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Layout Transportation


wenlock

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I've just returned from a very enjoyable weekend exhibiting Sherton Abbas at the South Hants Model Railway show in Portsmouth. https://www.shmrc.org.uk/event/2018-shmrc-exhibition/ We were made very welcome by the hosts and even provided with an excellent fried breakfast at the exhibition hall before the public arrived:-) It was good to meet up with other RMweb members who came over and introduced themselves during the day.

 

The first time the layout ever left my workshop was when I took it to the SWAG event in Taunton last year. I hadn't given much thought to safely transporting the layout and I must admit its first outing was a bit of a lash up! The layout was "arranged" in the van in the only way it would fit and then held in position with some bits of old rope and some elastic bungees:-) Although the layout survived the excursion without any damage, it was more by luck than judgement and I decided that before the next show a better solution needed to be devised.

 

First attempt at transportation!
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In addition to the three scenic boards, the fiddle yard, layout legs, lighting gantry and stock all need to fit into the van.

 

Layout in sections
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I decided the most efficient use of space was to stand each board on its end, but this would damage the track at the base board joints and would obviously be very unstable during transit. To overcome these issues "end plates" were cut from MDF and fitted to the board ends to protect the track. A jig was also made that would hold the boards in position when stood on their ends.

 

Transportation jig
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All layout base boards aligned by the jig
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The jig is simply screwed into position using pre-drilled holes in the base board ends.

 

The layout was much easier to fit into the van and plenty of space was left for storage of other essentials:-)

 

Layout ready for the journey to Portsmouth
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The journey passed without incident and the jig certainly made transportation much easier and far less stressful!

 

Waiting for the public to arrive, the calm before the storm!:-)
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Now that the show is over I can get on with finishing those private owner wagons started in the previous blog entry.

 

Until next time........

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

Edited by wenlock
Restore pictures

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A good solution to a worrying problem as you've outlined from the initial outing to SWAG.

 

Certainly looks as though you've managed the room in the van very well too.

 

I'm extremely pleased to see it survived the journey to the show and a worthy exhibit too which certainly stands out in the last photograph.

 

G

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  • RMweb Gold

A good solution to a worrying problem as you've outlined from the initial outing to SWAG.

 

Thanks Grahame, it wouldn't have been hard to improve on my first attempt!

 

 

Certainly looks as though you've managed the room in the van very well too.

 

Once the main layout is in the van, there's just enough room either side of the layout to slide the legs and lighting gantry on top of the wheel arches:-)

 

I'm extremely pleased to see it survived the journey to the show and a worthy exhibit too which certainly stands out in the last photograph.

 

G

Thanks Grahame!

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The Portsmouth show is an excellent show, it was the only one day show I took Clutton to.

 

Unfortunately I was advised that the train journey due to strikes wasn't recommended so couldn't come down, would have liked to see the layout in the flesh.

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  • RMweb Gold

The Portsmouth show is an excellent show, it was the only one day show I took Clutton to.

 

Yes i was really impressed by the standard of the layouts at the show and by how well attended it was by the public.

 

 

 

Unfortunately I was advised that the train journey due to strikes wasn't recommended so couldn't come down, would have liked to see the layout in the flesh.

 

 

A shame you couldn't come, rail travel isn't what it used to be!  Sherton Abbas is booked to attend Railex Aylesbury and Telford Guildex next year, perhaps you could come and see the layout then.

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  • RMweb Gold

Was good to catch up last weekend Dave and a treat to see the layout again. As you say, an excellent show - the chicken pie at lunch was pretty good too!

 

Jerry

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  • RMweb Gold

Thanks Jerry, yes good to have a catch up:-) We got so engrossed with the show we quite forgot about lunch until about 3 o’clock when it was all over! Gutted we missed it, I love a good pie:-) Still the excellent breakfast was reasonable compensation!

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What a fabulous show the South Hants one was, probably the best I have been to in a long time.  It was really nice to meet you and your layout after following your blog for so long. 

It really is an inspirational piece of modelling and it looks even better in the flesh. Looking forward to the next instalment. 

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  • RMweb Gold
What a fabulous show the South Hants one was, probably the best I have been to in a long time.  It was really nice to meet you and your layout after following your blog for so long. 

It really is an inspirational piece of modelling and it looks even better in the flesh. Looking forward to the next instalment.

Thanks Phil! Great to meet you and I’m glad the layout didn’t disappoint! I’m busy finishing off those private owner wagons, so a blog update is imminent:-)

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

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  • RMweb Gold

Hi Dave, nice bit of innovation there, makes quite a difference by the looks of it.

 

Interesting to see that you have kept the fascia in natural wood. I rather like it.

 

I look forward to seeing the P.O.s. 

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  • RMweb Gold
Hi Dave, nice bit of innovation there, makes quite a difference by the looks of it
Thanks Mikkel, it’s definitely helped reduce my blood pressure on exhibition days!

 

 Interesting to see that you have kept the fascia in natural wood. I rather like it. 
The fascia is actually painted a chocolate brown colour of my own mixing:-) It doesn’t show up particularly well in the pictures, but it makes a change from the matt black I normally use on layouts. Either way I’m glad yo like it!:-)

 

 I look forward to seeing the P.O.s.
Just couplings to sort out so it shouldn’t be long!Best wishesDave
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