Boxes, boxes everywhere - transporting stuff safely
Exhibiting a layout can be a hard work and great care has to be taken to avoid damaging the layout. Stock and 'removable' scenic feature are also liable to damage in transport so packing can be very important. Having an 'everything in its place and a place for everything', approach limits both the potential to forget to take things and the potential for damage.
So this week I've been making boxes to help transport bits of Fen End Pit.
First up is are the boxes that fit the new large engine shed, a load of various power supplies and controllers and the dragline. (the box with the 'nose' is the one that takes the dragline jib. The plan is that these fit nicely in the foot well of the car when the seats are down.
I designed a standard loco box which fits each of my narrow gauge locos. These 'unfold' around the loco holding it gently in place with foam. The 'jig-saw' tab on the top ensures that they remain closed. These boxes have 6mm ply bottom and ends and 3mm ply sides and top, the result is light but sturdy.
Finally, one of the concerns I've always had taking the layout out is what happens if I have a catastrophic failure of the DCC system. Given that if the command station or booster fails I would not be able to run any trains at all I decided that having a spare would be a good idea. As I am now using the MERG kits for both buying and building a second control box wasn't a ridiculous cost (~£60 for the CAN-CMD and NB1B booster).
I've put these in a box which is the same size as the loco boxes, just added some additional vents and lots of sockets on the ends.
So the preparations for our second outing with the rebuilt Fen End Pit to Leighton Buzzard continue, I still have to sort out a better box to put the wagons in, but we are getting there.
David
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