CaptainBiggles Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Had I known about this sub-forum when I started posting about my layout Boostfine Yard I'd have posted it in here rather than the main "Layout Topics" forum. Anyway, it can be found here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/74270-boostfine-yard-formerly-industrial-shunting-puzzle/ and I hope is of interest to you fellow micro-layouters. Do please feel free to comment or advise - scroll to the end for the interesting stuff, such as computer control via JMRI, a few building shots, and a couple of views of a London Transport interloper... All the wood for it came from a single piece of 1220 x 660mm MDF and measures just 850mm x 200mm. Does that count as micro around these parts? I think so. I'm contemplating exhibiting it, has anyone else experience of exhibiting a micro layout? I have to say I love the APA boxes. If only I'd read this forum before I started... Nice to meet you all, Joel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBiggles Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 Thanks Gra, The scenery is still a work in progress, but the track is fully down and all electrics complete - including the ability to plug a computer via USB and a second walkabout controller in the rear so it can be controlled from behind as well as from the panel built into the front. Yes, all buildings have been kit-bashed from the Kestrel 2mm factory building or scratch-built. It's my first attempt at any of this (well, for the last 20yrs that is!). The paintwork is all just a first-coat really, all the buildings and scenery will be gone over again at a later date. Now the buildings are more or less complete I'm after ideas for scenery in the foreground. Ground clutter, that sort of thing. Suggestions? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBiggles Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Morning all, Thanks to a visit to the Romford show on Saturday and a day in the garage on Sunday there was good progress on Boostfine Yard this weekend - the other post has plenty of new photos. I can neither confirm nor deny that there may be photos of a grounded van courtesy of Gra's advice... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steam_Julie Posted November 14, 2014 Share Posted November 14, 2014 Get someone else to help you. Operating a micro for a whole day could tax your sanity! Talking to the punters will also help.Julie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Oooh, I'm liking this! More please! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 47137 Posted November 17, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 17, 2014 I take a small roundy roundy to put beside my shunting micro at exhibitions. It lets me keep something moving, otherwise viewers wander away between movements. It's also useful if someone buys a loco and wants to try it out. - Richard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBiggles Posted November 17, 2014 Author Share Posted November 17, 2014 Thanks Daniel. There's more in the main thread that I link to in the first post, so I don't want to double up. I thought I'd share it here as for some reason I don't think people have been so quick to pick up on the construction there. But for us micro-ers I hope people feel it's worthy of sharing. I've added quite a lot of stuff that is overkill really, it uses tortoise point motors, CBUS control architecture (so everything is interlocked etc) and can be controlled from either a computer or the control panel on the front. I've also replaced all the couplings as well so I can achieve hands-free shunting. Easier said than done in N! My attempts at scratchbuilding / kit-bashing are a bit hit and miss to be honest, I was hoping they'd have come out a bit better. That said, it was a first attempt. Richard & Steam-Julie, thanks for the exhibiting tips, most appreciated. The shuttle across the back of the layout was built really for exhibiting in mind. It runs a class 121 across the back once every 30 seconds or so, hiding behind the bridge / warehouse at either end when not moving which I hope gives it the appearance of going somewhere. It will mean that there's always something going on, even if I have to nip to the bathroom or wish to talk to someone. I was planning on using the classic "draw 5 cards from 8" method of forming trains, so that at least every time I play the game the puzzle is different. It's strange though, I've spent so long building the layout that I've not actually had a chance to play with it yet! My next job once the buildings are finished and ground cover is more advanced is to fine-tune the couplings so I really can use it hands-free... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBiggles Posted November 27, 2014 Author Share Posted November 27, 2014 Updated the main topic with loads of photos. Here's a quick glimpse.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBiggles Posted December 5, 2014 Author Share Posted December 5, 2014 Boostfine Yard gets a lid!!! See the main article for more details: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBiggles Posted December 10, 2014 Author Share Posted December 10, 2014 Lid finished!!! Plastic arrived yesterday, off to fit it now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBiggles Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 Boostfine Yard will be appearing at the Shoeburyness show in November. Its first outing - I'm getting nervous already! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBiggles Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 Boostfine Yard has now received its second invitation to exhibit - Basildon Show in July. That's even sooner than Shoeburyness - so I'd best get cracking!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBiggles Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 I'm getting really nervous about the shows now, I tried getting it ready yesterday and am really struggling with low-speed running and the magnetic uncoupling. Anyone got any tips? I've written more in the main thread. :-( Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBiggles Posted July 3, 2015 Author Share Posted July 3, 2015 Boostfine Yard heads to Basildon MRC show this weekend - the first one I've ever done. Wish me luck as the pointwork is playing up and the couplers aren't reliable... :-( Looking good scenically though! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBiggles Posted July 8, 2015 Author Share Posted July 8, 2015 Well Boostfine Yard made its first ever exhibition appearance at the weekend and amazingly it all passed off without a hitch! I really enjoyed the experience, and made a conscious effort to do more talking than train driving. This really paid off, with many conversations with people who were familiar with the railways of East London and who all said it had been captured well. I learned a great deal - including the fact that even my lurid Fyffes banana wagon wasn't out of place, there used to be a Fyffes depot a few miles up the line at Goodmayes! Talking to people really made the time fly and I found it fascinating. I think having a few books and a small presentation running on the screen and a couple of chairs to sit on helped too. The shuttle ran flawlessly throughout, completing 1,577 journeys over the two days, which is equivalent to 104 scale miles! The points and running in the yard worked very nicely too, I was able to get pretty decent low-speed running, but the couplings were still not working reliably so I didn't attempt to do any shunting. I found I didn't need to though, there was more than enough on display to talk about and generally people were more than happy to sit and chat while the shuttle went back and forth. Overall I really enjoyed the experience, and I hope that the public and members of Basildon MRC appreciated my efforts too. Here are some (poor quality thanks to the dodgy lighting) photos of the w/e, including my nephew who turned up to "help" on Sunday. We all loved it. All loaded up and ready to go! Overall view - poor lighting making everything appear more yellow. Next time I'll bring a tablecloth too! Little helper enjoying himself! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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