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Middlepeak

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Blog Comments posted by Middlepeak

    Mikkel

    Posted

    This gives much weight to the theory that it's not so much the story, but the way that you tell it that counts. I've never really been that interested in horse drawn pantechnecons, but I was captivated by the whole thing. Talk of equine trade unions and of course the sad fate of Mrs X - clearly very personal feelings expressed there.

     

    And of course some excellent modelling, which we come to expect from you Mikkel. Congratulations!

     

    Geraint

    • Agree 5
    • Thanks 1
    Dave John

    Posted

    Wonderful photographs John and nice to hear of someone who is able to get plenty of enjoyment from operating a home layout. As someone who has always been confined to operating his layout at exhibitions, I must say I am looking forward to completion of a new railway room and home operations next year. 

     

    Best wishes for Christmas, and while I remember, is there a plan of Kelvin Grove anywhere? 

     

    Regards, 

     

    Geraint

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
    wenlock

    Posted

    Dave,

     

    An interesting idea, which would appear to solve most of your problems. I just wondered how this area would be screened from public view at the front. If it's open to the audience there, the problem is simply transferred from one hole in the backscene to another. I'm therefore guessing that the only public view would be through the bridge, in which case this bit of scenery could almost be fully enclosed in a box. You would have to experiment a bit with lighting, and you would need to have an additional mask across the end of the fiddle yard. It really depends on the viewing angle for punters. Your photos seem to be taken from over the layout, rather than behind an imaginary barrier line, which might be confusing me.

     

    Anyway, in my view - go for it!

     

    Geraint

    • Agree 1
    Fen End Pit

    Posted

    I must pay tribute to the plywood engineering that's gone into progress thus far. Also the recuperative value of what David has achieved in the relatively short time since his dispiriting prognosis this time last year.

     

    Having witnessed a couple of trains completing a full circuit yesterday evening, there is one major logistical problem to overcome. The last baseboard across the room door means that access in and out of the room is impossible whilst trains are running - and also prevents deliveries of tea to parched operators!

     

    An urgent problem to resolve David, but congratulations on what you've achieved to date!

     

    Geraint

    wenlock

    Posted

    Dave,

     

    I'm pleased to hear that the good burghers of Sherton Abbas are pleased with the latest addition to their station - and so they should be!

     

    I was looking forward to seeing the layout in the flesh at the recent Portsmouth show, and my expectations were fully met. It's a wonderful scene, with lots of cameos to explore while you're waiting for the next train. There's obviously a great deal of research and observation gone into it, and the standard of modelling and presentation really does you credit. As someone who normally likes his trains smaller and "from a bit further north or east", I was really captivated by it and spent a good deal of my time at the show just soaking in the atmosphere you have created.

     

    Congratulations! Do you have any more shows planned in the near future?

     

    Regards,

     

    Geraint

    IanLister

    Posted

    Ian (x2!).

     

    Excellent progress and it's so rewarding to hear someone say that this is their dream come true. It takes a lot of commitment to pull together a long term large project like this and you can't underestimate the contribution that friends can make to progress - even if it's just encouragement as opposed to practical help. I look forward to seeing more, and don't worry about the frequency of posts - it's the quality that counts!

     

    If I might reply to Ian Smith's comment about the lever frame, Howard Bolton has been working on the design for a new etched lever frame, complete with interlocking, which was released through the Scalefour Society Stores at the recent Scalefour North show. It looks an excellent product, and on the basis of Howard's acknowledged capabilities in design, it will work very well. I suggest it might be a candidate for Modbury. I can find out more if you would like to PM me, but it would probably easier if you have a Scalefour member within your local modelling contacts.

     

    Best wishes,

     

    Geraint

    Dave John

    Posted

    Dave,

     

    A nice simple idea. I have something similar fitted to my set-up track for AJ's. In my case the magnet runs in a section of brass tube through the baseboard and is raised by a brass paddle pivoted around 20mm away. The paddle holds the magnet in the raised position for as long as the lever is depressed. Releasing the lever allows the magnet to drop by gravity, falling against the paddle at its lowest point.

     

    I'm sure you could rig this up with a longer operating rod to the front of your baseboard. Not sure whether I can post pictures with this comment, but I'll hopefully send you a PM with the pics attached.

     

    As you say - simple and cheap, and with 32 to build, a lot easier than winding and wiring all those coils. However, given the delaying uncoupling potential of AJs, I do wonder why you need so many for your layout?

     

    Regards,

     

    Geraint

    bcnPete

    Posted

    Pete,

     

    Just to add my support for such a simple concept but excellently presented. I stopped many times in front of your layout over the Uckfield weekend and found something new to look at every time. Putting the two layouts together like this, running independently off the same fiddle yard, is a great idea, and there will be three things to look at within the space normally occupied by a single layout.

     

    One suggestion though. The fiddle yard window encourages people to bend down to look inside. Would there be any problem with raising the overall height slightly? Peering 'in' is always better than peering 'down' in my view.

     

    Good luck and I look forward to seeing progress.

     

    Geraint Hughes

    (Obbekaer)

    KH1

    Posted

    I would say yes, 18 inches is definitely enough. Furthermore, there seems to be a tendency for a lot of layouts to have half a forest underneath them, when in fact because the weight of the layout is being held in compression by the legs, much smaller sections of timber (or other materials) are ample.

     

    My layout 'Obbekaer' is 5 metres long and a maximum of 500mm deep and uses small section hardwood legs connected by IKEA bookcase braces. All very light and easy to erect and it takes up minimal space in the car. I've used the same legs on my previous layout 'Middlepeak' so I now have nearly 20 years of use out of this system and its never failed me once!

     

     

    Regards,

     

    Geraint Hughes

    Bristol_Rich

    Posted

    Rich,

     

    I can sympathise with the fact that time seems to pass very quickly, with little or no progress. Looking back, I first drew out the chassis design for my 'skinnebus' (the Danish version of your YO1p) in 2003, the resin body arrived in 2004, the etches in 2005, the wheels around the same time, and believe it or not I'm just putting the finishing touches to the glazing in 2011!

     

    Very inspirational models, and I can well understand the attraction of the prototype, as well as the urge to do something different.

     

    Keep it up!

     

    Regards,

     

    Geraint Hughes

    Bristol_Rich

    Posted

    Rich,

     

    I love the idea of this project. I'm modelling a fictitious Danish private railway in P87, and many of the stations were inherently simple but oozing with atmosphere.

     

    Talking of railcars, I have a book here on the 'Skinnebus' railcars, which had their origin in Sweden and were further developed by Frichs in Denmark. There are useful drawings at 1:87 scale, including the units for the metre gauge lines on Bornholm (near enough to Ystad!).

     

    Please contact me if these would be useful.

     

    Regards,

     

    Geraint Hughes

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