andy2308

Apologies that this information hasn’t been available sooner. WMRA has a new exhibition manager and we had to find a new venue as our old one (Wey Valley School) is no longer accepting bookings for such events. The contract for Budmouth Academy was only recently signed and the final lists of layouts only finalised in recent weeks, plus with the ongoing Covid issues, we’ve had to amend the plans somewhat. The webmaster has been provided with the list of attendees, I will ask him to ensure that the website is updated. cheers, Andy.

I compiled the guide this year, when I was looking for a good cover photo I went to the layout pics from last year’s exhibition (can’t have my layout on it again!) yours was the best looking picture! Cheers, Andy.

Finished the REP, can’t share the video on here unfortunately but all working! Thanks to Garry for the advice re the Bo-Bo running gear, I also need to give a shout out to Andrew Lance of the HRCA for allowing me to tweak his SR EMU cab file and undercarriage designs to create the 3D prints required to complete this. Andy

So you fixed the bo-bo bogies directly into the coach body Garry? Clever! Andy.

That would be handy!

There will be a 4REP to pull it around, possibly a 33/1 in future. Andy.

Actually, by using vinyl you can remove and refit if it's not lining up properly, within reason. By cutting these as a whole body overlay all I had to do was line up the graphic with the holes in the roof and start smoothing down each side, if it wasn't completely lined up then it pulls away without ripping or leaving a residue. I now have 3/4 of a TC done, now need to add some numbers on the cab ends...

Hi all, My coaches are recycled (upcycled) SD coaches which have had the windows filled in. The prints are done onto self-adhesive vinyl, much thinner than paper and easier to work with. I have blacked in the windows on this version, I tried with a window effect similar to Ray's but it just didn't look right against the smaller window apertures, it works far better on the SR EMU version like Ray's. I have sent off some sketches to have some coach bodies made in brass etch for a 4CIG project but decided to continue with the TC & REP using old bodies as I have a few kicking about. They are cut using a Silhouette Portrait machine, I've programmed it to cut the entire graphic so fitting is just a matter of lining up the vinyl with the holes in the top of the body then smoothing into place - not a single cut has been made by hand to fit those graphics! The TC obviously doesn't need a motor but the REP will and for this my plan is to recycle a Bo-Bo chassis, if I can make it fit of course! Regards, Andy. Here's the first class coach being prepared:

All this talk of steam locos, here's something a tad different that I'm working on... 4TC unit which will eventually be hauled by a Hornby Dublo 4REP - new cab front based on the original SR EMU version, tweaked and 3D printed, new coach graphics printed (old SD coach recycled) still much work to do.

Our annual Weymouth exhibition is a week earlier this year! Confirmed so far: N Gauge Portatrack Bincombe Cutting OO Gauge Orchard Road Moor Lane Shillingford Bunbury Mills & Bunbury Quay Westwood Yard Holm Thomas & Friends Wykechester Margate Road Hornby Live Steam Roadshow Axford Kingbarrow Railway Centre Ridgeway Vale Test Track Bridehaven Cheddington Yard Lower Craggmere I 'Ad That (3 Rail) We're Just Visiting (3 Rail) HO Gauge Ferrocarril Sanmaria Gandia OO9 Craig-Ye-Hesg Quarry Green Pond Mine Other Over the Top (16.5) Burnham-on-Sea (2mm F/S) Suffolk Street (EM) Weymouth Model Engineers Live Steam Model Traction Engine Display Traders Ron Lines ABC Model Railways Aspire Gifts & Models East Somerset Models John Henderson Railroom Electronics Ray Heard Model Railways Robrets Models Felser Trading Limited Edition Wagon Sales Demonstrations: Jack Chalkey - Painting & Weathering

Interesting topic and having been exhibiting our layout for over three years now I'll give you my take on this. When I designed our layout, I made sure that there would always be something to see running, be that on the two main running loops, the upper loop or the automated shuttle. That way if something does derail I can stop that train, even if I'm mid-conversation with someone and the rest of the layout still runs. Of course that's not quite so easy if you're running a shunting layout or end to end so to some degree that will vary upon what is being exhibited. I've walked around many exhibitions and seen layouts with more operators than spectators, usually there's nothing running and while the many bells and headsets may look realistic enough, people just want to see trains running, they may be a joy to operate but when there's nothing moving out front then it doesn't tend to hold my interest for long. I've also seen layouts that have clearly had much time and effort building not just the layout but the display of the layout itself, sometimes you can't even see the operators at all! Yes it's stressful when things go wrong and the last thing you want to be doing is trying to hold a conversation while carnage is going on around you, thankfully regular maintenance of the layout and stock keeps those things to a minimum but there are occasions where you just have to say "excuse me one moment", put the train back on and then resume the conversation. We run as a crew of two (three at Warley just in case it was too busy but we could have coped with two) and the layout is side-operated. That means that not only can we see the entire layout from the control panel, it also means that people can come up to us and chat face to face without there being a barrier between us. I'm the less communicative of the two so I tend the field the more technical questions and concentrate on the running but both of us can talk about the layout with confidence and have a bit of banter. We have leaflets printed which explains how our layout came to be and there are links to the website and facebook pages for those who want to see how it was built and what projects we're working on. There are people who come and see us time and time again and never speak, one individual I can think of probably has more video footage of my layout than I do but he's never spoken. That's his choice if he doesn't wish to engage with us, we've certainly given him the opportunity to do so but if folks are happy to just stand and watch, we're happy to let them. Others will quite happily approach and chat, if we want the hobby to grow then we have to encourage people to take an interest and show how things have been done. When it comes to rivet counting and nit-picking, it's a very simple, clear cut answer from us - "It's not real!" that works most of the time. In my view, we don't need to be entertainers to exhibit layouts, we just need to be able to entertain with our creations and at least be capable of holding a conversation if approached.

Had a 2 rail 0-6-2 come in for repairs - the neo magnet had split and expanded, pushed the pole pieces into the armature and baked the armature. On the subject of magnetisers, if you want one get in quickly, I met Ron Dodd a few week back and he indicated that he may not be making them for much longer! Andy.

Or blue & grey either!