Somewhere in the Pyrenees HO Mini Layout

[kintbury jon]

Hello everyone.

 

How much can you fit onto a 4 by 2 board?  

 

I have been looking at creating a small, portable layout where I can use some of my French sound engines.  Having thought about a shunting in and out type layout, it got me thinking about how small a circuit one could make.

 

With Piko having brought out a sound fitted BB8100 and claiming it could cope with a radius of 35cm, I thought I would test out just what it could do.  The loco is very short being about 15cm in length.  I modified some Hornby radius one curves bring the radius down to about 27cm.  As a result they went from being 45 degree pieces to 60 degree pieces.  Did the loco run OK?  Easily.   So it got me thinking about creating a small roundy roundy layout with a yard in the middle.

 

This is what I have created.

 

 

The curves are obviously tight but it does give the option of continuous running - something I do like.

 

Plan is to make the top section out of sight.  The layout being a freight only one.  Testing of wagons showed that all short(ish) items coped with the curves.  I tested my other locos and not surprisingly most could not cope, except for my Piko 25500 which has no problems.  In addition to the two electrics I have just taken delivery of the new Roco Y8000 which will be ideal for the layout. 

 

Here are the locos...

 

 

I have a handful of catenary masts and am hoping in the long run that I can fit it to the layout permanently.  Looking to create a small yard between two tunnels in a mountainous scene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kintbury jon]

Not a huge amount done this weekend but I have added a scenery break to the layout cutting off the rear section.  I am moving away from the idea of it being in a mountainous area but perhaps somewhere in a village or town.  I am looking at perhaps having a road going along the back with road access to the yard towards the middle of the layout (where the scene drops).

A bit  of tweaking is required in a few places.

 

I've no fixed idea with this layout but happy to go with the flow and see where it ends up!

 

 

 

 

[kintbury jon]

A bit more done today. Have blocked off the back scene.  Time for a play of course.

 

 

[swisspeat]

Any progress on this neat looking layout yet Jon?

 

peter

[Gordonwis]

Perhaps the layout should be 'somewhere in the Bugey/pre-Alps', as the BB8100 were not generally used in the Pyrenees, because their predecessor 'Midi BB' types held sway in the south west (and they were the replaced by BB9400)

[kintbury jon]

Thanks for your messages gents.

 

There has been a bit of progress with the layout.

 

I painted the entire board with some primer.  Whilst it is a dark colour, many areas will be repainted in a lighter colour.  I have painted the track bed in a light sandy colour but the intention is to lay some ballast on top.  Sleepers have been painted brown too. 

 

Regarding stock, I checked all my fleet again and am pleased to say that both the Jouef 67300 and 67400 are able to manage the curves so they have been added to the fleet.  My Roco BB16000 can also manage though as a 25kv loco, would not go with the 8100.  If I can locate a body of a 9200 or 9300 I might consider swapping them over.  What with the new 'regulations', picking up odds and sods from the continent is no longer as cheap and straightforward as it used to be.  I have also bought a nicely priced Piko 63500 that runs well though I think will be too small to have a sound decoder fitted. 

 

After acquiring a fair few Jouef buildings, I do have enough to turn the top section into a town/village so I may move away from the original location idea that I had.   Whether it ends up being the Pyrenees or not, probably doesn't matter too much for now and I will just see where it heads!

 

I will be bringing the layout down to work on in the next few days but below shows a couple of photos showing the change in paintwork.  67349 can just run round in the loop!