Embedded Files
I have always been drawn to the "Micro-Layouts" presented on Carl Arendt website, and the "theater-style" design often seen on European layouts. With that in mind, when I saw that Mike over at Budget Model Railways was sponsoring a little challenge, I figured what better time than now to try my hand at a "theater style micro layout"!
I figured I would use this page to document the overall process. I am also going to try and keep some form of regular updates (semi-regular??) on my Youtube channel.
The BMR Challenge
The BMR Challenge
The challenge is to build a layout on a floating shelf.
The shelf should be no longer than 60cm (23.6in) long
The design must have at least 1 turnout (point)
And have at least 2 building/structures
A separate/removable fiddle yard is allowed, but must not exceed 60cm or be more than 2 roads.
The full details of the challenge can be reviewed on the BMW website Challenge page, or on the Youtube video where Mike introduced the challenge.
My Entry
My Entry
The first thing I needed to do was find a floating shelf! Of course, I am in the US so finding a 60cm long shelf was a little difficult :-). While I was not able to find a 60cm x 23.5cm (i.e a 23.6 x 9.25 in) shelf, I was able to find one that was close. Just a little bigger at 24in x 10.25in, so approximately half-inch longer, and 1 inch deeper. (technically, it is 27.7 in² bigger than the 'official rules'. )
Stubbier Yard
Stubbier Yard
Originally, I had 2 or 3 designs from Carl's website inmind for the Budget Model Railways challange. Since my shelf was a full inch deeper, I thought I would try a design that did NOT include a separate fiddle yard. And that instantly made Stubbier Yard the prefect choice! I have wanted to try my hand at building a traverser/transfer table, so bonus points for this design. So I figured why not challenge myself for this challenge!
Quoted from the website: https://www.carendt.com/micro-layout-design-gallery
Jeff Hatcher revealed the plan of his “almost pointless” N scale shelf switcher, “Stubby Yard,” in Issue Number 38 of Model Trains International. It’s a very compact industrial shunting layout, using a traverser (transfer table). And it has all the earmarks of a micro layout, but is somewhat too large to fit the category (Jeff wasn’t looking to design a micro, just a good small layout!).
Enter Stubbier Yard, a “squozed down” version of “Stubby Yard” that fits in 36″x12″ — very much a micro-sized layout. In HO, it’s designed to use 40-foot cars and a relatively small four-wheeled switch engine. There are five destinations for cars to shunt .
Start with three cars on the backstage storage track, randomly select (from a hat?) destinations for all three, and proceed to distribute the cars, collecting any empties that may already be in place at each destination. You’ll find it a challenging exercise from almost the first move! Note that runarounds can be accomplished in a number of ways, all involving use of the transfer table.
Jeff Hatcher is in the process of building Stubby Yard in N scale. Who will be the first to construct Stubbier Yard in HO? (Please send photos!)
Cost Summary
Cost Summary
Shelf - $17.11 after taxes/out the door - from Hobby Lobby
Turnout - $9.41 from ebay
Brass for Transverser - $9.98 + $4.00 This is the first "must purchase new". The square tube was $8, but I only need half. The strip is $4.99, and I needed two of them.
Assorted lumber/wood/etc -($0) Needed for the transfer table & to lift the whole thing up. Using what I have already from building my T-TRAK modules. Like the track, I am trying to use as much of my 'off cuts' as possible.
Two knobs - ($0) I have some old plastic drawer pull knobs I plan to use (pulled them from some old discarded cabinet YEARS ago. )
Track - ($0) As of now, I have a mix of used Atlas set track, and some new Kato flex track. The Kato track was purchased for a different project, so as of now I am trying to use only the off-cuts from that project. Considering it "free" at the time being.
Building & Structures - ($0) I will be using Scalescene building and/or textures. While not exactly "second hand" - they are very low cost, can be printed and reprinted and re-used any number of times, etc. So far, I have not purchased any kits or textures specifically for this project, so considering it "free" at the time being.
So right now, I am up to $40.50 spent "new" for this project.
Cost Update
Cost Update
As I approached the finish line for this project, I have had to purchase a few more details parts. These COULD have been picked up second-hand if (a) we had a better second-hand market around here for N-scale and/or (b) I didn't want to wait until Sept for the big n-scale train show. Since I didn't want to wait, I bought new at the stop.
Woodland Scenics "Scenic Accents" - ($20) These are the workers and tiny details (boxs, barrels, fork-lift, etc. Some I already had from previous project, but I also bought a few new packs. I only used a few bits from each pack, so I am estimating that I used 1 full pack - or about $20
GHQ White-metal truck - ($20) I wanted a 1940's stake body truck making a delivery. This is one I have seen used at trainshows, but I just didn't want to wait :-) I found a really nice one my local hobby shop and picked it up.
3D printed or Scratch built details - ($0) I have a handful of details (oil cans, ladders, etc) that were 3D printed by a friend. All stuff he was printing already, I just asked him to print me a few. And then some things I scrach built. Those are all 'free'
I am not counting any of my rolling stock or engines in with the cost for this project, since I am just pulling from stuff I already have. Nothing has been purchased specifically for this layout.
TOTAL final cost is at about $80 when you include the "new" details I purchased. If I would have waited until September, I probably could have gotten the details for around $10-15, saving myself 25-30 bucks.
Name and Design
Name and Design
I decided to make my Stubbier Yard a single factory, and I settled on a Glass Factory. This allowed for covered hoppers as well as boxcars and maybe even a tanker or two. Once I had the Glass Factory idea, I needed some factory details to help my focus my build design and elements. That lead me to to this:
J&C Glassworks is a Plate Glass Factory set in 1945-55 that uses the Fourcault Process. This is a vertical draw process that was the standard until the Float Glass method, which started getting licensed throughout the world in the 1960s.
The name, J&C Glassworks, is a nod to Jeff Hatcher and Carl Arendt's role in me building such a wonder and enjoyable layout!
Operations at the J&C Glassworks
Operations at the J&C Glassworks
Glass factories of the time did not use coal for fuel due to the need for a clean environment. Tankers for fuel are occasionally delivered ‘off scene’, represented by the tracks in front of the boiler house (front right).
The layout is set in the 1945-55 time frame to allow for a mix of cover hoppers as well as boxcars for the delivery of silica, ash, limestone and other bulk materials. These are delivered to the silos (front left).
From the silos, the materials are cleaned and mixed while en route inside the mixing house. This is a two part building, connected by the conveyor that runs over the tracks (center).
The finished plate glass is packaged and then loaded onto boxcars from the factory loading dock (back right).
Rules of Operations
Rules of Operations
Setup includes 3 cars on storage track, and no more than 3 cars already ‘on scene’.
Only one (of the two) storage tracks can be used per session
Covered Hoppers must go to the silo, spot 2
Single Door Boxcars can go to silo, spot 1 or spot 2
Double Door Boxcars must go to the loading dock
Tanker cars must go to the boiler house
Operating Overview
Operating Overview
Start with three cars on the backstage storage track, placed in a random order. Select the destination for all three, and proceed to distribute the cars, collecting any empties that may already be in place at each destination.
Operation Video to go here ....
Operation Video to go here ....
Report abuse