Ross34

All sorts... maybe I've been unlucky?

I used to use Ebay alot to sell all sorts - not just railway items - and eventually gave up because of buyers who essentially wanted something for nothing, buyers who were nothing more than scammers, buyers who lied about receiving items or their condition or non-payers. I'm afraid to say alot of these types were buyers of model railway stuff. I've just started again after a couple of years of not selling on Ebay and the pattern is repeating itself ... time to look for another selling option.

Hmm.. interesting. I got into model railways because my dad was an enthusiast. When I was 3 or 4 he took me train spotting around the north west. Then we moved to South Australia - I grew up there - and as a consequence the railways of South Aust & Victoria became an indelible memory. When we eventually moved back to the UK I modelled UK railways. Mostly because 1) Nothing Australian was available (not good stuff anyway) 2) Cost was a factor and 3)...it was just so much easier. But despite the fact I enjoyed the modelling aspect, if I'm being honest it all, in the end, left me pretty much unfulfilled. Eventually, Australian HO becomes readily available - its good quality - and after years of putting in the hours at work, I have disposal income. Its a no brainer - at last I can recreate my youth and love of the SAR & VR. And to me thats the whole point - you need a "connect" or a passion for your subject. If you have that I'm convinced a good layout will follow regardless of where in the world its supposed to be.

My latest purchase from Brunel Hobbies http://www.brunelhobbies.com.au/ I needed to find a way to reproduce corrugated iron in HO scale. I used to be able to buy Campbell Scale Models products in the UK but its getting harder ( if not impossible) to find. On the suggestion of Luke Towan - https://www.bouldercreekrailroad.com/ I purchased this neat little gadget... Its basically a male & female forming tool...but works pretty well. Takes a bit of practice and at the moment I'm experimenting with thick foil. The resultant pieces are bit fragile but with care are fine. I stick them to either plasticard or foamboard with double sided tape.

I'd be interested to know Steves method for reproducing faded paintwork on locos and rolling stock. I haven't yet but I'm keen to try the "dot technique"

UNDERTOW - Genesis

Best of luck with the project - I'm doing something similar myself. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/126122-ross-creek-south-australian-railways-in-the-early-80s/&tab=comments#comment-3424922

Jim, I really do know how you feel. I lost my dad to lung cancer in March this year aged 82 (and he never smoked a fag in his life!) The cruelty is he stayed very fit until his diagnosis. My wife and I looked after him full time for two years - he lived on his own and luckily we weren't working or I'm not sure how we all would have coped. Not wanting to add to the negativety, but I have to say the support we receieved from various cancer support organisations was pretty minimal - sad but true. He eventually passed whilst in a lovely care home in Leigh (Lancs) with my wife & I at his bedside. I don't know about you Jim but we didn't realise the mental and physical toll it was to put us through - by the end we both were really at rock bottom - exhausted, ill with worry and mentally shot - its going to take a while to recover. He wasn't religious by any stretch so at his funeral we tried to make it more a celebration of his life than mourning his passing - and with good friends and family I think thats how it turned out. All the best to you Jim - and heres raising a glass to you and and your mum.

Well there's two minutes of my life I'll never get back......ZZZZZZ <JOKE!> :-)

Ah sorry bout that.. And to be fair, I'm currently sat in my modelling shed surrounded by all sorts of bits n bobs I've collected over the years..which if I'm being honest I'll probably never use or build. ...so you might have a point.

Hmm..I'm not too sure where you're going with this, but in answer to your questions.. No, I don't "collect" plants..and the only plants (or pots) that are "essential" (?) are the ones I need for a particular project. (If I do have extras its to cover deaths or to give the owner of the garden more choice or even if I change my mind)

I was being general ..or you're taking me too literally.. I meant if it doesn't harm anybody else so what.

err.. no. I buy nice pots to put plants in not to collect them .. if I've no plants I wont buy a pot - nice tho they are.

If you enjoy it Phil - go for it - its your money. And don't get me wrong - I'm tempted by lots of products I'll never need - even in scales I don't model in! Actually, my main hobby is gardening - my mates think I'm mad spending hundreds of pounds on trees or on flower show tickets...and I'm a real sucker for terracotta pots and vintage garden furniture (my wife cringes when I tell her what I pay for a "plant pot")

People can spend as much as they want .. as long as it doesn't negatively effect me I don't give a monkeys. I get a bit tired of folks telling me how much they've paid for a "limited edition" or how much they've earned selling a rare model.. who really cares? I'm afraid I'll never understand the "collector" mindset .. that seems like a bit of a waste of money to me..but hey ho. I buy stock to populate a layout..and when i have enough I stop. I'll buy modelling material to build a project ..although having said that if I can foresee some things are going to get scarce I'll buy more than I need - Grandt Line or Campbell Scale Models stuff is an example. For a new project I'll reuse what I have or sell to finance new stuff. If nothing else, I haven't got the room to stockpile redundant models.

And do they do that?...really?

I wonder why the shops first thought wasn't "why are you asking?" Ans .. "I want X number" Shop.."We have enough in stock to fill your order" ...or am I being too simplistic? You can observe all the social niceties you like but business is business and as model shops are closing faster than ever I would be horrified to lose a sale...and a potential repeat customer.

Huh? I didn't decry anybodies interest??... I expressed an opinion. I said I "can" see the point of collecting (just not RTR model railways)

I buy models to suit the layout. When its had its day, the stock goes too. I was going to say collecting IMHO seems pointless - its not. Collecting, primarily RTR model railway stock is though, if all its going to do is live in a box. Seems a total waste of money to me. Kit building I get - the process and enjoyment of making it is probably worth the cost in itself. Each to his own tho....

I agree completely ..but at the time though the Proto was very cheap - and available. As I said the project the Rapido RDC model was meant for has been scrapped so I almost certainly would've flogged it off anyway. I buy models for a layout, once that layout is defunct, and I can't re-use the stock, they get sold too - primarily to fund the next project. I can't see the point of keeping models tucked up in boxes doing nothing, no matter how good they are.....sorry, I know thats probably going off topic a little. My point being the time gap does influence my choice to pre-order.

I fancied a Rapido RDC Budd when they announced it for which you had pre-order. I didn't and of course when they were released couldn't get hold of one. (As an aside my dad tried to buy one from Rapido at a show - he asked, "Do you have any RDC1.s? - whilst waving a big wad of cash. "No, you didn't pre-order". "But here you are telling everybody how great this model is. I'm stood here waiting to give you money and you can't sell me one" Guy at Rapido shrugs his shoulders - my dad puts his money away. Later on finds a Proto 1000 RDC at a great price - and spends the change elsewhere.) Make of that what you will.. but I'll probably never buy a Rapido RDC now. Not because of my dads experience but primarily due to the gap between announcement and prodution -if I'm being honest the need for it wasn't there when Rapido finally released the model. Even the Proto1000 model never comes out the box. Most of my purchases are now made to overseas manufaturers for which pre-ordering is taken as a given (the market is too small for large scale production). However, because there is still the "announcement - release" time gap I'll more often than not take my chances on the second hand market. I've missed out on one or two really nice models but it hasn't changed my life.

A bit of an update.. and change. The original layout "Ross Creek" was, rather reluctantly it must be said, scrapped after just one exhibition. I built it on the premise that to model Australian railways it needed room for long trains. A nice idea but quite frankly it was too big - certainly for the amount of people I had to hand ( at the time) to assist in setting it up , running it etc. Plus it would have never have been put at home as I didn't have room. And, if I'm being honest, some of the layout construction was rushed and a didn't run as well I'd like in places...and the wiring wasn't really up to scratch. I saved quite a bit and the boards were re-used on another project so not a total loss. The new layout is much smaller and compact - 11 x 2. A switching puzzle from an Australian railways perspective (I hope). Its built on Grange & Hodder boards, HO scale, Code 75 track & DCC control. The location is inspired by the railways in the south east of South Australia close to the Victoria border (Mount Gambier in particular) in the 1980s ...well loosely. Like the original it really should be 5' 3" broad gauge (EM gauge)...another time maybe?! Its due to appear at Leigh Model Railway show (Lancs) in September this year.. with a new title of Port Ross..progress is steady but a bit to do yet. I've attached a couple of photos for those interested. I'll post more when it nears completion.

Hmm.. not just me then.. I can't help but get irritated by "modern" language trends. If ever I was in a meeting and somebody said "going forward" ..I got up and left. Lately I've been seeing that a new job has been created .. an "influencer"... sorry but that's neither a word nor a proper job. With regards to model railways I agree that if it "don't run proper".. the rest is pretty secondary. Having said that I've noticed (and it might just be me) that layout presentation doesn't seem to get the same attention as it used to. I often quite disappointed and slightly miffed - a lot of the time in equal measure - by great layouts and high quality modelling that has either poor lighting or none at all or isn't framed effectively.. I really think layouts benefit hugely from properly designed fascias and framing. Some do it really well..others don't which is a shame.

I've just gone online shopping for embossed Evergreen plastic sheet.. I found it OK. £9.00 I thought that was for a pack!... oh no... One sheet!! ... 9 quid a sheet! My other main hobby is gardening... 9 quid is a decent plant - which i can take cuttings from. Pity I can't trim off a piece of plastic sheet and stick in a pot of compost!