Visit to West Porton 1 0001

This is the model trolleybus layout that I made in 2007 and exhibit. It is called West Porton and is realy 'Phase II' of an older trolleybus layout, 'Porton' which uses the BRAWA system. Porton is not meant to be a model of any particular place or time but represents virtually any British town in the 1930s to 1960s when trolleybuses were replacing the trams.

The layout needs a full turn-out of 6 trolleybuses, 3 trams and 1 overhead railway train. (Loosely based on the famous Paris Sprauge-Thompson metro trains) I made the all the vehicles myself from plasticard (except the Small Bus Company ex-Bournemouth Sunbeam - now painted to Porton livery) and also the overhead system, (except the working trunout (frog) which is a BRAWA electro-weiche.)

The buses follow a steel wire below the road by means of a magnet on the front axle. This steers the bus. (Faller Car system). The buses are driven by BEC tram motors and draw their power from the live overhead - which is fabricated from brass rod - - as I did not want to have high tensions wires across the layout! The trolleypoles are modified PCM tram trolleypole, with swivel heads made from brass.

Sounds complicated - - but it was much simpler than I thought! Took 9 months to design, build and iron out glitches. If you love trolleybuses and want to build your own model it's not as difficult as you think! I build my own but have also successfully motorised the Corgi range and a Smal Bus Co. model

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• model
• trolleybus
• layout
• 4mm
• tram
• faller
• eheim
• trolly
• coach

[westporton]

4mm is the European expression for 00/H0. I think you would say 1/72 scale? My models are made in whole millimeters anyway as my eyes can't cope with anythig smaller! Luckily, due to low bridges and other obstructions there was no standard shape or size for British double-decker trolleybuses - therefore my buses actually satisfy both 4mm and 1/72. Folks, I have checked!

[westporton]

@JBofBrisbane - thanks JB, I guessed the question came from a US citizen, not used to the metric system (mm=millimeter) so was stuck for how to explain. Hope you don't have any more serious trouble with rain this season in Oz.

[JBofBrisbane]

@rhbeadlejr - I think he means 4mm to 1 foot scale. Ratio would be 1:76.2 - this is the scale referred to in model railways as OO.

BTW HO is 3.5mm to 1 foot, or 1:87.1.

[sleepyrider]

Looks a really interesting model - have you got any more exhibition appearances coming up this year?

[rhbeadlejr]

What scale is this. I don't know what 4mm means.