Built By: MPTT
Description: This pair of balloon loops was assembled quickly for use as part of an electronics demonstration stand at an exhibition, but sadly the event in April 2020 was cancelled so they had to wait until after COVID before they were first used in public. The balloon loops are now a regular part of our public displays and school club running sessions.
The track layout is from a design on the Unofficial T-Trak Handbook website and uses Kato 20-100 R249-45 curves. Both loops feature a Unitrack rerailer track to help with loading trains onto the layout. Two different methods of completing the loop are used: one loop has the extendible Unitrack section and the other uses Unitrack adaptor pieces with a length of Peco flexi-track.
Because they were produced in a hurry, the balloon loop modules themselves are a very basic robust construction: an 18mm plywood deck on four softwood block legs with adjustable screw feet. There is no scenery, the modules are just painted matt green. The intention is to use the space inside the loop for leaflets or demonstration items like an example single module, like we did at Swindon ModRail 2023 and 2024.
In 2026, we added a R216 circuit inside one of the loops, so we can run a small train under DC (analogue) control. Usually it’s a famous blue tank engine!