mullie Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 During 2006 I began a project on a shelf layout in our garage involving the construction of copperclad and SMP track using DCC control that was taking some time to come together. Having seen articles on Carl Arendt’s micro layout web site and articles in the modelling press relating to box file layouts I thought I would have a go but I set myself the limit of recycling as much as I could from equipment, buildings and scenic items I had acquired over the years. My only purchase was three yards of Peco code 75 track, the layout uses one small Y point an a left hand point. Even the box files themselves were largely those no longer needed at work for various reasons. Initially the layout used just two box files and recreated a well known micro layout plan called ‘Carl’s Exports’ and in its initial stages was featured on Carl’ website in January 2008. The original layout took just a month to build from start to finish despite a hectic domestic and work schedule. It provided an interesting diversion from my main layout that was bogged down in track construction. The layout was inspired by fenland light railways, particularly the Wissington light railway and also by the Corringham Light Railway in Essex. Hence the layout is loosely set in the area south of Kings Lynn in the heart of the Fens but essentially the layout has become a testing ground for different modelling methods so rivet counters please look away now! A revised version of the layout was featured in the August 2011 Railway Modeller. Photos of the original layout can be seen in the gallery below: Album: Layout challenge 2011 A decision to enter the 2011 layout challenge spurred me on to revisit the layout and revise the scenic work for a third time, again trying new techniques. Links to my layout challenge entries are as follows Album: Upbeach St Mary 2 Finished photos Album: Upbeach St Mary finished photos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Enclosed are the most recent photos of the layout as recently revised: The 08 shunter seen in the photos is an older Bachmann model picked up cheap on Ebay. It has been fitted with new pickups and the damaged cab handrails replaced, just waiting to be renumbered and weathered. Eventually it will be DCC fitted but I am currently running the layout with a Guagemaster combi, nice and simple! An old Ian Kirk van body grounded and weathered. Coopercraft truck awaiting departure from the yard. The two remaining shots show the yard area Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A1X Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 brilliant layout what is the size of the basebored? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 brilliant layout what is the size of the basebored? It is the length of four standard box files, three are scenic and one is a cassette fiddle yard. I use the box files so the lids still close as this keeps the dust off and as the layout is based in our spare bedroom it can be easily stored when we have visitors. The down side is that the back scene needs to be very low but I can live with the compromise if it means I can have a layout in the warm. My main layout is along one side of our garage meaning it is cold at this time of year and inaccessible when the car is in the garage. We live by the coast so keeping the car out of the salty atmosphere is worth doing. Thanks for the kind comment Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 Some photos of the box file layout including the 2011 challenge modules. not great due to lighting difficulties, I'll take some better ones when I have time. Photos include the passenger service for the first time. A fiddle yard will be added off the curved track when I have time so the DMU can run through the scene rather than simply go back and forth. An overall view of all six box files, I don't have room to set it up like this norrmally, this is my study and I was supposed to be working instead of taking photographs! Vans on the siding, mainline is on the right, siding on the left Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 What a great layout, a good use of boxfiles and nicely scenicked. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 A couple of new photos added today showing the layout with the first challenge module added in place of the fiddle yard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted January 7, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 7, 2012 Lovely modelling, with bags of railway atmosphere, despite - or maybe because of! - the limitations of the boxfiles. Is there any way you could include a run-round, to make the freight shunting easier? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 The original inspiration for the layout was 'Carl's Exports' by the late Carl Arendt where the run round is actually out of view. One box file is usually a small cassette fiddle yard where any running round can take place. At the moment I'm working on the fiddle yard so have attached the challenge module and I'm using the main line as a 'scenic' fiddle yard. Alternatively the layout can be worked by a pair of 08s when the layout is worked under DCC (it is wired for conventional DC or DCC simply depending on what's plugged in) meaning I can get round the lack of run round. This makes the shunting puzzle element even more interesting as it is easy to get blocked in. The layout lives in our spare room next to the study where I spend a lot of time working so it is nice to nip in there shunt for 20 minutes as a bit of light relief and normally there it is four box files long. My main layout Pott Row is still in the relatively early stages and in fact is out of use at the moment while I rebuild two three way points, and is in the garage, not the greatest place in winter. Oh and the car gets in the way at night as well! Thanks for your interest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
modeler123 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 saw the layout in railway modeler july 2011 great little layout you have there Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
modeler123 Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 what is the track plan and how much do the files cost ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 what is the track plan and how much do the files cost ? Box files can usually be purchased for around £2 or so, some of the ones I've used were unused from my work place. To keep the layout sturdy I do put a ply base for laying track on and over the summer of 2011 I did put a sub frame on the bottom so I could use alignment dowels and luggage catches. I had been using flat back hinges for a long but I wanted something more reliable and the 'station road baseboards' dowels and luggage catches worked well on my Pott Row layout and were a good price. This might be cheating but it has improved things as I'm not a great carpenter! I would quite like to try exhibiting, possibly with this layout but I'm not a member of my local club due to work commitments so I need to be sure things work if I do end up taking it out. The layout uses copper tape underneath for wiring so the sub frame also protects the electrics, points are hand operated but I always use polarity switching for electrofrog points so I've inserted some switches in the front and just have to remember to flick them as when working on DCC it will cause a short and cut everything out. The layout can also be operated on DC. Track plan is dead simple and based on a Carl Arendt plan 'Carl's exports.' Uses just two points and a small cassette fiddle yard. With the Upbech two module inserted an extra point and siding comes into play. Usually the layout plan is as below: Upbech plan.pdf At home in it's normal setting this is as much as I can use, it lives on a book case in our spare room so has to be moved when we have guests. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold mudmagnet Posted January 12, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 12, 2012 Great little layout and shows what can be achieved in a relatively small space. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Cracking layout with some lovely details, plus the advantage of built in dust protectors Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Photo showing the layout in Wisbech and Upwell mode. The J70 is an ancient K's kit bought over thirty years ago running on a Tenshodo spud and with a basic Lenz decoder with 'shunt' control that gives much improved running. This loco isn't really up to modern standards and I think this year I may well invest in at least one Silver Fox version. Two would be good as I do have a spare spud. Different 08, this time the Hornby version with yellow ends suggesting a later period. Eventually I will get round to renumbering this loco, I've only been planning to do it for about four years! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share Posted January 20, 2012 Started rebuilding the fiddle yard tonight. Plan is to have a small cassette yard along the back and perhaps another scenic feature along the front, perhaps reinstating the small cottage featured in the original layout. As you can see I'm using copperclad sleepers and code 75 track so the alignment can be adjusted, I just find it easier. The hardboard is the base for the aluminum angle used for the cassettes. The following photos, although not great, show the 'white heat' of intensive layout work in the garage. On the right I've just relaid an SMP three way point on my Pott Row layout perched on my workmate and the other shows two modules of the Upbech layout on the step into the house so I can sort out the fiddle yard alignment and get the sleepers laid ready for track work and electrics and yes it was all packed away and yes the car did go in the garage as it does every night! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 The layout is temporarily packed away because we have visitors for the next few weekends but I've still been able to get things done. I couldn't get the aluminum angle to work properly, I think this maybe because their was some flexibility in the box file and it made it more difficult to get a really accurate alignment plus my sawing skills aren't fantastic! I therefore went back to the kind of fiddle yard I've used very successfully on Pott Row using 9mm ply and code 75 track on copperclad sleepers. Tracks are aligned using bolts made of K&S brass tube and rod. The photos show the fiddle yard just after I had finished soldering and had taken it outside to clean off all the soldering residues. The cassettes are 12 inches long so a short freight with a small shunter or a single car DMU is practical. If I have the space I also have some two foot cassettes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Shot some videos today, just to show that the layout really does work, including the auto uncoupling. It is difficult to photograph the layout as it is in a dark corner but it gives you an idea. loco is a Bachmann 08 powered by a Gaugemaster Combi. I'll keep experimenting, I'm using a small hand held digital camera and trying to work the layout and shoot at the same time! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8ZNz22gv1I&feature=context&context=G22e811eAUAAAAAAAAAA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBNTcAZ6c8E&feature=context&context=G22e811eAUAAAAAAAAAA Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mason Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 really love this layout, brings back great memories for me too from building Pilot Road box file. I may have to revisit the box file concept again. The detail and atmosphere is stunning. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Thank you for the kind comment, the original layout was built in just a month as a diversion from a more major project but this layout has kept me occupied for a number of years now and I always find new things to do (including the RM layout challenge) and the small size means things are achievable, important when trying to balance hobby with work and family. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 The layout is really meant to be set in East Anglia but I really couldn't resist the Hornby class121 dmu so here we see one running into Upbech as it is ideal for such a small layout. Allegedly the layout is set in Cambridgeshire but as the two most substantial buildings are weather boarded timber it is probably more suggestive of Essex. Oh well, it's my layout....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RJVu_R1azg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl1962 Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I cant get the vids to play, they all come up as private. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
z1 Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Really good stuff. You'd never guess this was a selection of boxfiles. Nicely weathered stock too! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 I cant get the vids to play, they all come up as private. First time I've used You tube for uploading video so wasn't quite sure how they would work, have reset them to 'public' so they should be ok. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornamuse Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 very very very cool model thanks for the inspiration Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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