Steve

Springwell: Change of Scale to SM32

The New Year is often seen as a symbolic time for change and fresh starts.

The little agricultural railway shunting layout I plan to build has been languishing.

No progress has been made since May – that’s 7 months !

In truth, I’ve been agonising whether to make the layout in SM32, 1:19 scale, instead of the original idea of using On18, 1:48 scale.

The new year has prompted me to follow my heart, enjoy a new beginning and switch to the larger scale.

Finally, some progress has been made… Click on a photo for a larger image.

Amazingly, even in SM32, the track plan I want to build will fit on the same baseboard – a good omen!
The 3D printed track was glued to the baseboard and weighted down.
I will need to create a bridge over the river.
I experimented with a wooden platform.
But, narrow gauge railways often used girders to support small bridges.
Some stone cladding was added to the abutments.
The track was painted rusty brown.
The bridge was painted too.
The idea is that wagons will be shunted (switched) to various positions on the layout.
Here’s the current state of play. Currently the stock will fall into the river. I must complete that bridge 🙂

With the decision finally made, enthusiasm has returned and ideas are flowing again.

Sometimes a fresh start is simply about listening to that quiet nudge telling you which path to take.

It feels good to be moving forward at last – and this time, in a scale that is really intriguing me.

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