Chelsey Street is the result of an 'itch that needed scratching' having seen the Dapol class 08, and from being involved in helping build other 'O' gauge layouts. I had some Tim Horn MDF laser-cut baseboards spare from a project that didn't really get off the ground, so seemed an ideal opportunity to have a crack at building a small 7mm scale shunting layout.
The layout is intended to be a small yard somewhere in South London, possibly for a small wagon repair shop, if there's room to fit the corner of a building in, but otherwise is just for a bit of fun.
I managed to get hold of a BR Blue class 08 shunter and fitted an ESU Loksound 5 21MTC sound decoder from Coastal DCC, and also added an ESU stay-alive module. The loco may yet see a coat of green added before some heavy weathering. For some time I've had a Connoisseur Models Bogie Bolster 'C' to build, but not yet started, and have added a further 5 Parkside kits to build, plus an Ellis Clarke Pressflo. I doubt the layout could accommodate much more!
Track is Peco Streamline bullhead rail, with the turnouts modified to improve appearance. I did look at C&L or similar components, but in an aim to keep costs down opted for Peco.
Due to the small space available, the yard will be surrounded by retaining walls from LCut Creative; I figured this would be a way of giving reason for any potential shadows cast on the backscene by making it look like a yard hemmed in by surrounding structures, as a lot of the infrastructure is in South London.
The lack of space means the layout will be heavily reliant on one or two small cameos and detailing that can be close to the track. I have a few figures and detail parts from Modelu, and some additional details and parts from Scale Model Scenery to add a bit of life to the layout, but other than that the detailing will be mostly scenic materials such as static grasses to resemble natural growth around the track.
Control will be by my preferred MERG CBUS and DCC, utilising traction control equipment shared with other projects. A couple of CANMIOs will drive the servo turnout operation under the scenic boards, as well as some retractable uncoupling magnets, and possibly a couple of operating doors if I can fit in the partial wagon repair shed; all servos are fitted to Dingo mounts. A small control panel will probably be built in to the fiddle yard baseboard if space is available, otherwise will be a small remote unit.