This reminds me of the "Dreams....Reality" sequence.

Hello there Father!

You will need to add the reality and dreams, er, I mean model indicators to the track plan!

All the best,

Castle

Having a few technical issues with finding suitable software to depict a track plan on the iPad. I would have liked something more professional looking- The crude plan will do until I start track laying over the weekend and my dreams become reality.

It will be quite a run down urban setting- I don't think I could get away with a rural setting. I put a bridge in the plan as I have two kits and I think they should work. In theory the layout should look like it is part of a much bigger scene. Time will tell if I can pull this illusion off or not.

my layout will be set in England and feature BR blue diesels and loads of box vans.

On that note, Mrs Doyle has made the tea- time to finish off the brake gear on the Tevan.

Dougal

Hello there Father,

I agree - it s about time there was some layout design software for the iPad - the amount of use it could get from non layout owners like myself dreaming up all the wild schemes we want to build would be immense. Anyone out there a bit handy with the programming or will one of the existing manufacturers take up the challenge?

Gap in the market detected!

All the best,

Castle

Been looking at suitable backscenes- gauge master have a good sized industrial one but I really want one with red brick factories.

The industrial image would give a nice sense of depth and it looks great.

This time I will not rush applying the image- last time I rushed and had terrible air bubbles.

I see Kirtley models have some nice add on images to be overlayed upon a gaugemaster back scene. The derelict factory will look good behind Fathers jacks brewery- roll on pay day.

Anyone know of another supplier of red brick factory back scenes suitable for 1970- 1980??

Dougal

Wow, that looks great- I am thinking of something similar to go behind the station on Crilly street. I might use Slaters brick plasticard again as I can paint it to be really grotty? I have not been abe to make printed brick paper look very convincing.

I have a few similar windows waiting in my bits box. Tell me, what did you use for the basic frame? Was it foam board, balsa wood or another medium?

Dougal

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Hello there stubby 47- thanks for the reply. I would never have guessed the windows were photos. How have you stopped the foam board ?

Feeling pretty grand at the moment- just erected the baseboards and found that I can fit in another 2 feet to bring me right up to the wall and still leave room for the curtains and the bed to fit underneath.

I can make the runaround a bit longer, extend the siding for the Tea emporium and have a bit of room to squeeze in a half relief factory on the side to reinforce the run down urban theme I want to depict.

I also finally managed to make 2 steps for the Tevan and they were folded good and square. (That would be a first as I am usually a complete eejut with folding brass.)

This makes up for the fact that both my Skytex models have warped roofs whilst in storage and will need replacing.

Ok, nearly finished painting and weathering a Mica and a Tevan. Thought I would post the images when they are done. I know these vans were withdrawn in the 1960's but that won't stop me using them as I like te look of them.

You know, before I started making van kits I didn't appreciate all the different diagrams. Hope that doesn't Make me sound a rivet counter, but I appreciate how rolling stock had a role. Hopefully I can depict this a little on Crilly street.

Dougal

Have you thought about having a sector-plate fiddle-yard? You could squeeze a little more room into the run-around loop by eliminating one point at the fiddle-yard end. Better still, you could model the V-crossing (frog) of the point but not the point blades to suggest the presence of a point, but have it hidden behind some scenery. (A picture here would be worth a thousand words if I could find one to illustrate what I mean.)

Interesting. I have never built a sector plate. How difficult is it? I have been thinking about cassette storage as well. What do you think?

Dougal

I'm getting a bit bored now- can't carry on with the shunting layout as the spare room is not spare anymore.

I think I will explore the loft- the house is a 1930's semi and there is loads of room up there.

The track plan will probably change radically if I can find enough space for a tail chaser in the loft.

Mrs Doyle s still going to let me use the spare room at a later stage so I can have two layouts.

Now, where did I put my tape measure?

Dougal