Edward

The different cables (6 or 4) can be a bit of a pain - which is which etc. So after a tip I use only the 6 wire type - and it doesn't seem to matter. I say this as last week at my MRC we all struggled to fix a powercab fault until someone pointed out we were using the 4 wire curly cord!

Don't know your era but the 2 books by Nigel Digby "The Stations & Structures of the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway " contain numerous scale drawings and photographs which I have found a constant source of inspiration. But they are very pricey even when I bought them some years ago. Probably too much for just 2 buildings. Of course the Railway Modeller does regularly include scale drawings.

I suppose this is a bit obvious but did you try setting the momentum to '0'?

Or the Glorious Revolution! Mentioning this to a school history teacher, received blank looks. " The war of 1812 you mean?"

I tend to use & simply download the "brickpapers" from Scalescenes or similar. Windows can be made using the "Sticky- label " method or by buying ready printed sheets. You can adjust the apertures to fit the windows! One tip I was given was to use graph paper to draw out the detail elevations.

Just wonderful posts ! Though the new title might be thought a trifle narrow for those of us not modelling GWR. Hahaha.

Taking advice from a member (Stubby?) I've moved to cosmic shimmer acrylic glue which doesn't leave unwanted marks (or which can be rolled off the surface).

Unless you light it which of course introduces a whole new set of problems. I think the attractiveness of the kits is down to actual surface: shading etc of the photographic images.

Thanks for the list of actual formations : I can at least make up a non-corridor train from what I already have! The rest I'll have to buy up as the opportunity occurs. Reflecting on my fictitious layout, I realise I haven't perhaps spent enough time plotting it into a realistic format. Thanks for all the information! Edward

Food for thought in all the information above! I've glanced through and searched Wright's Writes and realised it's a much bigger subject than I thought. I'll be getting some basic knowledge about types of coaches. The examples I've seen show a wide range of makes and ages so in a way it makes the choices less of problem. Thanks again for all the comments!

Thanks , very useful!

Also their Focus Forum is a useful place for advice etc.

I'm modelling a fictional Eastern Region/ex M&GNJR around late 50s early 60s mostly steam but a few diesels as well. As preliminary step I've accumulated some passenger coaching stock with running numbers with "E" prefix. I assumed that would be most appropriate? I realize i need a few more full composites to make up likely train formations. Would it be pretty well anything goes? IE any type of make or region? Eg any ex Western region etc,etc? eg Maunsell ? Unfortunately my own memories are limited to the occasional trip from Northampton to London. The only thing that stands out was the giant billboard stating "You're entering the Strong country" which did confuse me as I thought I was in the Midlands. (I have tried to search this forum but couldn't bring up any useful results! Thanks in advance for any help.

And to think the thatched house and it's surroundings didn't even exist a few weeks ago! A marvellous view.

Thanks for your comments; yes I did consider it but then I looked at my "list" of things to do and thought not yet! Sorry about the delay in replying but some unknown reasons I rarely get any notifications and these quite randomly!

Can't really see any difference between the two!

Very impressed with your very large crate (among a lot more of course). Could I ask how you did your stencilling?

Thanks Nigel - I've now been in touch with the helpful people at Dcc Concepts/. The solution is to fit diodes in line in the circuit of each Cobalt motor . Apparently is quite common when there are long lengths of wire to the switch.

A very recent problem (yesterday in fact) at a weekend show in our MPD layout. Some fiddle yard Cobalts kept operating points without being ordered. Details of our system: NCE powerCab plus 2nd cab as PowerPro, using NCE Mini Panel to call macros setting routes with 1,2 or 4 Cobalts being activated. Inputs in the mini panel triggered by SPST/DPDT switches: a total of 8 three way points in use. The 5 fiddle yard points are just single ones and are controlled directly by SPST switches. (We have MERG circuit breaker to give layout protection) The Mini Panel inputs worked faultlessly but when 5 of the 9 inputs were grounded at least 3 of the quite separate FY points changed. It seemed to happen occasionally at first but careful checking revealed it was happening each time a particular input was grounded. The point seems to change in the one direction only. I'm wondering if there is a "memory" left in the cobalt's setting circuit which is responding to the macro? Is there a possibility that interference is there? It seems unlikely as it's always the same motor operating? As you can imagine, it took sometime before we cottoned on to what was actually happened! I've had a quick look at the panel wiring but it all seems to be in order. I would be very pleased any help and/or for some advice on solving this very annoying problem or at least what/how to check.

Wanted to try my hand at a fictitious building to fill in a reason for a factory siding. Style was taken from the book " Modelling Heavy Industry" by Arthur Ormrod of one of the cafeteria buildings. The idea being to represent 50/60s and a "light engineering" workshop. Lots of detail to add to complete and as at back of layout, no need for the rear to be modelled! Scalescences sheets & card: windows by the acetate/sticky label method.

"Omnianism" - certainly had to look that one up! Like others just got my copy of Amberdale. Just dipped in to it but I've found one sentence that really confuses me. "Buckingham has several stations but no railway". Was he referring to the real world? Or is it that Denny made up the story as he went along extending and improving the layout?

At least three I think!

Thanks very much for those tips , much appreciated.

May I ask how you get your finish for the roads, paths and driveways etc? Currently struggling to achieve an acceptable result at the present but have purchased a quantity of potter's grog as recommended by xxxx ( though a little disappointed it doesn't appear to be drinkable).