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Mikkel

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The Farthing layouts have seen some major rebuilding in the past months.

 

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 In the early autumn, we sold the house and moved to a flat. Having made sure that the layouts survived the move without damage…

 

 

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 … I immediately cut them to pieces. It was clear from the outset that downsizing was needed, as the only place to store the layouts is in a small attic room reached by a narrow flight of stairs.

 

 

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 The Down Bay was the first to suffer. The sky backscene was dismantled and the integrated fiddle yard was cut away, leaving a 92 cm scenic board. 
 

 

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The Old Yard was given a similar treatment. A third of the scenic section was cut away. It’s built on foamboard, so I was able to make a good clean cut with nothing but a craft knife.

 

 

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That left a 100 cm board (left). The off-cut went into storage, maybe it will return as a diorama some day.

 

 

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A bit of work was needed on both layouts to adapt the track to the new formats. 

 
 

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An attempt at repairs. Looks a bit like Texas! The Down Bay still uses code 100 track, whilst the other layouts use hand laid C+L.  I don't really mind the difference.

 

 

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My third layout, the Goods Depot, didn’t need shortening. It’s a micro built in an Ikea box, which fits neatly in a large old closet. I’m still negotiating for access to the lower part of the closet!

 

 

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In order to operate the now truncated layouts, my trusty “Bumblebee traverser" was adapted with extra tracks and sturdier height adjustment legs. It continues to work well against all odds, and is now able to feed all three layouts.

 

 

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So trains are now running again at Farthing :locomotive:  Here is the Old Yard set up on the dining table. The small size of the layouts means that I am able to enjoy some relaxing “shunting puzzle” operation in our living room during weekends, without too much bother.

 

 

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Here is the Goods Depot, which is small enough to operate on my new desk/workbench, also in the living room. I have an agreement with my wife that when seated here,  I'm invisible. She gets the point but says my activities are not exactly "invisible" :D

 

 

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And finally the Down Bay, taking up a tiny bit of space on the dining table :lol:.  The retaining walls need to be realigned and proper sky backscenes are on the cards.

 

So that's the current status. Ironically, there is room for further layouts as long as I keep them small enough. Plans are afoot for a modular approach, but more on that later. 

 

 
 

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Hi Mikkel,

 

It must have been a daunting step to take making that first cut.

I'm glad it all work out!

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YEY !

 

Seems one of my favourite subjects / layouts has risen again without suffering too much in the move. That may well be down to your initial build construction and I for one am very pleased to see the Phoenix rise in your new home.

 

I will look forward to more as you progress matey.

 

G

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Glad to see the layouts survived the move and you’ve got the space left to enjoy them. It’s all so neat and clean and tidy, too. 

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1 hour ago, Argos said:

Hi Mikkel,

 

It must have been a daunting step to take making that first cut.

I'm glad it all work out!

 

Hi Argos, yes it was a bit scary, but surprisingly easy once I got going. I've always looked at layouts as something very final, it's nice to learn that they're not that hard to modify.

 

1 hour ago, bgman said:

YEY !

 

Seems one of my favourite subjects / layouts has risen again without suffering too much in the move. That may well be down to your initial build construction and I for one am very pleased to see the Phoenix rise in your new home.

 

I will look forward to more as you progress matey.

 

G

 

Thanks Grahame, I bet you thought those layouts couldn't get any smaller - but they could :D  In fact it has invigorated my operating interest. There's a regular domestic struggle over the dining table now! 

 

43 minutes ago, Northroader said:

Glad to see the layouts survived the move and you’ve got the space left to enjoy them. It’s all so neat and clean and tidy, too. 

 

Hi Northroader, things have worked out better than I feared. But there are drawbacks. I do miss being able to just leave things lying around after a modelling session. And these really are small layouts, the locos could with a stretch of the legs. But I'm working on that. 

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Hi Mikkel, the first thing I saw was the saw!  Glad to see it was only a little judicious pruning and not complete removal!

Really looking forward to seeing what is coming next an hope both you and your lady wife will be very happy in the new flat.

Best wishes

Dave

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Thanks very much Dave. This whole downsizing exercise has been about much more than the layouts. Finding out what life is all about when the kids have left home, getting your priorities straight - and all that. We're enjoying it so far.

 

On the layout front, next up is just enjoying the running for a while I think, and then a new layout. There's room in the attic for stacking lots of layouts if I make them really flat :D

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That first shot with the saw sent a shiver down my spine but all seems to have come out well.  It's strange to me, because I soon realised that my own layout is about 6" (15 cm) too long for its location and projects into a doorway but I've never had the courage to shorten it! 

 

It's fascinating to see the 'real' scene and realise that this is where the 'Slipper Boy' plied his wicked ways. Sometimes, on my own small railway, I find it hard to remember that the flighty Blanche is only a few millimetres tall and made of white metal.

 

It's the creative thoughts that count. :)

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Hi Mike, yes I know what you mean, the illusion does shatter a bit when you pull the camera backwards. But that applies to any layout really, whether it's a 50 cm or 50 meter layout. It's all about perspective, eh?

 

 

Edited by Mikkel
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Lovely stuff! Therein lies the advantage of small/micro layouts. Easily stored and transported and can be set up quickly for a short session without major disruption. 

 

Have you anymore photos of The Goods Depot? Looks a lovely little layout.

 

Cheers, 

David

 

Edit: oops, sorry I can see the links below to relevant posts. I'll have a peruse!

Edited by south_tyne
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"... I have an agreement with my wife that when seated here,  I'm invisible."



You are invisible. Looks like an empty chair to me!

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Good to see the layouts again and good that so much of them remains. The modular sounds interesting, look forward to seeing that.

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2 hours ago, Martin S-C said:

You are invisible. Looks like an empty chair to me!

 

See, it works! :lol:

 

1 hour ago, Charlie586 said:

Good to see the layouts again and good that so much of them remains. The modular sounds interesting, look forward to seeing that.

 

Thanks Charlie.  I'm a bit excited about the modular approach. The challenge will be to join the boards in a way that doesn't look too far fetched. I'm working on some overall track plans at the moment.

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3 hours ago, Mikkel said:

...and yes I completely agree - there is much to be said for small and micro layouts.

 

Absolutely! Great post Mikkel and I remember you mentioned downsizing after I had done the same...some very neat cuts with the saw I must say :O

 

The layouts all look great and the bonus of using the traverser for multiple scenarios works really well. I totally get the limited space for modelling and not having a dedicated railway room and having to do stuff on the DRT makes your modelling more focused I think as you have to plan ahead. You can’t leave all your crap out either on the table :rofl:

 

Look forward to see more posts from you and have fun operating :dancing:

 

 

Edited by bcnPete
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I am in awe of your bravery Mikkel. Well done for bringing it all back to life! Looking forward to future progress.

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38 minutes ago, bcnPete said:

 

Absolutely! Great post Mikkel and I remember you mentioned downsizing after I had done the same...some very neat cuts with the saw I must say :O

 

The layouts all look great and the bonus of using the traverser for multiple scenarios works really well. I totally get the limited space for modelling and not having a dedicated railway room and having to do stuff on the DRT makes your modelling more focused I think as you have to plan ahead. You can’t leave all your crap out either on the table :rofl:

 

Look forward to see more posts from you and have fun operating :dancing:

 

 

 

Hi Pete, yes I've actually been thinking recently about some of the things you have said about modelling in a flat. I seem to remember you had a clever layout storage system back in Barcelona, and more recently you predicted that the move could lead to unexpected new ideas. They are slowly developing, if I can just drag them out of the treacle that is my mind :D

 

 

32 minutes ago, 5&9Models said:

I am in awe of your bravery Mikkel. Well done for bringing it all back to life! Looking forward to future progress.

 

Many thanks Chris, it was a bit do or die for the layouts so I'm glad it went well. They are just small affairs of course but I have become attached to them somehow. My wife is allergic to dogs so maybe the layouts are a substitute :lol: For the dogs I mean! :D

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You know Mikkel your attention to detail is amazing.

 

Whilst others have been marveling at your courage I am noticing your scribed platform paving stones - and one with a crack in it.  I need to borrow that idea.

 

I shall be looking out for your next modelling tip.

 

Cheers  Ray

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8 hours ago, Mikkel said:

Hi David, many thanks and yes I completely agree - there is much to be said for small and micro layouts. Mind you it would be nice to be able to give the locos "full throttle" sometimes.

 

You asked about the goods depot, in case you didn't find it here are some photos/stories:

 

Thanks Mikkel, that's great :good_mini: I will enjoy having a good read through those posts.

 

David

 

PS - as a random aside, I am very jealous of your location as I am a massive Danophile!

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7 hours ago, Silver Sidelines said:

You know Mikkel your attention to detail is amazing.

 

Whilst others have been marveling at your courage I am noticing your scribed platform paving stones - and one with a crack in it.  I need to borrow that idea.

 

I shall be looking out for your next modelling tip.

 

Cheers  Ray

 

Hi Ray, I wish I could say I had spent hours painstakingly creating that effect - but they are simply cut-to-size Wills sheets, including the cracks. I have sometimes wondered if the slabs are a little on the large size, but I'm a bit ignorant on such matters. Below is a (modifed) Dart Castings 4mm figure (which tend to be well proprotioned)

 

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Edited by Mikkel
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4 hours ago, south_tyne said:

 

Thanks Mikkel, that's great :good_mini: I will enjoy having a good read through those posts.

 

David

 

PS - as a random aside, I am very jealous of your location as I am a massive Danophile!

 

Hi David, maybe we should switch lives then, as I'm a massive Anglophile. We'd probably both be disappointed, the grass is always greener, eh? :D

Edited by Mikkel
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Paving slabs...  probably not bigger than 3 x 4 feet, mostly around 2 x 3, but these are estimates from photos, not measurements!

 

a stone slab 4’ x 3’ x 2” thick probably weighs 100-120 kg...

 

10 to the ton, 100 to the wagonload.

 

best

Simon

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3 hours ago, Simond said:

Paving slabs...  probably not bigger than 3 x 4 feet, mostly around 2 x 3, but these are estimates from photos, not measurements!

 

Hi Simon - I did a little research: 

Cheers  Ray

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I did measure slabs on the platform at Bath station, (THE Bath station, not Green Park) so pukka GWR ones, the edging slabs are 4’x3’, and the rest are either 2’square, or 3’x2’. Isn’t it nice how this blog is turning into a thread?

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Hi Mikkel,

 I'm glad to see you up and running after the big move. I've been following your ups and downs on the blog and have always been amazed at the detail of your work (and being able to contribute in a small way with my tea chest suggestion).

I went through a change of residence about two years ago to move in with and look after my elderly parents. I have gone the other way from just having a small shunting plank to being able to start construction on a 13' x 6'6" twin track 'roundy' with a separate GWR branch line terminus above the main line on one side. 

Hope to see more of your wonderful and skillful modelling in the years to come.

Dave R.

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Glad to see that your move has happened and you appeared to have settled in.  I am glad that your layout has more or less survived.  I would hate to think what Mr Price would say if I told him I was going to do something similar.

 

It shows something about your modelling that it is automatically assumed you scribed the flagstones rather than getting them out of a box.

 

It is a new ear when the children leave home.  You suddenly find that there is time for each other.  Then you get busy and grandchildren come along and it is fighting with your diary to make sure yu get one night a week to see each other.

 

 

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