MarshLane

All looks superb Simon, Nice line up! Rich

Looking good Andy, nice to see the guard is keeping a keen watch out for trespassers on this new railway while looking out for the driver on a propelling move Rich

Hi Brian, Thanks - good luck with your OO gauge ... keep us update through a thread! Im very fortunate with the loft as it has high, wide rafters, so I've a working around of about 21ft x 11ft. I means the curves a little tighter than I would like, but I think all should be ok. Rich

Morning all, Just a quick update - obviously Marsh Lane Depot is progressing, only two more points to build and then its about getting them down on the board, ballasting and running! I've kept mentioning my main layout, so thought it was about time I did a quick update, so nobody is confused. This is the 'BIG' project which is going in the loft, and is moving forward. After much thought and conversation with people, I've decided against the shed for a variety of reasons, the biggest one being about security as I'm really not happy about leaving locos in there overnight, and don't want to be carrying them back and forth to the house. So the new layout is to be called Arksey - its all in the based on the Eastern Region, and I'll develop it as a separate thread on here to keep the two separate, once there is some progress to be seen. Trackplan wise, its quite ambitious being dual level, and certainly isn't going to be a quick boards down, track layed oh we are done! It's a take it forward slowly project that will take a few years to reach fruition, but hopefully will be well worth it! I've also committed the last of my funds to locos for the layout - as it will be a late 1950s/early 1960s period - so joining my existing A2 Pacific, will be a Finescale Brass Britannia, as well as an LNER '04' 2-8-0, and an LNER 'K1', all of which will be in for delivery during 2018, so that gives me time to work on the track work etc. Although the funds have totally dried up now!! I'll make sure a link to the new topic goes in my signature, although it's probably going to be February/March next year before I start it as I want to make sure I can show progress not all hypertheticals! Rich

Thanks Jon - very kind of you to say. Looking forward to following your progress mate! We just need to decide what your going to model Rich

Thanks CME, Yes that helps. That is the nearest I've come to yet to what I'm looking for. The problem is that the new 7mm layout is going to be 1950s based, with both steam and diesel, in which case, the diesels will be required to run-round some trains, while the steam locos will get turned, and I'm still not sure whether they will work for me or not? Do you happen to know of any layouts, with images online, that are using them? I'd like to see them properly before making any decisions, although I suspect some sample conversations are going to be required! Rich

Hiya mate, I'm waiting on the shims too - Debs was kind enough to say that once they were in stock, she would message me, but nothing yet, so I suspect they are still awaited. Nearly there with KGX on Templot - just a few tweaks to make sure I'm reason by happy and I'll post it on here for you! Rich

Hi Andy,I know! Confused the hell out of me this morning!!! . I have put a post on the Forum Help topic to ask Andy Y about the move - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/117733-7mm-forum-move/ if anyone agrees or disgrees with my comments, could be worth a post? Not that it should, nor do I want that to descent into an argument! Rich

Hi Andy, Sorry ignore me, I really don't know what I was thinking when I responded last night! Your working the same way I would, I'd got it into my head it was multiple cables from the controller somehow!! Durrhh!! Another one here for the fruitcake ward! Totally agree with the way your planning on wiring, looks good. Rich

Just totally superb - that really could be a real photograph. Amazed! Cries of 'More! More!' can be hear from the back! Rich

Have you tried Railtec Transfers? Steve is on here I think.. Rich

Hi Andy, If you don't mind me asking why do you need so many wires for (no disrespect) a small layout? Im assuming your not doing DCC detection at all, so In my mind, its one for each fiddle yard road, then a central bus under the layout with a feed off for each siding so you need to worry about electrical connections on the points or sound stopping? Depending on how your working your point motors, you could tap the power and DCC signal off the central bus as well, save a bit more wire! Marsh Lane will be a little more complicated, as I want the ability for each road in the depot to be either DCC or normal DC, but I don't think you have or want that degree of control? If I didn't want DC control, then there would just be one central bus, with a feeder for each siding/road off the bus, simple and easy - unless I'm missing something! Rich

Evening all, Well having got in from work this afternoon, I decided just to have an hour working on the pointwork, although that turned into two hours! Some good progress made tonight - although I've also noticed a further cock-up, although as per usual, not until it was too late! The blades are now in for the trap point, and the first of the blades in for the main line point. In both cases, I feel they should have been filed thinner. The trap point isn't so much of a problem as nothing should ever traverse that blade! But the main line might be problematic. I've tried running a wagon over it, and can feel a definite bump as the wheel sets hit it, so I think the Dremel is going to have to come out and see if I can grind it down a little. Unfortunately, I only noticed it after I've glue the thing in place. What is even more infuriating is that I'm really happy with the postioning of the 'vee' and the way the rails follow through - it looks smooth and continuous to the eye - and that there is no wheel drop when a wagon runs over it. Really felt like I'd nailed that one! Ah well, this is what the practice is all about before the 'BIG' project. The small file in the point blade, btw, is just to hold it over for the photograph as I've not got the tie bars on yet - going to do all three in one go last! Probably back on with the wagon tomorrow for an hour or two, in between doing some work at home - no peace you know Rich

Thanks Brian, The gauges are from Debs of this parish. Im waiting on her getting the shims back in stock, but am devising other means in the short-term! As for where the time goes, I have no idea - I am convinced that the EU remove 20 minutes from each day as we go through the year! Im sure it was only March a fortnight ago. Of course, with Brexit, when we do split apart ... my theory could go out the window - or alternatively we get all those 20 minutes back!!! Rich

Oh that's you on the Christmas Card list!!!! Haha! Well if I knock 18 years off that means I've more modelling time as I'll be back on my 'gap' year ahead of starting uni next September! Thanks Andy. Appreciated. I'd like to think I'm enjoying the finer things, but maybe I'm just numbing along messing the finer things up! Lol! Cheers all Rich (Sending this from the comfort of an Mk4 coach heading north of York on the ECML at 125mph ... hello high speed wifi !! Hehe)

Just catching up on the thread. I've long been an admire of Gainsborough richard, keep thinking about joining them as I'm only 30ish mins away. Did you see the video footage from last weekend's open day on my thread? Bells galore!! Really please to hear you've got things running and the bells working. Really does change the operational interest I find. I'm making progress at my end slowly, thing I've now sorted out the electronics for the DCC computer to work the bells on Arksey for the adjacent boxes! All good fun this modelling lark! Now if only we didn't have to work!! Enjoying following your progress. Interesting use of various types of bells and the means of ringing hem. Rich

Very intrigued Steve, My wallet is complaining of pains because it feels your going to cost me more money!!! Rich

Hi Ian, Well done on the progress so far - your wood work looks fantastic! Shame to cover it up with a layout! Little intrigued to see what you are going to do with the raised section, but would echo John's comments about a track plan? Following with interest ... Oh and welcome to 7mm! Rich

Hi Steve, Not sure if you'll know or not, but any progress on the JLTRT CovHop? I've not seen anything about it recently? Rich

Hi Steve, I know you said you were going to unveil your next model at Reading this coming weekend - when can we expect an online unveiling for those of us that can't make Reading? Looking forward to hearing where your going next, especially as it's UK built! Rich PS Don't let the delays get you down, your being very open with people about what's happening, and that only builds trust and confidence in what your doing. It's a learning curve, and the various aspects of this project will just show you what to do, and what not to do (lol!) in the future.

Hi Quentin, Thanks for your input. Yes, I will admit on the point at the far right, I have forgotten to put the set in, and only realised it after I'd glued everything down. However, I think (famous last words) it should be ok, as the 99.9% of moves will be trailing on the straight ahead route, with a small number of facing moves crossing over. So I'm hoping it will be ok! The trap point (top left) that can be seen in one of the close-ups does have the set in it. Hi Jinty, Thanks, see the comment above. I've done the set in the trap point by lightly tapping the point of a screwdriver blade against the side of the rail while it suspended over two other pieces of rail. It has given a dead straight section (which I believe is right) over the section where the blade presses against it. It appears to me to match the Templot plan correctly. I'm not sure if the blades need to be a little thinner tho? Thanks for the tip about the 'vee', I'll do that tomorrow! Thanks for the best wishes too - very kind An enjoyable day yesterday, just woke up this morning realising that two years time I'm 40! Lol!!! Rich

Hi Andy/Peter, Thanks for your very kind comments, very much appreciated. I'm not sure about inspirational, but I'm happy! Rich

Hi Andy, Hadn't realised it had pulled you down so much - hope your better soon mate. Take it easy. That layout I really like - not seen it before, but the scenery, detailing, track layout, its all really good, with plenty of operational interest as well! Nice! Rich

Hi Jeff, Ah! I've learnt something tonight! Thanks for the explanation, thats interesting. Ironically after posting that question, I was looking through the latest Gauge O Guild magazine (I know your 4mm scale) and I see somebody has brought out a 7mm Anhydrite wagon in brass - if I can master brass kits at some point in the future, an additional train may have to run from the S&C to the east and appear on my model!! Cheers Rich

In this day and age, I find it better NOT to ask questions of that nature!!! Glad to see your making progress with the 7mm Andy. I like the principals behind Plan B, but for me personally, I think Plan A looks a bit neater and tidier? I presume the centre road (bottom right) is your arrival/departure road from/to the sector plate, and the other two are siding? Looking forward to seeing how you build that Parkside Mineral kit . My next wagon after the 'Toad E' brake van is a Slaters 12-ton box van. Looking forward to running them - the only problem with building track work is the extra time it takes .. so I'm admiring your speed laying with the Peco materials Rich