Peak Forest

A recent meeting of the 14 members interested in working on this project decided on a number of changes to the original concept. The layout will now be 18 feet long (plus fiddle yards for exhibitions) and 2' 6" deep so that it can share the racking currently used by Canaan Valley.

Trackwork will be finescale 00 gauge using code 75 rail and the layout will be based in the period 1980-2000. The aim is to produce the type of layout which a member might build at home for exhibition. The success of the Mutual Improvement Classes shows that the existing membership has a desire to learn and the building of a new layout must satisfy those who maybe just wish to join in one or two aspects of it. It will be used to train and upskill members and provide a focus for members to use their newly acquired skills. It will be for the group to decide how this develops to produce an interesting and viable exhibition layout.

The whole project will be delivered as series of hands on learning modules with individual/team work on club nights as well as at home, away from the layout. The construction and progress of the project would be documented and recorded for the Link and website.

The aim is to generate interest in both the layout and the Society by means of regular articles in a national magazine and the railway modelling internet forum RMWeb with whom the Society already has a good relationship.

The project, whilst needing a dedicated team of regulars to steer it and provide a degree of consistency, also must operate on the revolving door principle where other members can hop on and off as they want. I realise this in itself is fraught with difficulties but a stable team leading the layout plus a quality controller should ensure that nothing unworkable goes on.

Construction: Baseboard building has started Track building and laying Signalling Electrics for both DCC and analogue control Snagging Landscape modelling Buildings Railway infrastructure detailing Infrastructure outside the railway boundary Exhibition presentation Stock: Improving RTR stock DCC/ sound Kit building/ bashing Painting (air brushing/hand painting) Weathering Stock maintenance and snagging problems Hopefully these will dovetail with some more basic skills coming out of Mutual Improvement Classes.

If interested in joining the team, meeting at Dean Hall on Monday evenings, contact the group leader, Andy Ling, seen here assembling baseboards.