Ed Winterbury

Ok. I want to use imperial but tape measure is metric. Here's a sketch: 

Partially obscured by volume indicator.

This has so far been a monologue, so I'm here to make it a dialogue...

I've just tuned back into this thread. Why have you highlighted the words 'how' and 'to'?

Don't subscribe to things unless it's a challenge to visit a shop on a monthly basis and buy a magazine. It's the same principle for all magazines, not just Model Rail.

My phone/camera is temporarily occupied, but I will photograph the puzzle when I can get hold of the phone-maybe.

Dimensions are... 3900mm (3m 90cm or approx 13') x 7'6" or 2m 20cm. A bit longer but a bit narrower than the rough predictions. There's also a little bit that pokes out and the dimensions are 3'-ish 50cm. Whilst I would like to utilise this small space, it seems fairly unlikely anything would fit in.

I've arrived at a figure of 4' to 6', but am still sceptical about if that's enough. On another note, a recent trip to Scotland has helped to locate the layout. I wonder if a normal LED lighting strip is enough to create a night-time effect.

Well, a quick update: I've put down some track on the 4'x2' board mentioned, it's a shunting puzzle. I have a tape measure and I'm at the layout now. I think I'll do it today. Just bear with me a couple of hours. I've moved on a bit and have been considering a through branch line station as well as mainline through stations and termini.

I'm currently wrestling with how long trains need to be for a secondary mainline in the 50s and 60s, though Blue Pullmans and HST may feature.

Can I please have some help?

Indeed. Thanks!

'Messing around' tends to create the realistic images a teenage spotter of the 60s and 70s might take. Too manicured and it will look like there's a 'pose'.

Except the last one, I was led to believe that you had real 60s photos!

I'm not the first to ask this, but a track plan will help us appreciate this beautiful layout.

I will try to get it to the cm, I can't get it any more detailed. I should hope that Graham does create the plan.

The 4x2 layout's board is still in the production centre, then onto the 'snail mail' before arriving my (normal) home. I just hope I'm not away when it's delivered.

Thanks, Andy! So far, I've whittled it down to Crewlisle and Graham Nicholas' Aberdeen-inspired layout as primary inspiration. Graham says that he could do me the favour of compiling a track plan for Aberdeen soon, so I will wait for that and hopefully, I'll be where the layout is this Christmas to get measurement accurate to the inch.

Don't tell me you're serious about the airport plan?

Thanks

I don't possess it in my normal (London) home, which is where the board will be delivered to.

And I would wreck the board, not to mention forfeiting the warranty. I do, however, possess a soldering iron.

Oh, WOW!

No, I do not possess a piece of metal with sharp teeth known as a saw.

And I would destroy the underframe.

Well, the board is on its way, so I can't change it.

The 4'x2' board's layout has been designed, here it is: . Please feel free to suggest improvements.

To this, I would add some buildings.

Sure! I started the Cakebox Challenge layout yesterday (Sunday) with the Scale Model Scenery Small Diorama Baseboard, a second-hand BR 01/02/03/04/05/06/07 shunter and a single 7-plank wagon. I've built up the weighbridge from RM and also placed a resin garden shed. For this exercise, only the best will do so I purchased a yard of Peco Code 75 Bullhead Rail (a personal first). Again, I've opted for the most expensive scatter and ballast, for added realism. So that's my cakebox: a shunter, wagon and some structures.

Yes, a 4' by 2' board is on its way. By the way, I'm in the Cakebox Challenge (yet to enter)