davidmcc3

One of our problems is a falling membership - too many members in their late 70s. This means we are beginning to have trouble hiring vans for the two biggest layouts. We're based in Fort Widley near Portsmouth, and it's a long hard climb from our rooms in the basement to the top, when loading for an exhibition. Hence the need for new (and younger members). One idea I had was to start a new (much smaller!!) layout geared to the likes and expectations of the younger people. Club members probably don't have appropriate stock, so as well as the layout, there will need to be stock purchases. And this needs to be funded. Still trying to think that one through. Regards, David

We've been able to start using our club room. It's a self contained unit inside a larger building. So long as we follow our local rules and regulations. Many of our members are retired, so some "work parties" are able to get there during the day. And we now have a virtual Zoom meeting one evening a week. Zoom is also used by some of the layout teams to discuss progress etc. The rent is thankfully not excessive. It and the insurance is just about covered by the subs. But we're losing older and infirm members, so it will be a problem soon. We have some reserves, but need to manage them carefully. Hence the desire to find/develop an income source to pay for layouts and stock. Quite a tough problem at this time of Covid. Regards David

Like most club's, we've relyed on Exhibition income to find club equipment and new layouts. We need to find new sources of income. What are other clubs doing?

Hi - search on Acc+Ess Protocab - they have practical RC already ... and there's is always DelTang - regards, David

Thanks to everyone who has posted here ... I need to assimilate all this plus the latest guidance and get something to our committee. Regards David

Alison at Bartsharp is very helpful. I've been asking her questions for 8 months, and always get full answers. Have just bought compressor and spray booth from her - good customer service is worth its weight in gold.

It would be very easy to create an informative post AND get in their advertising bits - in fact, it would be so much more effective from their point of view. Very poor marketing strategy.

Okay, so no loss then

Unfortunately, links to on-line magazines are very volatile - not only does the link not work, but Phil's article doesn't seem to exist anymore. Unless someone knows where it is?

I can't remember Sam's theory on economics ... have to read the books again - but which one? Do remember Sgt Colon's "million to one chance that comes off nine times out of ten"

Geraint ... it was great to see you at Portsmouth yesterday - thank you for coming so far for a single-day event. Obbekaer is a stunning layout. Regards, David

A quick note to let you know about changes to our traders, and some parking information. Unfortunately, London Road Models, Masterpiece Falcon Figures, and Frome Model Centre have had to pull out at the last minute for unavoidable personal reasons - we look forward to seeing them back in 2020. We've been able to secure one extra trader ... Dingo Server Mounts - see the Trader page for more details. Parking will be more difficult this year as the school is part way through some major building works. There's more information on our website Exhibition page, and we've produced a handout to help people park this year - a copy is attached to this post. We look forward to seeing you all on Saturday - we have a cracking show this year! Parking handout dated hi-contrast-gs-hires.pdf

I expect everyone thought I'd forgotten about my posts here on RMweb ... I'm sorry there's been such a large gap! I've actually built most of the boards for the station area, now. I have two more for the end of the goods yard, and then it will be the exit from Barnstaple Junction east and west. I will post some photos later. After months of dithering (which isn't really like me), I've finally decided to go to 00 finescale. The decision largely comes down to these factors: I don't currently have the skills to re-wheel locos and re-build con rods and valve gear (which would be required for all the 'N' class locos I might be able to acquire those skills, but it would take time The cost of re-wheeling the locos and all the stock is considerable I'm short of both time and money! At the beginning of this year, I built two turnouts using Exactoscale components and ply sleepers ... and the second one looks quite good. Then I plunged in (much to the horror of my Club friends) and built the crossover section at the country end of the layout. This consists of five diamonds, all at different angles, and lots of check rails. I've tested it with a wagon or two, and it does need a little fettling. What it really needs is a loco to go over it. I'm about to buy my first set of RC gear from Protocab so I can convert a loco and test my work. This will be one of their existing units so I can get it this week. Protocab have recently announced a production run of their new series controller, the 0241. This is what I've been waiting for, as my layout will need the facilities the 0241 has, which are not in the first controller. This production run will happen next spring, but only if they get enough pre-orders. I will ultimately need three of the 0241 controllers, so I've placed my order for three units ... I need the production run to go ahead, so I've committed. They will be at Warley this year ... unfortunately I won't be able to go and speak to them. If anyone who reads this thread is thinking about buying the new 0241 controller, I urge you to place a pre-order (to get to the target) ... the price will go up next year too. Details of the 0241 and the associated batteries and chips can be found in a PDF which is on their Shop page for the 0241 - this is the link: 0241 Starter Set I'll be back.

Oops. Thanks for pointing that out ... it was about 5am when I was adding it! - Regards, David

Each November, the South Hants Model Railway Club hosts the annual Portsmouth Model Railway Exhibition. Please note: The SHMRC portsmouth Exhibition is NOT connected to the Victory Club Exhibition (4th/5th April 2020). Our venue is the Admiral Lord Nelson School on Dundas Lane, Portsmouth, between 10:30 and 16:30. Not only is this the longest running model railway show in the area, but it is rapidly gaining a national reputation as an exhibition that shows the very best of this fascinating hobby. Each exhibition has a carefully chosen selection of top-class model railway layouts and demonstrators. We are supported each year by a loyal band of traders and ‘gauge’ societies. Full details of layouts, traders, demonstrators and societies, plus details of how to get there, can be found on the Club's website - https://www.shmrc.org.uk/exhibition/ PLEASE NOTE: The Admiral Lord Nelson School is being enlarged, and pedestrian access and parking arrangements will be different this year. Please refer to the club website where information will be added and updated as we get closer to the exhibition. Layouts Allt Y Graban Road - (4mm scale) Arun Quay - (7mm scale) Clifton & Lowther - (2mm scale) Cornwallis Yard - (4mm scale Faringdon - (4mm scale) Kitedale - (4mm scale) Navigation Road - (4mm scale) Normandy Junction MPD - (7mm scale) Obbekaer - (3.5mm scale) Sandford & Banwell - (4mm scale) Wickwar - (2mm scale) Widley and St George (4mm scale) - One for our younger visitors - come and drive trains pulled by Thomas, Percy, Gordon and more of their friends Traders Booklaw Publications C & L Finescale Coastal DCC Frome Model Centre London Road Models London Road Models Model Railway Developments Penbits RumneyModels Squires Model & Craft Tools The Model Shop Portsmouth Tim Horn Baseboards Plus our Members’ Sales Stand Full details of layouts, traders, demonstrators and Societies can be found on our website using the links below: Layouts - https://www.shmrc.org.uk/exhibition/2019-exhibition-layouts/ Traders - https://www.shmrc.org.uk/exhibition/exhibition-traders/ Demonstrators & Societies - https://www.shmrc.org.uk/exhibition/exhibition-demonstrators-societies/

10th September 2019 South Hants Area Group meeting. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 10th September from 7.30pm at the South Hants Model Railway Club clubrooms, Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill Road, Portsmouth PO6 3LS The Meon Valley Railway Dennis Tillman will be talking about a line that has always been local to him, The Meon Valley Line. Dennis will be happy to discuss any aspect of this line, his book “The Meon Valley Railway Revisited” or other LSWR Railway matters. Please see attached poster Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available at the meeting. At the end of the evening members are invited to join the Portsmouth lads at a local pub just down the road before they go home. The meeting is open to all, whatever scale and standards you work in. For directions to Clubroom please refer to the SHMRC website – https://www.shmrc.org.uk or for more information call Ray Hodson 07710 591511 PS. Postcode is quite close to fort's entrance, or use this in sat nav: N 50.853505, W 1.065627 South Hants Area Group Tue 10th September 2019.pdf

South Hants & West Sussex Area Group meeting This will be held on Tuesday 14th May from 7.30pm at the Southampton Model Railway Society Clubrooms Kemps Quay, Bitterne, SO18 1BZ Southampton MRS will be showing and running 3 layouts for our entertainment, including their new Kilmundy and Lower Exbury. Plus we plan to have a short discussion about 3D printing. We function as area groups for both societies (EMGS & ScaleFour), and aim to encourage finescale modellers in any scale. Our meetings are open to all local modellers, whatever scale or gauge they follow. At the end of the evening you are invited to join us at "The Station" pub next to Bitterne station. For directions to Kemps Quay please refer to the Southampton MRS website - https://southamptonmodelrailwaysociety.wordpress.com/contact-us-2/ or for more information call Ray Hodson 07710 591511 or ray.hodson@sky.com Area Meeting 2019 no3 14th May.pdf

So, now John has produced LSWR and BR(S) ... rats ... my period is mid-30s Southern.

Nigel You've hit (one of) the nail on the head ... most packaged eCommerce systems require your processes to work their way. For a new business or a single person, it isn't so difficult to change, but where it ties in with stock and multiple users, they are hopeless. Keeping with your evolved system (I noticed the .dwt template) has its drawbacks, but the pain of changing would be too much for a volunteer workforce. Some of the other online systems are better than Wix, but you are still tied in - there's no way to move your website elsewhere. But they are like all tools, if you don't know how to use them, or understand the principles for effective websites, you won't end up with a good site.

Before I start, the important thing is that Phil's new website should enable him to provide the level of service he has struggled to achieve with the old site after it was hacked. He's never going to be as swift as Amazon, and purchasers should take into account that he's a one-man-band doing his very best. I'm with IanJ and JCL about the site ... You can't design a site for a fixed large screen size (1257 pixels) and expect it to work on smaller ones. If you look at global stats on screen sizes, there are a significant proportion of people using smaller screens. Too wide a layout also brings problems with readability, when lines of text get too long. Typography is a whole subject in itselft which too few website builders consider (or even know about). Phil's choice of website builder was based on locality, not track record. I mentioned the issue to him with the front page in November when I first saw it. He said it would be fixed before the site went live. Most modern website building tools all provide screen size responsiveness out of the box (it's actually difficult to 'turn it off'). The site has been build on Wix, a commercial online platform, and I'm truely surprised it was possible to build a front page that doesn't re-size! It's a tool which enables people to build truely awfull websites for themselves. As for the 2-hour website build ... JCL is correct on every point. The quickest we've ever built a site and made it live was one day - that was two of us building, configuring, tweaking, writing the content, loading the words, plus finding and loading images ... about 8 hours each. It IS possible to build something in 2 hours, but it would only just qualify as a website. We probably spend two man-weeks on a 5-6 page site, taking into account conversations with clients, constant tweaking they ask for and so on - they end up with a good looking, functional website that perfroms well. JCL mentions postage tables ... the original poster has obviosly never built a postage table which has to take into account the size and weights of all the items, and then fit that into Royal Mail's pricing scheme. The time with an eCommerce site is loading all the products. We've done that a few times (outsouced mostly). Having said that, it's taken his chosen company far too long to build the site ... months and months. It's a pity Phil didn't ask around ... there are plenty of people in the railway community who could have given him a steer. It's also a pity tecres didn't recongise they were getting away from their core expertise. Like JCL, we advise some clients to go elsewhere when we know we're not the best fit. On that note, if anyone wants advice, you can message me off the forum ... advice is always freely given, especially to the railway and modelling community. PS. I'm not touting for business, just want to help people avoid terrible websites and wasted time and money.

I've only just found this thread, and I'm very excited. I'm modelling part of the North Devon Line and need at least three E1/R locos ... so a conversion/add-on for the cab and bunker would be very much appreciated. This would be a better route for me than trying to build several white metal kits.

Quite often in RMweb, there are complaints about suppliers and traders. So I thought I should let everone know about the GOOD experience I've had recently with Scalology and DCCconcepts. I reported a problem I was having with a DCCconcepts product to Charlie Trickett of Scalology (where I'd bought said component online). Charlie responded promptly, and after a couple of emails each way, got DCCconcepts involved. Mick and Chris at DCCconcepts also responded proptly, and in a very short time, my problem was resolved. So, full marks to Scalology and DCCconcepts for excellent customer service.