lakeview770

How would they collect?

Yes thats the one, when I built it I added 2 sector plates at each end and added 2x 2ft sections to both sides of the layout http://www.blackbear...om/SoPlains.htm

I remember going in to mcDonalds in Banja Luka just after civil war and seeing the usual not permitted signs only to see a hand grenade and pistol added to signage

The Who - Odds and Sods

David Barrow of Cat Mountain fame published a 4 part article in late 1996 in MR mag which I built called the South Plains district I built only one half of the plan and it was a superb switching layout. I will try and dig out a plan when I get hom. A few years later around 98? David Pryke built I B&M switching layout set in Boston's docks area built in to a corner about 8x8 feet again absolutely stunning layout wgich became the basis if Kalmbachs city scenery book. Both sets of magazines are worth digging out. Andrew

Sorry Belgian, but for those of you who are familiar with the Cartoonist Gary Larson of The Far Side fame. As soon as I saw your reply I had a vision pf a cartoon of cats walking thru a downtown area dropping trash on the floor ( you have to know Larsons work to appreciate it)

I had thought about beefing up the fullers earth work a bit to provide more traffic to our new layout as post S&D closure the use of fullers earth was used by the military (here in the US anyway so I can't see why the UK would be different) in great quantities

How about a blank version , you buy a texture-less kit say a tunnel then purchase the relevant textures from the downloadable brick papers?

Thanks for the post here I've found it very useful being 7000 miles away. I just love the differences between our 2 countries, you have Mrs Miggins with her home produce and jam and we have Bo and Lou Duke with their moonshine in Hazzard County? Andrew

Well got the first two baseboards built and the first one is in place. Each board is 34 inches deep and 8 feet long. The backscene is formed masonite and is 12 inches high, I am not sure if I want higher a backscenes yet as I may want to operate from the rear. The board in the picture is the black sheep as its made from 1x4 yellow wood and topped 21/32 oak plywood whereas the other boards are 21/32 oak ply excluding legs. I have yet to add the bracing to the legs as this will also form part of a shelf system under the layout. Track is ordered cork is ordered all I need now is a few days off after Christmas and things should move on a bit. Still thinking of moving the layout to the 1930's and have just found out the Heljan turntable )Walthers here in the USA) is a bit too big for my layout which kind of throws a spanner in the works with my plan although like all good plans I have a plan B, my original second and third choices which were Compton on the DN&SR and Uxbridge Vine Street.

Been having a think over the last few days and I wouldnt mind pre dating my original time frame to just before WWII. My only concern is repaining the 2 N class locos I have would they be black with sunshine lettering in 1939? Andrew

Pretty paper - Roy Orbison

Final eyes - Yes

How do you change a cat in to a dog? pour gas over him and throw a match on him and watch him go WOOF! Some of the car bumper stickers here in the south can be funny at times saw one this summer that said "Dear Mr President please pray for our troops.....especially our snipers" Andrew

Plain and simple I have stopped using it, in my opinion its got away from what it was when it started out. We have been using it from almost its launch here in the USA and like many people have said before me we seem to have some of the same problems as many others. We sold 2 items to one guy who lived in Hawaii (not part of the contiguous united states) and it takes longer to get there from the lower 48, I clearly specified that I was going to be away for a couple of days (called away at short notice) during the auction but was contactable and this guy used the buy it now and started screaming that he hadnt got his stuff I also put in the auction 3 to 4 days handling time after the auction, the guy gave me 2 negatives for 2 perfect items I got 2 strike and restrictions put on me despite almost 12 years of good selling yet some of the big guys are getting hundreds of negatives per month and getting away with it.. . I bought 2 books from the UK totaling about $80 and they never arrived ebay didnt want to know as it was over their specified claim time despite intl shipping to the USA is anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks. Rant over I just prefer to go to an online reputable retailer and pay a little more Andrew

Thanks for the link, I will have a good look at it at work tomorrow. Andrew

Yes I think having a Castle, King or Merchant Navy pulling a 3 to 4 coach train in would look like a bit of overkill although I am aware the S&D had 9F's with 3 on in latter days Mr sledgehammer meet mr walnut. I am a big fan of the light pacifics though, and as the branch is fictitious I could justify it (Bude, Padstow and Swanage come to mind). I must admit the more I research the more I swing to the ex GWR who knows I may just spilt it 50/50. I plant to have 3 or 4 locos from each of the 2 regions working the line rather than have 1 or 2 of everything. One of the lines I looked at originally was the Kingsbridge branch ( due to a relative loosing their life at Slapton during WWII) but again been so far away info was hard to find. This is where I was getting track plans from to get an idea Andrew

Not sure of that rule although, I'm very familiar with rule 050; thou shalt hide monies from thy wife , which goes with the phrase is that loco new dear? no I've had that old thing ages my dear

Its a shame some of the bigger locos can't travel on the line as one of the things I wanted was a 2800 class but as far as I have found out they're too heavy for this type of line. I did say I was only using the track plan of Barnstaple and basing everything else off the rural lines of Devon. Not sure about about Kingswear standards as I've never seen Kingswear in BR times. Andrew

Thanks Ive been following the Torrington post with interest for quite a while, trouble is theres too many choices and it took me ages to find something I thought was right. Having visited the West Somerset Railway I really took a liking to Minehead in steam days and then there was Dulverton, Padstow and Swanage to name a few but I eventually was taken by Barnstaple. Andrew

Hi guys and thank you, Ive taken a walk around the area on google maps, wow the modern age a site survey from 7500 miles away and back in time for dinner. I assume this is the old station wall and entrance? or is it too new

Now that my HO scale US layout is gone and stock sold I now have a small space to build a small British OO layout. My job over the last few years has brought me to the UK on many visits and I have fallen in love with the railways of the UK. After much drawing and redrawing I finally decided upon a plan that fits my needs. I love steam whether its from Kazakhstan or Kingston. My visits tothe UK introduced me to the railways in the West of England and its that what I decided to model. The plan I chose is that of the closed Barnstaple Victoria Rd station. As often the case Ive tinkered with history slightly in that the station is ex Southern and connects with the ex GWR instead of the other way around. Traffic and stock is to be what is generally found on these sort of lines in the West Country so you wont see a Merchant Navy at the head of a crack express. The research has been the hardest part as books are heavy and airlines these days have cut back luggage allowance that a couple of books can easily push you over the weight limit. One thing I have introduced to the line is that on the ex GWR section (mostly off stage) there is a quarry down the line somewhere but in these time where branches were been run down one of the bridges is in need of serious strengthening thus heavy mineral trains cant be taken to the ex GWR mainline connection this way so they are drawn around to the ex Southern station where they are taken to the mainline via the old Southern line. DEV-13-7-1940.pdf Due to space I've compressed the layout at bit and the placing of spurs and turnouts is mostly guess work I have some Peco templates to print out and do a rough placements to see what works. My goal is to get the station on to the first 2 baseboards both measuring 3 feet by 8 feet and the third board which is 3feet 6 inches by 10 feet with house the junction and have the ex GWR staging area connected to it. The remaining baseboards have yet to be built but these will give my about another 20 feet of single track running to the ex SR staging, with the possibility of a small station to break up the run?? If anyone has any ideas as to some of the stock I should purchase please feel free to advise, at the moment I have 3 locos ( 1x 45xx and 2 ex SR N class) The baseboards are made of 3/4 inch plywood with a flat top (boards 1 and 2) covered on DOW blue foam topped with 1/8 inch ply and board 3 is made using the L girder method to allow undulating countryside. The track is on its way as is the cork so something should be happening by Christmas Andy

War Child - Blondie

We Americans are also space starved too I have a little under 25 feet by 25 feet to use alot less than the last house. Still a fantastic piece of modeling Andy

What can I say ....Love it Andy