Max Legroom Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 I've been thinking about a micro layout based around the lovely Peco Highland signalbox. A few years ago I started a layout based on Portmahomack using foam core board for the baseboard and got to the ballasting stage when I accidentally lent on one end and it snapped! However, I've still got the Scalescenes station signs. A good rummage around in the shed produced enough plywood and softwood to make a 900 x 300 mm board, all held together with PVA and a few pins. The fiddleyard will be a plywood box. A Heljan class 26 and a Dapol class 122 will do the honours. The 122 has the GG symbol and was transfered to Inverness in May 1978, hence the summer 1978 timeframe. All the best Max 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted April 20, 2020 Author Share Posted April 20, 2020 The imaginary line to Portmahomack would have run from a junction just south of Tain with a halt and a couple of RAF sidings at Balnagall, and a halt at Inver. The station at Portmahomack would be roughly where the caravan site is situated. The DMU runs four or five return journeys each day (except Sundays) and a branch freight runs three times a week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiths park Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 A beautiful part of the world. Could have struggled on like the St Combs branch in BR days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 Shame your foamboard snapped @Max Legroom. It's a material I have used quite a few times, to create several small & micro layouts These days, and with advancing years in mind - I really do favour using the material. I like working with it, I find it very quick to build baseboards with.... and it's incredibly lightweight. The trick is (IMHO) to build a decent wooden sub-frame, and do so at the earliest opportunity. This will protect the foamboard, and give you a decent base to start with.... The wooden frame needn't be huge timber pieces. Battening has sufficed for the layouts I've built Just don't get any superglue on the foam material.... it melts! You can use superglue once you've got ground covering on; Mod Roc, plaster and PVA - these all "seal" the foam The Highland Signal box looks a decent model Have you a plan you can share with us yet? Best of luck with it PS. I don't know how far you had progressed with the layout - but you can always glue the pieces of foam together, mounting directly onto a subframe 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted April 20, 2020 Author Share Posted April 20, 2020 Hi Marc In general I found the foam core good to work with and would use it again. I like your suggestion of a wooden subframe. In this case I’m trying to use up stuff I’ve got lying around so 6mm ply should do the job. Track will be Peco code 75 and I think I’ve just about got enough! Cheers Max 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted April 21, 2020 Author Share Posted April 21, 2020 Here is a quick update illustrating the track plan. Fiddleyard to the left beyond a road overbridge and platform at the back. The goods yard and platform will be completely separate. Peco Locolifts will be used in the fiddleyard. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted April 24, 2020 Author Share Posted April 24, 2020 The track is in place and wired up for dc. I've used cork tiles as a track base. Next task is to paint a backscene of ocean, sky and distant mountains which isn't that simple as I only have limited paint and even more limited painting skill! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted May 4, 2020 Author Share Posted May 4, 2020 Here are a couple of photos showing progress so far. The station is a smaller version of Wick/Thurso made out of Wills sheets. The overbridge is also bits of Wills sheets and girders, and the small hut is by Auhagen with a corrugated roof. It was a free gift from Continental Modeller a couple of years ago. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted May 4, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 4, 2020 Looking good, I like the way you construct your embankments. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted May 4, 2020 Author Share Posted May 4, 2020 1 hour ago, Kevin Johnson said: Looking good, I like the way you construct your embankments. Thanks Kevin. I've just used up scraps of foamcore board and card to make the embankment framework. Hopefully the plaster bandages should be going on later today. The Peco signal cabin is currently being painted. I've also got a Lanarkshire Models HR buffer stop to put together and I'm planning to scratchbuild a low-relief goods shed. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 This is coming along really nicely. It's definitely screaming out Scotland to me. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry1975 Posted May 5, 2020 Share Posted May 5, 2020 This looks good, will follow with interest. Jerry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share Posted May 12, 2020 Here is a quick update. The track has been painted and ballasted and the signal box is complete. The bridge and embankments are in place and the sand dunes between the station and beach are taking shape. Ballast is Woodland Scenics fine and is a mix of various colours I had to hand - mainly grey and buff. You can see how the layout is very much inspired by Ken Gibbons' Port Pennan micro. A low-relief goods shed will go in the right-hand corner. 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted May 18, 2020 Author Share Posted May 18, 2020 I've made some progress with the ground cover. 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry1975 Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 I like this a lot, looking forward to seeing more. Jerry. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 On 19/05/2020 at 15:25, Jerry1975 said: I like this a lot, looking forward to seeing more. Jerry. Thanks Jerry I've had to have a rethink regarding the low-relief goods shed as the space available meant it would have been chopped off at one side as well as low-relief. A quick card mock-up showed this looked awful so I've decided it to replace it with a low loading dock and some fencing at the end of the siding. The story is that the original goods shed was destroyed by fire in the late sixties and the area is still wasteland, much to the disgust of the locals who rightly regard it as an eyesore! This scruffy corner should contrast nicely with the rest of the layout. I'll post a couple of photos as soon as I've completed the scene. All the best Max Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted May 28, 2020 Author Share Posted May 28, 2020 I think I've finished with the exception of a few grass tufts. Now all I need to do is clean the track, wire up the controller and see if it actually works! The signalman is by Modelu and was originally on his way to Strachur before a last-minute transfer saw him head 200 miles further north. My original intention was to make the fiddle yard from plywood but when I realised I didn't have enough I had to use what was lying around in the shed, which is OK as it follows the spirit of the project. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanG Posted May 28, 2020 Share Posted May 28, 2020 Superb modelling. I really like what you have achieved in such a small space. Really inspired me to build a second layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted May 28, 2020 Author Share Posted May 28, 2020 53 minutes ago, SeanG said: Superb modelling. I really like what you have achieved in such a small space. Really inspired me to build a second layout. Thanks Sean A test with a class 26 showed that everything works ok so I’m going to have a proper running session soon. I can definitely recommend a small project as a second layout. The only problem now is that I’m already thinking about an extra section! All the best Max Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lugworm Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Nice. last time we were at Portmahomack, an archaeological dig was going on beside a church. It was very interesting. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevo Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 excellent modelling Max really like what you have done . can i ask you where you got the fence ing thats runs behind the signal box a long the back of the platform . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Legroom Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 4 hours ago, kevo said: excellent modelling Max really like what you have done . can i ask you where you got the fence ing thats runs behind the signal box a long the back of the platform . Hi Kevo Thanks for your kind comment. The fencing is Wills SS45. All the best Max Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevo Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 cheers max i will check that out kevin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted May 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 31, 2020 Super little layout Max, I like these layout because of the detail you can achieve in such a small space. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clogger Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 I am quickly becoming a fan of this type of layout. So much so, it has inspired me to start thinking about a similar size layout. Keep up the good work and stay safe. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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