Festive Micro Layout - Layout in a Wrapping Paper Box

[SDJR7F88]

Since reading a recent article in Model Rail Magazine by Chris Nevard's, about his 4mm Mirco Layout inside a Really Useful Wrapping Paper Storage Box, I've wanted to have a little go at building a similar style layout. With the Festive Period fast approaching the opportunity has arisen for me to have a go!

With the dimensions of 730mm by 21mm, the layout will dipict a new formed preserved railway, operation santa specials, with a small industrial locomotive and a brake van. The layout be a basic back and forth run with a single siding, serving a goods platform / cattle dock, and feature a haltand road crossing.The plan is to have the layout operate via a BlockSignaling Simple Shuttle System.

After drawing up a quick plan, we set about building the base board for some left over ply, which fits the box nicely, stated laying the track.

More progress to follow!

Edited December 10, 2018 by SDJR7F88

[luke the train spotter]

Looks good so far. After seeing your works on YouTube and on here I'm quite excited to see how this will come out.

[Howl03]

Hi Callum,

 

I have also built a few layouts that fit into these boxes. they are great for storing away when not in use. Will be looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

 

regards Paul.

[AdeMoore]

Looking good Callum,

I also admired Chris’s layout in these.

Was tempted Saturday in B&Q

Will follow with interest.

 

 

Cheers

Ade

[Enterprisingwestern]

Far more scope in the Really Useful christmas tree box!

 

Mike.

[1722]

Good start and is something that has long appealed to me, inspired by Howl03's City Goods and Mr Nevard's offering.

 

I already own one of the boxes but, sadly, it is used for it's main (pah!) purpose, wrapping paper! :-(

[Kevin Johnson]

Hi Callum a nice start. I’m looking forward to this build.

[Mikkel]

Looks good. I suppose there has to be room for the fingers when lifting it out?

 

I have tried to find a similar box that is a bit longer but with the same height. No luck so far though.

[Northroader]

Here’s a link to Chris Nevards blog for this job if you haven’t read MRN:http://nevardmedia.blogspot.com/2018/01/layout-in-box.html

[SeanG]

Looking at making something in one of these (well two with boards that will join together) so following with interest.

[MikeTrice]

Seeing this topic reminds me that I really must get around to finishing this N Gauge attempt: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/57760-a-really-useful-layout-caught-out-by-flashing/

 

Is it really 6 years?

[mpeffers]

Far more scope in the Really Useful christmas tree box!

 

Mike.

Have to be careful - I started planning a layout to these dimensions and it turned out the box was too long for the cupboards in my flat and too tall to fit under the bed. It would have had nowhere to live...

[SDJR7F88]

Thanks ever so much for all the kind words, great to see how much interest there is in it! Naturally the a whole video of the build will be coming to my YouTube Channel SDJR7F88, just before Christmas, and another very special platform too (so stay tuned)

 

Work continued today, with the ballasting and the start of creating the landforms, such as the Halt Platform and Cattle Dock / Goods Platform, which will be part of an embankment.For this I've just used a a left over sheet of good old polystyrene, left over from a recent parcel.

The aim is to get the whole layout complete in under 24 hours, were up to 3 so far!

[Kevin Johnson]

Nice work Callum. I like how styrene is used to achieve landforms.

[Hippo]

Looks good. Here is a couple of links to Phil Parkers layout Melbridge Parva from 7 or 8 years ago. I'm sure it was in one of the Hornby magazine annuals 

 

its amazing what you can fit in one of these boxes

 

http://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/2011/07/have-workbench-will-travel.html

 

http://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/2011/06/plan-for-panel.html

 

Owen

 

Edit it was in Hornby Annual 3

Edited December 11, 2018 by Hippo

[SDJR7F88]

Made a start on the scenery, including the platforms, crossing and road surfaces.

The road and crossing has been created using textured concrete paint (which looks very similar to pale graval / tarmac road), painted onto pieces of card, cut to size from a cereal box. I've also used the same paint to paint the good yard and accompanying platform.

The Halt Platform Building were test fitted, before I set about adding brick sheeting to the edges. The water tower, sits on the little grove, get into the crossing end of the platform. Once lined, I added Metcalfe paving slabs to create the platform edge, before painting the overall surface with the same textured paint as used for the road.

Once the paint had dried, I then set about masking off the rails ready for the scatter and snow.

[Enterprisingwestern]

Looks good. I suppose there has to be room for the fingers when lifting it out?

 

 

2 loops of string solve that problem.

 

Mike.

[SDJR7F88]

Looks good. I suppose there has to be room for the fingers when lifting it out?

 

I have tried to find a similar box that is a bit longer but with the same height. No luck so far though.

I've cut the boards 2cm shorter than the box so I can get my fingers under at each end

[SDJR7F88]

On to the fun part! Adding the scatter! I used a mixture of Woodlandscenics course Earth Turf, combined with Peco Static Grass Tufts to build up the ground cover, before adding Woodlandscenics Hedging.

Once the turf was down, along with all the buildings, trees, ect, it was then time to make it snow!For this I used Woodlandscenics snow effect, which was applied by using a layer of Peco Spray Glue, sprayed onto the layout and then once again, once the snow was in place to seel.

For my first attempt at snow I'm over the moon with it, especially the effect achieve by masking of the road to recreate tyre marks.

Now to wait for it to dry before testing!

Edited December 13, 2018 by SDJR7F88

[Dave Hunt]

The word that comes to mind is inspired. I love it!

[Kevin Johnson]

Very nice Callum. Excellent modelling and very inspiring.

[Mikkel]

That's a very effective scene, nice work. I also really like the visual balance of the layout.

[HonestTom]

That's really atmospheric. I like that you haven't gone all-out with the snow. I'm kind of reminded of the 1963 film 'Snow.'

[SDJR7F88]

The word that comes to mind is inspired. I love it!

 

Very nice Callum. Excellent modelling and very inspiring.

 

That's a very effective scene, nice work. I also really like the visual balance of the layout.

 

That's really atmospheric. I like that you haven't gone all-out with the snow. I'm kind of reminded of the 1963 film 'Snow.'

 

Thanks ever so much Guys! Glad you like it. Really enjoyed adding this effect. Certainly has got me thinking about building more layouts this sort of size

[SDJR7F88]

So after just over 8 hours of work, the layouts complete!

After removing the masking tape, and giving layout a quick clean it was time for the inaugural train! The Hornby Peckett seemed like a natural choice for the layout, accompanied by the recently released Hornby Eastern Region 20 ton 'Toad' Brake Van. The pair fit in perfectly on the layout! 

I even got around to adding a few little figures, such as the snowball fight scene, with snowman and a pair of Deer too! 

Let me know what you think!

Full video of the build coming soon!  

Stay tuned