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First attempt at 2mmFS - A swiss themed project

cornish trains jez

Entry posted by cornish trains jez

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Good afternoon all,

 

First of all, a happy new year to you all.

 

I made my annual visit to the Warley exhibition in Birmingham last November and decided to join the 2mmFS association having been inspired by the 2mmFS layouts and boxfile 2mmFS layouts on this website. My thoughts were to attempt a small project involving the easitrac system.

 

Having previously built a swiss layout in N scale, I decided to model a swiss themed 2mmFS layout as the sleeper spacings seem fairly similar (please correct me if I'm wrong), and there are no swiss 2FS layouts out there (that I know of) so thought I would have a bash at being the first!

 

Before starting the layout, I decided to make a list of criteria to be considered:

- The layout must be small enough so my wife doesn't realise that I am filling the house with railways!

- A small project would mean that it wouldn't intrude too much on the progression of my longterm N scale layout based on Par station in Cornwall.

- Use the easitrac system with only straight sections to build initially so that I can get used to building and laying the track before moving onto turnout construction.

- A layout that can be added to in the future if I wish to do so.

- Double track mainline - I will not be able to model scale length trains on this project however.

- A swiss themed "moving picture" layout sweeping through the swiss alps - plenty of scope to model some great landscape!

 

The track layout was drawn out in full size across 4 sheets of A4 paper using the track dimensions in the associations handbook ( I am still wrestling with Templot!!)

 

I have designed and built 2 baseboards measuring 60cm x 22cm each giving me a scale length of 0.1 miles of track. The trackbed has been raised on the boards using 9mm ply wood so that I can create the effect of a double track mainline running round the side of the mountains.

 

Next, I need to order up the track for construction and consider how and which system I am going to use for the fiddle yards at each end of the layout. Any suggestions most welcome on this.

 

Below are some photos of progression to date.

 

As always, all comments are welcome.

 

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Side and middle struts all cut up ready for assembly.

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Base frames assembled and trackbed placed, prior to gluing, giving an idea of the overall size of the layout.

blogentry-10222-0-32041200-1357148544_thumb.jpg

 

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A few items of stock have also been purchased. Here is BLS loco Re465001 with an EWiv coach and driving trailer in the swiss green/grey colour scheme.

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Best regards,

 

Jeremy

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D869

Welcome to 2FS... or FS160 or whatever....

 

> so my wife doesn't realise that I am filling the house with railways

 

umm... isn't building it in the kitchen a bit counter productive then?

 

> which system I am going to use for the fiddle yards

 

Modules are probably the most space-efficient and require just a flat-ish surface on which to shuffle them. Then you just need to decide how to arrange the alignment and feeds - bulldog clips or some sort of plugin arrangement. Having two modules attached simultaneously at double track spacing is a bit more of a puzzler though.

 

What will you use for the overhead wires?

 

Regards, Andy

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cornish trains jez

I assume your modeling to 1:160 scale in which case check out http://www.fs160.eu/fiNeweb/standards/HANDB.php will you track be 9mm ?

 

welcome to the dark side   :senile:

Hi Nick,

I will be modelling to 1:160 scale but to N scale clearances for the turnouts (when I eventually attempt these)as TomE has used on his superb "Ropley" layout.

I'll check out the fs160 website. Thanks for the link!

Best regards,

Jeremy

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cornish trains jez

Welcome to 2FS... or FS160 or whatever....

 

> so my wife doesn't realise that I am filling the house with railways

 

umm... isn't building it in the kitchen a bit counter productive then?

 

> which system I am going to use for the fiddle yards

 

Modules are probably the most space-efficient and require just a flat-ish surface on which to shuffle them. Then you just need to decide how to arrange the alignment and feeds - bulldog clips or some sort of plugin arrangement. Having two modules attached simultaneously at double track spacing is a bit more of a puzzler though.

 

What will you use for the overhead wires?

 

Regards, Andy

 

Hi Andy,

Umm...yes, building in the kitchen isn't the best idea. I was asked "shouldn't you finish your other layout first?" !!!

I think I will have a bash at the modules idea for the fiddle yards with the plug-in arrangement for the connector wires. I intend to use DCC so hopefully will provide smooth running.

For the catenary, I will be using the excellent Somerfeld swiss outline masts. I used these on my previous swiss layout and they look superb once they are up, albeit really fiddly to install!

Best regards,

Jeremy

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bcnPete
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Welcome to the club Jeremy :)

 

Looking good so far...watching with interest...

 

Andy - Maybe that's not the kitchen...perhaps its the Railway Room and Jez hasn't told his wife yet the kitchen has recently relocated to the loft :D

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cornish trains jez

Welcome to the club Jeremy :)

 

Looking good so far...watching with interest...

 

Andy - Maybe that's not the kitchen...perhaps its the Railway Room and Jez hasn't told his wife yet the kitchen has recently relocated to the loft :D

Thanks Pete! It's going to be a challenge. Ordered up my track yesterday so hopefully it will arrive next week and I can start threading the rails onto the sleepers and getting it into position on the board ready for fixing.

Best regards,

Jeremy

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