The Auckland branch of the HRCA attends 'Model X'
and exhibits both a large '0' Gauge Layout as well as
a Dublo layout every year as a regular event.
Possibly this year's '0' layout was about the best one
we've put together so far; - mainly because for the
first time we set up a four road through station using
two station buildings set up on long platforms either
side of the outer roads as well as two platform
shelters on a long island platform set between roads #2
and #3. All these platforms were 'dressed' with
miniature people as well as a complete selection of the
Hornby range of platform accessories. Behind the station
was a townstreet built up from 'Silver Crane' biscut
tins with 'Minic' vehicles as well as repro trees made
just as Hornby made them from slices cut from the
inside of loofas and dyed green. One of our members had
also spent much time painstakingly reproducing a set
of repro Hornby countryside sections to fit inside a
2ft radius curve; - these fully equipt with 'loofa'
hedges and trees correctly placed as per the genuine
article. Perhaps our only problem was that between us all
we could only come up with 3 sheep and a pig to put
in the fields; - so I supose it must've been a bad
year for farming (???!!!). Though there was also a
Landrover, a steam traction engine and a tractor in the
fields which at least managed to nicely set the scene.
After setting out a fair few signals of all years and
types in hopefully more or less the correct places as
well as 3 footbridges, two level crossings and 4
signal boxes a MPD was set up using one of Hornby's
magnificent large two road engine sheds (a clockwork one).
This being done to provide a place where we could
display those locos which weren't in use. Next we laid
down a pair of goods sidings with two goods depots and
a platform crane so that the wee folk of the town
would be provided with a local goods service, - and
that basically was that!<br>After much staring at the
township from the 'public side' over the weekend the only
lack we could find was that our town definately needed
something to represent the roads and footpaths. The large
green dropsheet we use to cover the tables the layout
was built upon is fine enough to represent the
majority of the landscape, - but not roads unfortunately.
Our talented lady member who made the countryside
sections has promised to attend to this need in time for
out layout's next outing. So if a few more animals
can be mustered up to to go in the fields as well our
layout should be looking very fine indeed.<br>Oh by the
way I must mention that my wee Type '101' based
0-4-2T had an outing or two on the layout over the
weekend. It ran very well indeed, better than I thought
actually; - hauled 13 Hornby tank wagons and a brake van
around the layout, - though a little 'sand' was needed
to get things rolling. For those who might want to
convert a beyond all hope 'clocker' and want to know the
'tech' I used a fairly basic 12volt 'can' motor such as
can be found at 'Dick Smith', a pair of gears (20T &
40T) and worm made by 'Cosmo Drills', 4 Hornby 'M1'
wheels (the ones that have crankbosses/crankpins), all
this being fitted into a stripped out 'M1' chassis. On
mine I converted over to 3mm stainless axles and
bronze 'tophat' bushes because the chassis was so worn,
- and really I do think this is essential to obtain
a smoothly running and reliable loco. Perhaps the
worst bit was making the 3 rail collector and setting
it up correctly (3 attempts!!), but the final result
has been definately worth it.<br>Recently I noticed
that the boiler on a worse for wear Hornby 'M0' has a
most GWR like taper. Now if I was to fit this into a
type '101' and set it up so the boiler had a nice
length to it, fit type '101' wheels to a 'M1' chassis
and use Hornby '4-4'4T' repro bogie wheels I could
make a very nice GWR styled 4-4-2T........ Fun with
tinplate!