Jim T

Brilliant day out today - massive thanks to all at DEfine. This was nutter’s corner at around 3pm!

Hi Bob just wanted to say how interesting and informative I found both your MRJ articles. It was nice to see the evolution through the roundy-roundy and Priory Rd to Tendring and also to follow the development of your diesel modelling from rewheeling through to scratchbuilds. I for one really appreciate you taking the tine to produce and share the articles. You didn’t cover the 309 but it’s a thing of beauty!

Mark 2 coaches (2B first then the 2C with the 2D style toilet windows) 21T mineral Class 55 Class 37 Thanks Fran, I thought you’d never ask… Jim

Where’s the 25/3? :-(

Hi Argos The trestle looks fantastic as does your carefully coloured trackwork and scenery. I was looking at the foam insulation board structure and wondered how that works and how you've ensured a rigid trackbed above it and on the trestle? Is there any timber / plywood in the supporting structure? Cheers Jim

Yep, maybe I'd try a very light bluey green, so that it appears there's something under the bridge. I think black might be a bit jarring? Like the idea of some kind of plastic rather than fabric, less for delicate parts to catch on. Or perhaps you could have a lifting backdrop in there, a bit like a theatre curtain, only coming up to allow trains / locos to access and exit the viewing portion of the layout.

This end on shot’s from Sunday pm at Derby…

Chris, Are you using OpenSCAD there? What’s the plan for axle guards? The etched Association ones 2-312 to 2-315?? Nice looking CAD work :-) Cheers Jim

I think if I'd been David I'd have been tempted to compromise (!) and go for 1/8" (3.175mm) to the foot scale (1:96) - if nothing else it would make working out the dims easier and there might also be some commercial people and vehicles available. On the other hand the modelled track gauge would be out by nearly half a prototype inch! The art of compromise eh?

Nice work Andy! Great idea with the track pins. I’ve done a couple on the old Mk2 air cons but they’re Mk 2Ds. Good to be reminded I can do 2Bs and 2Cs this way too. Thanks for that. Loving the buildings by the way: I was a student at Imperial in the late 80s with lots of mates over at Earl’s Court so your model sparks a lot of memories :-)

Just catching up so apologies for the time lag. What are you using as the base model for these, Andy? The old farish aircon Mk2, or the newer Mk2 / 2As?

Hi Phil When I get any new N gauge stock the first thing I do now is pop a wheelset out, measure the axle length and record it. That way I know which replacement wheels to order and don't screw up! B4 bogies are a particular problem. The old style ones under the air con mark 2s were 15.2mm, the new ones on later Mark 1s with B4s and on the recent Mk2/2A stock are 14.0mm Jim

Hi Nig I love the carriages - not sure what you’re seeing in close up but they look really realistic from your photos. I think finishes are really important and you’ve achieved that lovely lustre beautifully. But how? Jim

Beautiful etches and a great idea, but who puts their washing on coat hangers before they hang it out on the line? Is this a cultural pitfall for modellers of the Japanese scene? Or something that is prevalent amongst those of us who are "special" enough to be railway enthusiasts?