Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
My dad has always had a model railway from around the mid 1950's and since moving into new accommodation (at age 91) space is somewhat restricted with the maximium available for a small layout being around 2.6 x 0.45m (8'6'' x 1'6'' roughly in ye olde english).
Like a fool I said I'll build a new one for him to run some of the stock he has - mainly 4mm SR and SECR small locos and short stock plus a bit of German HO as he swaps between the two for a change.
A start has been made on the carcass with the main board measuring 170 x 40 cm. One corner has been cut so as not to be caught when entering the room. The frame was made up from 15 x 21mm 'sticks' and the surface is 5mm ply.
As constructed there is a degree of flex but this will not be an issue once the layout is in place. All wood is glued and pinned.
The fiddle yard is 70 x 30 cm and is fixed to the main board by two hinges - all will become clear later
The fiddle yard is a 'drop hatch' as the door of the room where the layout is to reside opens inwards. In it's 'at rest' state it will look like this (the keyboard stand here is temporary as I've yet to design and build the legs).
The layout has to sit over a 89cm (35'') high chest of drawers so the legs will either be 100 or 120 cm high to let the chest of drawers provide a shelf for the controller.
The position and design of the legs are critical as to prevent toppling caused by the cantilevered fiddle yard which is unsupported in it's 'in use' state. The layout measures 2.4 x 0.4m overall.
Locking of the fiddle yard in position is done using these draw lock case catches (i.e. the catch tightens as it is closed).
This is temporary as cork sheet will be applied to the surface and the case catches reinstated.
The track plan will be based on Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppy and I'll be using the Fleischmann HO Profi track I've had around for years. OK this is not prototypical for SECR/SR/BR(S) but it will allow my dad to play trains - both 4mm and HO.
One advantage with the Profi track - no messy ballasting...
The next step is to make and formulate a solution of fitting the legs simply (whilst remaining stable) without any fiddly nuts, bolts, screws and washers - i.e. held together by gravity.
.....or art if you know your Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the 15 mile high statue of Athur Dent on Brontitall.
Like a fool I said I'll build a new one for him to run some of the stock he has - mainly 4mm SR and SECR small locos and short stock plus a bit of German HO as he swaps between the two for a change.
A start has been made on the carcass with the main board measuring 170 x 40 cm. One corner has been cut so as not to be caught when entering the room. The frame was made up from 15 x 21mm 'sticks' and the surface is 5mm ply.
As constructed there is a degree of flex but this will not be an issue once the layout is in place. All wood is glued and pinned.
The fiddle yard is 70 x 30 cm and is fixed to the main board by two hinges - all will become clear later
The fiddle yard is a 'drop hatch' as the door of the room where the layout is to reside opens inwards. In it's 'at rest' state it will look like this (the keyboard stand here is temporary as I've yet to design and build the legs).
The layout has to sit over a 89cm (35'') high chest of drawers so the legs will either be 100 or 120 cm high to let the chest of drawers provide a shelf for the controller.
The position and design of the legs are critical as to prevent toppling caused by the cantilevered fiddle yard which is unsupported in it's 'in use' state. The layout measures 2.4 x 0.4m overall.
Locking of the fiddle yard in position is done using these draw lock case catches (i.e. the catch tightens as it is closed).
This is temporary as cork sheet will be applied to the surface and the case catches reinstated.
The track plan will be based on Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppy and I'll be using the Fleischmann HO Profi track I've had around for years. OK this is not prototypical for SECR/SR/BR(S) but it will allow my dad to play trains - both 4mm and HO.
One advantage with the Profi track - no messy ballasting...
The next step is to make and formulate a solution of fitting the legs simply (whilst remaining stable) without any fiddly nuts, bolts, screws and washers - i.e. held together by gravity.
.....or art if you know your Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the 15 mile high statue of Athur Dent on Brontitall.
Last edited: