MRH $500 Contest - 3
1a-1b: Schematic trackplan of “Chicago Fork”, as
drawn and presented by the late Carl Arendt.
Most small shelf layouts are perceived as nothing more than
switching-planks due to lack of presentation framing and light-
ing. Lack of fascia and lighting really does sell the potential of
micro/small layouts short and a terrible disservice to what can
be amazingly-detailed modeling.
Speaking of the design, I know some may be looking at the
foamcore and sector plate thinking, “nice stand-alone unit,
but there’s no way to expand it”. Not true. With careful atten-
tion to the track geometry, the angle of the sector plate is such
that it can be removed, and a second PECO Code 83 #5 turnout
dropped in place. From there the options are: extending the
layout to complete the Inglenook as-is, or build more foamcore
modules and connect them end-to-end, limited only by avail-
able space and the motivation of the modeler.
The track used on Chicago Fork is PECO Code 83 US-geometry
flextrack and turnouts. PECO turnouts are designed with a
built-in over-center spring. This permits positive manual-throw
operation right out of the box. Personally I prefer Caboose
Industries ground throws, and use N scale #218s mounted at
the layout edge. A short wire-in-tube extension allows fully-
manual control without having to reach into the scene.
After Chicago Fork was built, it occurred to me that another
option is the turnout kits from Proto:87 Stores. These would
3b
MRH-Sep 2013
