DavidMcKenzie

Hi Simon, I hope you are well, the interloper (Japanese?) caught me by surprise whilst watching that😂. I don't know if it was something that has ever seen on the great central line, but that's the joy of rule 1 👍. The view with the road and bridge shows how you have already managed to incorporate a lot of interest into the space and I am sure that will only get better as the scenic work progresses. All the best, Dave

The car reversing camera is a neat idea for viewing the fiddle yard 👍 I like that.

I am sure many of you are aware, but@Duncan. is organising a raffle. Money collected will go to the Manorlands Hospice and if I have understood correctly there may even be a chance to win one of Duncan's outstandingly weathered models.

The kids have been keeping me busy lately and modelling time (or even time to check into the forum) has been very limited. Whilst progress has been slow, the first plaster has gone down and will hopefully make a nice base for starting some scenic work as time allows. It almost looks like a winter scene at the moment.....so I couldn't resist a 'rule one' testing playing session. @cornish trains jez one for you sir, I hope you are well. Best regards, Dave

The first train has run on the layout extension. The track is down and a big thanks to Rich and Laurie for the tips and motivation with the super elevation. I think it looks much better than I achieved with Maid's Morton. The old farish 90s really are showing their age now that we have the new models to compare them to, but they are very robust and make perfect work horses for track testing 🙂. All the best, Dave

That scene is just brilliant 👏

I hope it is not an optical illusion and something that's mistaken me😆, but I like the locos warm exhaust in the top picture. You've got that spot on in my opinion. Nicely discreet, it adds a lot to the picture without taking the eye away from the loco 👏

I'm no good with electronics so sorry I can't help you there, but that's a lovely model and the weathering looks just superb 👏.

Tackling Caledonian gave a sanity break from track painting. Not entirely finished yet, but well on the way. Many thanks to Steve @railtec-models (no affiliation, just a happy customer) All the best, Dave @railtec-models

Hi Andy, I really like Nick's idea and I think the trees are a good edition. Please feel free to ignore this comment and it is your layout so ultimately however you want to model is all that matters 🙂 . But have you considered either a simple sky behind the trees? Or at least only the very tops of the photos of trees in the backscene popping out above the model trees? I've noticed some layouts where the photo realistic backscene has too much detail and is too 'perfect' for want of a better word. It has then highlighted small imperfections that every layout (naturally) has. Some of the best layouts I've seen are the ones where the detail reduces the further away you get from the trains and the background slowly becomes almost a blur and doesn't distract from the main focus (trains, station etc.). I've attached an entirely random picture below, the use of a little modelers license and a small embankment might help the blend the bridge in? And notice how the detail in the trees behind the loco (above and moving left from the driver) are almost slightly blurry, rather than highly detailed. I am sure whichever way you choose to model it you will do a cracking job. All the best, Dave

Managed to sneak a few moments for modelling. A handful of previously (not so nicely, by myself) weathered class 86s had a little touching up and then a running session. There are a few small details I'd like to add (and one 86 is still missing it's number), but they are progressing and not so far from finished now. There was such variation in liveries, pantographs, buffers, overhead warning flashes etc. that I am pretty sure I've made the odd mistake. But they give the feel I remember in the second half of the 90s with the grey 86 double headers hauling the containers. Out on the layout Photos on the workbench after weathering Buffers and additional detailing before weathering. All the best, Dave

Hi Rich @MarshLane, Thanks for pointing me in the direction of this layout, some brilliant modelling and echoing the comments above, those curves look absolutely superb Laurie 👏. All the best, Dave

Hi Jeremy, I will try my best. In the past I've managed to get the look of the cant mid corner half way ok, but the blend into flat straight track was a bit too sudden, so hopefully I can improve on that this time around. Hallo PC, I am glad to have given a positive twist on the word "Kopfkino" and hopefully more nice memories will be evoked as the layout progress. I must admit I actually don't know this part of the WCML well at all, my only personal memory is a day trip from Windermere one holiday to watch the trains. We stopped the car to look at a few locations and did a bit of a walk in the beckfoot/lambrigg/docker area, so a great day out. It all struck a lasting impression with viaducts, some lovely countryside and a variety of stock leaning into the curves. All is well with the little one and the rest of the family, he is growing everyday and well past being premature now. Thanks Ben, I am very lucky to have an understanding wife. Space for a railway room was on the wishlist for the house and I am so grateful for the space. We spent a few years between houses and in a small flat which meant the scenic section of North End Road was on a shelf above the bed with fold up legs (and no fiddle yard space). The stock was under the bed or the sofa.....in comparison to those few years I feel exceptionally spoilt. I'm looking forward to getting far enough with the layout that some of your lovely models can stretch their legs on the layout.......I am especially looking forward to getting the 92 out with a rake of KFAs leaning on the curves. All the best, Dave

A little progress between nappies and feeds 🙂. On the drawings it looked like I might not have had enough of a curve......in real life the curves need softening slightly to get the look I am going for. The general shape is coming together though and the backscene is up. All the best, Dave

That looks superb 👏

That's taking shape nicely, it's already starting to capture the atmosphere of a station perfectly. All the best.

Hi Phil, I hope you are well. It looks like a lovely model, a great addition to the layout. Have you had any practical issues due to the lighter weight? I guess it will never be at the head of a long rake. I was surprised by the weight of the recent Class 90 from farish. In this case it seems to be an issue, it can't haul or push a long (~2/3s of prototype length) rake up the spiral without wheel slip. It took the help of a comment on the forum for me to realise what the issue was, I had never come across this before. I don't know if it's cheaper to produce locos out of lighter weight metal or if there is another reason, but it is a slightly worrying trend and something I've never noticed being an issue until recently, but luckily in this case it shouldn't have such drastic practical consequences should it? All the best, Dave

That's come together nicely. It looks really good doesn't it. Thanks for sharing the video. All the best, Dave

It's been slow and steady on the modelling front here, mainly because the family has expanded which has been another wonderful experience. When I have managed the odd 20mins in the modelling room it has mainly been on the fiddle yards, wiring, or general 'off scene' stuff. The lower (slow lines) fiddle yard will be ripped up and re layed over the winter. I did it in too much of a rush and I've made too many mistakes like not enough space between lines for fingers, 'S' curves through back to back points etc. It all takes away from the joy of operating, so I will try to relay it with reliability and usability as the main goal, rather than the current approach of trying to cram as much as possible into the space. All a bit messy, but hopefully the photos below are worth a look for anyone interested in the development of the 'off scene' section of the layout. All the best, Dave

Hi Andy, I've just stumbled upon this, what a brilliant idea for a layout. I will enjoy following your progress. Not only an interesting era and location to model, but I will also be interested to see how you go about some of the challenges like train detection in the fiddle yard. All the best, Dave

Taking shape nicely 👍. They really do look the part. I envy your scratch building skills. All the best, Dave

The split code engineers 37046 was a fun little project to turn it into 37098 as it was ~1998. Cutting and glueing the boggies was easier than the approach I've taken previously on other 37s with lowering the body by sanding away at the mounts. The left boggie is modified one and the right was only modified after the photo was taken. Close to finished now and I'm looking forward to giving it a run. All the best, Dave

I have found similar. The class 90 is the worst of the locos I've run up the gradients on the helix I have on the layout here. Farish 31s, 37s, 47s and 60s as well as Dapol 86s all seem able to haul longer trains (or the same length train without significant reductions in speed). On the flat sections I haven't managed to make a train long enough yet to cause a noticeable issue on (reasonably/close to) level track. I haven't found a solution to improve this, so sorry it's not a more helpful post, but at least you don't seem to be alone with this issue.

Thanks for all of the quick replies. All very helpful and I didn't even consider the gear stack and was thinking too electrical. The good news is that two of the four are running again. One of the four smells very much like 'electrical burning' when trying to run it and I quess the motor is possibly burnt out? This was the one I tried first and tried for the longest so I've possibly just overloaded the motor. And the remaining one I will try again and give it more of a clean next chance I get, maybe I missed some old lube which is still blocking the gears. Thanks again for all the help. All the best, Dave

After three years the layout is finally far enough along to get some stock out. Everything has been box stored and the only locos I have had issue with are all 4 of the DC class 86s. Power is there and lights are on, but there is no hint of movement. All other Dapol and farish stock runs just fine (might have needed a bit of a clean or initial help getting going after a juddering start, but all basically ok). I can't believe it is a coincidence that all 4 of the issue locos are 86s. Has anyone else had a similar issue? I am a bit lost about where to start looking and any tips of suggestions would be very gratefully received. All the best, Dave