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009 quarry micro (Cule's Quarry)


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For my first cake box challenge idea (and my first topic on this forum) I decided to do a working layout in 009. The plan is two sidings with a loading hopper on one which the wagons can be shunted under to load them. It will work as a diorama but will also work as a micro layout when a 'stick' is attached.post-33493-0-42598300-1515848077_thumb.jpgpost-33493-0-75431700-1515848065_thumb.jpgpost-33493-0-64517400-1515848091_thumb.jpgpost-33493-0-55498300-1515848106_thumb.jpg

Edited by 009 micro modeller
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I built this over Christmas but I'm now back at university so won't be doing anything else to it for a little while, but since the photos were taken I have added a rock face to the back board (the base is one of the scale model scenery ones suggested in the chat). The colour looks a bit better in real life than in the photos. I have also constructed the buildings although they are not fitted yet. The main structure is a Ratio N scale (00 of course was ridiculously big) coal loading hopper, which I have modified so that it will actually load aggregate into Minitrains skips. This is fed by a scratchbuilt (from various Plastruct bits) chute into which gravel/sand is loaded through a hole in the backscene. More conventionally I also have an old Dapol/Airfix shed/office type building near where the point is just to round out the scene. While it will be nice as a diorama as well, I've got somewhat sidetracked into the working features of this idea but my other ideas for cake box entries will either be purely static or will work within the box with no need for an extra stick.

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A few more photos. Eventually the chute from the backscene to the hopper will have a corrugated iron roof to disguise the hole at the back and I will paint over the bit of sky showing at the side of the rock. The buildings are just posed at the moment to show what it will look like but the rock face is stuck on already. In emulation of Hudson and Decauville track I have not used 009 track this time but N with alternate sleepers removed.post-33493-0-85644600-1516051478_thumb.jpgpost-33493-0-06016800-1516051491_thumb.jpgpost-33493-0-67462300-1516051508_thumb.jpgpost-33493-0-09341000-1516051526_thumb.jpgpost-33493-0-96218600-1516051545_thumb.jpgpost-33493-0-20739900-1516051562_thumb.jpgpost-33493-0-13673400-1516051578_thumb.jpg

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  • 2 months later...

Apologies for bad lighting in these photos. Basic ground cover (sand and a bit of earth) done and buildings stuck down. More specific rocks, grass etc and details to follow. I'm using a method a friend (really good at scenery) suggested of building up layers of scatter as they would be in real life.

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Approaching completion (I still need to do the chute roof and some final finishing touches and the dummy and real point levers). Smaller rock debris have been added and a bit of greenery. The grass is not static grass but Battlefields Jungle Tufts from MiniNatur, although they look much better than the flat scatter I usually use.post-33493-0-68654200-1523038483_thumb.jpgpost-33493-0-98796500-1523038508_thumb.jpgpost-33493-0-51093600-1523038540_thumb.jpg

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Thanks for the kind comments. I'm now concerned that the backscene board is carrying a lot of weight - the rock face and also the chute (this rests on the hopper but is supported fully by the rock face). Perhaps I should brace it somehow - any ideas? Having found the bits for wire in tube control of the point (it's going to be a working layout remember) and started to stick these on I can't find the cosmetic point lever I thought I had, but hopefully I'll be able to pick one up at NG South. Certainly there will be further details to add - perhaps a few figures - but I am only a couple of items from basic completion. Then it will be time for my next wacky cake box idea. :)

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Unfortunately there has been a slight setback. When the point is operated by wire in tube the base lifts as a result of slight vertical movement of the wire. Retaining it as previously and raising it slightly is not an option as the base cannot be above rail level (loco axleboxes would foul). I have therefore decided to mount it alongside as shown. It doesn't look quite as good but will make maintenance of the points easier and remove the point rod issues (which could otherwise only be solved by rebuilding the wire in tube mechanism to tolerances I probably can't practically achieve). I will then cunningly disguise the movement and slightly incorrect appearance of the point by adding a little scatter and a couple of grass tufts (I do like these :) ).post-33493-0-47647700-1523217399_thumb.jpg

Edited by 009 micro modeller
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A test run this morning revealed a problem with the rear uncoupling ramp as it is on a curve and caused derailments so this has been replaced with a narrower one. The grass close to or between the rails may also need to be trimmed slightly. In other news I picked up some figures at Eastleigh on Saturday and two of these have found their way onto the layout.post-33493-0-37850900-1523287651_thumb.jpg

Edited by 009 micro modeller
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Test running. The layout is now complete with the roof having been attached to the loading chute. The Minitrains Gmeinder is the perfect loco for this layout. Annoyingly I'm still experiencing intermittent electrical problems with the point as it is currently relying on the blades for contact, but for the purposes of the challenge it is finished.

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Does the loader actually work?

Yes - but it's nothing technical, just pouring Woodland Scenics Talus into a hole in the backscene. From there it goes down the chute, which I made from plastruct girder and various plasticard and styrene strip, into the hopper, a Ratio N scale coal loading tower with the 2mm scale conveyors left off and some reinforcement in the hopper. A hole was created at the bottom of this with a small chute directing the gravel into the skips. Placement of the loader at the end of the siding means that only the end wagon can be loaded. After this it is shunted to the other siding and the next wagon has its turn, then repeat with the third wagon. The full train is then removed from the layout by the loco and the sequence begins again.

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Yes - but it's nothing technical, just pouring Woodland Scenics Talus into a hole in the backscene. From there it goes down the chute, which I made from plastruct girder and various plasticard and styrene strip, into the hopper, a Ratio N scale coal loading tower with the 2mm scale conveyors left off and some reinforcement in the hopper. A hole was created at the bottom of this with a small chute directing the gravel into the skips. Placement of the loader at the end of the siding means that only the end wagon can be loaded. After this it is shunted to the other siding and the next wagon has its turn, then repeat with the third wagon. The full train is then removed from the layout by the loco and the sequence begins again.

Very nice! Its a great touch for an 009 layout.
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