Hi folks, I have started building a new micro/mini layout called Ticino Spaghetti Harvest. In 1957 the BBC Panorama program, a bastion of integrity in journalism, pulled off what is possibly the best April Fool's Day hoax ever. Panorama made and broadcast a short segment on the harvesting of spaghetti in the Canton of Ticino on the Italian/Swiss border. Very convincingly it told of bumper spaghetti crops being experienced due to the near eradication of the spaghetti weevil. Many people were entirely convinced that spaghetti grew on trees. Watch it here and you will see why: I am building a 2ft x 4ft Gn15 layout on an old baseboard, very light and portable. The layout is a circuit with two passing loops. The back section of the circuit will be hidden from view by a pasta factory and cafes etc. made probably from foamcore and DAS clay. There will be spaghetti tree groves, and shapely seasonal workers supplied by the Master Box 1/24 Dangerous Curves series http://www.mbltd.info/24015.htm http://www.mbltd.info/24017.htm Locos and wagons will be from the now difficult to obtain Sidelines Pepper 7 series. Most of these run on Tenshodo spuds or Black Beetle Drives. there is lots of room for fun and improvisation with this theme. A small screen of some description will play the Spaghetti Harvest mockumentary. Track has been mostly laid and I will post progress photos when i can. cheers Geoff Potter Wamberal NSW
Hi Gary, yes I certainly intend to exhibit this. I am aiming for an initial showing at the Australian Narrow Gauge Convention at Erina next Easter, then hopefully Rosehill 8?)
Those ladies look nice. funny, I've now taken a fancy for spagetti. looking forward to seeing this ...... should be a hoot. cheers toto
There is a pot noodle mines NG model railway doing the local circuit, lots of cameo and writing signs potential for sub stories, certainly got my attention (and the wifes). Don't forget to have meatball vans!
Progress photos on Ticino spaghetti harvest (Gn15) are now in an album (here under media) and and on my Potterboy2011 Flickr site https://www.flickr.com/photos/66383491@N06/albums/72157672214871638 The track is laid. This uses several Peco OO/HO electrofrog points (which improve operation for very small short-wheelbase locos) and On30 track with widely spaced sleepers for that spartan minimum-gauge look. The wiring is next, which will be ultra-simple DC. The point control will use Caboose industries ground throws. As you will see, there is a lot of track and operation that can be fit into a 2ft x 4ft layout. The locos are a mix of Sidelines kits (which are very hard to get now). wagons are mostly from the same manufacturer. The lovely maroon job is "Gmeinder Gap", a scratchbuilt loco built by Bill Corser in the UK.
Toto, I put the images in the Media section as I could not get the images to stick in the email with the glue I was using! They are there in the media section now, but also on my Flickr pages https://www.flickr.com/photos/66383491@N06/albums/72157672214871638 cheers Geoff Potter
Ok I am now getting back into modelling and have been doing surgery on various Masterbox, ICM and other figures. Suitable drivers are in short supply so Dr Potter has been busy amputating and reattaching limbs to fit figures to locos. Don't worry about the rough puttied legs, they need a bit more sculpting/sanding before the figures are painted. My layout will probably be set in the 1970s/80s and be an equal opportunity employer. I am very glad to be finally getting back to building models.