Post sul blog - BUDGET MODEL RAILWAYS

BUDGET MODEL RAILWAYS

The Budget Model Railways 60cm x 23.5cm floating shelf layout challenge

Concept:
To produce a layout of any scale/gauge on a 60cm x 23.5 cm floating shelf. Thickness of the shelf does not matter but must not exceed the 60cm x 23.5cm dimensions.
It must have at least one point/ switch and have as much operating potential as possible, ie not a single track diorama.
Any type of track inc pre ballasted is acceptable. Ovals are acceptable if they can be fitted in, as long as there is at least one point/switch.
It must have two buildings/structures as a minimum, but this can include sheds, signal boxes etc.
Backscene can be any height.
The fiddle yard must not exceed 60cm in length or be more than two road, it must be separate from the scenic section, i.e. no 4ft boards with only the 60 x 23 section as a layout.
The layout should include as much second hand and recycled material and features as possible.
The objective of the challenge is to inspire people to have a go at making a micro shunting layout, especially those who have not built a layout or micro layout before, and to do so on a limited budget.
Whilst I will be interested to see any layouts outside of the criteria, only those that meet the criteria will be featured on the website.
There is no prize or reward, or ranking 1st 2nd 3rd etc, its just a fun challenge to inspire people to enjoy making a micro layout.

Chris Cowen

19/6/2025

An HOe gauge layout based on Austrian narrow gauge, using my collection of Roco and Liliput stock.
Incorporates:
- inglenook sidings that can fit 5-3-3 Roco Microwagons or 3-2-2 Liliuput wagons
- Pilot assisted runaround
- Passenger and goods operation.
Few mistakes made on my first ever layout build. Thanks to Mike for setting the challenge.
Board is offcuts from my shelf layout (which track only and no scenery). Switch box is a puncture repair kit box.
Already had most of the stuff in my collection in boxes.
Engine Shelter is scratch built, station is 11 quid from Faller's "Im Kleinem Gross" kit range.
I have a lot more stock, including 0-6-0 steam and diesel type D16 from Zillertalbahn.
I photographed with little stock to show layout.
Crane needs finishing and some glue is not yet dry. I may add figures and things later.

Hadyn McLoughlin - Shunting at the Sawmill

19/6/2025

I have created a N scale micro shunting layout as an industrial scene with the sawmill / timber yard as the main focus.
The small loco and trucks are picking up some freshly milled timber and the second loco services a small passenger station for the yard workers to start their long shift.
Most items used for the layout are vintage older second hand stock from 60s to 80s bought from eBay, Marketplace or train shows and collected over time.
I will be extending the main line though the side ‘backscene’ with a fiddle stick so the locos have more space to run - with another floating shelf at the correct height.
A huge thank you to Mike and Doug for the opportunity to be part of this great challenge.
Your channel got me into model railways and have not looked back over the last 12 months.
All the best to all involved and good luck with your model railway projects.

Doug Simpson - Orange Belt Railway 2.0

19/6/2025

I had this piece of foam that is 7” x 24”, so I decided to build this HOn30 layout for the challenge. This will eventually be a module for a larger switching layout that is basically a continuation of my 16” x 24” Orange Belt Railway layout. That layout models a Florida orange grove with similar scenery and feel. This will act as the destination, (Florida’s Natural Growers) a citrus processing facility. Citrus arrives via wooden reefers and gets processed into juice. The citrus peels, oils, and rinds, that are left over from the juice processing, are distilled and made into various solvents. These solvents are then shipped via old wooden tank cars.
The structures are kitbashed/scratch built, the track I had on hand, rolling stock and locomotive are from my other layout, backdrop is made from cardboard boxes I had and a photo I created using chatGPT, the hardboard for the fascia was shipping material that came with our treadmill and I had more than enough scenery leftover from other projects to complete this. Very simple and inexpensive little layout.

Andrew Clayton - Worthies Halt

19/6/2025

Freestyle OO layout, entirely contained within the shelf, so it's possible to put it on a table for people to play with if they want. Points are wire-in-tube but decoupling is by the Hand of God. A first attempt at anything like this at all. I have no background in modelling. This was immense fun and I'm delighted with the outcome.

Hannah Fussey - Staithefield Halt

19/6/2025

This is my first attempt at a 00 guage micro layout and I've really enjoyed the challenge! I've tried to incorporate a few of the tips I've learnt from Budget Model Railways over the last few years, including the roof felt off cut as a ballast mat and water effects using cheap poster paints and an old tin of varnish. The platforms are chunks of polystyrene coated in good old poundland filler. All the buildings and accessories were what I had already, but were originally purchased second hand from toy fairs. The foliage is made out of dried moss from the garden and scratch-built barge made out of cardboard and foamboard (although definitely not to scale!).

Robin Nellist - Saint's Yard

19/6/2025

GN15 scale
Base is cardboard buildings various card ,foam board and Polly sticks. The locos and rolling stock are hand made.

Tony Jewell - Silf bach

19/6/2025

A 009 layout, SILF BACH (Welsh for small shelf), was built using 009 flexi track and two electrofrog turnouts that were new but bought for £10 ea. Its supposed to be a disused slate line that now has a small station goods yard. The buildings, platform and buffer stops are all 3d printed by me.I already had the files for the buildings so no cost there and these were resin printed. The controller is a PWM module set into the shelf. Wagons and coaches were designed and printed by me, the loco bodies are 3d printed kits that I bough on ebay. I mostly use kato 109 chassis's and Fleischmann 7000 ones. Built since the challenge started, I'm going to build another two modules for it, one on a 1200mm shelf that I bough in a secondhand shop and then another on a 600mm one. Great fun to build and a great learning curve - Oh and it has a two road fiddle yard with one turnout!

Ian Bareham

19/6/2025

I have started my 60mm Layout Challenge,as a way of using my Hornby Steampunk. Yet to be named,it basically the same plan only flip with fiddle yard to the right of my early 2900's MicroLayout St Augstines Hospital.

Mike hebden - ex-box quarry

19/6/2025

A scenic shelf supported on a shelf, with a 3rd shelf as a fiddle yard. But all made of cardboard and glue. Railway is a (battered) 70's Playcraft HO9 set. I've just completed a video on the making of it - just going up on my channel. #mikehebdentrains .
This probably falls outside the scope of the challenge, as I haven't bothered to separate the fiddle yard board from the scenic board. It's been fun to do though, and I don't usually 'do' scenery.
No 'new' parts or materials bought at all - pending making some wagons from scratch.

Bramel Sheretan - what a mucking fuddle

2/6/2025

What A Mucking Fuddle by Ponders End Model Railway
This rustic OO micro layout came about from a challenge set by Mike at, Budget Model Railways, Mike also gave me the idea for the name.
Board 67 cm x 31 cm
Scenic Area 60 cm x 23.5 cm
Points 1 Y point 1 Small left-hand point
Operation based upon the Inglenook layout with reduced stock due to size constraints. I opted for a derelict theme as I don’t have an derelict section on the main layout.
At the rear of the layout I have a small holding shelf for stock and the barrier doubles as the backdrop of the scenic section. At present I have no fiddle yard and have used the last 7 cm to allow for this and at some point, excuse the pun, I will add to the fiddle yard side.
The track as you see is offset to allow for as much track as possible, it also offers a slight curve on what would be the straight and I’ve included a 2nd radius curve to compliment the design.
Buildings are scratch built, using coffee stirrers, 2mm MDF and Metcalfe brick papers. The only item purchased was the small Y point, which I think cost £9 with postage.
Overview video on YouTube