‘3MM’ SCALE LAYOUT UPPINGHAM
Upping the ante
Eschewing the usual scales and gauges, Martin Olley stuck to the scale he knows and loves and scratchbuilt this slice of Rutland history.
Words: Chris Gadsby
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Pictures: Chris Nevard
What makes this layout great?
“Good scale models can be awe-inspiring and give you a clear idea of what the area was really like in its prime. Although a minimal compromise has had to be made, Martin has done an excellent job of conveying a section of the network he once saw that many of us will never get to experience. ”
Have you ever had the opportunity to walk around an abandoned station that is becoming derelict? There is something both fascinating and eerie about walking along a platform that’s usually bustling with people and hearing absolutely nothing. If you haven’t been able to experience this, picture the scene from a dystopian movie where nature is reclaiming the landscape from humans. Inside the station building, areas which have not seen light for many years are awash with spider webs, and the odd plant has found its way through a crack in the open window. The ticket office is still there but, almost as if everybody left in a hurry, there is a reel of spare tickets and railwayana litters the walls. It’s the sort of scene that stays with you as you imagine what once was and, with the power of model railways, what it could be again. For Martin Olley, a similar scene inspired his 3mm layout 50 years later.