TEAMYAKIMA

Have been going back to detailing things. Have returned to the hotel lobby area. Bought some 3D printed sofas for the bar area. But Preiser figures don't sit well on them ... So I filed them down - the right hand one is lowered - REALLY!!

I have been somewhat distracted lately - looking for a new house. But progress continues. Ever wondered what £230 worth of drapes looks like? Well here is the answer ................. Arrived today!

I am experimenting with two options. 1. An old mobile phone (camera) permantly set up - just timing it to see if/when the camera shuts off automatically. 2. This from ebay . https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Car-Rear-Seat-View-Mirror-Baby-Child-Safety-With-Clip-and-Sucker-AQ/263853083594?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D53529%26meid%3D2e50f429a1094fb08809383a4619c3a9%26pid%3D100705%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D263853083594&_trksid=p2045573.c100705.m4780

Not an unreasonable question - I'll ask their opinion.

Hi My roundy roundy exhibition layout has quite a high backscene and most of my operators are quite short ! Operators send trains out of the fiddle yard at one end and then wait for them to appear at the other end. My operators have requested an aide so they can see trains running on the scenic section. I have thought of a camera based system , but quite expensive and most need internet access. So maybe a mirror? I would need to be quite large and adjustable. Any thoughts? Paul

Just a quick 'thanks all' to everyone who has posted - am chasing up all suggested avenues. Paul

Have now phoned a couple of companies and although their websites don't go beyond 20 X 10 they are prepared to quote for larger - so it seems I was worrying unnecessarily .

Hello I live in Hertfordshire Am moving house to find a house big enough to build a 30ft x 10ft shed/outbuilding. All the 'off the peg' firms I've found so far seem to stop at about 20ft long. Any ideas of how to source such a big shed/outbuilding? Paul

Various issues (not least the temperature in my shed!) have meant that I have made little progress on the layout recently. I have prioritised jobs I can do in the (cooler) house. Have ordered new fireproof drape to smarten up the layout The drape is 26ft of GREY! So to jazz things up a bit I've ordered two of these the brighten things up a bit! Also our Digitrax radio 'box' was somewhat cobbled together for Bristol ...... The box will be seen by the public as it will be 7ft up in the air on a wooden pole and I like things that the public can see to look professional (or at least semi-professional!) and so have done a make-over............

You are going to need a BIG layout to justify all this motive power - did I hear the garden mentioned? Paul

Well our open day is over for another year ................ And this week it's more good news ............... This week our multi-gauge running track will be up in the clubroom - every gauge from Z to G is catered for - including 3 rail 'O' And 3 rail 'OO' !!!! So whatever you model - including S gauge - you will be able to run it on our multi-gauge running track Come on down and see us this Friday!

Hi Giles Nice to hear from you. Have phoned McDougall and I think I will get them to make the drape. Quote wasn't quite as bad as I feared! Paul

The problem with that loco is that it is simply a OO model repainted ie 4mm to the foot. All Chinese models (and there are a lot of them!) are HO 3.5mm to the foot. On the other hand most available China Rail models are reasonably modern (last 30 years) and many probably wouldn't suit that loco anyway. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The level crossing scene is virtually finished now. Have added a new 'stop here' sign and a China Rail railway worker

For my first layout outing I re-cycled drapes from a previous layout, but it was marginally too short. So I'm thinking of splashing out on new drapes. The layout is a roundy roundy 26ft x 10ft and so there needs to be a lot of drape and as track height is 48inches I guess it needs to be approx. 42inches deep. I don't have a wife/mother who can run up such things at home. My first idea is to ask for volunteers within my club to see if there is anyone with suitable skills to do this. But if that fails?? Any suggestions for a CHEAP source material? And what are the fire risk implications? I remember hand spraying the existing drapes back in the day and ensuring that the drape finished 2 inches above the floor, but that was in the days when smoking was allowed in exhibition halls. I've seen layouts recently where the drapes touched the ground. What experience have you had?

And here's a better photo .......

Very hot in the shed .... not much progress. I was unhappy with the taxi waiting by the level crossing and so spent some time on it.. I painted the interior and added a driver..... the driver is very difficult to see unless you look at the car side on at eye level and you can then see him in silhouette

As usual there are conflicting issues pulling us in opposite directions.................. Judging by the OP's other posts I think we can all agree that on balance he should not have bought these. Could he have bought items better suited to his purpose - YES, most definitely. Will he need advice/help to make these points suit his purpose - In my opinion , YES On the other hand he is on a limited budget - should he put these in the bin and buy better ? That's his choice. My advice - visit your local club with the points and let an experienced modeller inspect them - I assume these are not 'NEW/MINT' and have been re-cycled from a layout. They were not great when they were new/mint so may be far less suitable if they have been used and lifted.

It really depends what you mean by compatible? Assuming that your Hornby track is reasonably modern (last 35 years or so) then it will be code 100 and so is Graham Farish and so in that sense they will be comapatible. Original Graham Farish ( circa 1963) was dead frog. Huge chunks of plastic in the frog area. Later they developed LIVEWAY live frog points. All metal frogs. Which are yours?

I've rarely seen a showcase full of coaches and wagons! Mine certainly isn't!!

A big THANK YOU to all of you who came along to our open day - hopefully some/many of you will want to join us! If so please remember that this coming Friday July 27th is our AGM - so not a good night to come down!

Compare this new version with the original we used at Bristol ... fewer but bigger photos, less text but larger print size. In short - easier to read! In this case - LESS IS MORE!

I have just collected our new promo sheets which will fit on our fiddle yard screens - one each end.

More progress on grass - 3 out of 4 scenic boards now 'done' .................. I re-did this board to change the colour of the grass .... the first attempt was far too green ... this is as 'dead' as I can make it.