4mm/OO Gauge
Presented by Dave Howsham
The layout was conceived as my final exhibition layout and was going to be the third Porthleven model I had built, the first being in 1965. It became Helston? because buildings of the prototype became available. I was unable to build an accurate scale model in the space available so huge liberties were taken with the track plan; hence the question mark after the name.
Track is Scaleway SMP with their plastic-based point kits. The signal box and station building are Rail Model laser cut kits the latter being specially provided by Andy Pearce in 4mm scale. The engine shed is Bachmann and the Goods shed is modified Ratio. As I did not have the width or length to model the two loops at Helston, so I moved the loco shed to the other side of the track and created a branch to The Lazard via Porthleven, its platform being loosely based on the bay at Churston. The bay signal is pure Great Western and was a gift made for me over 50 years ago. I did not have the room to mount it at ground level.