john flann

John, just a thought from my experience-and both Hintock Redux and Port Bredy are more compact than yours but I found tall buildings along the front get in the way of reaching in. I thus keep the front clear of tall buildings, as yours appear to be, and what are there only of one storey with clear roof lines. Even then shirt cuffs still catch. Apart from that comment I like what you intend and wish you well. I don't worry too much about getting matters technically right. I'm more concerned with the overall impression..

Hintock Redux. c1937

Martyn, don't look at the mud but the stars. Yes, far from proto-typical but what about the weathering. That's spot on.

AS requested Kadees #20/ or 21 as added to Hornby coach bogies. The long clerestory is on the R in the second image.

EJS, fair enough. I only make suggestions based on my own experiences. There I've not found the height gauge useful for my UK stock (it's fine for my American.) Perhaps too I should have added, though it's not strictly relevant to this immediate point, that I cut off the trip pin. Stock couples readily without it, stock looks better too and magnets are never, in my experience quite where you need them. For uncoupling I use a shunting pole. But I retain the pin on the stock I use for my shunting plank, Hintock Town Quay where I use between the code 100 rails, magnets.

I have been modelling now for getting on for sixty years and using Kadees for many of them, so may I join this conversation. Being fed up in the 1970s with all the disparate couplings offered by the trade for British OO stock I first experimented with Kadee # 5's but it was not a success so I turned to the Alec Jackson couplings. Much better but not entirely satisfactory. I also became attracted to American HO and went that way. What a revelation, standard coupling height and easy adaption for Kadees. I then went back to modelling British outline and again immediately hit the problem of the lack of a common standard so virtually back to square one. (This was before the introduction by Kadee of the NEM mounting.) I tried using the common #5 and again it wasn't always satisfactory. When the NEM mounting came along I heaved a sigh of relief, but it was too soon and many of the old problems remained. What have I learned; be persistent and use my ingenuity. Three lessons in particular: 1, don't use the Kadee height gauge, it's made to American standards not UK. 2. apply your own standard of the most common height among your stock. 3. match locos to particular stock. Below are two images of coaching stock to which I have added Kadees (20's I think) and later today I will photo how I dun it. Both are Hornby vehicles and I've successfully used the same method(s) on Bachmann. The coaches are seen at Port Bredy on my Hintock Branch of which details are below.

Martyn, that's a good and credible story line you are developing/following. It all makes sense.

Adrian, I haven't looked in for a long time. I should do so more often. I've missed a lot. Stunning work it is. There is so much originality. My regards,

John, yes, it happens. But your musing over the signage made me think as I was enjoying my cornflakes ,for one episode in my army career (?) was that I became the Troop Signwriter. This meant when my fellow squaddies were off on some fatigue I was fallen out and happily occupied myself painting numbers and unit insignia on our vehicles. As I remember it, the unit number was 47 on red/blue square and the Divisional a yellow Chinese dragon on a black background. Often too unit notices were required and these were done in full military fashion (I can't say Regimental for we were an Independent Battery.) OT I know, but it made a nice skive while it lasted. Regards. John (2933)

John, you tell a good tale. Well done and most enjoyable. Takes me back a bit to the days when I was 2215......Gunner Flann! And in that humble rank one just stood at ease and let the Officer. but more likely the Sergeants, sort any problem out. As I recall the vehicles were in drab (although every effort was made to make them shiny) and not camouflaged.both in the UK and, where I served-Hong Kong. PS. When being transported the gun barrel is customarily depressed.

Port Bredy. 1937

I hope Andy you do not mind if I post this image because I do wish, like you, to encourage individuals to "have a go" at painting their own backscenes. I'm quite satisfied with a sky scene and here's one at Port Bredy in its early days. It's easier to do in the early stages of construction. Thanks Andy for your indulgence.

Interesting that about MRC, for fifty years ago in January 1967 I had published in it my first model railway article with photographs by Brian Monaghan, featuring my layout Dunnock Edge. I then wrote more for MRC and in turn for MRN, MR, MT, SCT, IMT, if I recall correctly, and lastly CRM.RM, as well asfor American railway magazines, RM, GMR and MRP. In addition I've been published several times in Back Track. So I'm gratetul to S.W. Stevens-Stratten, FRSA the then Editor, for publishing that article in the first place. I've lost count how many in all, but I think around sixty at least.

A vast improvement Andy, laid out like that it's very easy to work and thus more enjoyable. It's what I found with PB and I'm applying the same lesson to HRx.

Enjoy the show. I know MM will be appreciated by the discerning. Every good wish.

I should have also included this view.

Paul, you may not have seen the prior posts but there I was minded to introduce a loop into Hintock Town Quay. That was when I was away from home but, on my return I saw that it wasn't what I wanted and I'm quite happy with the basic undiluted Inglenook format. It gives me all I require in this layout. The attached shows the basic arrangements. No further work has been done as I'm concentrating oh Hintock Redux.

Try http://www.hintockbranch.com/ It tells the story of my Hintock Branch in e-book form. For current activity see my thread, as below.

Martyn, Well said, all very interesting and I wish you every success. There comes a time when a layout has reached its fulfillment, and when what to do next is the question. And, there you seem to have found your answer.. My regards,

I've used NEM #19 or 20 added them to the bogies mounted on card. It works.

AyJay, the colour of water is a subjective matter, and it depends on many factors. Not least, is it flowing fast or slow, tidal or not and the kind of day, bright or dull for instance. At Port Bredy it's always a bright sunny day, the river is tidal and it flows quite fast. That's what I have tried to represent. Below are two images of early stages of the development of Port Bredy. You will find more images showing what it has become by looking through my Hintock thread.

The River Brede As seen at Port Bredy (see my Hintock thread.)

Sorry Coachman you have had that experience. I have bought several "as new" items and found them as described. Also sold items and quite satisfied with the arrangements and prices realized with little, or no hassle.

John, glad you liked it, this example is very crude-but suits the circumstances,more sophisticated pits and loads requiring more careful handling are under cover, of concrete with gratings over the top and the auger itself in a covered trench. For my Crown Prince brewery I have only modeled the dispatch side assuming that the raw materials and coal for the boilers are delivered to the sidings in the goods yard and from there carted to the brewery itself. I'm sure you can find a reason for using the Grano, as they are rather distinctive vehicles and its unloading perhaps be off-stage. A few posts ago you mentioned imagination and I felt to your disadvantage. Nothing could be further from the truth for the whole of Granby is a masterful, entertaining and credible exercise of it. John, take a bow. Thanks too for your good wishes, recovery I'm happy to say is under way and today I spent an exasperating hour or so taking out a defective point and replacing it. On the other hand I've taken strides in getting HRx looking more appealing. No doubt about it model railways are very good therapy. Every good wish, PS, more pleasant here today weather wise, the smoke has dissipated and cooler, being in the 80F's.