Ian Holmes

It’ll probably look something like this in the end…

@harris0169 My dimensions were near enough to yours but not quite. I also had to consider that my printer is printing on letter sized paper as opposed to A4, (flipping Americans and their ignoring of the metric system) before I enlarged it by 176%. Add to that my Dyscalculia and it’s a wonder I was anywhere near. Ian

Today I measured if the structures on the boxfile layout and enlarged them to O scale. Not having the correct handed point work, and fitting the plan to the PECO geometry makes a surprising difference. There will be quite a bit of building modifications to do. Even rearranging the track doesn’t help things. All three tracks should still go under/into the left hand side building. The track plan was originally designed for 00/H0 or 4mm scale narrow gauge, so I figured it wouldn’t enlarge -perfectly, but I didn’t think it’s be that far off. On reflection I don’t mind the single track running along the front (probably a quayside line) I could also find a building to fit between the two tracks exiting to the right. The trackplan is a 5-3-3 inglenook, so plenty of operational capability there. Carry on thinking. Ian

I had this build thread pointed out to me as I’m planning my own build based around the Scalescenes kit. A lot of good information here. I hope the six months silence here isn’t an indication of problems Ian

Thanks for the link. There’s some good information there. I’m thinking that rather than do an exact blow up of the plan to 0 scale, (which appears to be how that project started). I’m planning to let the buildings fit the geometry of the PECO track I have. We’ll see how things progress. Ian

As editor of the Micro Model Railway Dispatch I have received a couple of layouts for inclusion in the magazine using the Scalescenes industrial box file layout kit enlarged to O scale. That got me thinking about a long dormant idea of mine to use the Scalescenes Canal basin box file kit and how it would enlarge up. To that end I’ve been experimenting with how it would work. These pictures show the Scalescenes kit as made and my blocking in to gauge the size of the O scale version. I think it would fit in an area approximately 3’ - 3’6” x 18” (915mm -1075mm x 450mm) I've wanted to build one of the Scalescenes box file layout kits since they came out. Now I'm retired from work, I have the time to get on with things. I have even cleared out space in the model railway room to take it. I think it would work pretty well. (Yes, that's a lot of beer in the box in the background 😀...) Ian

Beware of trains…

Rusty old Hudson Skip on my 16mm scale Micro.

What really stands out in this view is how effective that brick shed is as a view block. It plays with your viewpoint, gives a whole new angle (excuse the pun) on the scene. Top notch work! Ian

A well thought out start. Looking forward to seeing how this one develops. Ian

A cautionary tale about Pyrex saucepans, Kendal Mint Cake and model railway layouts. https://tttalkabout.blogspot.com/2023/01/some-more-random-musings.html

I've not blog posted for a while, but today I felt like a kid again. https://tttalkabout.blogspot.com/2023/01/a-kid-again.html

I'm thinking that the 4-wheeler might get "Anglicised"

That’s right. The difference is staggering. Ian

Incidentally, I was looking at my 4 and 6 wheeled AHM switchers and was struck by the difference in size

That's not silly. That looks just about right to me...

Some musings on researching the buildings for the layout. https://eaglestreetino.blogspot.com/2022/12/want-to-buy-house.html

Thanks Jordan: I think my street running section will be a the region of three feet long. Smaller, hence more, houses will also make it look like the train travels further I think ian

Looks pretty accurate track laying to me. I’m sure I can find some just like that around here. Thought it’s likely under snow right now ian

The winter issue of The Dispatch is now available at https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com I hope you enjoy it. Merry Christmas everyone!

A blog post about initial planning considerations https://eaglestreetino.blogspot.com/2022/12/planning.html

It’s time for another project to break cover. I really think that something might come of this one. Over the past few years I have been slowly accumulating 2 rail O scale track and stock for a US outline layout. I’ve had many ideas for the scheme, but until recently the real germ of inspiration eluded me. Then a couple of weeks ago, I (and many others on Facebook,) was captivated by pictures of Eagle Street on the New Orleans Water and Sewerage Board Railroad. With street running, short trains pulled by small locomotives, (Boxcab electrics, if you want to go back far enough) it really seems like a project for the space starved modeller in any scale. After spending some time reading Mike Cougill’s book “Mill Road” I decided that a project like Eagle Street would tick all the boxes. Simple switching of a tuning fork trackplan and a run through some interesting urban scenery. A preliminary draft of the trackplan is outlined blow. As for size, I won’t know exactly until I get everything I want to fit in there, in. I would like a decent length of street running in front of shops houses and bars. I feel I’ll know what’s right when I see it. Eight or nine feet long maybe. Perhaps one foot to 15 inches deep. That depends what I’d like out of the low relief buildings. As per usual, there’s a blog for you to check out for detailed reporting. https://eaglestreetino.blogspot.com Shorter reports will appear here and on my model railway facebook page. The Model Railways of Ian Holmes. If you’re not aware of the location a Google search for “New Orleans Water and Sewerage Board Railroad” should interest you. Ian

Looking excellent Luke. As has already been mentioned. It's difficult to believe this is the same layout as before. Ian

So nice to see this gem of a layout again. There's readers of a certain micro model railway layout magazine that would love to see this layout featured in its pages one year. Ian

Nicely done! A lovely micro layout Ian