Helston? 4mm/OO
The layout was conceived as BR(WR), as a change from my Swiss models, and was going to be the third Porthleven model I had built; the first being in 1965. It became Helston? because models and kits of the prototype buildings became available. I was unable to build a reasonably accurate scale model in the limited space available to me so huge liberties were taken with the track plan; hence the question mark after the name.
Track is SMP Scaleway with their plastic based point kits. The signal box and station building are Rail Model laser cut kits, the latter being specially provided in 4mm scale by Andy Pearce. The engine shed is Bachmann and the goods shed is modified Ratio. As I did not have the width or length to model the extra loop that was at Helston I moved the loco shed to the other side of the track and created the branch to The Lizard via Porthleven (of course), its platform being loosely based on the bay at Churston. The branch line adds extra interest for the viewer as the layout was always intended tor exhibition use. Two periods of operation are depicted over an exhibition, 1953 & 1963.
