There are many elements to good running on a model railway but the foundation is always the baseboards and this is particularly true on a layout that is designed to be portable. Making sure that the baseboards are straight, true and, where they should be, flat and level is absolutely vital and must not be skimped.

I have been keen to ensure that weight is minimised but true to form my baseboards for Bosmelin are starting to get heavier. I shall reduce the weight where possible in due course but at present it is ensuring a level track-bed that is my key objective. As the track-bed is elevated and supported at intervals there are plenty of opportunities to get things undulating.

I think I have made a mistake in using 9mm ply. That which I bought has proved to be of insufficient quality and has bent a bit. On the second board you can see a lengthways ‘girder’ to provide a bit more straightening power. This is not so easy on the board in the foreground due to the future locations of the turnout operation gear. Alternatively I could have used more supports and this remains an option. It’s just more weight whatever I do. Sadly it has already dawned on me that these boards will be a two person lift.

But having achieved an acceptable degree of evenness for this stage in the build (I may refine it a bit more before final assembly) I am able to to set out the proposed track plan and see what it really looks like.

Now that looks a bit daunting – it’s a lot of scenery. I’ve had to cut out about 8 inches of scale length and I did try shortening the sidings more but that destroys the integrity of the layout. Line 3 – the Southern branch – needs to be able to comfortably contain a 3 coach train + a tank engine.

There is a big problem trying to make a model of Boscarne Junction in that the two diverging lines leave the junction almost opposite to one another. Unless we have an unlimited amount of space most of our model railways loop around back on one another so the challenge is to try and make a believable alteration to the layout to get it to fit. Whatever I do is always going to be a massive compromise in this important area. Furthermore just after they diverge the two lines cross the River Camel on two bridges; both vital structures. But ‘The River End’ has a further googly to bowl. I have to put it on the curve. This is because I just don’t have room to get any of it on the straight.

To get enough depth of scenery for the river and bridges I think I shall need to fill in the centre or at least some of the river end curves. There’s only so much drawing you can do, sometimes you just have to get stuck in. So I have.

The original RSR was a ring of 4 boards 250 mm wide. To make it manageable I made it a ring of 8 boards. The inner lines – where the point is – are further in than 250mm so the boards at this end will need to be extended. The white card segment allows me to sketch in possible locations. The curved track on the outside of the board is the line that would instead normally tun off to the left as you look from this position. That is the big compromise I mentioned above.

Now that I’m starting to address the topography rather than just the baseboards them selves I do find myself feeling more enthusiastic. Still a way to go though before I can even start to think about permanent way.

Thanks for looking. Stay in, stay safe.

View the full article