Evening all,

4 years on from my first post on this, the project got delayed due to various family issues however having got Wenford Dries to where I wanted it to be (bar tweaking and some minor additions) it was time to resurrect this project. After all, we all need a new project now those Winter nights are coming to us.

The mock up model from the first post had since been binned and the 2mmFS 60th show been and gone however I always liked this project and had even made the first turnout for it some time ago. 
 

Rather than two clip on Fiddleyards I decided it should fit on my preferred IKEA Lack shelves namely the 1100mm x 260mm ones. Trains can be relatively short however due to limited storage I made the decision to use some Fiddle stick type cassettes which can protrude from the baseboards when the layout is in use. 
 

The relative drawing was made in CAD and the 3mm ply carcass was laser cut at the studio incorporating two slots at each end as long as my now usual viewing slot to the Fiddleyards which prove to be popular at shows. Also, space has been allocated for an iPad to show prototypical photos as this was also well received at the Uckfield show last weekend. Important when you are trying to capture an extract of something as my usual layout approach is.

This weekend saw a big push on the track work. Most of it will be inset in a concrete apron so this has been made in copper sleepers and rail from the Association with the front track in Easitrac.

To build the track I printed out a crude Google Earth type image onto which I scaled to fit the scenic section and my baseboard (driven by the size set out by the Association for the challenge layouts) This print out was attached to a sheet of 3mm ply and then a sheet of Perspex from the model shop overlaid so I could follow the track plan. 
 

Sleepers were glued in place with Pritt stick and the track laid using the gauges. Have never made a curved turnout or a ‘Y’ turnout before so new challenges! At close of play today, a wagon runs through ok in all directions but no doubt there will be some tweaks which is one of the nice things use copper sleepers and an iron.

The 3mm fascia’s were assembled in the evenings last week and I left a 5mm slot at the back so I could slide the track base in and out until am happy with it. I may even spray and ballast it before final positioning of it. Need to think about droppers and sparks before I do that…plenty to ponder and sketch on my way to work.

Lighting will be in the concealed fascia and all being well the layout can fit on the same sub base and trestles as Kyle…meaning it should fit in my car.

Here’s a few progress pics and I dropped on a 37 and a few CDA’s to help give it some scale.

Starting with the original card mock up to test the idea…have narrowed the proscenium arch since.

From 2mmFS to 7mm to 2mmFS - certainly testing my eyesight and patience again 🙃

As always, comments welcome,

Pete