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On this page you will see a selection of photographs of our Northlands Wood layout. If you would like to have this layout at your exhibition then please contact the Club. Our addresses are on the committee page. Alternatively, if you would like to know more about this layout, again please contact the Club.
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The day begins early, exiting the clubroom can be tricky. The layout having been broken down and protected is then transported to the venue.
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On arrival at the show venue, the layout is unpacked. All boards have protective end plates to ensure that track ends do not get damaged during transit. End plates are stored and the board is roughly located in its final position.
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Another end plate is removed in a blur of activity.
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A section of the layout is lifted into place on its support trestle.
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Track alignment is carefully checked.
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........and then it's underneath to bolt the boards together.
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Some anxious looks as a section of the fiddle yard is lifted into place.
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Smiles all round as the final section is located.
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Now that the layout is fully assembled members can begin to unpack stock while others carry out other tasks such as track cleaning and placing removable scenic details in place.
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A test run to ensure that all sections are working. It is surprising just how many faults can develop during transit.
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Before long, visitors to the show begin to pour in and train operation begins in earnest. The number and variety of questions is endless, but there is always someone on hand to talk.
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The halt, at the far side of the layout, does not see many stopping trains, but as can be seen there is not a lot of demand from intending passengers.
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The layout is at an ideal height for children as they can get an eye level view, but...........
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.......they always seem to prefer the birds eye view.
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A visitor makes a closer inspection of some of the fine detail.
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A popular detail is the emergency services scene complete with blue flashing lights.
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A keen eye has spotted another detail and it is pointed out to the youngster.
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A general view of Northlands Wood station.
Since this view was taken, much of the scenic element of the layout has received attention. Compare with pictures added 12 June 05 and above.
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Another general view of the station.
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Tidying up the station before the next showing. Various small scenes have been added, look out for the bank robbery!
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Getting to grips with the control panel wiring
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Two of the members tackle a woodwork project
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A Virgin Trains Voyager prepares to depart Northlands Wood Station. The signals in the background are actual ground signals mounted on a wall some distance behind the layout.
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"Now let's read the instructions before we take the loco out of the box!"
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The layout was exhibited before much of the scenic work was complete. This view shows the newly installed central fiddle yard in operation. Since the photograph was taken, a road bridge, cuttings and other scenic elements have been added to disguise the fidle yard entrance. (see below)
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Scenery is added to one of the new extension boards using polystyrene blocks glued and then cut to a basic shape. This is then covered with a paste made of ground-up insulation board and wallpaper paste and then covered with flock to represent grass etc.
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Class 158 in all-over "Ginster's" advertising livery prepares to depart.
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A recent view of Northlands Wood Station with Class 33 locomotive running through. Many small details have been carefully added by one of the younger members. Look out for the mass of graffiti adorning the back walls as is typical of most modern stations these days.
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Station viewed from trackside. Must have been taken by a track worker in a spare moment. Our grafitti experts in the background.
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Major repairs are needed following the collapse of two new baseboards during construction.
Fortunately the damge was minor but needed a rebuild of the baseboard ends.
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Northlands Wood on a busy Saturday.
Keen interest is shown by a young audience.
Hauled by an unknown Class 33, a cement train rumbles through Northlands Wood station in between a busy summer saturday passenger schedule.
He concentrates on the train at the front of the layout, while another train is prepared for departure from the fiddle yard.
Anxious looks as the derailed Virgin Pendolino is helped back on to the track.
It's July. Work is well under way to finish the scenic details on one of the new boards.
Here, a small landslide is created in the cutting and a start is made on the fence at the top of the bank..........
With a pair of tweezers, copper wire is carefully threaded through holes pre-drilled into the fence posts........
Tweezers in action.......
At the end of the evening - the finished product (and not too much swearing!)
© 2004
worthing.mrc@ntlworld.com
