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Stubby's Micro Layout - Polbraze - Heading for Taunton


Stubby47

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Stu - the pier pieces - You can get plastic "Bolt-heads" with a metal screw (one has the metal thread - the other has an internal screw thread) that are used to fix wall units and kitchen cupboard carcases together. If your pier "extensions" had ply underside them with a slot in them, they could be permanently attached to the sides and slid forwards when the box was to be closed and locked by tightening the plastic screw-head with a coin. Release the screw-head which is on the outer surface, slightly - drop the side - slide the pier back against the "land " surface. No loose bits floating about inside to damage anything during transit. They are not going to have enormous strain on them - just tight enough to stop the pier from moving about. If the description doesn't make sense, email me and I'll have a go at drawing it.

Jack

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Hi Jack - I know exacly what you mean - I've got some left over from putting up kitchen cupboards... I'd have to find a way of 'locking' the inside bolt head from turning - I think the outer shaft is circular, to fit through a drilled hole.

 

Crossing Keeper - Firstly, welcome to the forum !! Yep, if the sections were connected on long enough leads they would be wired permanently.

 

I had though of using some magnetic handbag clasps (from my favourite haberdashery stall in the inside market in town) - these are both magnetic and have a central pip/hole to locate them - so using two of these would give a strong connection, accutate location and with a wire to each electrical connection (if wired for DCC).

 

Lots of ideas to mull over, thanks guys !!

 

Stu

 

(Though tonight I shall be mostly making a self-propelled, egg-carrying vehicle with No 2 son for his school science project)

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  • 2 weeks later...
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It's looking really great Stu.

It is about time I learnt how to keep layouts small and manageable like yours! I really like the way you have designed the layout to fold into a box - that is a great idea. I assume the portability aspect is very important for hiding it from SWMBO ;) Seriously though, nice work and I'll look forward to more as and when!

 

All the best,

Jam

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Hi Jam,

 

Thanks for your comments. It's not easy to hide it from SWMBO - it's currently sat on the (new!) kitchen table !

 

The box idea is just an experiment, really, it's not the most practical of ideas. Hopefull it will give some interesting views across the layout, similar what to Jon (Sandhills) intended with Brookstone. It's also been heavily influenced, in different ways, by Brian Harrap's Quai:87 and Marc Smith's Bracty Bridge.

 

Hopefully by the end of next week I'll have done considerably more - the quay extensions, the backscene high level road way and the positioning of most of the main buildings.

 

Tonight, I have been mostly ballasting.

 

Stu

 

(PS - Got your PM !?!).

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Hi Stu,

 

:lol: Mind you, there's not a lot SWMBO's don't notice! I won't ask how she took the sight of a layout on her new table though.

 

I'm intrigued that you say it's not that practical, I would've thought the whole layout would be pretty much self contained as long as you got all the buildings to avoid each other when you fold it up! All you need are a couple grab handles just to pick it up and transport it. Indeed, I can see the possibilities of different view points along the layout to make it more interesting. You could use this to your advantage by placing little details in places only visible at certain angles. Sounds like you've got it all planned out - I look forward to seeing more.

 

I too was as shocked as you probably were Stu concerning my PM! I can't understand it myself... hey ho.

 

Jam

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You're right about the different view points, that's one of the features I hope works, but as a box it's huge and needs two to move it (I had to ask SWMBO!) and when unfolded it needs extra supports for the fold out bits. I am watching Shortliner's T- thingy in case it might work for Polbraze.

 

Anyway, ballasting is almost complete, just need to lay the extra bits of track on the main board then make the removable/ folding quays. Next major work is the raised roadway to allow placement of the various shops seen elewhere on my blog. The big shed will have to be dismantled and rebuilt the other way round, but I'm confident the configuration of the buildings will work...

 

Stu

 

Edited for spelling...

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Not much progress at all on Polbraze, but things will be moving again soon. I need to find some small models to complete whilst sat in from of the box watching the footie for the next few weeks, but I think most of the modelling now needs to be done on the board itself. The buildings are mostly done, I'll find room for the latest shop somewhere, may be at the expense of one of the others. I still need to find a suitable monument for the war memorial, and then bed everything down in the concrete quay.

 

How long to go ?

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Finally got some work done this weekend, and getting Stubby Jnr to help me carry the layout out into the sunshine - from where it was quickly moved into the shade !

 

The upper street level foundations are now in place - a trial fit of the buildings showed they all seemed to fit. Likewise the main dockside level seems to be coming together well, the view lines and mini scenes are looking promising.

 

A seagull's eye view of the layout.

post-7025-127772680752_thumb.jpg

 

Looking up from the new quay to the old town.

post-7025-127772682008_thumb.jpg

 

A wider overall shot, showing the quay at the front.

post-7025-127772698169_thumb.jpg

 

Still lot and lots to do, but I'm confident of making the deadline.

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I've just accepted the first invite of Polbraze to a public showing..... Hayle Model Railway Exhibition, 28th & 29th May 2011.

 

Still, that's ages away, and it will be finished for the competition deadline, I'm sure it will...

 

I'm intending to run the layout in two different periods, early BR steam and BR Blue diesel. To help with the setting, I'm going to create two sets of buildings for the street scene, using some of the buildings here for the early period, and then making some more modern ones for the later one.

 

The large blue shed will probably also get replaced by an older structure or a set of smaller sheds/provender stores.

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  • 4 weeks later...
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I've been making another building for the town of Polbraze.

 

This is supposed to be easily identified, without any name or branding, as one of a large chain of shops.

 

But have I done enough to make it obvious ?

 

post-7025-128047214214_thumb.jpg

 

post-7025-128047216326_thumb.jpg

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But have I done enough to make it obvious ?

Only for those who can remember that institution :D but you do need to add the big red letters and a Pick-n-Mix display in the window or that "Last Day" Sale notice or white washed windows and a dilapidated For Sale sign

Very good

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Oh thanks guys !! biggrin.gif

 

It's really pleasing to know that what I thought was an instantly recognisable facade can also be spotted by others, and that I've manage to capture the right elements.

 

Yep, there will be pick & mix counter and shelves of items, plus some sort of display in the windows (although the window on the right has a splodge of glue which will be covered with some 'plywood' for the 'broken window').

 

I've also go to research the correct format for the big red letters for the mid to late '70s - Google here I come.

 

Stu

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Oh thanks guys !! biggrin.gif

 

It's really pleasing to know that what I thought was an instantly recognisable facade can also be spotted by others, and that I've manage to capture the right elements.

 

 

Yes, I recognised it straight away as well! Surprised me because there's nothing really 'stand out' about the design, but it couldn't have been anywhere else! Subliminal 'advertising' at it's best....?!

 

Keef

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You're probably right about the push plates, they were elongated triangles, points downward.

 

I think it's the combination of silvered/chromes door frames, the doors set back from the front edge and the pillar and side walls of small white-ish tiles that give the store it's identity. You can still see old Woollies stores today, even with the Poundland/whatever branding, the general facade is just the same.

 

 

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You're probably right about the push plates, they were elongated triangles, points downward.

 

I think it's the combination of silvered/chromes door frames, the doors set back from the front edge and the pillar and side walls of small white-ish tiles that give the store it's identity. You can still see old Woollies stores today, even with the Poundland/whatever branding, the general facade is just the same.

Yes, elongated triangles with rounded corners. Ours is a B&M Bargains now.

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I've just trawled the first 10 or so pages of Woolworths images on Google, and can only find two examples of triangular door handles, despite them being such a memorable item. There are lots of other designs of handle, some doors without any at all, but it's strange how few there are compared to my memory...

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I've just trawled the first 10 or so pages of Woolworths images on Google, and can only find two examples of triangular door handles, despite them being such a memorable item. There are lots of other designs of handle, some doors without any at all, but it's strange how few there are compared to my memory...

 

I have to admit that they didn't ring a bell with me, & I didn't notice that any handles were missing from your model. So maybe they were a feature confined to certain areas of the country?

 

keef

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