Layout In A Box – Demo Micro Layout Project (part one)
Scale Model Scenery Demo Micro Layout Project
With modelling season getting back into full swing, the Scale Model Scenery Team will be attending various model shows over this coming winter modelling season. One of the planned projects for our stand at the model shows, is to showcase one of our micro baseboards in a box. So over this article & forthcoming articles we’ll take a look at building a small micro layout utilising our BB018 baseboard pack. From assembling the baseboard, track planning, laying the track, wiring up, to doing the scenics.
In this, part one, we’ll look at the BB018 pack contents & how to assemble the BB018 baseboard pack.
The BB018 & BB017 came about after numerous requests to Justin for some form of micro baseboards could be produced & introduced into the range. Originally these were custom only orders, but due to popularity the decision was to taken to produce them as a standard range item, hence the BB017 & BB018 have now joined our baseboard range. Justin says there will be further add on center baseboards to match both the BB017 & BB018, coming to our baseboard range soon. This will give you the flexability to extend the BB017 & BB018 to make a longer baseboard.
The likes of BRM magazine’s very own Phil Parker, has used the BB017 on his Didsbury Green layout as featured in BRM magazine. The BB017/BB018 is ideal for building a wide variety of dioramas and layouts. Suitable for all types and scales of military, aviation and road transport modelling, as well as small scale model railway layouts in OO scale, N and OO9 gauge.
The BB017 & BB018 baseboard has been designed to fit inside a Really Useful Plastic 77L plastic storage box for portability and easy storage when not in use. You can purchase the 77L plastic storage boxe here:
http://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/uk/html/onlineshop/rub/b77_0litre.php
If you are struggling for space for a layout, then a micro layout could just be the answer you’re looking for. Let us now take a look at what comes in the baseboard pack.
What Tools Do I Need?
The BB017 & BB018 have been designed for ease of assembly with the minimum of tools. The baseboard sections simply slot together & are of tight/snug friction fit. Only tools you’ll need is a wooded mallet or your hand to tap the baseboard parts together. For glue use the likes of Deluxe Materials Super Phatic Glue or Deluxe Materials Speed bond or similar. These glues & more can be found here:
https://www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk/glues-288-c.asp
Kit Contents
The BB017 comes as a flat pack kit with a supplied instruction sheet. The photos below show the baseboard parts which include the following…
Instruction sheet.
Two rear backscene boards.
Two top baseboard sections.
One pair of end baseboard sections (both can be used as left or right handed).
One pair of front baseboard sections.
Four cross brace sections & three packing sections (One packing section is included as a spare).
One bag of bolts, washers & wing nuts.
Baseboard assembly
With the assembly, test fit & check all parts as a dry run. Once happy all fits okay, then & only then glue the parts together. Lets get started. The assembly should take now more than 10 to 15 mins max.
Take the front section with the laser engraved SMS logo & one of the cross brace sections. Slot the the cross brace into the centre two slot holes as shown on the right.
Now take another of the cross brace sections. Slot the the cross brace into the end two slot holes as shown on the right.
Now turn the assembled section upside down & insert into the one of the baseboard top sections as shown on the right. Take your time here make sure that assembled section slots are fully inserted into the holes of the baseboard top section.
Next, take one of the end baseboard sections. Up end the assembled section & insert into the slot holes of the end baseboard as shown on the right. Make sure all parts are sitting flush against each other.
Next we’ll fit the rear baseboard/backscene section. Familarise yourself in which way the rear baseboard fits. Lay the rear baseboard section on a flat surface & insert the assembled section into the rearbaseboard. Make sure that all parts sit true & flush against each other.
This completes one half (left handside) of the baseboard assembly. We’ll now move on to the right hand side assembly.
As before, insert the two cross brace pieces as shown in the first photo opposite right to form the right hand baseboard section. The second photo below right shows the left hand baseboard assembly as a comparison.
As before, insert the cross brace / front piece section into the baseboard top as shown in the first photo opposite right to form the right hand baseboard section. The second photo below right shows the left hand baseboard assembly as a comparison.
As before, insert the assembled section into the baseboard end board as shown in the first photo opposite right to form the right hand baseboard section. The second photo below right shows the left hand baseboard assembly as a comparison.
As before, insert the assembled section into the baseboard rear board as shown in the first photo opposite right to form the right hand baseboard section. The second photo below right shows the left hand baseboard assembly as a comparison.
We now have a assembled left & right baseboard sections. As we’ve dry fitted the parts together we’ll now glue them to fix the parts permently together. Another glue that is worth mentioning is a two part rapid set Mitre Glue, here we are using one from Screwfix. The small bottle contains the glue, the can contains the activator. This causes the glue to set within 5 to 10 seconds!!
Run a bead of glue along each of the joints as shown on the right.
Then spray over the joint & glue with the activator, the glue will set solid within 10 seconds.
End spacers. Run a bead of glue as shown on the right along the end cross brace section.
Carefully line up the holes on the spacer piece with the holes on the cross brace section. Place the spacer on to the glued cross brace. Use the bolts & wing nuts to temporarily hold the spacer piece in place whilst the glue sets.
Once the glue has set, remove the bolts.
Repeat the process with the second spacer & glue into place on the other baseboard. The baseboards are now ready for bolting up together.
Now insert both bolts through the two smaller bolt holes making sure you use the supplied washers for both sides. Tighten up both bolts to complete the joining of the baseboards.
If keeping the baseboard permently joined together, then you can make use of the third spare spacer piece. Apply glue to the spacer piece & stick into place on the back of the backscene boards as shown on the right. This will keep both rear backboards permently aligned.
This now completes the assembly of the BB017 baseboards.
For any one wanting to know what the measurements of the display side of the baseboard the photos on the right shown the measurements…
Front to back measurement…
For any one wanting to know what the measurements of the display side of the baseboard the photos on the right shown the measurements…
Top to bottom measurement of the backscene boards.
For any one wanting to know what the measurements of the display side of the baseboard the photos on the right shown the measurements…
Length of baseboard…
For the time being we’ll store the baseboard in the 77L box, whilst we move on to designing the trackplan. We’ll look at the track plan in the next article of this series.
Happy modelling.
What a brilliant article. Having built a couple of my own layouts in boxes, I love the format. The SMS baseboards are amazing and would highly recommend you add one of these to your winter project lists!! Looking forward to seeing how this layout develops.
Thank you 🙂 The baseboard orders have really ramped up & flying out to the customers. We’ve been planning some more different add on units to expand the baseboard range even more, watch this space 😉
When is the next article?? Keen to see the track plan you have in mind.
Bear with us please, the phone has been red hot with telsales, so been tided up on the front end so to speak. The next article on this series is coming very very shortly. Kind regards Iain
Bought this recently and have started to install a small steam shed layout diorama.
Hi Douglas, Thank you & we hope you’ll enjoy using the baseboards. Please do post here the club any photos & progress reports on your layout build. It’s great to see club members layouts. Many thanks Iain
food for thought very insirational
Thank you Buttons 🙂