Our 16 MM Scale Rhydypenderyn layout after its last exhibition of 2014 at Llanfair has spent the winter in its trailer which has been up on blocks in the garage over the winter. The layouts first exhibition of 2015 was at the Midlands Garden Railway Show last weekend. I thought members of the forum might be interested in a description of the layout and preparing it for an exhibition.
The layout was finished about eight years ago and was a replacement for our Rhydypenau Light Railway layout which we had exhibited for 18 years attending around 80 exhibitions both in the UK and mainland Europe. This layout when sold became the basis of a much larger layout known as Westfield.
Rhydypenderyn layout is of a modular construction which allows it to be erected in 9 different sizes up to 25’ by 15’ (8M x 5M ish). At most of the 30 or so exhibitions that it has attended it has been used at its largest size.
Before attending an exhibition the layout needs to be checked over, rails cleaned and any repairs needed done. Before describing the storage system used a photograph taken of the layouts first complete erection which took place in the school car park at the end of our garden. As can be seen there are four storage containers with wheels which also form part of the layout. There are two sizes of storage units, the two smaller one form parts of the ends of the layout, one is used as the entrance and stores the curved sections of track, and the other stores the curtain (skirt) and electric of the layout. The larger storage containers that fit in the back and front of the layout each hold five sections of the layout and some scenery.
The small container and layout entrance now looking a little battered after 8 years of use, holds the hinged curved sections of track and two straight sections which travel on top of it.
Other small container houses the electrics and skirt as well as two sections of straight.
The larger containers which hold five straight sections of track each some scenery and a table on their tops which has been removed.
Loading, trailer nearly empty showing broad gauge loading ramps.
Larger containers loaded narrow gauge ramps fitted.
Trailer loaded.
Ready to go, our motor home is usually used to tow the trailer the car isn't heavy enough but is used to get the trailer out of our drive way.
Some photographs taken last weekend before the show was opened.
Some photo graphs taken during the layout's construction showing it at it smallest usable size. Photographs taken in the dinning room while the domestic authorities were away!
Regards Tony.
I really like your use of lamps, as the backlight makes the steam visible. Wish I could build something like that and have some place to store it.
