[Gresby - N Gauge Great Central (MS&LR 90s-2000s)]

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 

[Bentley St. Mary - a Southern vignette in N gauge]

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

[North End Road - WCML in N]

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. 

 

 

[North End Road - WCML in N]

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 

 

[North End Road - WCML in N]

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 

[Adventures in code 55 Dioramas: Kings Arms and Woodland Heath TMD]

On 17/12/2023 at 23:44, Gloucester Road said:

in preperation for their naming ceremonies 60002 and 66789 plaques are being installed.

 

That scene is just brilliant 👏 

[Adventures in code 55 Dioramas: Kings Arms and Woodland Heath TMD]

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 👏

[Bachmann announce Class 90 (OO)]

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 👏.

[North End Road - WCML in N]

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

[Bentley St. Mary - a Southern vignette in N gauge]

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

[North End Road - WCML in N]

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 

[Progress on Yeovil]

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 

[North End Road - WCML in N]

On 11/11/2023 at 09:03, cornish trains jez said:

 

 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.

 

On 11/11/2023 at 10:27, Padishar Creel said:

 

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. 

 

On 11/11/2023 at 11:09, Revolution Ben said:

 

 

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

[North End Road - WCML in N]

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

[Will's 1990ish Projects]

That looks superb 👏

[Denbigh North. WCML in N.]

On 12/10/2023 at 20:59, porkie said:

More rolling stock update than the layout 

 

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 

[Finnbrough, N gauge Modern image]

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

 

All the best,

Dave 

[North End Road - WCML in N]

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 

[Bentley St. Mary - a Southern vignette in N gauge]

On 26/03/2023 at 21:29, AndyB said:

In the conclusion to my article in April's Railway Modeller (Nantford Spinney) I said that my next layout needed to mop up my collection of locomotives, not many of which suited a BLT.

 

I also wanted a layout which would allow me to sit back and watch the trains go by. But I really did love the rural flavour of my last layout...

 

So, welcome to Bentley St. Mary, based on the real Bentley station in Hampshire, as it was in the 1950s / 1960s.

 

Today the station is a sleepy, passing station on the single track section between Farnham and Alton, sitting between the River Wey and the Alice Holt forest.

 

But this is how the track plan looked in days gone by.

 

Back in the day it was part of the  diversionary route when the mainline from Basingstoke to Winchester was being electrified. As such it saw a parade of impressive passenger expresses and goods trains heading from London to Winchester & Southampton. Add to that express goods taking watercress from Alresford. And to cap that off there was a small goods yard and a branch line to Bordon. So all things considered this nowadays-sleepy station has a lot of modelling potential. 

 

The model

Space available: 10' x 30"

Gauge: N

Track: British Finescale + Peco Code 55

Control: DCC

Scenics: rural feel, river Wey to the front with mill, forest to the rear, hint of nearby village.

Trackplan. Still being refined, but not likely to differ much from what's shown below.

(And a big "thank you" to all those RMwebbers who contributed to the design process on this thread)

Baseboards: split across 3 for portability and open framework.

 

 

Progress to date

I've built a substantial bench on which the layout will sit. 

 

 

Next steps

I've yet to build one of the British Finescale points. So before committing to that track type I want to have a practice. This will also dictate where the baseboard joins might go. 

After that I'll start to transfer the track plan onto the lining paper.

 

New challenges

Servo control of points.

Train detection in the hidden fiddle yard.

 

Hopefully you'll find this of interest and drop in occasionally to see how things progress. 

 

Cheers for now. Andy 

 

 

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 

[Gelternau (Formerly Konigsbrucke) - Swiss 2mm N scale layout 1997 - 2005 (with some present day stock too)]

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

All the best,

Dave

[North End Road - WCML in N]

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 

[Graham Farish Class 90]

13 hours ago, jdbsg65 said:

Anyone had issues with pulling power? Have 2 helix on the layout and all of the 90s struggle to pull 5 Dapol mk3s up them. The Dapol 86's have no trouble

 

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. 

[Class 86 non runners after storage.....help]

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 

[Class 86 non runners after storage.....help]

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 

[North End Road - WCML in N]

On 14/08/2023 at 21:48, cornish trains jez said:

Hi Dave,

 

The layout is looking fabulous and I love the intercity liveried stock that you are running. I think the extension will add a nice contrast to your more built up city scene, lol forward to seeing the plan and the extension progress. Will this be on the other side of the layout or to one side?

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

 

 

Hi Jeremy,

 

Strange answer I know....but it will be above the existing layout. I have plenty of height to play with and I've tested some spirals and they seem to work without issue. 

 

The track plan will be very simple.

 

 

It is not an exact location, but motivation has been taken from these two spots at Greenholme and Beck Foot.

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully this will allow a few different views of trains tilting in a curve like below. 

 

 

 

On 15/08/2023 at 08:52, acg5324 said:

The MK2 rake looks great, Hunt Couplings I assume?

 

Edinburgh / Glasgow to Brighton…the Sussex Scot …..http://www.1S76.com will give you details. there were also XC services to Bournemouth….Wessex Scot, Devon Scot, Plymouth and the Cornish Scot, Penzance.

 

@acg5324 that's a brilliant link thanks, I have only skimmed it so far. I didn't realise D9000 was a regular on Saturdays during summer at the end of the century. Interesting stuff. 

 

As for the coupling, I have ordered some hunt couplers to try as well as a batch of Kuppelstange from DM toys, but for now both are still unopened and the MK2s come with shorter and longer 'standard' Ngauge couplers which is all I've had time to play with so far. 

 

All the best,

 

Dave