Port Bréige

[KMCE]

As an intro to my work here, I thought I would post some details of my current micro layout. 

 

I rather liked the Canal Wharf micro layout by Scalescenes and decided to take a closer look at it (https://scalescenes.com/product/ly02-canal-wharf-boxfile-layout/) and at £10 I though, why not?  Question was, could it be done in 21mm (5' 3" Irish Gauge) - as it turns out, yes, and proves to be quite a shunting puzzle.

 

The Scalescene layout in the box is of limited operational use, however they do recommend using a sector plate or traverser to provide some level of operation.  I opted initially for the sector plate and incorporated it into a single layout, which will be twice the size of the scalescene proposal and I could use some other buildings to hide the sector plate.  The wharf space was limited, and as I already had the dock scene from Scalescenes, I could extend the wharf and convert to a port - in this case a small fictitious port somewhere on the East Coast in Ireland.

 

 

As the track will be covered there was no need to provide all the sleepering - just enough to hold the track in position.  A Y-point was created, and even though it is short, it has the equivalent of 800mm radius (as does all the track) which means locos (short) & wagons travel through quite well.

This was wired up for DC (or as the layout is so small, it could be DCC).  Sector plate will be operated by a simple push rod, as will the point. 

 

Uncoupling positions (magnets) are noted by the circles and the layout operates with 4 - 5 short wagons; early Irish wagons are quite short c. 14'.  Each small siding can only hold one wagon without fouling the points, while the top road can just about hold four wagons.  Sector plate can hold the loco and two wagons, so shunting options are quite limited.  By using the uncoupling position on the point exit, it is possible to make up trains of 4 on the long road, from the 4 - 5 wagons and still provide quite a challenge.

 

This is then put into a box to contain the scene and make it portable with overall dimensions of 660 mm long x 300mm deep x 320mm high, so quite small.

Some strip LED lighting was added to light the scene.

 

The scalescene kit is very good and buildings come together well, albeit with a lot of cutting and sore fingers!

Parts of the original kit were used to create new buildings to cover the sector plate area along with some 3D printed windows.

 

 

 

 

Sea detail is as per MarklinofSweeden (YouTube) tutorial using PVA glue and toilet roll to create very realistic sea & waves.  The drifter is a Model Slipways 1/72 RC model cut down to a waterline model for inclusion in the scene - needs to be weathered though!

 

Cobble detail is created with DAS Clay using a 3D printed pattern roller.

 

 

In order to improve the operation of the layout, I built a traverser and opened the centre track to allow access onto the stage.

 

 

So the overall view.

 

 

All rolling stock is either scratch built in Brass (locos & some wagons), or 3D designed & printed stock (small railcar & wagons).  Clayton railcar is based on a Shapeways product with a lot of work to build to a functional model.

 

Sorry for the longwinded post; you're getting a quick synopsis of work commenced initially in Oct 2020

 

Anyway, all for now.

 

Ken

[luke the train spotter]

The warehouse buildings look fantastic! There is so much life and atmosphere captured its great to see. Definitely a very inspirational layout. It would be great to hear more about your rolling stock. 

[Keith Addenbrooke]

Excellent - and a lot of very high quality modelling in not much more than a year.  Thanks for sharing it here, Keith.

Edited January 26, 2022 by Keith Addenbrooke

[hayfield]

A great looking Micro layout with a twist to the storage yard, thanks for sharing it

[marc smith]

Some superb modelling here. Great design, great concept, and good operating potential for such a small layout.
Love those buildings, and the weathering.... of pretty much everything.
Thanks for sharing  

[Porfuera]

Fantastic work - I echo what everyone else has said. Very inspirational and I look forward to more photos and more information on the prototypes. Thanks for sharing.

 

Cheers, Neil.

[Sweet pea]

Ken your micro layout build is excellent and is inspirational to fellow railway modellers.

[TechnicArrow]

This is simply superb, I've never seen the scalescenes kit look so good! The best bits are definitely your embelishments - the wharf front (especially the steps down), and the additional building to the right. The sector plate looks nicely concealed-in-plain-sight too.

 

Excellent work overall!

[Ian Holmes]

A great looking micro layout. Clever of the Scalescenes kit

 

ian 

[KMCE]

Many thanks for all the kind comments, it is greatly appreciated.

 

To those who commented on the Scalescene elements, I find they are a great and inexpensive resource - well thought out and can be bashed into other elements also. 

 

 

20 hours ago, TechnicArrow said:

the wharf front (especially the steps down), and the additional building to the right

The wharf is also a Scalescene product, and the LHS of the front building is a re-hash of the back building overlapping the facade to make a bigger building; the taller building is scratch built.

 

 

On 26/01/2022 at 01:47, luke the train spotter said:

It would be great to hear more about your rolling stock. 

I will set up a separate workbench thread to show the locos and wagons with some information on their history and build.

 

 

Once again, many thanks for the comments & all for now,

 

Ken

[KMCE]

On 26/01/2022 at 19:28, Porfuera said:

more information on the prototypes

 

I have started a workshop thread in the Kitbuilding & Scratchbuilding section of the forum - hopefully this is the correct location for such a thread.  Anyway, for those interested;

 

 

Cheers,

 

Ken

[KMCE]

Hmmm......seem to have lost the photos following the site changes, so to put some back......

 

 

 

 

Line up of DSER (Dublin & South Eastern Railways) and GSR (Great Southern Railways) locos, wagons and railcars. 

Back line DSER wagons with 6-wheel goods brake.

Next line 423 Class loco with DSER wagons, SLNCR (Sligo Leitrim & Northern Counties Railway) vehicle transporter, with a gas wagon bringing up the rear.

DSER Armoured train dating from 1923 utilised during the Civil War.

Front line - Clayton Railcar & Drewry Petrol Railcar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also a new loco added to the fleet.  GSR 551 Class or J26, in this guise No. 560 with the enclosed bunker as used on the Waterford Tramore line.  Whilst not strictly DSER, the Waterford line went back and forth between DSER and GSWR over the years.

 

 

 

Paint removed from the coupling rods as considerable fettling was needed to get the motion operating to P4 standards.  Nice loco and a characteristic Irish loco.

 

All for now.

 

Ken