Model Rail 251 Summer 2018

[dibber25]

Summer’s here! Yes, the Summer 2018 issue of Model Rail is published on Thursday 2 August and it marks the 50^thAnniversary of the End of Steam on BR with a look at an epic 'OO' gauge layout. There’s also a guide to all the steam locomotives that were around at the bitter end.

In Opening the Box we’ve a close-up of the first two livery samples of the ‘J70’ 0-6-0T and news of Heljan’s Class 25/3. Chris Leigh recalls some childhood memories involving the Black Arrows of 111 Squadron, and Emily Martin embraces the potential of Z gauge.

 

Layouts

 

Shap Wells 1967 (OO)

 

Forrestone (Modern, Southern) (N gauge)

 

Features

 

Dramatic lines. Layout ideas from Paul Lunn

 

Reviews

 

Locomotion/Rapido Trains GNR 4-2-2 No. 1

 

Revolution Class B tank wagon

 

Dapol Maunsell Brake Third

 

Workbench (18pp)

 

Chris Leigh thatches a Dapol cottage and adds destination blinds to a Dapol Class 121

 

Peter Marriott goes underneath the arches and opens a restaurant

 

David Spencer customizes some Oxford open wagons. 

 

Know Your Stuff shows a locomotive body repair and some track cleaning techniques. 

 

PLUS all the usual regulars. 

Edited July 30, 2018 by Andy Y

[Steamport Southport]

Oh good, the contents list, as the email I received the other day had last months list. I spent ages trying to work out the contents by the cover.

 

Look forward to receiving it when it arrives. It's normally today, but no hurry.

 

 

 

Jason

[Edwardian]

CJL does some more excellent architectural upgrading; very clever and effective what he's done with old Airfix cottage.

 

Paul Lunn has gone to the Lakes - Twin termini in 6' x 4'!

 

All good stuff.

 

As usual.

[LNER4479]

Picked up my copy this morning and would just like to say, as the chief architect of the Shap layout, what a superb job Chris and the team at Model Rail have done in presenting the layout. Particular thanks to Richard Foster who accompanied Chris Nervard for the 'shoot' to get the story. I think he has done a splendid job of turning my rambling responses to his patient questions into an engaging article to accompany Chris's fantastic photos. I am (naturally) delighted at the result, which portrays not only my efforts but those of the Shap team that so readily contributed. Thanks guys!

Edited August 2, 2018 by LNER4479

[Pteremy]

Out of interest is the clear 'wrapping' compostable? Feels quite crinkly, as if it might be starch based?

[MikeB]

Am I the only person confused by the review in this issue of the DCC Concepts ground signals?  They are described as 2, 3 or 4 aspect, but surely they should be called 2-aspect, as they can only display one of two options, even although each signal may have 3 or 4 lights?  But more serious is the assertion that they are wired to points to mimic them, and are not a set of signals to be switched independently.  That is just wrong as each signal can also be controlled separately by having a unique DCC address.  The review also says that the mimic panel needs to be accessible to change an address, but that is only for setting up, not for routine use.  Of course, the mimic panel does need to be on show if used for the original purpose of forming the basis of a mimic control panel, but that is not the the primary purpose when used with the ground signals. And finally, the review does not explicitly mention that these signals are good value for money, at around £8 each.

 

I have no relationship with DCC Concepts, except as a satisfied customer, but this review does them no favours.

 

Mike B

[rue_d_etropal]

Out of interest is the clear 'wrapping' compostable? Feels quite crinkly, as if it might be starch based?

Would be interesting to know. Being crinkly does not suggest starch based to me. Used to be two main types for bags, stretchy ones and crinkly ones. Could use the stretchy ones for my art craft(plastic baf=g ironing), but te crinkly ones not so good for me. A friend did manage to cut them in strips and weave them.

 

Personally would have preferred no plastic bag on magazine. I did not buy a copy as a result, and its only reason was a catalogue included. Might have been tempted if it was another proper publication, not what is in effect advertising bumph, not much different from junk mail. It also meant extra (non eco friendly) packaging. I only have so many windows to glaze on my models(ironically using Deluxe Glue n Glaze), for which this thin plastic is ideal backing for larger windows.

[daftbovine]

Chris Nevard’s layout pictures look very ‘rough’ in my digital copy of this months magazine. It is especially noticeable on straight lines which look jagged. Has anyone else noticed this in their digital copy of the magazine?

 

While it’s not enough to put me off buying the magazine I find it puzzling as this effect is not apparent in other publications.

[grahame]

Chris Nevard’s layout pictures look very ‘rough’ in my digital copy of this months magazine. It is especially noticeable on straight lines which look jagged. Has anyone else noticed this in their digital copy of the magazine?

It happens when the image resolution (DPI) is very low causing pixelation and blockiness. You need a minimum of 300DPI for print publishing but can get away with around 100DPI for web publishing on electronic devices. However sometimes even lower is used to compress the overall document size to a manageable level. When it gets too low, or the image is enlarged on screen, it can look as you describe.

 

I'd imagine that Chris's original image files were more than sufficiently large enough initially but have got reduced somewhere along the publication process. Just sending an email with an image file can cause them to be compressed and reduced in size.

 

G