Bernie Baker’s layout is to 4mm scale with EM (18.2mm) gauge track.
Orfe Quay could be considered an improvised layout, without formal planning, based on a board with a nice harbour wall and water, built by a friend. All was flattened above rail level and a fresh start made.
Buildings are mostly card and Scalescenes brickpaper. The intention was to avoid cliches fishing boats, nets, lobster pots, sou’westers etc also no short sidings, instead relying on view blockers and “endless” sidings to look as if it’s part of something bigger. The buildings to the right cover short single road “fiddle yards”. The backscene is a much modified commercial product no longer available.
Stock is converted to EM by a variety of means from pulling wheels out on axles to moving finer wheels in a bit on stock already converted to P4.
Uncoupling is by hand held neodymium magnets being waved under the board to uncouple anywhere without complicated delay action couplings. Ordinary couplings are fitted with magnetic tails (staples). Look up “Brian Kirby uncoupling method”, though I’ve not seen the hand held magnet idea described elsewhere. Access to the underside of the board and strong magnets required.
The layout was featured in the Model Railway Journal, Number 306, 2024, pages 181-184.
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