MOSELEY HERITAGE MUSEUM

Pat constructed not one, but two entries for the ‘industrial’-themed cakebox challenge. This was his second, a diorama in O9 (7mm scale, 9mm gauge) depicting early days at an industrial heritage site.

PAT’S WORDS…

As a narrow gauge modeller I model in both 4 & 7mm. My steam locomotives tend to be in 4mm and my diesels in 7mm. After establishing myself with a fairly decent size 009 layout (still under construction) I discovered 09 gauge, and couldn’t resist building a layout. It isn by no means complete, but It has allowed my to get familiar with the scale.

As I love a bit of a challenge, I thought I would see if I could build a 7mm cakebox challenge in a week. Unfortunately by day 4 life managed to get itself in the way, and it came to a screeching halt. With two days remaining in the cakebox challenge I’m going to see if I can get this finished.

During the summer I visited the incredible Moseley heritage museum in Redruth, Cornwall. I would strongly recommend visiting on one of their open days, especially if you have an interest in old mining locomotives. The museum has a  substantial collection of small battery mechanical and diesel mining locomotives and bits of stock, old tippers etc. They have about a mile of track and a few sidings. It is a private collection (I believe) and it is run with the aid of volunteers who were extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. I was staggered as to how great this almost secret little railway was, and chuffed that I had found it. I mean they have a working three way point. I will definitely be returning at some point in the future. 

So an amazingly awesome place that I came away from fit to burst with ideas and inspiration, it seemed obvious that a cakebox challenge was the perfect format to get some of these ideas out. I had a three way point hat I purchased from eBay a year or so ago. It wouldn’t be useable, but anyway I thought I could use it on a diorama all the same….