BCN-Pete
Western Thunderer
I thought I had better start a new thread on all things 7mm that have been happening around me of late.
I have to be honest, I was never originally a great fan of the scale and often didn't stop to look at some layouts at exhibitions as I guess I couldn't relate to the shear size of it compared to my usual 2mmFS work...and also the associated costs that everyone assumes of this scale.
And then about 2 years ago, Marc Smith (Author of Hendre Lane) built a terrific micro layout in 7mm scale and coupled with seeing Jordan's excellent micro 'Withyn Reach' I started to immerse myself in all things 7mm scale...especially micro layouts.
I started by my usual process, which is using an Ikea LACK shelf and the constraints it gives (we live in a small apartment and I have no workbench or garage etc) and planned out a small extract of Wenfordbridge. I purchased a Lima 33, some Skytrex clay hoods and via Marc Smith a Bachmann Brassworks 08 through a private sale.
The layout was mapped out as this, using crude homemade templates and some boxes to represent buildings:
Plan shot 1900mm x 260mm...
The boxes represent the clay dries...
The project was researched and a small mock up made...
And then...I lost interest, it was all packed away and I got back to my 2mmFS stuff working on Kyle and my other layout Coombe Junction -Moorswater.
Fast forward another 2 years...and the 7mm itch is back again Initially, I had an idea to replicate Kyle but in 7mm on a shelf and inspired by Ross's conversions of the Lima 33 to 26/27, the Scottish layout urge once again surfaced.
After questioning whether I wanted to do Kyle again so soon, I then looked at Wick or Thurso as ideas. Thurso had a lot of appeal and I had previously looked at it as another 2mmFS boxfile layout, making a mock up two years ago as this:
Thurso in 2mmFS...in a boxfile...
Rolling stock were placeholders...
And of course...all fitting back in the boxfile...
But I had decided that it was too much track being squeezed in so it was shelved (not IKEA ) but perhaps it could reappear again but in 7mm scale?...
Using C+L turnout templates this time I have mapped out again on a shelf a much simpler version and to aid my thinking process a 'quick n dirty' 1:10 mock up has been made as this:
The platform, covered shed and run around loop will be modelled...
A small fiddle yard can be attached and the maximum train size would be a 26 (or 27) and two MK I coaches or a handful of vans/minerals/tank wagons.
I thought I could build this board as Phase 1 to try my hand at 7mm scale and then afterwards possibly add a second board adjacent to include more of the yard as this:
Width is increased from 260mm to 520mm...
So that's where I am to date. The Jury is still out whlist I keep wrestling with what am I trying to achieve with all this....and I may revert back to a 7mm version of Kyle which does have the beauty of the bridge acting as natural scenic break.
Agreed that it doesn't have a great lot of 'operating potential'...but sometimes I think I prefer to build rather than operate layouts these days and enjoy photographing them too.
I would be interested to hear any comments you may have on this as a proposal.
Many thanks in advance...
Pete
I have to be honest, I was never originally a great fan of the scale and often didn't stop to look at some layouts at exhibitions as I guess I couldn't relate to the shear size of it compared to my usual 2mmFS work...and also the associated costs that everyone assumes of this scale.
And then about 2 years ago, Marc Smith (Author of Hendre Lane) built a terrific micro layout in 7mm scale and coupled with seeing Jordan's excellent micro 'Withyn Reach' I started to immerse myself in all things 7mm scale...especially micro layouts.
I started by my usual process, which is using an Ikea LACK shelf and the constraints it gives (we live in a small apartment and I have no workbench or garage etc) and planned out a small extract of Wenfordbridge. I purchased a Lima 33, some Skytrex clay hoods and via Marc Smith a Bachmann Brassworks 08 through a private sale.
The layout was mapped out as this, using crude homemade templates and some boxes to represent buildings:
Plan shot 1900mm x 260mm...
The boxes represent the clay dries...
The project was researched and a small mock up made...
And then...I lost interest, it was all packed away and I got back to my 2mmFS stuff working on Kyle and my other layout Coombe Junction -Moorswater.
Fast forward another 2 years...and the 7mm itch is back again Initially, I had an idea to replicate Kyle but in 7mm on a shelf and inspired by Ross's conversions of the Lima 33 to 26/27, the Scottish layout urge once again surfaced.
After questioning whether I wanted to do Kyle again so soon, I then looked at Wick or Thurso as ideas. Thurso had a lot of appeal and I had previously looked at it as another 2mmFS boxfile layout, making a mock up two years ago as this:
Thurso in 2mmFS...in a boxfile...
Rolling stock were placeholders...
And of course...all fitting back in the boxfile...
But I had decided that it was too much track being squeezed in so it was shelved (not IKEA ) but perhaps it could reappear again but in 7mm scale?...
Using C+L turnout templates this time I have mapped out again on a shelf a much simpler version and to aid my thinking process a 'quick n dirty' 1:10 mock up has been made as this:
The platform, covered shed and run around loop will be modelled...
A small fiddle yard can be attached and the maximum train size would be a 26 (or 27) and two MK I coaches or a handful of vans/minerals/tank wagons.
I thought I could build this board as Phase 1 to try my hand at 7mm scale and then afterwards possibly add a second board adjacent to include more of the yard as this:
Width is increased from 260mm to 520mm...
So that's where I am to date. The Jury is still out whlist I keep wrestling with what am I trying to achieve with all this....and I may revert back to a 7mm version of Kyle which does have the beauty of the bridge acting as natural scenic break.
Agreed that it doesn't have a great lot of 'operating potential'...but sometimes I think I prefer to build rather than operate layouts these days and enjoy photographing them too.
I would be interested to hear any comments you may have on this as a proposal.
Many thanks in advance...
Pete