steam-driven boy

Hi Rovex, Didn't someone once say: "I love the look of newly laid track on bare baseboards in the morning" - well they darn well should have! That complex of trackwork is already looking good, it'll be a joy to see it taken to completion. I'm just glad I chose the easier early layout option, and I will of course continue to follow with the greatest interest. Regards, Gerry.

Hi, Confusing as to which of now two topics to post this, but since this was posted here: The topic here from the beginning, the most recent 'news' from early November '11: I think it's creditable for their effort in trying to get something going, but I do think it's a big ask to do it this way, interesting nonetheless that the bit highlighted by me could mean a Dapol item if they saw a market for it - one in N for me please B) Regards, Gerry.

Hi, My 'fleet' arrived from Oxford Die-Cast this morning, one sandwiched here between a couple of Bandai die-casts: I have a relivery in mind for one, but I do hope these sell well so Oxford see a demand for perhaps scaling down some of the modern 1/76 vehicles in their range B) Regards, Gerry.

Hi, Close enough? Regards, Gerry.

Hi, Once again referring to Nigel Burkin's website as he's posted new photo's of the FGW HST Bookset, power cars and coaches, click on the images - in particular the 3/4 coach shot highlighting the livery detail Regards, Gerry.

Hi Kernow have posted photo's of the FGW HST Bookset, power cars and coaches - here, here and here Regards, Gerry.

Hi Alan, According to the full review in Model Rail 154 - March, it does B) Regards, Gerry.

Hi, News on the Dapol website that Virgin livery HST Book Sets have arrived and are being packed for dispatch, the Blue/Grey version has been delayed at the docks: Regards, Gerry.

Hi, My sketch-in-progress is based on The Bartons Arms in Aston, which will be for my N layout: At the Warley show in '05(?) I was most impressed by The Station Hotel in 7mm scale - etched brass: For the Witton Lane layout, it's based on The Swan and Mitre also in Aston. In the linked photo of the real pub the railway bridge is on the right. Regards, Gerry.

Hi, I've not received my subscription copy yet, but here's a link to the Dapol cad/cam image if it's of any help for comparison. The 'door issue' is referred to on the webpage: "Different headcode panels and side doors are also being catered for in our design." Although several mentions have been made of it's appearance at Warley I haven't seen any pictures of it posted anywhere from there. Regards, Gerry.

Hi, Nice to see your photo's - I too have a '12' winging it's way from Japan, the first major acquisition of vehicles since I posted my group photo here although there have been some individual purchases. The estate cars in particular will be most welcome, and while I can live with the Paramedics suitably redecorated I think the taxi, although very nicely done as you say, will be up for disposal B) Regards, Gerry.

Hi again, A very thorough write up that covers a few questions I was planning to experiment around, thanks for that as my graphics are a total invention for my purposes a white border would not be an issue Regards, Gerry.

Hi Ian, There's a whole topic relating to various issues with the initial batch on RMweb3, If you scroll down to Dr Al's post from April 21 on the last page you'll see a photo and description of his fix. Don't forget this will invalidate your warranty, you might want to think about getting it replaced as it doesn't seem to have affected all models. Regards, Gerry.

Hi, Highly impressed with the Fruit D, although I'd been happy with castings when involved in an uncompleted foray into O over 2 decades back I hadn't looked at whitemetal N through simple prejudice but I'm going to be correcting that - thanks. I too am putting together some graphics, for now some N road vehicles in my case. Colour matching is only required for a Tomytec foam tender - which actually sports two shades of red! - and again, with a conventional inkjet printer it'll be coulour on white to overwrite some of the Japanese text. I'll look forward to seeing your results and will post my own when I get there. Regards, Gerry.

Hi again, Impressive work, even now I get I get a great sense of being there with those eye-level shots. Regards, Gerry.

Hi, Thanks for that Grahame, nice solution there - cheers Regards, Gerry.

Hi, I too will be following progress on this with great interest. I certainly don't feel confident enough to tackle pointwork (especially slips and scissors crossovers!) with so little experience, but I will be having a look at the plain track with a view to following Etched Pixels example on using it in conjunction with the Peco Code 55 points. His filing of the point rail ends to lead into the wider gauge of the plain track looks do-able as a trial with my skill level. I have a couple of spare small radius points available to sacrifice for a test piece. Regards, Gerry.

Hi again, Yes, saw that site, but I image search every now and then as images from private sources turn up - I guess - as more interweb-technofogies such as myself succumb to the notion of posting on such places and forums. There are some photo's of the demolition on the Birmingham History Forum, you'll have to register and log in to see them but I think they are interesting. I'm a little confused over the period you intend to be modelling, the taxi issue relates to the trackplan I'm working to - that Snow Hill was designed when horse-drawn vehicles were all the thing and turning space wasn't a problem, but in fact having the bare boards to hand the classic 25' motor taxi turning circle fits - just!* But your mentioning the sector plate and platform canopies suggests you're planning is based on the final version of the GWR/BR(W) station, when the platforms continued over Great Charles Street and the taxi drives had become the additional platform faces and trackwork. Taxi's would then have used the Booking Hall accessed from near the top of Livery Street. As my plan is a hybrid the 1939 hotel is even roomier in that respect, but I'll retain the earlier layout with those as well (there is a reality-bending alternate history justifying all this - but I do know better than to publish it). I'll make allowance for devising some kind of solution to the overall and 'down' bay roofs for my version, it's a long way down my 'to do' list and given how little of the platforms would be visible at all if I didn't do something else unprototypical (you can see why I've chosen a totally fictitious location name) I'll need to think about it somewhat. Of course due to the space limitations at Snow Hill - even after the period I’m most concerned with - there is Moor Street just beyond the tunnel that runs under the hotel, built to handle the outlying lines to the south as well as extensive freight facilities there relating in particular to the nearby wholesale and Bull Ring retail markets, so a second station in close proximity shouldn’t be a problem and you could prioritise passenger trains on the basis of which station they use. Again, I'll look forward to your progress reports Regards, Gerry. *Captain's log - supplemental: I've added a couple of shots to my Solsbury Hiil thread as an illustration.

Hi, Guilty as charged... at least for perpetrating Solsbury Hill, an ongoing project now heavily compromised by an increasing lack of mobility courtesy of some 'joy-riders' (I do prefer the irony of that term ) a few years ago. I do post on here form time-to-time on matters arising but apart form a quick 'heads up' in the new layouts forum it'll take real progress before there'll be more worth posting. More detail on your project would be very welcome, Etched Pixels had a look at doing a proper Snow Hill but found the space needed too great (there's a brief thread on RMweb3 if you do a search). Here are a few links that might be of interest: There is the excellent photo thread of Steve Williams on RMweb3 Two photo sites that I keep going back to here , and although more general on changing Brum there are some interesting photo's here. I assume you have the two Harrison books and the Vaughan, there's also Birmingham Snow Hill - A Great Station by Ian Baxter and Richard Harper ISBN 0 9534775 1 7, published by them in conjunction with Kidderminster Railway Museum. I do like the building you've found as a basis for the 'hotel', as you've probably seen in my thread I've elected to do a version of the proposed 1939 building as I didn't fancy trying to scratch build the "crinkly bits" of the real one I've said to people in the past that the notion that they've been inspired by my efforts - careerwise in that respect - makes me wonder about them, but I've also said that if anyone tackled a better Snow Hill I'd be very glad to see it Regards, Gerry.