7mm Findon Junction

spikey faz

spikey faz

Western Thunderer
Lack of storage space meant I've had to go for a cut-down version of the above module. 20251228_164239.jpg

I figure I can pack it away into one of these drawers when not in use.20251228_164245.jpg

I now need to decide how to configure this. The most simplistic way would be to have three single lines just extending from the scenic board. But I'm erring towards some sort of traverser, as I don't think the cassettes will work for me. I'm guessing a couple of drawer runners would provide the necessary traversability?

Mike
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
I think I’d be tending to cassettes here, as a traverser will need a good few (tens of) millimetres of height between the fixed deck and the traverser deck to get the sliding gear in.
 
spikey faz

spikey faz

Western Thunderer
simond said:
I think I’d be tending to cassettes here, as a traverser will need a good few (tens of) millimetres of height between the fixed deck and the traverser deck to get the sliding gear in.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's not my idea of fun trying to build such a thing! Carpentry is definitely not one of my skills.

I've cut some strips of plywood out so that I can at least build the framework up. As to what ends up on top of it, that's still to be decided!

I may in the short term just run three plain lines, ballast and scenic it and see how I get on. It's not going to be an intensive rail service!

But thanks for your input Simon. It's always good to get other people's feedback.

Mike
 
Joe's Garage

Joe's Garage

Western Thunderer
As commented earlier Mike an extra 2' square makes the layout eligible for the S7 challenge......does a turnout in this extra board make it so?!
As I said in an earlier post the modelling is excellent especially what you have done in its renovation...
As an aside there was a similar layout featured in the RM back in the mid 90s modelled to 16mm by Fraser Cantrill, demonstrating that such a scheme enables some fantastic modelling.
I certainly do like Findon, although like is not a strong enough word for the quality in your modelling.
Cheers Julian
 
spikey faz

spikey faz

Western Thunderer
Joe's Garage said:
As commented earlier Mike an extra 2' square makes the layout eligible for the S7 challenge......does a turnout in this extra board make it so?!
As I said in an earlier post the modelling is excellent especially what you have done in its renovation...
As an aside there was a similar layout featured in the RM back in the mid 90s modelled to 16mm by Fraser Cantrill, demonstrating that such a scheme enables some fantastic modelling.
I certainly do like Findon, although like is not a strong enough word for the quality in your modelling.
Cheers Julian
Click to expand...
That article by Fraser Cantrill was massively influential and inspirational for me! I was going through a particularly dark period in my life and when I saw his layout in the RM, I made my own version, albeit in 7mm/1ft. It gave me focus.

Fast forward to 2026 and I have no regrets in copying quite a few aspects of his layout. The extension I'm currently trying to build will be fairly basic, but will be my own design. I've just got to figure out what that design will be! :D

I do still quite often doubt my own abilities and often consider jacking it all in. Your positive comments really do mean a lot. Thank you. :thumbs:

Mike
 
RichardG

RichardG

Western Thunderer
Every time we build a fresh model there are new challenges. We want it to be this way, so the hobby engages us. Failure is part of the learning process - it takes us out of our comfort zones and forces new thinking. Remember Einstein, "Failure is success in progress"! Keep up the good work Mike, your posts are invariably an inspiring and cheering read, and your end results are superb.
 
spikey faz

spikey faz

Western Thunderer
Its a bit of a lash-up, but this is my usual way of working! ;)

I'm hoping the following pictures are self-explanatory, but please feel free to ask any questions. 20260109_171926.jpg20260109_171854.jpg20260109_171845.jpg20260109_171752.jpg20260109_171733.jpg20260109_171725.jpg

I'll be sourcing some better nuts and bolts as soon as I can get to the shops, but it does all seem to work in principle.

Mike
 
spikey faz

spikey faz

Western Thunderer
I've plonked on an old turnout, some track and the bridge I recently mocked up on the extension board to try to formulate some ideas.20260109_185118.jpg
20260109_185140.jpg
I quite like the idea of the turnout, although that means I've got to build a new one and it's been many years since I've done any track building.

Or maybe just three straight lines. Bit boring though.

Mike
 
David Hall

David Hall

Western Thunderer
spikey faz said:
That article by Fraser Cantrill was massively influential and inspirational for me! I was going through a particularly dark period in my life and when I saw his layout in the RM, I made my own version, albeit in 7mm/1ft. It gave me focus.
Click to expand...

I thought so!! Ivydale (All Hallows) remains my favourite layout of all time. It is everything I have ever wanted to achieve. I am so glad that someone else has found similar inspiration from it, and that it helped you through a difficult period.

Your layout is absolutely superb too! I cannot believe I've only just found it. It similarly evokes something special. An intangible atmosphere and feeling that just ticks every possible box for me.

Thank you so much for sharing. It is inspiring
 
spikey faz

spikey faz

Western Thunderer
David Hall said:
I thought so!! Ivydale (All Hallows) remains my favourite layout of all time. It is everything I have ever wanted to achieve. I am so glad that someone else has found similar inspiration from it, and that it helped you through a difficult period.

Your layout is absolutely superb too! I cannot believe I've only just found it. It similarly evokes something special. An intangible atmosphere and feeling that just ticks every possible box for me.

Thank you so much for sharing. It is inspiring
Click to expand...
I was born in the early 1960s, and have no memories of steam railways or country branchlines. So most of my inspiration comes from walking in the Sussex countryside, both as a child and now as an adult. Plus a lot of railway books and of course other people's layouts.

Fraser's layout and the writings of Iain Rice and Roy Link are still hugely influential to me. So, it's great to hear my own efforts are providing some inspiration to folk here. :)

Mike
 
spikey faz

spikey faz

Western Thunderer
It's been many years since I built a turnout. This one is a bit special as it doesn't follow prototype practice. It merely has to connect two lines irrespective of what is right and wrong! The switch blades have been rescued from an old turnout I built a long time ago and have been repurposed albeit in severely truncated form.
20260116_142429.jpg20260116_142745.jpg20260116_142745.jpg20260116_174008.jpg20260117_100445.jpg20260118_181627.jpg20260118_182648.jpg

Trial runs seem to indicate it works fine, which I'll take as a win. I don't think my 9f Crosti will fit though! ;)
20260118_183328.jpg
Mike
 
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