The moment of truth!
An important aspect of preparation for exhibiting the portable section of the layout was how I was to transport it. I had carefully measured the layout boards and the loadspace in our new Ford Puma Gen E and it seemed that it would fit, but I did not want to await the eve of the Stamford Model Railway Show before discovering that I had made an error in the measurement. Winter was not a time to take a model railway out to the car, especially without a guarantee that it would go into the car, but as soon as the weather was suitable I asked friend from the Market Deeping Model Railway Club to help me take the layout down and try it in the car. We took the two station baseboards, with their back scenes fitted, and the fiddle yard board with its screen fitted and all went well. To get the fiddle yard board in the car will require the removal of the screen (six bolts) but the station boards fit well just as they are. The legs will be able to go in the rear seat footwells under the station boards and the tools and boxes of rolling stock will go into the well underneath the load floor of the car. And there will still be room for two of us in the car.
I felt it was important that Roger and I had Innsdorf-branded T shirts to wear at the Show, and name badges, and while designing and ordering the shirts I also designed some lidded, insulated mugs for our hot drinks. It is a firm rule at exhibitions that drinks taken to stands must be carried in lidded mugs for safety, so why not Innsdorf branded ones? (You can buy your own shirts, mugs and more at https://www.mwtrips.co.uk/p/shop.html#!/ if you like them!)
I had tried numerous automatic uncoupling ramps and had not come up with anything reliable. When I asked for advice at Gaugemaster they suggested that something like a dentist’s hook might be the best solution, so I had given up on automatic uncouplers and made a couple of illuminated stiff wire probes, with less of a turn-up than on a dental instrument, made with some inexpensive LED torches.
I am continuing to paint the back scenes (probably a job that will go on for years!) and the only task remaining now is to hang the curtains under the layout fascia. So nearly there now!
Locomotives and rolling stack will be transported to and from the exhibition in protective boxes made from disused box files (retirement meant that I needed far fewer of these things!). I am fixing partitions inside these to keep the vehicles apart and each is wrapped in tissue paper to prevent them rattling about and becoming damaged. They will have to be carried carefully, but at least they can be safely carried.
Innsdorf Modellbahn 