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a week of dwelling...and some thoughts for the future...

bcnPete

Entry posted by bcnPete

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Good evening,

 

Can't believe this time last week I was weathering the roof canopy, painting the track and adding brute trolleys to the ends of the platform :O

 

On reflection this week, I have been giving a lot of thought to the future of PWBIAB and indeed all my layouts with our impending move back to the UK. What is clear is that we will have to cutback big time on space requirements so some layouts will have to go.

 

Firstly, PWB and some upgrades to it will be: replace all the cardboard fascia panels with 3mm laser cut ply, install the digital photo frame depicting images etc, redo the station canopy, rethink the fiddleyards and detail the rolling stock. I think this layout has some mileage as its quite simple and once the appropriate rolling stock is gathered could be interesting to hang on to. The new Dapol 33's could be rather attractive additions to the fleet.

 

I think that it may well be my last boxfile layout not only due to the lack of need to travel with it by hand luggage anymore but mainly as it creates too many joints...the alignments being the main problem at the debut show. I did think of doing a Kyle style upgrade to a 1900mm Ikea shelf ;) but that will equally give length problems for travelling so am now thinking of permanently joining the two scenic boards together and having two similar length fiddle yard boards which can be stored in a modified 'double box file' arrangement.

 

blogentry-3290-0-17700500-1368829146_thumb.jpg

 

blogentry-3290-0-12381900-1368829165_thumb.jpg

 

Kyle I think will have to go. It was fun to build and do the upgrade and, I learnt a lot from both builds but in terms of operations PWB has much more potential.

 

Of my sons two 4mm layouts I will ditch the large roundy roundy and try and keep the 1900mm Ikea shelf layout which forms part of a layout thread on here somewhere. It all works fine and needs ballasting and detailing etc but I guess it was always built with the future in mind where they could shunt rather than race trains ;)

 

My growing 7mm collection of rolling stock will stay but I will hold fire on building the Wenfordbridge dries model just yet (another 1900mm Ikea shelf layout) as it seems silly to start something else too soon.

 

That just leaves Coombe Junction - Moorswater. I started the week with a view to scrapping it all...but as the week went on, I felt more and more uncomfortable with that. At 3.3m long it has its problems, not to mention my very first hand built pcb trackwork which is a bit dodgy but it occurred o me yesterday that a good compromise would be to keep the Moorwater board. This one has had the most work on it to date and will include the viaduct and the dries buildings whereas the other two boards could be scrapped to make space...and perhaps I can rebuild them at a later date, when we have more room.

 

I did post an entry some time ago saying the Moorswater board could perhaps go it alone and whilst it wouldn't be the most exciting of layouts at an exhibition, it could be fed with cassettes depicting various train movements.

 

Here's a more pictorial view of what I am proposing:

 

blogentry-3290-0-88662100-1368830271_thumb.jpg

 

I won't be ditching stuff just yet so perhaps can take some photos before but at least it does start to thin out railway stuff as it is quite apparent how the collection of train related stuff has grown in the last 5 years or so.

 

Next up, I might try and build a 7mm kit I have just to see what it is like working in that scale...but I think after last weekend, despite my eye deteriorations and frustrations, I still enjoy modelling 2mm FS too much to completely turn my back on it.

 

Have a good weekend all :)

 

Pete

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Jon020

It's a hobby that will always find the need for tough decisions. I recall you mentioning this last week and the trouble is that this is what life throws at us... at least the modular construction will allow you to pick and choose what you keep and I'm sure the right decision will be arrived at... but, is it worth thinking (although I assume you already have) about the space taken up and whether the next accommodation will provide for more rather than less space?

goodluck....

Jon

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D869

Hi Pete,

I'm sure we all have our opinions about which are our favourites but at the end of the day it's your train set (or rather train sets) so you need to make the best decision for you.

And there was me wondering when you were going to build the remaining arches of that viaduct ;)

Regards, Andy

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Will J

Hi Pete,

 

never mind the layouts, I'd tune in to your blog just to enjoy the sketches!

 

I think it was a chance googling of 'Coombe Junction' that first led me to the world of RMWeb, so I hope that something of the layout lives on, but I appreciate that sometimes a project needs to be compressed to make sense.

 

Cheers,WJ

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bcnPete
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The end of CJ?? :O
66% of it...but am hoping to rebuild them at a later date...

 

It's a hobby that will always find the need for tough decisions. I recall you mentioning this last week and the trouble is that this is what life throws at us... at least the modular construction will allow you to pick and choose what you keep and I'm sure the right decision will be arrived at... but, is it worth thinking (although I assume you already have) about the space taken up and whether the next accommodation will provide for more rather than less space?goodluck....
Thanks Jon - Yep, until we sign up for a new UK abode, I will keep it all however considering I had only rolling stock when we came to Spain, then my wife has suffered enough...I am offering to cut back first in the negotiations ;)

 

Hi Pete,I'm sure we all have our opinions about which are our favourites but at the end of the day it's your train set (or rather train sets) so you need to make the best decision for you.And there was me wondering when you were going to build the remaining arches of that viaduct ;)
Thanks Andy - I will try and save the bridge and station halt off the 2 CJM boards but the track would really benefit from being redone with easitrac...I might even be able to rethink the overall length and model the incline which will be of interest to Mickey :D

 

Hi Pete, never mind the layouts, I'd tune in to your blog just to enjoy the sketches!I think it was a chance googling of 'Coombe Junction' that first led me to the world of RMWeb, so I hope that something of the layout lives on, but I appreciate that sometimes a project needs to be compressed to make sense. 
Thanks Will - nice of you to say so - CJM will be back...maybe for the 60 year 2mmFS show...
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TomJ

You can't get rid of CJ!!! I need it for my inspiration.

Wouldn't it be like selling a child....?

 

But seriously I think you're right that Paddock Wood offers the most variety and interesting operation. And it's coming together very nicely.

 

I don't think you'll have a problem selling any of your layouts!

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bcnPete
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You can't get rid of CJ!!! I need it for my inspiration.

Wouldn't it be like selling a child....?

But seriously I think you're right that Paddock Wood offers the most variety and interesting operation. And it's coming together very nicely.

I don't think you'll have a problem selling any of your layouts!

 

Thanks Tom!

 

Not selling...disposing of a better description...a few bits will be recycled off Kyle and I might try and keep the station building as I spent quite a while on it...but the rest will be scrapped.

 

The reality is, we will be downsizing to such an extent that we won't have a garage or loft, or even a spare room...hence the need to thin out.

 

I just wish the UK would categorise properties on sq.metres rather than number of bedrooms in line with the majority of Europe...:)

 

 

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PaternosterRow
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I don't envy you the choosing process Pete, but it would be a huge mistake to ditch any of the Moorswater sections and certainly don't get rid of Kyle! That back scene is too unforgettable. But it's easy for me to say as I'm not the one facing a big move with what sounds like a large railway family with a load of layouts! Good luck with it all at any rate.

 

Mike

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bcnPete
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;) Thanks Rich - that's 2020 no?

 

Me thinks there will be a raft of unfinished layouts heading for that date...:D

 

Thanks Mike!

 

If only it were that easy...but to reiterate, until we know where we are going, nothing will get binned just yet... :)

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Donw
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Some sensible choices Pete. It might be a bit of a wrench scrapping Kyle ( could you sell it?). Regarding the 7mm/2mm having worked in both there should be room for both. There are details you can add and actually see in 7mm which would not be visible in 2mm. On the other hand what makes a nice scene in 2mm would be too large in 7mm and the baseboard too wide to reach over. Of course it also depends on where you expect to live in the UK. That rural retreat with a spare barn might suggest 7mm whereas the town apartment might suit 2mm better. A big shed in the garden can be good but Paddock Wood could be set up on a table in the lounge with the family and see more use.

Don 

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Mikkel
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Tough choices, Pete. But maybe it is good sometimes to focus activities a bit.

 

I noticed this casual statement: "My growing 7mm collection of rolling stock." Is there something we should know, Pete? Are you trying to tell us something? :-)

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bcnPete
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Some sensible choices Pete. It might be a bit of a wrench scrapping Kyle ( could you sell it?). Regarding the 7mm/2mm having worked in both there should be room for both. There are details you can add and actually see in 7mm which would not be visible in 2mm. On the other hand what makes a nice scene in 2mm would be too large in 7mm and the baseboard too wide to reach over. Of course it also depends on where you expect to live in the UK. That rural retreat with a spare barn might suggest 7mm whereas the town apartment might suit 2mm better. A big shed in the garden can be good but Paddock Wood could be set up on a table in the lounge with the family and see more use.
Thanks Don - some wise words there - I did get an offer for Kyle but I declined as to be honest despite the upgrade it never worked as well as I would have wanted it too due to the bow in the original foamboard boards - that and all the wiring sort of got buried when it was transferred to the shelf - for me, that's a big problem with boxfile layouts, in that you never have direct access to the wiring. We will live back in London mainly driven by the boys schools, so no chance of a barn retreat here me thinks.

 

Tough choices, Pete. But maybe it is good sometimes to focus activities a bit. I noticed this casual statement: "My growing 7mm collection of rolling stock." Is there something we should know, Pete? Are you trying to tell us something? :-)
Thanks Mikkel - yep, I always have too many things going on - nothing sinister in the 7mm stuff...just planning for my retirement :lol: I might try a 7mm kit in my evenings here just to see how I get on.

 

Yes 2020. Just 84 months remaining. :jester:
Put like that...:O
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