Norway layout by Mike Carter

[GPdemayo]

Quite an interesting system Mike.....anything that helps make the moving around you have to do to get to the shows is a big plus. 

[madharry]

Well I am back in action. A new set of boards that will this time fit in the car! The two main scenic boards give a total of 10 feet by 1.5 feet. The fiddle yard (not shown) in these pictures measures another 5 feet by 1.5 feet and will provide 5 storage tracks off-stage and a turnaround for the Faller bus.
Here are the boards set up in Mrs C's lounge. The large hole in the first picture is for the Bergen houses/ Magnorail peddling cyclist module and a harbour scene.
Mike

[Janbouli]

Nice to see you busy with this one again Mike , Ontraxs 2021 

[PRR Modeler]

Good to see you modeling again Mike.

[S&S RR]

It's good to see you back at your modeling. I always enjoy watching your progress.

[madharry]

Nice to see you busy with this one again Mike , Ontraxs 2021 

Jan, the new layout has two show invites for September this year and there is an introductory article in this September's Continental Modeller. 2020 would be possible in the circumstances.
Mike

[madharry]

Thanks Curt and John,
There has been a lot of armchair planning going on. Basically how to fit a gallon into a pint pot. I have a need to fit the new layout in one car. Mrs C has said no to me owning a van! I have accumulated several Norwegian models (13+locos)  which I want to operate (play with) on the new layout. A Norwegian hi-speed train measures 52 inches long and other typical trains are not much less. Fitting these into a believeable space with a maximum length of just 120 inches is the challenge. However I think I've cracked it and now it will be full speed ahead.............
Mike

[madharry]

Before I can start laying any track or turnouts I need to align the three boards by fitting dowels at each end.

At the end of each board are holes for the dowels. The kit comes with wooden dowels that fit in these pre-drilled holes. The wooden spacers are to be glued into the holes. Then metal engineers dowels can then be fixed into position with screws. The dowels are male and female and allow the boards to be correctly
aligned when the boards are set up at shows.

Mike

[ACL1504]

Mike,

Well done, I always enjoy your threads.

Tom

[Rail and Tie]

Looking forward to your progress with everything you have planned to jam into this one.
Regarding the "no Van" rule, why don't you just do what your fellow countrymen do in transporting big things in tiny cars?!!

[madharry]

Thanks Tom. I'm looking forward to this one!
Mike

[madharry]

Looking forward to your progress with everything you have planned to jam into this one.
Regarding the "no Van" rule, why don't you just do what your fellow countrymen do in transporting big things in tiny cars?!!

Mrs C says she would sitting on top of the car as there is no room inside. BTW my Mini was a 1960 version in powder blue.
Mike

[madharry]

The metal dowels have been fitted between the two scenic boards and bolts have been used to fit them together.I have fitted two pieces of 1mm plasticard within the gap. Track will be laid over the boards and then cut with a slitting disc.By using the plasticard the gap in the tracks will be that bit closer and look much better.
Mike

[madharry]

Planning the layout is a thought provoking exercise.
Given the boards are just 18 inches wide, I am planning what can be done at the depot end. From the front of the layout there will be a road for the Faller vehicles. Next a fence separating the road from the railway. Next two passenger tracks separated by an island platform terminating at the station with two lighted buffer stops. Consideration has to given that catenary posts and wires have to be fitted above both lines. Moving towards the backscene there will a freight siding with a loco releaseand runaround loop. Two medium radius turnouts have to be fitted with DCC Concepts Cobalt IQ digital motors. A magnet has to be fitted under the track to allow uncoupling of the loco. A lighted buffer stop and catenary posts and wire have to be considered. Notwithstanding all these considerations I would ideally like an embankment leading into the backscene..............
Here is the longest freight loco at 12 inches - a venerable EL12.

[madharry]

The pencil marks are the footprint for the depot and I would not want the track to encroach on the road behind the depot too much.