Build a micro in ‘N’

How do you build small without compromising on functionality? Chris Nevard takes ‘compact’ to the next level with what he calls a ‘nano’ layout.

Chris Nevard always has to go one better – he’s built a ‘nano’ layout in ‘N’.

Let me introduce the smallest model railway I’ve ever built. Its scenic footprint is just 14in by 4in, so it certainly falls into the ‘micro layout’ genre – it might even qualify as a ‘nano layout’. Remember the layout ‘Great Coles Wood Halt’ (MR246) that I was commissioned to build? That was designed to fit inside a typical plastic storage box. But storage boxes come in all shapes and sizes, and the one I had to fill was roughly 14in by 4in – to me it looked like a very large loaf tin! The owner supplied a pair of baseboards on which the track had already been laid. My brief was to create ‘something Great Western’ to fit on to one board (with the other acting as a fiddleyard). Micro layouts tend to be a compromise from a design point of view, but for me that’s half the fun – trying to create something believable in such a small space. Another challenge, especially as it will be viewed close up, is to make a scene that looks bigger than it really is. This build took 36 hours in total, spread over about three weeks. From an operational point of view, and due to space restrictions, there was no room for a run-round loop, so I imagine that the loop is off-stage to the right. I haven’t done a great deal of work in ‘N’ gauge, so this was an opportunity to get hands-on with some of the well-known building kits. Also, working in such a small scale really sharpened up my act. With the camera – and my eyes – getting a lot closer to the modelling, any tiny blemishes are far more prominent than with bigger scales, especially when scrutinising any photographs. Anyway, here’s how I built – and how you can build – a working model railway in the smallest possible space.