Copenhagen FieldsWhen we started planning our layout in 1983 we wanted to produce a unique model, replicating the hustle and bustle of London and many aspects of its rail, underground, tram and bus network. We therefore settled on a section of the East Coast Mainline on the approaches to Kings Cross, very close to our clubrooms just down the road. The name of the layout derives from the fact that the 17th century Danish Ambassador's residence was in this part of London. Part of the model includes the area immortalised by the 1955 Ealing comedy film, 'The Ladykillers', on the top of Copenhagen Tunnel. This large (9m x 3m) model is built to 2mm scale, or 152:1 on 9.42 mm gauge track. It is closely equivalent to N gauge, but the track and wheel standards are considerably finer. The standards are supported by the 2mm Scale Association. The model splits into sections which are carefully crated, and despite its large size, the whole model is transported in a 35 cwt van. On viewing our diorama, the layout appears larger than it really is because the scale reduces to 1:250 towards the back of the model. Construction of this city scene has obviously been very time consuming for the club members involved. By the nature of the project, there are already many more buildings than exist on most layouts. Time saving devices are used, such as specially made resin moulded houses, photocopied windows and wooden mouldings for the massed roofs on the distant buildings. On top of all this, Copenhagen Fields has absorbed an infinite number of figures, road vehicles and people / animals. The layout is set in the 1920s and 30s, but trains cover the period back to the 1900's, with all of the locomotives handbuilt to 2 mm Finescale standards. The layout still has a large amount of work to complete it and visitors are always welcome at our Clubrooms. Whilst it may seem that only experts can work on Copenhagen Fields, this is very far from the truth and we encourage anyone to 'have a go'; at finescale railway modelling. If you are an Exhibition Manager and think Copenhagen Fields would suit a forthcoming show, please contact Tim Watson at the Model Railway Club for further details.
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