The group met (and continues to meet) about once a month. The initial meetings traveled around between member's houses before settling at Pete's house in Stafford, where there is a room just long enough for the layout to be assembled in its entirety. Andy produced the first draft of the plans for Anderton, which were discussed and agreed. Phil of "PLM Cast-A-Ways" kindly supplied 5 sheets of thick plywood, which formed the tops for the baseboards.
Initially the baseboards did not have their own legs. At Ken's suggestion they were supported in a frame made of Dexion. This was particularly useful when track-laying and wiring; a board could be lifted and clamped on its edge across the Dexion so that we could work on both sides without disturbing the other boards. Once the track-work was completed integral legs were added to the boards and the Dexion retired.
Click here to see a video of the first run over the layout.
The track-work was hand-made by Ken, with the wiring under Andy's supervision (he is still the only one who understands the cross-over wiring!). The loco turn-table was engineered by Allen, out of brass and Meccano, with Andy adding the planking to the table itself.
The first fiddle-yard was constructed using cassettes, but these proved too unwieldy, so Peter built a 5' long turn-table for the fiddle yard. Allen re-cycled an old CNC control box into a really smart control panel.
The Trent Valley group of 7mm NGA have encouraged us by inviting us to their 2010 and 2011 exhibitions. Thanks guys!
So, that's where we are in July 2011. Track-work and wiring are pretty much finished, next stage is ballasting and scenery. But with just 12 meetings a year progress is not quick.
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