David's 0 Gauge stuff

[Mol_PMB]

That’s a great book! 
And superb work by yourself on the landscape. 
I must try and find some modelling time myself. 

[Tullygrainey]

Masterclass David and a persuasive incentive, if one were needed, for some of us to consider moving up to 7mm scale!

Fully agree with you about Gordon's book. Full of brilliant ideas though I've struggled on occasion to implement some in the smaller scale. My efforts have ended up looking heavy-handed or just overscale.

[Colonel]

Yes, possibly a bit "horses for courses" Alan and the larger scale does enable you to do some things better, especially in terms of finer detail. As you say though, so many great ideas that make you think about how they could be adapted to your own needs. 

 Remember one time we stayed with Gordon and Maggie, there was a military modelling magazine on the coffee table. When I asked if this was another interest, he said not, but had learned the techniques had much to offer railway modelling - something I think we have on this forum too.

[Colonel]

 One of the nice things about creating a new layout is that when you've had enough of one task, there's always another to change to. So, this week, have been trying to complete the hidden part of the layout, namely the fiddle yard.

 Like Swillybegs, it's cassettes again, though being standard gauge, I'm using 25mm aluminium angle and 9mm ply, instead of 20/6. I devised the system myself with the screws fixing the angle to the ply projecting through to rest on brass plates which carry the power.

 There are two 14" cassettes and four 28" ones. The second picture show the underside, with the fixing screws just visible, while the third picture shows the two brass plates.

 Alignment with the track is done via a strip of wood, screwed into the fiddle yard deck. if there is any misalignment, as per the second picture, then shims of plasticard keep things right.

 The two short cassettes are for the railcar, plus loco [J69] and horse box. The other four cassettes are currently likely to be:

• Two loaded [or empty] coal wagons plus brake
• Two milk tanks, or one tank plus one refrigerated van
• One bolster or pipe wagon, plus brake
• Three vans

 

 As can be seen, the other road in the fiddle yard is just a length of plain track, as the off scene private sidings, where wagons will be crane shunted by hand. Power is switched between this and a cassette by a double pole, double throw switch.