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Sorry about the picture quality. Ive made most the the rocky terrain. Its polystyrene chunks covered in PVA glue and Blue Roll. So its very light weight whilst strong... with a nice base colour. Tunnels were constructed from strips of card bent into arches... using the PVA bottle as a size guide. They're just big enough to allow a four wheeled coach pass though them. Bridge was made from cardboard and then cladded in textured plasticard. The gravel is held in place by super glue to make it very hard wearing and secure the track solidly in place. Happy to report even this cheap little loco can manage all the curves and inclines with ease.

As I wont be able to continue the build till the weekend I thought Id break out my super computer and treat you all to this CGI master piece. I think this pic gives a good idea of the depth 'as in hight' this layout will have. The mountain tunnel with be in two sections... firstly because it will look good.... secondly because it makes retrieving a derailed loco easy. Sidings will allow for 'play' and the addition of a second loco if wished. Im going call this 'coffee table' sized lol. As it is a reasonable size for storage... and easy to plonk on a coffee table for a few hour of play. Not exactly 'micro' but maybe the smallest size you can incorporate all the mayor aspect of a full sized layout in 'Loop... sidings... tunnel... bridge... inclines'

I do have one technical question regarding this layout. It has three points. All of which Id like to motorise so I can change them at the flick of a switch. At either end of this layout you can see two gaps. Id like to fit the controls in one of them. Something simple that will control the loco and the points. The gap is 3-3/4" high. Width... not an issue as can easily widen it if necessary. Are then any controller units available that would fit my needs? Ive not no know-wats about electrical stuff.

Very cool. I also like your custom trains. I just bought the cheap starter set so I have a loco to test my layout. My theory... anything that little cheap loco can manage the Peckett's will do with ease. I used to do a lot of plasticard scratch builds for WH40K.... So I'll probably give that cheap little loco a makeover Ive also got some experience with making building... So I may well end up making a more 'fantasy' than 'realistic' themed layout. By 'fantasy' I mean more 'Ivor the Engine'... not a load of Orcs and Elves battling it out lol

Thanx for the advice. Heres some progress on the board. Ive made a 50mm wide path from 3mm thick MDF for the track to lay on. Gives me a little room to make adjustments. Track lays within a 3' x 2' area. Board is 3.5' x 2.5' The drop is a little under 3' over a track length of aprox 5.5' Im pretty confident that the Peckett can handle these curves and inclines after studying YouTube vids. Will keep you posted. Heres a CGI representation of the finished layout... contact me for CGI commission work lol

Hi I got the idea after watching these You Tube videos... So Im pretty confident the Pecketts and Pug will cause me no trouble. The outer loop will have a 12" radius Inner curves around 9" Ive done this new design.... My only concern is weather the gradient of the track from point A to point B will be too steep. Point B will be a mine entrance. Ive guesstmated the track length from A to B to be around 5' or 6' Is that enough to allow it to loop under itself? Pug/Pecketts are less than 3" tall so Im hoping it wont be an issue. Im also going to shorten all the trucks/carriages etc that this tiny loco pulls. I bought this old Brake Car and took a hack saw to it. Might not be realistic... but I think it suits the Pug much better. Also the shortened wheel base will help with tight curves and short sidings. Ive made a rigid base board of 2.5' x 3.5' And also have a sheet of flexible board of 2.0' x 3.0' I plan to draw the track layout on the flexy board and cut it out. A 50mm wide path to give roughly 10mm either side of the track, Then attach it to the base board using wooden pillars to get the height I require and a nice smooth gradient for the inner track. So if all goes well Ive have 2'-3' of board around the outside for terrain. The image I have in my head is of a track running around a mining pit at the foot of a mountain/hill. Outer loop will run along a precarious cliff ledge... with tunnel through mountain... and viaduct bridge. Inner track will slope down into the pit... with siding for engine shed... continuing to slop down to the mine entrance. I want it to be both industrious but also green. So green covered rocky mountain/hill with the greyer industrious theme in the middle.

New to all this. I'm planning on making a small layout thats roughly 2' x 3' Ill be running a Hornby Pug or Pecketts with just a couple of wagons. The outer track loop will be elevated. And I was wondering what sort of gradient I can have the inner part of the layout slope down at. Im going for a Welsh mountain kind of theme. Would I be able to have a steep enough gradient so the sidings could pass under the outer loop?