Phil Copleston

I love the suggestion - Desert Island Kits! We should start a separate thread to discuss our eight favourite must-take-with-us kits. With choice of an additional modelling book and a 'luxury' tool (a basic equiped workbench is already provided) to take with us. Could be most entertaining!

That's it in a nutshell - 'Wadebridge' at Wadebridge running 21C107 'Wadebridge'! Seen at the recent Uckfield show - Spamcan No.21C107 'Wadebridge' (now with nameplates) departs Wadebridge station on John Greenwood's stunning 2mm finescale 'Wadebridge' layout. [Photo: Adrian Colenutt] What a unique opportunity! Come and see this very model scene in the original Wadebridge station building - The Betjeman Centre, Wadebridge, Cornwall - this coming Saturday, 21st January - full details in post #203.

Don't worry, I won't tell him (yeah right, honest!). John's not on RMweb (or any Web).

Here's a 'heads-up' for a rather unique 2mm finescale 'fix' next Saturday 21st January 2017: For one day only - John Greenwood's superb 2mm finescale layout 'Wadebridge' will be appearing at The John Betjeman Centre (the original Wadebridge station building), Southern Way, Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 7BX. http://www.wadebridge-concern-for-the-aged.co.uk Not a model railway exhibition, but part of The John Betjeman Centre's event, "Remembering 50 years since the Last Passenger Train from Wadebridge Station" - the last regular passenger train left on 28th January 1967. The Bodmin & Wenford Railway will also be presenting a display, so other railway interest will be there too. Open 10am - 3pm. Admission will be FREE! So if you're in the area next Saturday (or travelling from afar) - please call in and see us (John, Jerry and me) and make yourselves known. You will be very welcome! West Country class No.21C107 (later 34007) 'Wadebridge' at Wadebridge (minus nameplates) on the Down Atlantic Coast Express (ACE). This one-day event will be held in the real station buildings, as seen here on John's 2mm rendition of this station and famous train! And for the Wadebridge station gricers... This is Wadebridge station looking east from the footbridge on Molesworth Street, September 1968 (Douglas Nicholls, Cornwall Railway Society) [Edit. to correct No.34007 'Wadebridge' to 21C107, as per David Long's post #215. Oops!]

A particularly useful link, Tim. Thank you. I've been looking for a top-quality precision vice for ages. Now I've found it! Just gotta save all those 19,995 pennies first...

Nick, My thinking exactly... They're perfect for some light railway modelling applications.

Nerdishness? Naaaah. But I want to know Jim whether they can they be made to actually work?

Jim, These look rather spiffing! Will you be making these etches available to others?

Three baseboards coming along in the workshop for my new 2mm standard gauge circular layout. Actually, these are just the 9mm ply baseplates and blank end-plates accurately set at 120 degrees (third of a circle each) for my own design of 'monocoque' baseboards. Construction principles are similar to my Nn3 circular layout baseboard which some of you may have already seen at Larkrail in July (and which will be on the 2mmNG stand at Expo-NG this coming weekend http://expong.org ). The 6mm ply intermediate cross-profiles and upper trackbed are still to fit, as eventually will be the 4mm ply inner and outer side-profiles, and which together form an integral part of the overall monocoque structure. No ordinary wood is used with this construction method, which makes for light but very rigid baseboards. Further updates to follow as construction proceeds...

Hah! Pics soon please, but errr not so 'dreckly'

I think we should not forget that not everyone wants to eat meat: the selected eatery (whichever it is) should also cater for non-meat eaters too.

More about this build, please! Looks a very interesting and challenging model. I like that. I must have missed the Judith Edge 2mm 15" Hunslet etchings. Are they still available?

Thanks Jerry, ol' bean! I would love to have joined you and John to help operate 'Wadebridge' at Uckfield on 15/16th October, but unfortunately I'm busy that weekend. I do love playing with this wonderful layout and enjoying your good company, and I shall miss that. So I'm glad to hear others' have stepped in to help instead! With my own exhibition commitment looming at Expo-NG on 29th October http://expong.org with my emerging American Nn3 micro-layout as part of the 2mm Scale Narrow Gauge Group stand https://www.facebook.com/2mmScaleNarrowGaugeGroup I thought it best to spend my spare time tracklaying on the bare baseboard! Need to get things running. Mark Fielder will be there too at Expo-NG with either of his 2mmNG layouts 'The 'Pizza' or 'An Clár'. Maybe see some of you there? Thereafter I'm available to resume my normal 'Wadebridge' duties, if you'll have me!

Andy, Wadebridge station officially closed for all traffic 2nd September 1978. But, to quote Wikipedia, "The last loco-hauled passenger train, a 12-coach special from the midlands hauled by Class 25 number 25 080, ran on 30 September 1978; a DMU shuttle from Bodmin, organised for charity, was the last passenger train of all on 17 December 1978." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadebridge_railway_station David, Especialy for you: Here is Wadebridge with DMU Single Units and an AC Railbus galore! The last North Cornwall train is on the right, 1st October 1966 (photo Roger Joanes):

'WADEBRIDGE' AT WADEBRIDGE, Saturday 17th September - Wadebridge exhibition, Wadebridge School, Cornwall. Here are some pics of John Greenwood's wonderful layout taken at last Saturday's show - the first time it has been exhibited in its home town! Included are some photos showing latest developments. First, some general shots: These previous two views ably demonstrates how the railway is constrained between the tidal River Camel and the town of Wadebridge. 'Spam Can' 21C07 'Wadebridge' (currently minus nameplates) pauses at its namesake town with the remaining three-coach portion of the Atlantic Coast Express, plus van, before proceeding to Padstow. GWR 'Large Prairie' (scratchbuilt chassis, Farish body) and unpainted etched B-set depart for Bodmin North. SR N Class Mogul No.1837 with a three-coach local to Halwill Junction approaches the station. At the moment there are some sketched-in temporary house flats based on the real ones (there is some compression) to help get the mix right and the feel of the urban setting behind the railway. The proper ones will be based on these and coloured in. Now for some of the improvements. Jerry has built some more of the buildings that constitute the town scene: Jerry has produced a temporary card mock-up of the Town Hall and adjacent buildings (the orangy-coloured buildings). Before the show opened Jerry placed it in its allotted space and after some consideration felt it was too dominant and thus reduced its height by a few millimetres by cutting a portion out of the middle. The permanent model will consequently sit better towards the back of the townscene without dominating its setting. Several more lower buildings are still to go in to the left of the Town Hall. Jerry has also been finishing off some of the warehouses on Town Quay - this one with roof advertising. Towards the end of the day, Jerry sneeked on his 'Bubble Car' and North British Class 22 diesel-hydraulic on a demolition train! And finally... This is John's absolutely superb GWR 45xx 'Small Prairie' No.4569 - it is scratchbuilt, with the body partially utilising a 2mm test-etch. John is a true master of his art. This model is so good you can't really tell what scale it is, let alone that it is 2mm finescale - just as finescale modelling should be. So there we are. I hope you enjoyed that sample from the Wadebridge show. Next outing for the 'Wadebridge' layout will be the forthcoming Uckfield exhibition on 15th/16th October http://www.uckfieldmrc.co.uk/exhib16nf.html Don't miss it! My thanks go to John for again kindly inviting me to help operate. And to Jerry Clifford for his encouragement and jolly banter!

Oh goodie. An 08/11 kit or two will be just the job! Keep us posted of when "soon-ish" will be. Ta.

And a Blaenau Gwent to you, o' Capitain! And on that theme, this is '5600' class 0-6-2T No.6685 at Aberbeeg Locomotive Depot, 15 April 1951.

Ahhh CK, and on that theme - this is Horrocksford Lime Company's 0-4-0ST "Horrocksford No. 2" shunting in the sidings at Horrocksford. Three times 'Horrocksford'!

Rather than name badges, I suggest we all turn up to Larkrail next year wearing 'Captain Kernow' look-alike masks and costumes. That should put the cat amongst the proverbial bananas

Oh dear, my typo. Sorry Simon! Too much of a West Country burred "r" creeping in there. Whoops! Sorry guys, for both errors - now corrected with 'Arigna' (4mm scale, 12mm gauge, Cavan & Leitrim Railway) – Andy Cundick.

Ahhh, right! Thanks Jerry. Simon mentioned 'Henstridge' only in passing but included it anyway, although I wasn't quite sure what that meant. Will amend the listing accordingly. Ta!

Yes! I have spoked with Simon Carstens this morning, and he confirms the following additional layouts for Larkrail 2016: 'Arigna' (4mm scale, 12mm gauge, Cavan & Leitrim Railway) – Andy Cundick 'Trerice' (4mm, P4, 1:76) – Iain Rice 'Draycott Park Colliery' (4mm, 1:76, BR period, North Staffs) – Tony Barnes 'Carbon Footprint Recycling Co.' – Alan Henham And possibly 'Henstridge' (2mm finescale, 1:152, S&DJR) – John Farmer (ex-Jerry Clifford), although incomplete and may not be on display. I have amended my original list of layouts in post #75 to reflect this. Looks like Larkrail 2016 will be a cracking good modeller's show - NOT one to miss! See you there. Edit: Replaced error above of 'Arigna' in 7mm scale with the layout which will actuall appear, 'Arigna' in 4mm scale by Andy Cundick. Ooops, sorry for the error!

As a reminder... A special event not to be missed! - LARKRAIL 2016, BATH - Saturday 16th July, 10:00-16:30 A Light Railway and Branch Line Modelling Miscellany New Oriel Hall, Brookleaze Road (to left side of Larkhall Inn), Larkhall, Bath, BA1 6RA www.titfield.co.uk The venue at New Oriel Hall is on the left (up the steps) with the small car park on the right. Get there by No.7 bus from Bath City Centre or Bus Station to Larkhall (square). Or by car - u Unrestricted on-street parking available around Larkhall. Layouts ‘St Blazey Roundhouse’ 2mm finescale (1:152) – John Greenwood ‘The Pizza’ 2mmNG (1:152) – Mark Fielder, plus a display of American Nn3 (1:160) project layout under construction by Phil Copleston ‘Tillbrook Lane’ OO (1:76) – Thomas Twigg ‘Chewton Mendip’ (in S&D blue guise) EM (1:76) – Tim Tinknell ‘Bawdsey’ (originally 'Strove') EM (1:76) – the late Chris Matthewman's layout exhibited by Paul Marshall Potter ‘Laramie’ and Big Boys with sound! O-gauge (1:48) – Peter Kirmond 'Arigna' (4mm scale, 12mm gauge, Cavan & Leitrim Railway) – Andy Cundick 'Trerice' (4mm, P4, 1:76) – Iain Rice 'Draycott Park Colliery' (4mm, 1:76, BR period, North Staffs) – Tony Barnes 'Carbon Footprint Recycling Co.' – Alan Henham And possibly 'Henstridge' (2mm finescale, 1:152, S&DJR) – John Farmer (ex-Jerry Clifford), although incomplete and may not be on display. Demonstrators Jerry Clifford – 2mm Roadshow with 2mm locos and stock from North Somerset and S&DJR Iain Rice – loco construction Simon De Souza – Highland Railway modelling Laurie Griffin – 7mm and Highland Railway locomotives Justin Newitt – with his Rumney Models Gordon and Maggie Gravett – scenery construction Dave Easto – Gauge One scratch building Don Lepper – figure and G1 locomotive painting display Roger Bird – exquisite Tralee & Dingle Railway diorama and models Captain Kernow – he is promising to put on a display of his banana selling in his capacity as all round good egg! Traders Gas Cupboard Models (Dave Simpson) Branchlines (Brian Osborn) The Titfield Thunderbolt Bookshop (Simon Carstens) – shop just 100 metres away!

Hello Rob, I too expect to be at the Barnstaple exhibition on 30th July, as this is not too far from me (I live in Launceston). Looking forward to seeing 'Osney Town' again - I last admired it in its previous format at the Cambourne show about 5 years ago. So see you there!

Hi Stu, I've had several conversations with CK and Andy Y in the last weeks and I think we are all agreed that it is very positive that we have come together as an ad hoc committee to ensure this worthwhile and enjoyable event continues into the future. So far we seem to have everything pretty much covered - apart from the catering, which may prove difficult to continue in the way it was organised before. So, as no one has come forward, perhaps we ought to consider other options now - such as only providing tea and coffee? Or advising everyone to bring their own food? Or engaging a contract caterers? Or purchasing a bulk order of pre-packed sandwiches from Sainsbury's or similar? Comments please!