A minor diversion

I decided to build my two granddaughters their very own model railroad, at three  and six they are not too young to start on this hobby.  To keep it small enough to compete with their existing overflowing toy chests I opted for the scale of HOn30, known over here as 009 or HOe.  This will allow a small 0-4-0 loco and very tight curves. I intend to use all the structure bits I have lying around that probably won't make it to Cuspidor and to include as much visual and play interest as the small size can hold.

As usual I have a basic idea and then plan as you go takes over but so far so good.

The baseboard

The base is a simple box, diagonally braced, made from glued and screwed 9mm plywood with an extended back to support a backscene and the buildings on Main Street. Why is it that a simple box is so hard to make? I later added a raised side on the right to accommodate a tunnel through a mountain (hill). I have a mad idea that I could build a small canyon with a removal roof and portals so the girls can have a changearound if they want. That will be interesting to work out.... I jigsawed out a dropped area for an inlet of the sea or a lake so I could use an old bridge I had and to provide a water area. I pinched a backscene from the net and printed it out and stuck it on the rear wall, I have yet to source a picture of a disappearing road for the end of Main Street.

Structures

I had an old AHM plastic fire house kit; why I bought it I have no idea.  I built it then sawed it in half.  Now we have a Fire House and the rear, with a load of bashing is now the Rialto Cinema (now showing Runaway Train starring Jasmine and Darcie Webb).

I also had an old Smalltown USA shop kit that got the same treatment and now provides two stores, Darcie's Dresses and soon to be the Jasmine tearooms.

A further half store kit that I had already built is now Bob's Bazaar and Antiques.  I need one more building and have run out of store/scrapbox items so must resort to buying something suitable.

I intend to light some of the buildings and add some interior details, thus adding to the complexity, as is my wont.

I have an old IHC farmhouse that I plan to build and install in the front left corner and will have a spur siding for a small industry.  I shall also have to build a small station which will be across the road from the shops.  Space being at a premium I will make Main Street a combined road and railtrack with suitably buried trackage.

Work in progress

Motive power, track, controls etc

Just when it was all going so well I bought a new old stock BCH Minitrains 0-4-0 Baldwin with six ore wagons on Ebay, which would be ideal, I had to return them today as the only thing that worked on the loco was the headlight. I doubt the shop can repair it so I placed an order for an 0-4-0 mechanism from Japan today on which I will place a suitable body.  I will probably use Peco n scale track as, according to a UK modeller who exhibits widely, it is more reliable than their 009 track and the switches work better too. I shall buy a single analogue walk around controller from Gaugemaster which comes with a mains transformer and that should do fine.