Gary White

Layout Details OO Gauge NCE DCC Controlled /DCC Train Automation 4.876x0.61 Meters BR Era 1970s-1980s

The layout has been to a couple of shows in the past the photos were taken at the Hayling Light Railways Exhibition last April we are now in the process of making Hillbottom a full roundly roundly layout the fiddle yard baseboards have been built along with with the end radius board which were purchased from Tim Horn laser cutting thanks Tim

Hillbottom Was built based on Leeds Hollbeck depot to include a turntable similar to that used at Leeds Hollbeck being able to fit type 2 locos on the turntable bed Modelled in the late 1970s 1980s it represents a FIP of this era

As with all layouts we learnt a lot from its first showing 1) Improve fiddle yard cassette for better handling of locos and stock 2) Improve uncoupled and change over to Kadee Electric uncoupling as fixed magnet was not powerful to operate kadees 3) Adjust track joints on one base board 4)Clearance issues with entry road though washer 5) More detailing and weathering of locos and stock over time

Hello everyone We took Fairport out for its first outing last Saturday to the Victory Model Railway Club Portsmouth Rail Ex 17th -18th February Fairport is my first venture in to O it’s been a learning curve and has been built with help from my friends Brian Dave Roger Terry Layout size Total 7.62 x 0.61 Meters DCC Control NCE System Please see pictures of the layouts first outing

Hi all does anybody know if Peter Clark Models are still going The website just shows a blank page thanks Gary

I really enjoyed building the MM1 TTA tank kit you are right the 3D printed chassis was lovely and a very good print they were easy to put together I’ll put a photo up later it’s great you enjoy building kits etc I do to But supply of older kits can be a challenge to obtain second hand stands and bring and buy stands at local shows can some times turn up the odd gem some times I would love to have a go at the prp class 58 and 59 kits I am sure with a bit of work they can be made to be quite good as there are no ready to run versions of these locos

Hi John I have just moved up to O scale after having modelled in EM and OO for years although I have kept one layout Hillbottom OO roundly roundly as it has been built with friends and we have a share in it As I understand that you would like to make a start in O it may be better to start with a shunter kit or the likes to just get your hand back in to modelling again As I believe MM1 models have shut down due to illness I have built some of the MM1 TTA tank kits which are very good to build I have also built a PRP tank kit. this takes some soldering skills and with time and patience they can go together quite well May be it would be worth going to a O gauge show like guild EX coming up in September there you will have all the O gauge traders and support where you can talk to everyone and get advise I went to the O gauge show in Kettering this year and it was worth it especially as I was changing up to O gauge As for the class 24-31 route Probably the best route to go down and I sure I will be corrected try the ready to run route Heljan produce a ready to run Class 31 and 25 the 25 could possibly be converted back to a class 24 with some conversion work and scratch building you may also find a MM1 kit on the normal web auction site I don’t know how much space you have to build the layout As for Steve Beattie kits and I am sure I will stand corrected these were produced in the early and late 80s and they are quite crude in today’s standards I did read an article in Letters section of an old BRM stating the problems of putting them together that is if you can find one best of luck

Southampton 2020 was the last Exhibition I went to always enjoy this one it’s are local show shall miss it this year

Hi Does any body have the BSC Colour for BR Rail Grey So i can get it mixed Thanks

Poole Curve/Northam Curve The curve on approach to Poole station on the down line is limited to a max line speed of 20 mph it is a very tight curve due to the level crossing and also the location of the station also the curve on the down line approaching Northam at Southampton is 25mph this is also fitted with a double check rail though the curve . Hope this helps

I went as well yes it was busy on the Saturday We spent over3 hours there had a good look at every layout and spent on the sales stand and throughly enjoyed it We travelled there by train and walked from Eastleigh station although there was a free bus from Eastleigh and from Southampton Parkway this has a large car park both surface and multi story but you have to pay The colleage has always had a small car park mainly used for the staff that work there the problem around that area of Eastleigh was caused by the students of the colleage parking in the streets around there this is why there is resident parking permits issued as the colleage has expanded there car park has not its a one way system to exit behind the colleage and the spaces behind would generally be taken by exhibitors vans and cars even some of this area has been taken up by more expansion . Eastleigh town centre is always busy on a Saturday with the main car park at the swan centre always busy as well as Mitchel road car park. Many thanks to the Southampton club for there exhibition this year a lot of work goes into organising a large exhibition over two days with peoples spare time and costs with venue hire insurance layout expensives They do not control the size of the car park and to find another venue in this area is not possible apart from Flemming park leisure centre which has now been taken over by a private company and is run on behalf of the council even this has a small car park So support your local exhibition and Remember the free time that goes into arranging it

Yes thanks to Lee For all the effort in arranging the show and for his major help in letting us bring 3 layouts to Rail EX NE which was a major exercise in arranging van hire and operators and layouts thanks to all the Members of the SHMRC who attended JUST as 4 members had the worst Train journey to North Shields from Southampton and Portsmouth when the Lighting strike hit York on the Saturday Afternoon. Many thanks for the great layouts in attendance and all the friendly people we met and talked to thanks for the decent beer and fish and chips in North Shields on the Saturday evening Long may Rail EX NE continue in future years we will be there Yours Gazza

he only drinks carlsberg i dont know what he is going to do theres no way he will drink your coal dust but if some ones buying he may change his mind Looking forwad to seeing you all again from sunny Pompey Just putting the final touches to the layout today Yours Gary we may send him to the spread eagle does that sell carlsberg