Martync

I would very much like to see this almost legendary layout at some point in the future. I have a soft spot for S scale for some reason...….

Having just seen Arun Quay again at the Basingstoke show today, I shall be looking forward to seeing it again. The real attraction for me though will be Leighton Buzzard, as to see a part of the Rev Denny's wonderful model railway will be an absolute treat. I dare say the Cameo's won't be bad either.........certainly better than anything I'll ever be able to come up with! ......and a very good narrow gauge layout in Crowsnest Wharf as well. Can't wait......... Martyn

Can't make Wimborne unfortunately. I will certainly be at Warminster however, so will look forward to that, as I'm hoping to have seen the other cameo layouts at Railex a few weeks before. Really going to Railex to see Leighton Buzzard as I'm a devoted fan of the late Rev Denny, and have never seen this layout before....not that I've ever been able to build anything in EM!! Will certainly say hello at Warminster!! Rgds Martyn

Should have said in earlier post that this is a brilliant cameo. Track plan is a dead ringer for a simple layout By Ian Futers "Ashleigh" which featured in the first Railway Modeller I ever bought - September 1972! I'm also a fan of the Golden Valley Railway. There's still quite a lot visible if you ever go that way. Martyn

Oooops, messed up that quote! Paul, are you still attending the Wimborne show - couldn't see Hembourne listed? Rgds Martyn

Simon Many thanks for your note, but I've managed to track one down via the Narrow Gauge Model railway Forum!! Rgds Martyn

I'm looking for a copy of issue No.15 with articles on the Snailbeach Railway - both model and prototype. Any idea where I might track one down?? I've looked on eBay, but no joy there. Any suggestions welcome.... Thanks Martyn

The first model railway magazine I ever bought was a back number of MRC which I got from a small exhibition we visited when on holiday in the Lake District in the early 70s. It was - I think - from 1964 if memory serves, as I don't have it anymore. It had a very nice little layout featured in TT; "Pendean to St Day". It really marked the start of my transition from train sets to model railways. I must confess I was not a regular purchaser of MRC, but tended to buy it when an article took my fancy, but it was always well put together, and I think it was the first to feature colour photo's - I may be wrong on that point though...…. I still have a few back numbers with treasured articles. Martyn

Dave Many thanks for this. Wimborne is certainly in range for me, and Uckfield as well if the invite goes ahead. Regards Martyn

Hi Dave Which shows are you attending in 2019? Rgds Martyn

Hello Any news on the new Titfield Thunderbolt book??….and also Iain Rice's autobiographical opus?? Thanks Martyn

That's great. I can "book it in" well in advance!!…...although I hope it doesn't clash with my wife's 60th!! I saw the Buckingham loco's on static display at ExpoEM, so to see the layout in the flesh is on my bucket list...…. Many thanks Martyn

I was unable to make the show, and thus missed seeing Leighton Buzzard. Does anyone know if it's making other appearances in the future? Thanks Martyn

Very sorry to hear about Allan Downes. I spent many happy hours in the 70's following his guidance in making buildings. He also had a very quirky writing style as I recall....I'll need to dust off my back copies and re-read them. RIP

Blunts in WGC (or "The Model Shop" as me and my friends always called it) was my introduction to a lot of forms of modelling - railways, plastic kits, model aeroplanes, model soldiers. It stocked a staggering variety of products, and I spent many a happy hour browsing before parting with my pocket money. I seem to recall it closed in the early 80's....... I moved down to Hampshire in 1993, at which time there were a variety of model shops (not all with railways) - Cove Models, Farnborough Models, Concorde Models in Aldershot...all of which are now gone. The model shop in Farnham has just closed with the redevelopment of that end of the town. Thankfully, we still have Alton Model Centre going strong!!

I've looked at S scale for a long time and it seems an ideal "size". Can an average (stress - average!) modeller do anything in this scale. I see there are etches for a Y8 on the S Scale Soc website, but could that be built by the "average modeller"? I'd like to have a go, but what support is there??

Thanks Jason Yes, I have looked at the LNWR Society website, and there is a lot of useful stuff there as you say.

How could I have forgotten Under Milkwood!! I think some of Martin Brent's layouts took names out of the Mapp and Lucia books by E F Benson (Tilling??) Quite a few of M R James ghost stories have railway journeys in them - A View from a Hill, The Uncommon Prayer Book, Mr Humphreys and his Inheritance - and all are packed with excellent names and locations.

I've always wondered why there aren't more layouts inspired by places in books, etc. I've often thought this to be a rich source of inspiration. I believe Iain Rice's North Cornwall Minerals was based on an idea from a book originally, and who knows if Frank Dyer's masterpiece was only a typo away from being a tribute to the works of Anthony Trollope!! A favourite book of mine is "Lark Rise to Candleford" by Flora Thompson, and I believe there was an exhibition layout based on this in years past. I think it was based on MR/LMS - given the location, I would have thought GWR was most likely, followed by LNWR (off the Banbury Branch) and possibly GCR. My favourite here would have been a "North Oxfordshire Light Railway" - or maybe Tramway. I'm currently starting a small OO shunting plank loosely linked with the North London Railway/LNWR. This will, of course, be "Scrooge's Sidings", serving the premises of Robert Cratchit and Sons Ltd (formerly Scrooge and Marley) and I suppose should be set on Christmas Eve!! Other ideas: Fenchurch St Paul (or St Peter) - a fenland tramway (Model Rail J70!) from "The Nine Tailors" , a Lord Peter Wimsey mystery by Dorothy L Sayers Thrush Green, Fairacre or Beech Green from Miss Read's country stories - loads of potential for GWR/Light Railways, etc. Crutched Friars - a minories type city terminus, address taken from a client of Sherlock Holmes (I know it's practically next to Fenchurch Street, but this is fiction after all) There must be many more...............

Oh dear, this really could be what pushes me to take the plunge in 7mm after many years of dithering. Plenty of time to save up for one though.........!! Well done Minerva!!

Initially my interest was in the North London Railway, leading to a plan for a small shunting plank, which needed motive power, and lead to the purchase of a Bachman Coal Tank (as - surprise, surprise - there are no RTR NLR locos!!). I've always had a passing interest in the LNWR however, more to do with its presence in the south of England......Oxford to Cambridge, Banbury Branch, etc Growing up in the 60's and 70's, GEM loco kits were very much to the fore, and they offered a wide range of LNWR locomotives......many of which I thought always looked very "Victorian" as their tall chimneys reminded me of mid 19th century top hats!!

He looks like he's lost Genevieve's starting handle!! What a classic star of the 1950's.....well remembered as skipper of HMS Exeter in "The Battle of the River Plate"

Many thanks for the responses!! I suspect it must be North Western Album I was thinking of.........

I shall certainly be on the look out for this book as the film has a family connection. It was the film my parents went to see on their first date, so I guess I owe it a lot!! Whenever it appeared on the television when I was young it would always send my Mum into hysterics, especially the "duel"!! Can't wait to see it in the flesh Simon!!