Highclere - 2mm Finescale

Hi Missy.

 

Good to have a brief chat with you at Alexandra Palace on Saturday and see Elvis in the flesh. It really does look great and I hope you solve the LED / bogie issue!

 

I'm also looking forward to seeing how you tackle the 4MT

 

Tom.

Likewise Tom

 

As for the 4MT I have a couple of ideas in my head. I think I would get the best results if I draw up an etch to replace the coupling rods and valve gear. I havent figured out how to change the wheels yet, either replace them with 2mm wheels or get the N gauge ones turned down to 2mm standards. Remember though that the engine that ran on the DNS (and crashed!) is the one preserved on the MHR now!

 

Missy

Hi Missy, nice to see an update from you, and good to hear that track relaying is going well. I especially enjoyed the view of the cuttings on Highclere, I know I've said it before but they simply look brilliant.

 

Oh, and it is becoming increasingly clear that there are two kinds of modellers in the world: Those who have seen Elvis "live" (the railcar, not the man!) and those who haven't. I guess I'll have to save up for a trip to the UK so i can attend an exhibition and see it

Thank you Mikkel

 

Im glad you are still following my modelling. Hopefully in time the rest of the layout will be finished to the same standard as the cutting but for now its at least somewhere I can show how the layout is going to look.

 

It would be brilliant if sometime you could come over to the UK as I would love to meet you. As for Elvis I am formulating a plan on how to finish it off and have nearly got my head around the elctronics needed for the lights, the only real problem left is the fact I have to rework the LEDs at each end as they are going to foul the bogie sideframes (once they are fitted). As with everything its getting the time to work on them, especially as I am now working again. At the moment I have decided the layout takes priority as I am being constantly 'pestered' to take it to exhibitions!

 

Missy

i At the moment I have decided the layout takes priority as I am being constantly 'pestered' to take it to exhibitions!Missy

 

And no wonder with modelling of the calibre that you produce Missy!

As Mike said, it's good to see an up-date on Highclere........aspiring to reach the dizzying heights of your modelling skills( and many others here on RM) is what keeps me trying.

Keep up the great work.

 

Regards

 

Colin@Gorleston

Looking good, I'm particularly interested in the Nn3 fleet, get them right and the will be upstaging even Elvis! Are you planning a seperate layout....?

I think you should give the layout priority it deserves to be seen. Sorry to pour cold water on it but the little Nn3 skip doesn't quite work. Some neat work on your part producing it but I feel the frame sections look a bit too heavy for Nn3, but I think you know that?

Don

Thank you guys

 

Will - Maybe oneday I will make a start on a little Nn3 layout, its all just in my head at the moment.

 

Don - You are right, I think I would be better off making something from scratch and have already been thinking on how to go about making them. It was a worthwhile experiment though, plus it gave me something to do at the show!

 

M.

 

I think I would be better off making something from scratch and have already been thinking on how to go about making them. It was a worthwhile experiment though, plus it gave me something to do at the show!

 

M.

 

Hi Missy,

 

Have you considered using the Nigel Lawton 009 skip frames? They are a lot finer than the minitrains one that you have tried, so would look less chunky. The downside is that they are cast in a very soft whitemetal, so quite tricky to solder/glue (I have melted at least one when trying to assemble it!). I think Nigel made the master in brass, so if you're only making a few, that might be an option.

 

Nice to see the progress on Highclere.

 

Andy

Hi Julia, lovely talking to you on Saturday at Ally Pally and finally meeting Elvis in the flesh, although seeing the incredible standard of your work gives one the unique sensation of being inspired and dispirited- both at the same time!

 

My dad was with me on our traditional annual model railway show jaunt and I explained to him that you had made Elvis from an etch that even the designer admits is impossible to build. We'd spent quite some time at Swindon last year looking at the real thing together and he was only too aware of the complexities and compound curves you had captured. He was too shy to compliment you though, so I'll do it on his behalf...x

As if excelent 2FS wasn't enough, Julia's shaming us with 2mm narrow gauge. What next? Working value gear in T gauge?

 

The chassis of the Nm3 wagon looks OK. The actual hopper would look better in etched brass or nickel silver though.

 

Happy modelling,

 

Steven B.

Thanks guys

 

Hi Julia, lovely talking to you on Saturday at Ally Pally and finally meeting Elvis in the flesh, although seeing the incredible standard of your work gives one the unique sensation of being inspired and dispirited- both at the same time!

 

My dad was with me on our traditional annual model railway show jaunt and I explained to him that you had made Elvis from an etch that even the designer admits is impossible to build. We'd spent quite some time at Swindon last year looking at the real thing together and he was only too aware of the complexities and compound curves you had captured. He was too shy to compliment you though, so I'll do it on his behalf...x

 

Likewise, its brilliant putting names to faces and it was nice to chat as well. Its nice to know that I have inpired some people to have a go at something that otherwise they wouldnt do, after all its how I started!

 

As if excelent 2FS wasn't enough, Julia's shaming us with 2mm narrow gauge. What next? Working value gear in T gauge?

The chassis of the Nm3 wagon looks OK. The actual hopper would look better in etched brass or nickel silver though.

Happy modelling,

Steven B.

 

Hi Steven. I dont think so! Do you think anyone will ever build working valve gear in T gauge? Thats for someone ele and not me!

I totally agree with you about the tippler though, it is OK but not brilliant. It is saying etch to me but I might have a go at fabricating something first.

 

Missy

Hi Missy,Have you considered using the Nigel Lawton 009 skip frames? They are a lot finer than the minitrains one that you have tried, so would look less chunky. The downside is that they are cast in a very soft whitemetal, so quite tricky to solder/glue (I have melted at least one when trying to assemble it!). I think Nigel made the master in brass, so if you're only making a few, that might be an option.Nice to see the progress on Highclere.Andy

 

Hi Andy, sorry I missed your post to start with.

 

i have seen the Nigel Lawton skips and the article on converting them, it was what inspired me to have a go as shon above.

I do think though that it would be worthwhile experimenting to see how easy it would be to make a dedicated Nn3 one though, possibly getting one etched. Its something I might get round to trying sometime.

 

M.

Hi 'M' (you really should sign your posts 'Q' given all the gadgets you keep coming up with!)

 

Do you have a link to the article on converting the skips? - I wasn't aware that someone had done that.

 

thanks,

 

Andy

Do you have a link to the article on converting the skips? - I wasn't aware that someone had done that.

thanks,

Andy

 

Hi Andy

 

I cannot find the website where it was anymore (I think it had died) so I will email it to you.

 

Q.