Page 7 - NMRA Roundhouse July-August 2019

anything and the terminals for wires and switches are clearly shown.This turnout is also digital meaning it has a decoder built in enabling you to set an address between 1 and 2049. You can then change the switch using a DCC handset. Apart from a lifetime warranty you can add panel LED’s and trigger interlocking.
Track
I decided to use some C&L fine-scale track depicting the scale British track spacing and ties of a scale size coupled with the five Peco small radius code 75 turnouts.This was a bit of a trade-off. C&L do not offer a built-up turnout.
Uncoupling
To aid uncoupling I fitted three Bach- mann magnets.All my British stock
have NEM coupler pockets which work perfectly with Kadee 17,18 or 19’s.The position of the magnets was worked out and the baseboard was cut to accept the magnets which are directly under the ballasted track.
Mind the Gap
Before laying track I inserted two pieces of 1mm plasticard between the three boards.The tracks were laid across the join in the boards and then cut with
a slitting disc. Once the plasticard is removed the gap in the tracks were closer together and minimize the gap. I used Paxoline copper clad material cut to the length of ties. I tinned the under- side of the rail before soldering the ties into position. I made a cut in the copper clad ties in the middle to prevent a short occurring when the copper clad ties are soldered to both rails of the track.
Taking a tour of the layout
The left-hand board hides the fiddle yard / off-scene area from the public. It fea- tures a grey narrow boat appearing from the left under the canal bridge which
has been given “the water” by the lock keeper to enter the lock. A coal barge is waiting at the lower level for this boat to pass before being raised.Wildlife includes a trio of grebe, some heron and a pair
of swans. A carter has arrived with his horse and cart and after a swift pint in the King’s Arms he will transport the empty beer barrels back to the brewery. The canal bridge, lock, row of cottages and pub are all “Scalescenes” download-
The right-hand board is very much a Petite Properties village.The exceptions being the modified Ratio footbridge, the enhanced ABM Railcraft station and the modified Scalescenes goods shed both of which were modelled on those at Midsomer Norton.The station platform was simply made from card formers cov- ered in card and finished with Redutex stone setts.The running boards are a Scale Model Scenery product. Many of the commercial properties have detailed interiors and I have dedicated many
of the businesses to family members. The backscene “Harvest Hills” is by ID Backscenes.The figures are a mixture of Preiser, Dapol and Pete Goss, while the vehicles are mainly by Oxford or EFE. The trees were made by my wife includ- ing a beautiful yew tree in the cemetery.
Another “fun” item are the pecking chickens in the farmyard.This isViess- mann product which incorporates a revolving magnet under the surface which attracts the chicken’s heads and makes them bob up and down as if they are eating. I could not resist the cameo of a fox lurking nearby.
Cheffley was a delight to build and is fun to operate at exhibitions.
Mike Carter
I set the railway tracks in a cutting between the two parts of the town.
I used two-inch Cellotex foam to form the cutting.The track plan is simple using six Peco code 75 turnouts coupled
with C&L Fine-scale track.The layout was built before the latest Peco prod- ucts were available.To the loco release and run around I added a further siding, a goods shed siding and a track to the
bay platform.The fiddle yard is just two tracks off scene. For the third rail I used Peco conductor chairs fitted with code 55 track.
In designing the layout, I wanted to put the buildings in front of the viewer so they would not see the whole railway in one view.This way in limiting the viewing angles the layout seems to be much bigger. It is the same formula that I used on Red Hook Bay.
able kits which have been enhanced with Redutex sheets.
Moving on to the middle board.The small bridge is by Wills which carries a flock of sheep over the railway.The sig- nal box is an “enhanced” out of produc- tion ABM Railcraft card kit depicting the LSWR building at Midsomer Norton.
August 2019 - ROUNDHOUSE 7