might have
Continuing from the two previous entries...
The layout was full operational within a few months of starting work. Track had been built using copper clad sleepers and bullhead rail from the 2mm Scale Association, built to 9.42mm gauge. Here is a closeup of the fiddle yard board from the operating side. It was a combination of a sector plate with 5 tracks and 5 fixed sidings, plus two running lines onto the scenic area.
Here is a closeup of the scenic board, do
I described the decision to use Wantage as a basis for my imaginary location in the first instalment. Following this, I developed plans for the scenic section and fiddle yard baseboards. This included a hidden siding beyond the platform on a small additional board, to add a bit of operating flexibility.
Construction proceeded well to begin with. I quickly built the main baseboard, a small and basic rectangle. This shot was taken after the track was laid.
The sun set on my last model railway project a couple of years ago. Nice idea, but seriously flawed in a few, very critical ways.
Lots of thought has gone into what went wrong. Overall, it seems to be the best way forward for me. Alternative ideas for a layout never gelled properly; always too big, too complicated, too much like everyone else's layouts. How could I turn a croc into something I was happy with?
Here's the original idea...
It was based on W
