Mark Pelham

Hi Grahame, 3 1/2 years in and still work remaining. In fact my slow progress on my contemporary layout is partially due to issues with Bovis - empty promises of materials to line the garage (among other things), which was to become my hobby room. My ‘60s layout has overtaken now as it is manageable in the house. Do you have any photos of layouts previous to HHC? Would be interesting to see your earlier work. All the best, Mark

Hi Grahame, I’ve always been a fan of your layouts; the level of detail and the way they capture the atmosphere of the suggested locations is absolutely superb. It’s nice to see photos of Hedges Hill again, however I have spotted something in the first image in post #20 that causes concern; there appears to be an advertising hoarding for Bovis Homes; I’m guessing you don’t own one of their debacles? ;-) On the plus side, it has given me some ideas for advertising hoardings when I get around to progressing my contemporary layout, such as “Bovis Homes - building eight sided houses for more corners to cut”, or “Bovis Homes - building houses since 1945, still yet to finish one”. Back to positives now; your “London Bridge” build is fascinating to follow, and I look forward to seeing more progress. Cheers, Mark

Afternoon All, I started wiring the sixth of seven fiddle yard baseboards a couple of weeks ago, but with work and various home duties, I just haven't found the time to complete it yet. I have been looking at point rodding with an aim to compose a diagram to establish the components required to install on Robertsfield. From all the Googling of images and sites to work out what I will need to make something that resembles a prototypical installation, I kept finding images of Signal Boxes, which got me thinking about a kit I purchased some time ago. I quite liked the design of Signal Box that my friend Rob Cottrell built for his jointly owned/built 7mm layout "Newhurst", it was a LSWR 'type 4' brick-built structure, which I think has a nice look of quaint yet sturdy. The kit I purchased was the Arch Laser Co "Exeter Central" box from Osborn's Models; a much more substantial structure, but a similar design to that I had in mind. ​ Last night I made a start on a "cut-and-shut" project to assemble the kit in a guise more appropriate for Robertsfield: The end elevations are as supplied, but the front and rear elevations are significantly reduced in length. This required removing five windows from each end of each elevation, then cutting the lower wall back in line with the innermost windows to shorten the cutout for the point rodding. Offcuts were then used to extend the brickwork to complete the elevations at the ends. ​ Being a fully subscribed member of the hindsight club, I now realise I should have removed the cutout for the point rodding from the rear elevation. I may still do this later, or just raise the ground level behind the box. Cheers, Mark

Evening All, It's looking like Bridgtown will be returning to the drawing board - nothing too drastic, but some time ago I concluded that the cassette fiddle yard will be pretty unworkable, especially trying to keep up with an exhibition sequence. Also, with the progress of Robertsfield and a likely change to the space available to set up the layouts at home, I'm looking to slightly revise the Bridgtown footprint so that I can share some of the components between the two layouts. With an additional fiddle yard baseboard, I could have four of the Tim Horn scenic boards, which I think would allow me to maintain the basic scenic concept and flowing track geometry. This will also save on storage space where I would only need one set of fiddle yard baseboards, and one set of supports/bearers. I will need to see what capacity the fiddle yard would have; I suspect it will be tight for space, but will be a good excuse to get the stock out again! I have some fairly minor tweaks to the scenic design that I would also like to make, but won't be looking into this much until I have confirmed any revision to the overall size. Cheers, Mark

Evening All, I use Xara for my layout planning, but have only used it for "roughing out" a track plan. I tend to use Templot for the track plan, export to PDF, then import into Xara. Below is the current plan for my N gauge modern image layout "Bridgtown", although this is looking likely to return to the drawing board for some tweaks to fit a slightly revised footprint: Cheers, Mark

Hi Graham, Please can I offer my layout, Robertsfield, for inclusion in the OP - the link is in my signature. Thanks in advance, Mark

Progress has slowed a little the last couple of weeks, basically since the Wife & Kids have come home from a two week visit to the in-laws during the school holiday. I had an opportunity two nights ago to assemble a MERG CANUSB4; this will be fitted in a small case and used for localised programming, to save having to set up the main "hub" every time I want to program a single unit: I have also managed to start the electrical installation on the penultimate fiddle yard baseboard: The last part of the hardware installation will be the addition of cable tie bases and loose cable ties. I will then start installing the wiring using the loose cable ties as a guide to get the wire lengths correct, once all the wiring is installed I can tighten the cable ties to keep it all tidy. Better get ready for work now, should prove an interesting night with disrupted Caribbean and Florida flight schedules, and Orlando "Rescue" flights to closely monitor to ensure they're serviceable for departure before the airport closes. Cheers, Mark

Hi Scottystitch, The electromagnets are from Model Signal Engineering (MSE); couplings are as yet undecided, but will probably be either Spratt & Winkle from MSE, DG or MBM/MBD where uncoupling will be required for operation. I have a number of Mathieson Models 3-link fixed coupling sets to be used on long through freight workings, with intermediate non-permanent couplings for transit - either standard N gauge or home-made couplings. I will also be using Dapol knuckle couplings and/or standard N gauge couplings between passenger stock. I hope that helps - a bit! Cheers, Mark

Hi Ed, It's N Gauge using FiNetrax from British Finescale for the scenic track. Cheers, Mark

Hi Sam, The scenic track is from the FiNetrax range (see www.britishfinescale.com), I can't praise it enough for appearance and ease of building; it contrasts quite significantly with the Peco code 80 in the fiddle yard. I did look at going to 2FS standards for my 'not-so modern image now' layout "Bridgetown", but with the cost of re-wheeling the stock, plus some smaller diameter wheel sets being not readily available, I decided to stick with N. Cheers, Mark

Nik, I neglected to include the dimensions in the opening post. Overall it's 13' by 4': three off 3' by 1' scenic/straight fiddle yard boards either side and two off 1'6" radius curved boards at each end. When ordering the curved boards I thought the 1'6" was the inside radius, but it turned out to be the centreline radius - so 1' inside and 2' outside. Cheers, Mark

Good Evening, There has been little progress on Bridgtown, apart from increasing the stock portfolio, since moving house nearly three years ago; we are still waiting for Bovis Homes to resolve many of the original defects. Once that has been suitably addressed I will insulate the garage to provide a new home for the layout and workbench. I had started working on a small diorama layout to test scenic ideas and techniques. Named "Kimberley Road", after my Daughter, it just needs a small patch of baseboard covering with scenics, a few buildings to be assembled from Scalescenes kits and a backscene and lighting unit to be fitted to finish. Here is a photo at an earlier stage of completion: Both this and Bridgtown have taken a back seat while I started work on my BR Southern layout "Robertsfield". With the "Photo/Scenic" baseboards from Tim Horn becoming available, and the successful trial of FiNescale track on Kimberley Road, plus some of the RTR Southern stock appearing from the manufacturers I decided to start building a layout with a bit more operating potential that could fit in the house; I have started a thread for it here. Cheers, Mark

Hi Hugh, Thank you for your comment, and thanks for following. Hi Anglian, They are the transit boards for the baseboards - I pair a scenic board face-to-face with its opposite fiddle yard board, and similarly the end curved boards stack face-to-face in pairs. Trying to keep assembly/disassembly quick for exhibitions, I have used the case latches to secure the end boards as well, which required adding 2"x1" timber to the MDF to give the depth for the catches - a bit bulky, but sturdy. Cheers, Mark

Robertsfield is my British Railways, Southern Region - South West division, layout, based in the steam to diesel/electric transition period. The layout is not intended to be any form of accurate depiction, but is to accommodate my desire to build a Southern steam layout, and to be a little different to the many “height of steam” models by recreating the run-down, grotty period where steam was a little less cared for. I have not set a fixed location for Robertsfield, but it is intended to be along the London & South Western main line, after four tracks become two, and where green outweighs brick and concrete. The station and goods facilities serve a small town and local industries, and provides a railhead for branch line traffic; the branch diverging further to the West. Some branch passenger trains terminate here, run-round and shunt into the bay for departure, while others may continue on to the next major town. Baseboards and Sub-Frame The baseboards for Robertsfield utilise the 1ft wide laser-cut kits available from Tim Horn; a Left, Centre and Right "Scenic/Photo Plank Board", three plain, and two pairs of 1ft6in radius curved boards form the oval. These are held together with simple 'case latches' for ease and speed of assembly. I have slightly modified the design by adding a secondary backscene to give a 'flush' appearance between the lighting supports. This uses softwood battens glued to the original backscene, with an additional sheet of ply across to form the new backscene. The exception is the corners which were formed using 'flexible' MDF. The voids were all filled with expanding foam. The baseboards were given a white undercoat, and the scenic board faces in view were painted matt black. The surfaces were covered in self-adhesive cork tiles, which were then sealed with PVA. This all sits on a sub-frame that has been based on a design by my good friend Rob Cottrell, who has also expertly built the support and bearer assemblies. It is designed to observe my requirements for ease and speed of assembly, with minimal individual components, whilst also being fairly easy to store. It consists of four main 'A' frames that connect in pairs once erected, which then support two pairs of bearers. Two bearers each sit with one end on a main 'A' frame, and contain a further drop-down, integral 'A' frame for supporting the other end of the bearer at the centre of the layout. The second pair of bearers span the gap between these and the second pair of main 'A' frames. Finally a pair of 'shelves' span the gap between the longitudinal bearers to support the end curved boards. Track The track plan for Robertsfield was produced in Templot, after a great deal of time trawling the internet for prototypical designs. I settled on a design to maximise operational interest whilst maintaining the feel of a Southern Region prototype. The full-size printed track plan was glued to the baseboard using a UHU stick, and was then lacquered to minimise moisture ingress when adding the scenics. The track itself, is built using "FiNetrax" turnout kits and plain track components from British Finescale. I have used a mix of B6 turnouts and crossing for non-passenger carrying track, and B8 for passenger carrying turnouts. There is one B7 turnout in the goods yard, to allow the geometry to flow better within the baseboard confines. After pre-drilling the operating wire holes, I glued the milled turnout bases to the baseboards, then assembled the remainder of each kit in-situ. It takes a bit more prior planning this way, but is worth it for the flowing appearance of the track. At baseboard joins, rail ends are soldered to brass pins on the scenic section, and copper clad strip on the fiddle yard boards. Track in the fiddle yard is Peco, for quicker installation and cost saving. These are slightly modified to improve running by filing a taper into the switch blades, and adding a thin strip of plasticard into the common crossings or 'frogs'. Electrics Robertsfield will use a DCC control system for controlling the trains, and I have opted to use the Model Electronic Railway Group "MERG" version 2 system. I have tried various systems previously, and never found a handset that I particularly liked. They were either a nice size, but lacking functionality; or overly large, with too many controls than are really needed for basic 'playing trains'. With the Digitrax system, I don't like the small rubber buttons, and the more compact throttle has the very un-ergonomic encoders for changing loco address. Equally, I'm not keen on the Lenz system where you either get a throttle with a full numeric keypad, but speed control via buttons (which I really don't like!), or a rotary speed controller, but with limited keypad. ​I find the MERG CANCAB is a very nice ergonomic design, that encompasses all the features that I sought. The control of the layout itself, i.e. the turnouts, signals etc. will utilise the MERG CBUS system. Again, i find this a very adaptable system that works very well. It is far more cost effective than 'off-the-shelf' digital products, and allows far more flexibility than a basic analogue control system, such as running two control panels with overlapping controls. For turnout operation I am using servos, fitted to MERG (there's a trend building here!) servo mounts, and also servos with MERG signal mounts for the signals. The uncoupling magnets are DG electromagnets from Model Signal Engineering. The photo shows the components required to make baseboard 2 work (except the signal servos): from the connections box at the bottom centre of the photo there will be 12VDC for the CBUS components and accessories, 12VDC for the LED lighting, DCC track bus to the rail droppers and turnout motors for polarity switching, and CBUS data. The three CANACC8s convert CBUS data into 'discretes' to trigger the SERVO4s and Relay boards, which in turn drive the turnout/signal servos and magnets respectively. One of my 'pet hates' is watching a layout doing nothing, whilst the operator faffs with a throttle trying to change the route; I am a firm believer in using a control panel, be it a physical panel with switches and buttons, or an electronic panel on a computer. I will be building a pair of control panels, per the design below, to allow two scenic operators to control any part of the layout. The yellow buttons will set the routes, simultaneously returning any conflicting signals to danger, the green buttons operate the electromagnets, the white buttons operate the main signals, and the black buttons operate the ground signals. The two blue buttons will be connected in series to trigger the Initialise, or "start of day" CBUS event. This simply sets the layout components and LEDs to a predetermined condition such that the layout and panel are in agreement. The integral layout lighting uses "White" self-adhesive LED strip. I prefer this colour as, in my opinion, "Cool White" can be too clinical, "Warm White" can be too yellow, and "Daylight White" tends to melt the retinas. The adhesive can be unreliable, so the strips were attached with Gorilla glue approximately every 3" for when the supplied adhesive inevitably ​dries and peels. I have installed two strips per baseboard; one along the front edge inside the lighting unit, shining straight down, the other along the lower edge of the fascia, illuminating the backscene. This stops short of the ends of the layout by approximately 6" to avoid glare on the curved backscene sections. Progress so far...To date I have all the track in place and eight of the ten baseboards with the wiring installed. Once the remaining two fiddle yard baseboards have had the wiring installed I can the make a sweep across the layout setting up the CBUS modules, turnout servos and microswitches, and connect the microswitches to the correct track polarity. I will then move on to constructing the five control panels; this seems a lot but will be two of one design and three of another. The two will provide control of the scenic section, with the other three providing control of the fiddle yard. The intent is to have three control positions; one each end at the front with one of each control panel, with a third operating position for the fiddle yard alone. Once the electrics have been completed the layout will get a good shake-down to ensure all is working reliably, before moving on to the scenery.

David, I agree that, unless viewed close-up, N gauge sound is overkill given the scale:viewing distance ratio. I also agree regarding the button pushing. I had tried Lenz and Digitrax systems and couldn't find a good balance between the two. I also am not keen on the over-elaborate throttles such as the NCE/Gaugemaster where, with all the functions available, it still doesn't make a cup of tea. I much prefer a simpler throttle with a rotary speed control, and have settled on the MERG CBUS DCC system for that. In combination with a proper set of layout controls (rather than typing in numbers to change the route) I personally feel it gives a good combination of practicality and function, but is simple enough to keep things moving. Each to their own and all that, but that's my twopence worth. Cheers, Mark

Dave, Thanks for the open and honest update, I think it was probably needed by many supporters, and hopefully was well received. I will gladly continue to support the N Class 92 project; I would appreciate regular updates at a reasonable interval, and I have no objection to, and would encourage announcements of "something is expected to happen by XYZ", which may for various reasons not happen, but an update on or before XYZ to say why it will not be met would be respectfully requested. This would serve to show where progress is being made or expected to be made, and where delays have been caused outside of your control, or maybe even delays created by yourself for the improvement of the intended model (surely a positive thing). I hope this is received in the positive manner that is intended. All the best, Mark

There's nothing worse than being left in the dark; "no news is good news" doesn't always apply! Cheers, Mark

Morning All, I've kept fairly quiet regarding the DJM 92, having been a follower of the N thread, however after the recent announcement from the other supplier, I thought I'd see the latest with the DJ version, since it has been very quiet. I then found the prompt from the N thread that more info is available on this thread. I hadn't realised quite how far past the suggested milestones we were, and was quite dismayed at the lack of any news. Can I suggest that one of the biggest issues regarding the comments on this thread is that feedback is being given from OO and N modellers; the OO modellers being "all for it" since it is the only source of an improved model, whereas the N modellers have another offering for a quality model from an alternative source. Perhaps the discussions for the N model should be kept to the N thread, as long as there are sufficient updates from the supplier; it is only a matter of copying and pasting an update to both threads. On the basis that it appears that the N model is not yet guaranteed (it's not even on the progress chart on the website), it leaves me in a position where I have paid my £30 deposit, having already cancelled my initial order to re-order the later advertised livery (I could easily have jumped ship at that time having had the refund). I am now seeing development of the alternative sources model ahead of the order I have placed, and at a lower price. Knowing what the N market is like for these things, if the other source sells out quickly, the only source will be extortionately priced models from eBay. If the DJ model then doesn't come to fruition, I would be left having to buy at stupid prices from potentially untrustworthy eBay sellers. Cheers, Mark P.S. I copied and pasted this from the OO thread took about 30 seconds!

Morning All, I've kept fairly quiet regarding the DJM 92, having been a follower of the N thread, however after the recent announcement from the other supplier, I thought I'd see the latest with the DJ version, since it has been very quiet. I then found the prompt from the N thread that more info is available on this thread. I hadn't realised quite how far past the suggested milestones we were, and was quite dismayed at the lack of any news. Can I suggest that one of the biggest issues regarding the comments on this thread is that feedback is being given from OO and N modellers; the OO modellers being "all for it" since it is the only source of an improved model, whereas the N modellers have another offering for a quality model from an alternative source. Perhaps the discussions for the N model should be kept to the N thread, as long as there are sufficient updates from the supplier; it is only a matter of copying and pasting an update to both threads. On the basis that it appears that the N model is not yet guaranteed (it's not even on the progress chart on the website), it leaves me in a position where I have paid my £30 deposit, having already cancelled my initial order to re-order the later advertised livery (I could easily have jumped ship at that time having had the refund). I am now seeing development of the alternative sources model ahead of the order I have placed, and at a lower price. Knowing what the N market is like for these things, if the other source sells out quickly, the only source will be extortionately priced models from eBay. If the DJ model then doesn't come to fruition, I would be left having to buy at stupid prices from potentially untrustworthy eBay sellers. Cheers, Mark

There was Gordon Gravett's, full named, "Half Term at Ditchling Green". I suggested a name, which was adopted, when we were planning an On30 logging layout at Crawley Model Railway Society; "Groenen Creek". I have always fancied building a small Southern isolated station, serving the two nearby villages of "Windy Bottom and Belching".

I can agree with Nigel, having had first hand experience of this on a third party layout. The owner had purchased the Traintronics DCC turnout motor; very similar in principle to the Cobalt DCC motors. The biggest problem arises when you use the track bus to power the turnout motors in that a short on the track bus prevents the motor from throwing back to clear the short. Either way, as Nigel says, if the switch blades are powering the frog, as well as an external switch; if the switch blades move to the opposite stock rail before the frog switch contact changes over, you get a short circuit. Similarly if the frog contact changes over before the switch blades start to move, you get the same. In your configuration, to avoid a short you are relying on the switch blades breaking contact with the first stock rail, the external switch changing over, then the switch blades making contact with the other stock rail. Cheers, Mark

That must take a lot of paint, respraying from N gauge to O Gauge! ;-)

Hi Paul, Order placed with Rails and cancelled the Hattons one. The layout progress can be summarized in one small word - SLOW! I moved house a little over a year ago just after my appendix exploded, became very heavily involved in the introduction of the 787 to the Virgin Atlantic Fleet, and offspring #2 arrived. I have been dabbling with bits here and there, and still building up the stock portfolio, but haven't managed to produce anything much tangible towards the layout. I started a small BLT/diorama to try out some scenic techniques for the larger project, and to try the FiNeTrax products for a future BR(S) layout, but both are proceeding at a similar pace. Once things quieten down with work, and Bovis finish building the new house, I plan to 'enhance' the garage for use as a modelling room/workshop/man cave/sanctuary. The plus side of being busy at work, and my temporary loan to Heathrow, is that I have found a nice run-down brick building near the fire station between Terminals 3 and 5 that would make a nice addition to Bridgtown! Cheers, Mark

Damn and blast! Having ordered a VT TGS a couple of centuries ago (give or take a few millennia), I missed out on my order from Hattons because I forgot to update my card details when my new card arrived last month. Hopefully I'm not right at the back of the queue now!

Evening All, For what it's worth, I was a beta tester for the original kits, which I found a pleasure to work with. Wayne is working on additional items (as previously mentioned on this thread) which have been advertised on his website for a while now. An additional point of note (with no pun intended) is that the turnouts can be built on a curve; I have assembled one on cutting away the material from the moulded base, leaving a small link to space the timbers, but leaving the material around the common crossing intact. I have a small trial layout I'm working on for trying out the fiNetraX products and scenic techniques before use on a larger layout, which I've been meaning to start a thread on; I'll try and get the thread started once I get back from the States. Cheers, Mark