south_tyne

Hi Howard, I am really enjoying following how you are getting on with your layout. You have a great space available and it is a lovely design you are going with, something which has obviously taken a great deal of careful planning I love the quality of the German O gauge ranges, particularly the superb stuff produced by Lenz. I do have some practical experience of this as my Uncle has an O Gauge layout based on the Ahr Valley, and therefore I am taking a particular interest in your project. I am so tempted to make a start in the scale and possibly the prototype and your work is not helping me resist the temptation...!!! Keep the updates coming, I for one am following with great interest. David

Just catching up with this announcement... way behind the times as ever! I agree that an 03 would have seemed like a more sensible choice, from a lay-persons point of view of the market, and from a purely personal perspective as they are one of my favourite locomotives. Surely the number, longevity and geographical spread of the class would support a viable r-t-r product? But then again Heljan (and other companies) will undoubtedly have done all of the market research to back up recent ventures! With the price mind... I applaud Dapol for trying to bring the Class 08 to market a low price and wish them luck in the venture but I would say that the going rate for a small 0 Gauge locomotive seems to be around the £250-350 mark. Now, as a potential new 'on-the verge of committing' modeller in 7mm scale, I look at that cost (a substantive in my personal circumstances) with a far more rational, sensible head than I would have done in the past in 4mm scale at maybe £70-80 per loco. Any item I buy in 7mm has got to be exactly what I want... so if this had been a Class 03 I would probably have gone for it but an 05, nice though it will undoubtedly be, does not tick all the boxes so I will hang fire for the next thing! Exactly the same with the 08... nice but I don't have that amount of cash available to throw at something which doesn't meet all of my criteria. There must be others in a similar situation, particularly in larger scales! Anyway, being a probable 2017 release gives folks plenty of time to save the pennies! Anyway, I wish Heljan all the best with another 0 Gauge locomotive, it is great to see the scale getting so much support!

Thanks that is really useful and amazing that the size of the scenic area is so small! Good to hear it will be at South Shields next year, I'll make sure I pop along for a look in the flesh. David

Nick, As I have said on so many occasions (apologies if it seems like I am being a 'stuck record'!), I love what you've done with the layout and I am really pleased that it is getting outings to exhibitions. Hopefully it will raise the profile and potential of Danish modelling and Denmark in general! I expect it gets a lot of interest with it being such a different prototype? It is nice to see the overall shot of the layout on display, you've done an excellent job of the presentation, it makes such a difference when time and effort is taken in that regard - so thumbs up for the input from your wife!! My ambition for 2016 is to consolidate and move forward with a tiny Danish project as somewhere to run an Mh and shunt a couple of wagons around... Your layout has given me the inspiration to give it a go! David PS love the last shot of the Mz

Looking good Mike! I really like these minimal/pointless-type layouts, they can be so effective and very interesting to operate, and they undoubtedly work much better in larger scales where the bulk and wieght of the stock lends that all important presence to the scene. You have approached things in a really interesting way and, as with all your modelling/layouts, I know that the standard will be of the highest quality. I hope you don't mind me asking but, you mention it being two APA boxes in length, what does that make the overall footprint? Cheers, David

Have to agree with the comment above, I think the beaten-up fence in the foreground is fantastic. It is great modelling, subtle yet effective and the colours are superb. I also admire the way your have weathered the trackwork, again the colours are lovely. It is something I have always struggled a little but I think you have executed it really well, highlighting the difference between the rail, sleepers, chairs and ballast etc, rather than one generic wash of colour. Excellent stuff! David

Hi Kes, Just stumbled upon this thread and it is inspirational stuff! I am a big fan of small layouts and love the trackplan you have gone with here, it looks to have plenty of operational interest and flexibility. I really do think that restrictive circumstances, in terms of space in this case, really do help with creativity and ingenuity - you've just got to think harder about the right solutions to problems. Anyway, I am really enjoying following your progress, so keep the updates coming! David

Thanks for taking the time to reply Marc - I do appreciate it. Interesting thoughts, particularly with regard to using different versions of the cassettes at home and at an exhibition. That isn't something I have ever thought of in the past but is a great idea, particularly when space is at a premium at home but a solution which doesn't compromise flexibility at a show. The 'two wagon' cassette sounds like an excellent idea to increase operation potential. Anyway, I am really looking forward to seeing things progress Thanks again, David

Hi Marc, I have loved following the progress of your previous layouts, particularly the O Gauge ones - Poynton Sneer remains one of my all-time favourites. Your type of smaller, more manageable projects are very inspirational to me and so many others, showing something which is achievable to those with limited time and space, whilst the standard of your modelling is something we can aspire to and aim to reach. So, after a bit of waffle(!!), I cannot wait to see how this one develops. The radius of those Lima points is amazingly tight, I have never seen one in the flesh but it is just incredible on screen! However it will be an amazing space saver in this situation. Apologies if I have missed it, but how are you intending/thinking of approaching the fiddle yard? I presume with the aim to be extremely portable then you will want something as lightweight/space-saving as possible. I have seen the 'fiddle-stick' approach used well in the past and it really is just a simple length of track which could fold down or pack away for storage. Anyway, pleased to see you return with another project and I really look forward to the updates when you get time. Cheers, David

That would be interesting to see, it sounds very intriguing... I encourage you to start a thread! David

Great! I know i is going to be a couple of years down the line, but Dave's O Gauge J94/Austerity is the one I am really looking forward to more than any other model announced in recent years, by any manufacturer.

Hi Tom, Thanks for starting a layout thread here - I for one am the perfect example of someone who does not closely follow the blogs so misses a lot of excellent content in that section of the forum. I am going to have a proper look through your blog posts now but, from this tantalising little glimpse here, there is some stunning work on display, what a cracking layout! David

Hi Pete, Interesting post and I will be following your fine work closely as ever. Loved the magazine article by the way, I think the standard and detail to your modelling was shown to great effect in the photos and, as ever, I love the way your approach your planning/design and your alternative construction methods. In particular I think the trackwork and subtle weathering and detailing of stock was shown to simply stunning effect in the article. Inspirational stuff! David

Agreed with that, In my very humble opinion the J21 would seem to be the obvious choice if Hornby were (hypothetically of course) progress with more than one NER prototype over the near future. Plus from a purely selfish perspective I prefer them to the J27!

That sounds like very positive news and real progress. Best of luck to Dapol and I am sure it will be worth the wait.

Makes sense and I think that is a really good idea! Amazing that I had never considered that kind of arrangement before or hearing of anyone else doing something similar. Thanks for the reply!

Hi Mal, That is a really good idea and something I have never thought of! It must work a treat given the high turnover of projects you seem to have. How do you attach the MDF tops to the framing each time you start again? I am presuming they are just screwed because if they were glued etc it could be a messy and potentially damaging process to remove them each time you start again? Cheers, David

I take your point but remember you are preaching to the converted and we are in agreement... perhaps I should have used the caveat 'perceived' lack of glamour. Anyway, I think my ultimate point is that each railway/area/region has those who are interested in them and champion their cause, including on forums such as this and through online polls etc. From our respective viewpoint we all are pleased when a manufacturer announces a product which fits with our interest and some are disgruntled by a perceived (that word again!!) bias when nothing new comes forward. At the end of the day however a manufacturer will only produce what they feel will sell and sell well. I am delighted that Dave has taken his Q6 project forward. Now if, as you say, the sales figures are fantastic then that might make Dave and other manufacturers think that there may be a good market for NER locos. As NER modellers we would then reap the rewards... but only time will tell. I just think people sometimes people need to be happier with their lot and realise that in many ways we have never had it so good. The be all and end all is that these are toy trains and this is just a hobby! Apologies for clogging up your thread Dave but I am definitely behind what you are doing and look forward to your models reaching the market. David

I don't know whether that is fair really. I am a NER enthusiast, it is my interest above all else and would absolutely LOVE a RTR J21 or G5 etc but I think we also need to take a step back and have a sense of realism. We are a bit of niche area, with classes that were often quite geographically confined and therefore maybe there is simply less demand and less of a market. The NER isn't as glamarous as some other regions and I really think we should be grateful for the RTR products we have or are getting. The Q6, a revised J72, lots of LNER classes... Think back 20 years and we would have killed for that!! Other classss have a cult following as well... hence why something like the obscure SR classes such as the Beattie Well Tank or Adams Radial could well be better commercial prospects than a ubiquitous but ' workhorse' J21 or J27. I think this has a lot to do with it. I am not being critical in any way (please don't see this post as such) but I think we are well served and I am sure there will be more to follow in the future. Online polls are not the be all and end all of opinions and, as I say, I come from this as a NER enthusiast and modeller! David

Hi Pete, Many thanks for your response! That is very useful, I might investigate the use of the Ikea shelves. Having followed your projects over the years I know you have used them, or planned to use them, in 2, 4 and 7mm scale so they are obviously very versitile. Rather than clutter up your blog I'll drop you a PM as suggested if I have any further queries, but thanks very much for you help. I am looking forward to seeing what is next!! David

Thanks! The GER prototype means my wallet has just given a sigh of relief!!!

Hi Steve, For those of us non-GOG members who cannot access the link... Can you share the secret!? Cheers, David

Hi Pete, Interesting thoughts there! I will be following with interest as I have with your other projects. If you don't mind, can I ask a question about how you use the Ikea shelves? Do you brace them with any further framing and what do you then lay on top of the shelf to act as a trackbed? Thanks, David

Thanks for the advice Phil, I will try that. It does bring things to life doing it this way and (quite obviously!!) makes things 3D and real. I have had a big roll of paper out along with the templates and some stock. It is tight but you have shown the plan can work and with the right type of stock will be a goer. I've been giving some thought as at whether there is any merit in putting a single siding along the front and then 'kicking-back' with two sidings in front of the fiddle yard. That way it would give a fully scenic frontage. Disadvantages are access to the fiddle yard and maybe that it is a little contrived. Also rules out the possibility of an additional scenic board at some point to lengthen the run between the fiddle yard and first point at the station throat. Anyway, I will keep playing round with the templates and thanks again for the advice Phil! Cheers, David

I dug out the relevant RM today which carried the Easingwold East article, it is lovely. I've been playing around with some point templates today too as suggested, it really helps to bring everything to life and see how much room you have to play with in terms of clearances and siding/run-round capacities.