Having spent a great deal of time building Smallbrook "Emett" locomotives, designing a few of my own, building a diorama (Chipping Clinker Engine Shed) and other things to do with trains, I thought it was time I started to building somewhere to run them.
The design is a simple oval, with a passing loop and some sidings. The sidings may house some local industries such as the "Buffers End Polish Company" and the "General Custard Refining Company Ltd". Here's the track plan. I have followed practice over this side of the pond to use extruded polystyrene insulation as the base and to use "Woodland Scenics" HO scale foam underlay. The frame consists of three "Brilliant Baseboard" modules with a standard 8' X 4' plywood sheet 1/2" thick. It was sad that the creator and owner of "Brilliant Baseboards" passed away not long after I bought them. The legs I made myself

Here's what the stock and buildings look like on the 8' x 4' board.

Before I begin to lay the track, I had to work out what automatic coupling system to use. This was quite hard as the Smallbrook Oysterbeach coaches have a high roof overhang and the buffers are quite long. The solution turned out to be simple. I used "Dapol" OO scale NEM coupler pockets and Kadee HO scale #20 NEM extra long couplers. The curves on the layout are 21" radius and the distance between the coaches with the couplers has sufficient distance to prevent roof and buffer lock.

Track laying will begin soon followed by framing for the scenery - the passing loop without the sidings will be concealed and used as a fiddle yard.
I think I started in this scale back in 2006 when I purchased my first Smallbrook Nellie from Mike Rayner, so 11 years later the layout has begun.....Huzza !!!
Best regards,
Mark Goodwin