Diving into 009

[SR/ScR Fan]

Good evening good people,

So after bowing out of modelling for a little while, I have returned to it once again.

I had started a Gn15 layout, but this has since been abandoned due to the simple fact that a scale tree in Gn15 works out at 4ft tall! I wanted several on the layout and this seemed difficult to achieve realistically.

I have moved to 009 instead. Here a few shots of where I am at.

The baseboard is 52.5cm by 30.5cm. These dimensions have been chosen due to a challenge by a work colleague. These are the dimensions of one of the cardboard boxes we use at work.

I'm not actually building it inside the box, the baseboard is a conventionally built wooden job, but sticking to these dimensions.





These are 3D printed kits I found on eBay. The loco is running on the Kato 13 chassis. I have a second van to build.

While on holiday in Florida, I found some good bargains on N gauge locomotives. I will be using the chassis from these.






This is the N gauge diesel now, using an A1 models brass kit.



The actual layout track plan. I ran out of 009 track and butchered some N gauge set track to finish it off.



I actually laid the track on the board first, then cut the size, and built a proper frame for it. I know, all the wrong way round.

[Mountain]

Very nice. Will look forward to more.

[SR/ScR Fan]

Thank you Mountain

[SR/ScR Fan]

I've spent yesterday evening pushing along with my tiny micro. Just placing things here and there to see what works. There will be more buildings and trees to add to reduce the obvious oval look.





The 300E is a bit early for the time period, but I liked the look of it and I'm going to turn it into a ratty site runabout.

I want to put a special vehicle on my layout, a vehicle that means a lot to me personally.

The first car I drove after passing my test was a 1979 Morris Marina 1.3 Saloon in metallic Denim Blue with a black vinyl roof. Oxford diecast offer a Mk3 Marina in OO, so I had to buy it. Unfortunately, it was only available as a Heathrow Fire Service car. After a repaint, and a bit of modification, here it is.



And the original.

[Mountain]

I remember hearing around 20 years ago that a certain well known Welsh rally driver who normally drove a blue Subaru had had issues with his car just before an event. As his car just wasn't ready he borrowed his dads Morris Ital (1700cc) and in the event he came second place overall.
It was interesting that his dads car had hardly any modifications done to it except the bare minimum to allow the car to enter for the event, as he had to give the car back to his dad after. From the photo I was shown of his dads car after the event it didn't even seem to have a rollcage. (Unless one had been fitted and later removed).

[Bufferstop]

Just shows how much is down to the driver's ability to get the most out of the vehicle. I had the misfortune to have a1700 Ital estate, which required any weight on the rear deck to be pushed forward 'till the driver could feel it in his back, otherwise there was little chance of making it round the next corner.
That's one that won't find its way onto the layout. At the moment appropriate vehicles to be found are:-
1967 Vauxhall Viva in Peacock blue (my first new car)
1960 GPO Telephones Moggy Minor Van (memories of a misspent youth)
Long wheelbase Land Rover of indeterminate age. (you just have to get it out of your system) It's now masquerading as Fred Dibnah's ladder carrier.
2007 Smart FourTwo ( current runabout )
I refuse to contemplate a road legal mobility scooter or what comes after.