3mm 60th Anniversary Micro layout

M

Martin Gentle

Member
In 2025, the 3mm Society will be celebrating its Diamond Jubilee and the Society has been considering how to recognise the occasion. In 2005, it was the 40 to 1 challenge, in 2015 it was the “50-Something” displays so what to do for the 60th anniversary? Rather than another modelling competition, it was decided to have a
“Celebration of 3mm modelling” at the AGM in May next year.

For the “Celebration”, the Society has asked members to produce a 3mm scale diorama depicting a scene anytime from 1965 onwards and as it’s the diamond anniversary the diorama must include some form of diamond for example… a diamond crossing, a diamond sign on a signal, a wagon with a diamond bogie or anything else that is diamond shaped!

In over 50 years of railway modelling, I have only ever completed one layout in that time so I decided that I was, at last, going to build a 3mm layout and complete it. I have always liked cameo or micro layouts as showcased by the likes of the late Iain Rice. More recently James Hilton’s book, Small Layout Design has also been an inspiration so the idea of what to build was beginning to be formed.

I decided to use laser cut baseboards from Scale Model Scenery as they specialise in diorama baseboards to fit Really Useful storage boxes. I bought a BB018 Micro layout baseboard which is designed to fit in a Really Useful 22 litre box and also a BBO23 centre extension which gave me in total 1100mm in length and a width of 210mm.

So, I now had my blank canvas – what to put on it? I decided on the following criteria:-
  • Rather than a non-working diorama, I wanted a micro layout that could be operated.
  • It would be in 14.2mm gauge (rather than 12mm) as I had some society track and a couple of suitable copper clad points already
  • It would be set in the 1980s and use blue diesels
  • It would use as its inspiration an article in the first Model Railway Journal Compendium which featured a cement silo and associated sidings. I already had six cement Presflos built.
  • I would use a simple cassette system as hidden sidings
  • I would use a proscenium arch to create a display box.
After spending a most enjoyable hour or so moving two points and two yards of track around as well as referring to James Hilton’s book, I came up with the plan as shown in the photos.
Progress has been quite quick (for me!) and I have now laid the track, made the storage cassettes and connected the power and now have a small working layout. I have also made the proscenium arch from 4mm plywood and I am now ready to move onto ballasting the track and starting on the scenery and buildings. I hope to l provide an update and photos of progress in due course

You will notice there is no diamond crossing in my layout plan so I will have to include some other diamond. I’m still thinking of what to do………
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3634.jpg
    IMG_3634.jpg
    208.5 KB · Views: 57
  • IMG_3608.jpg
    IMG_3608.jpg
    273.6 KB · Views: 57
M

Martin Gentle

Member
Since my previous post I have made good progress and the little layout is taking shape. I have now ballasted the “mainline” track using N gauge ballast and Deluxe Materials Ballast Bond. Ballast Bond appears to a mixture of the tried and tested diluted PVA with washing up liquid but I found it worked well and was easy to use.

Before starting the track in the cement depot sidings, I looked at photos on the internet of various cement depots and it was clear that the sleepers were infilled and were a cement colour. To replicate this, I used DAS modelling clay pushed between the sleepers which was messy but when paInted with a mixture of white/yellow/brown/cement I think it looks effective although I do keep returning and adding another coat here and there.

For the yard itself I used concrete coloured texture paint from Squires and then painted it again with the same mixture of paints as I used on the track. I also added a square of Wills 4mm chequer plate that will sit under the cement silo.

I then added the buffer stops which are original Peco TT buffer stops (intended for 12mm gauge) with a replacement cross bar made from Evergreen plastic strip as my layout is 14.2mm gauge.

I next fitted the wire uncoupling ramps. My late father, Peter Gentle perfected their use with his own form of coupling. As I had a quantity of these couplings in stock that he had made many years ago, I decided to use them on this layout. Only one coupling is fitted to each wagon with just a loop at the other end. I remember helping my Dad operate his Minsterley layout at exhibitions in the 1990s/2000s and people were amazed at how discrete and reliable uncoupling and coupling was using this method!

My next task was to make the two bridges that are used to mask the entrances to the fiddle yard cassettes. These were made from plasticard and 3mm Society plastic brick sheet which were produced many years ago and are no longer available.

The attached photo shows where I’ve got to!

Buildings are next and it is my intention to use appropriate commercially available products where possible. I am going to need a signal box, cement silo, yard office and a store shed.

I will cover the buildings in my next post.

As mentioned in my first post, there must be some form of diamond on the layout and I’m still thinking of what to do………
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5460.jpg
    IMG_5460.jpg
    154.2 KB · Views: 55
M

Martin Gentle

Member
It is some time since I last posted and as promised here is some information about the buildings on my little layout. To show what can be achieved in 3mm and because of lack of time, as I said before it was my intention to use appropriate commercially available products where possible which given the lack of “ready to plant buildings” in 3mm as well as suitable kits, this was going to be a challenge.

If you are modelling a cement terminal, you need a cement silo. Internet research showed that there was no one definitive design and I looked at both the 2mm and 4mm Bachmann Scenecraft to see if there was anything suitable. I also looked at the Walthers HO range of plastic building kits – if you want to model in 3mm you must be resourceful.

In the end I purchased a Scenecraft 4mm industrial silo at a bargain price from Kernow Models. Although I had measured it beforehand, when it arrived it looked too tall so I attacked it with a razor saw and removed the middle section and then stuck it back together again, using plastic filler as necessary and spray painted with Halfords grey primer..

It was now the appropriate height but the 4mm ladders didn’t look right. More internet research and I found an online trader called Rusty Rails Modelling who produced a pack of industrial ladders and he was prepared to resize his 4mm product to 3mm. These were added to the model and I had my silo.

The next building was a prefab yard office and for this I used MS Models who produce a range of 3D printed buildings in multiple scales including 3mm. In their range they have a Peterborough TMD Staff/Mess room and this was perfect. All I had to do was paint and glaze it.

The low relief store shed was made from plastikard as there was nothing suitable on the market. As a template I used a Ratio 4mm Provender shed kit which I made over 40 years ago. This gave me the approximate dimensions which I amended to suit my needs.

Cement companies used Iron Mink vans for distributing bagged cement. So, my logic is that one that is no longer in use, has been has grounded and is now used as a second store shed. I used a Finney & Smith 3mm plastic kit.

The final building on the layout is a signal box. I have a 3mm laser cut kit for the distinctive LMS box that was produced for the 3mm Society. I haven’t made this yet so in the meantime I’m using a SR box made by late father Peter Gentle and which was rescued from the Society secondhand stall.

The attached photos shows the buildings in situ and my next post will cover the detailing and the stock I intend to use on the layout.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5615v2.jpg
    IMG_5615v2.jpg
    329.1 KB · Views: 51
  • IMG_5612v2.jpg
    IMG_5612v2.jpg
    185.2 KB · Views: 49
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
Track circuit diamond on the signal?

and please, could you put your pictures in at full size, rather than thumbnails, it makes it much nicer to read the thread!
 
D6356

D6356

Western Thunderer
Martin,
Lovely work in every way. I agree James Hilton`s book is good for kick starting ideas. Last time I had Minsterley out the ramps still in situ and working, been several years and layout now in store in Porthmadog! Happy modelling!
Robert
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
What's New?
Top