It seems such a waste of space to have the big fiddle yard - why not have another, but completely different scene , and one can act as fiddle-yard for the other?

what diameter are you looking at . quite a few ppl seem to be going for circular plans

Hi Gary,

As the others have said, welcome to the wonderful world of 2mm! Glenuig is one of my favourite layouts of recent years, so it's doubly good to see you considering 2mm scale. I would echo the advice offered by others - a simple test track (like your first idea) to try out things like pointwork and loco conversions would be a good first step. There is a very relevant article in the latest 2mm magazine by a certain Barcelona-based RMweb member which was mailed-out last week.

Having said that, the Bridge of Orchy plan looks really good too, and I do like the fact that you've not gone for the smallest possible circle - 8ft should give plenty of room nice sweeping curves and room for the landscape.

With the recent and imminent loco releases from Dapol and Farish, I can see Scottish layouts becoming more and more popular!

Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide to do (and don't forget to keep us updated here!)

Andy

Hi!

I too would err on the side of caution and try something smaller first.

It took me nearly twenty five years as a 2mm modeller to make a start on Brafferton and even then I'm battling away some three plus years later! A layout of that size in 2mm scale is quite an undertaking for the majority of individual modellers, and Brafferton is only 6ft across with 1ft wide boards. I also gleaned a neat tip when building my circular layout; avoid even numbers of boards. In that way, there are never joints directly opposite each other in the circle and the result is substantially stronger. With hindsight, I'd probably have gone for seven boards rather than five; the curved boards are a bit awkward for handling and if yours are 8ft diameter with a 18" (?) width, they'd be right bu99ers...

Indeed, good luck; I'll be following your progress with interest.

Hi all

First Pete, there’s a nice Scottish layout in the 2mm mag this month, point taken, pardon the pun, start small with a bit of trackwork, maybe the south end loop points at BoO. Time scale, not really, but it would be nice to think I have something to take over for the Glen, when ether I get fed up of it or the exhibition goers. I do have the 0-16.5 slate quarry, but to operate that at a two day show, sends you loopy.

Simon, I spent most of the show around that layout, it works well, actually faultlessly, I am hopeless with putting faces to names on this forum, and intact, as I came away from the show realised who Jim S W was, besides been next to him when I was at Nottingham show.

Shortliner, I see where you are coming from, and I will look at the plan again. At this stage I am only thinking about it.

The layout will be 8 feet diameter, this size is determined by the space in the workshop, and the ability to fit in the car. Bridge of Orchy lends itself, to the plan as the prototype is on a curving formation.

Tony, take your point on the number of boards, I will have to play around. The main problem will be space, the idea is that a scenic board is twined with a flat fiddle yard board, to save space.

Anyway, thanks for all your input, its given me a few things to think about, I will keep you all informed of the progress, which will start to pick up pace after Glenuig at Wigan show.

Thanks

Gary