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Hornby mag - March 2017


steve1

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I've bought a copy of this as I am on holiday and wanted something to read. As I have built several small/micro layouts the strapline about micro layouts caught my eye.

 

Now, having read the relevant articles, I feel disappointed by them as, to my mind, the whole ethos of micro layouts has been completely misunderstood.

 

Of the five plans they have published, only the dockside one comes anywhere close to what I think of as micro layout. The other four look like big layouts crammed into a small space.

 

If you look at micros from modellers like Dave Tailby, Chris Nevard or Alan Monk, they have achieved layouts that can be operated at exhibitions all day without getting bored and these have no more than three points, all mechanically operated. No DCC point motors, no double slips, no complex trackage, just layouts built for operation that can be built, finished and operating started whilst the initial rush of enthusiasm is still there.

 

In contrast, Paul's Shelfie does fit the bill. Even if it does have four points. (I would have replaced two of them with a sector plate). To my mind, micro layouts should embrace the KISS principle, not unnecessary complications.

 

steve

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In contrast, Paul's Shelfie does fit the bill. Even if it does have four points. (I would have replaced two of them with a sector plate). To my mind, micro layouts should embrace the KISS principle, not unnecessary complications.

 

There's no definition as to how many points a micro layout should have, or indeed a size criteria, the size of a micro being intrinsingly linked to the scale you're working in. The reason why Shelfie has four points is to make it interesting to operate, and look realistic. One of the things I find with micro layouts is often they only have two points and follow a very formulaic style. That's fine if that's what you like, fill your boots, but the plans and most examples on the Arendt site leave me stone cold. There have been two 'crossover design' micro layouts that have caught my attention, Llanaster and Ruyton Road, both built to very high scenic standards, something in my experience not often seen on Micros. Not that Micros have a monopoly on that by any means.

 

Taking two points out of Shelfie and adding a sector plate makes the layout just the same as many other Micros, a cross over and an unconnected siding and for me would make it deadly dull to operate and view. For me in operating I want to see trains working on the layout not spend half that time working the fiddle yard with a sector plate. The sector plate immediately means a compromise in the backscene and scenery and how to get trains on and off scene discretely. Shelfie was deliberately designed to step away from the conventions of micros as outlined in the article. Its own variable color balanced lighting rig (there an article on lighting in MRJ in the future), wrap round seamless backscene and its 'Cameo' style presentation all take it away from the familiar, (generalisation here), crossover and siding or inglenook displayed with a light on a pole above it. Shelfies foot print/volume is that of a reasonable sized fish tank roughly 4ft x 1ft x 18 inches tall and is designed to sit on a shelf around 50 inches from floor level. It works just as well plonked on the kitchen table operated from a chair, you get the same visual effect. The fact that Alan notes it looks far bigger than it is illustrates how successful I've been in achieving that visual impact. What you see in Mike Wilds images is what you get as a viewer, that's the way the layout was designed, and has been photographed, by him, Chris Nevard for Model Rail, and by me in that same context.

 

Paul Lunn had a hand in the design too with some prototype inspiration and its far from complicated, being deliberately kept simple. For the Right Track DVD http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/91834-right-track-19-dvd-layout-planning-and-design/ the layout was used in, we used the same track plan showing several iterations of the same design, all completely different. Four blade contact points operated by Peco point motors, all basic Model Railway 101 components. It is transported as a one piece 'box' and can easily be carried by one person the basedboard being wood and the upper frame work, aluminium channel.

 

post-68-0-77300500-1487504479.jpg

 

post-68-0-94396000-1487504513.jpg

 

post-68-0-10544600-1487504533.jpg

Note the tape measure the red marks are 1ft graduations. This is what you get the only addition is the fiddle yard track, a single line extension of 2ft or shorter bolted to the right hand side.

 

Edit: The article was prepared pretty much simultaneously with the WSP Cameo book release timing and I suspect close of press may have overlapped, but someone at Hornby Mag may be able to confirm.

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I was slightly disappointed that there was no "external" photo of PMP's Shelfie layout. Looking at the photos it could have been a normal sized layout. 

 

That's praise in that it looked larger . . . 

 

It was those last two views that I thought might have been useful in the article.

 

. . . . but generally I'm not in favour of those helicopter 'external' all encompassing general views. I find that the overall size is usually quoted in the article and/or can be gleaned from the track plan along with other such details/information. I much prefer the more usual photographs taken to show the layout and the modelling at its best and most impressive.

 

G.

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It wasn't so much a helicopter shot I was after, it was how the layout was presented to the public. Most really good micro/cameo layouts are framed in some way

, and as the issue was entitled micro layouts I would have thought that area might have been covered and therefore could have included a photo n the article using PMP's layout as an example.

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I like the occasional 'helicopter' shot - it's helps visualise how everything fits together, which is not always easy to work out.

 

 

Generally I find the plan best to refer to for working out how a layout fits together. Sometimes parts of the track can be hidden by scenery in photographs, even 'helicopter' shots. With a plan they usually also include how the track is routed in tunnels and so on. 

 

Most really good micro/cameo layouts are framed in some way, and as the issue was entitled micro layouts I would have thought that area might have been covered and therefore could have included a photo n the article using PMP's layout as an example.

 

IMO the best layouts, not just micros, are those that are framed and well presented. For me an article about framing, lighting, proscenium arches, presentation, etc., would be of more interest rather than simply having a general overall shot of layouts that are featured.

 

G.

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Good point there Grahame - personally I would be interested in any article which gives practical advice on overall presentation of layouts, perhaps aimed at those of us who are neither lighting experts or master carpenters. I am currently building a small layout - it has to fit into my car - and am keen to incorporate both lighting and some sort of fascia/arch so as to avoid the unwelcome sight of bare timbers and the edges of scenic features, but it would have to be light, fairly simple and permanently fixed to the layout.

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It was those last two views that I thought might have been useful in the article.

 

 

IMO the best layouts, not just micros, are those that are framed and well presented. For me an article about framing, lighting, proscenium arches, presentation, etc., would be of more interest rather than simply having a general overall shot of layouts that are featured.

 

G.

 

I also find that the shots PMP posted here add immeasurably to the overall view of how the layout looks and is presented and thank him for doing so. Indeed the last shot has been most helpful in giving me a few ideas on how I might design and make what I might call a 'presentation device' which I can attach to my small 4mm test track layout and folds down for storage. Not for exhibiting purposes, since it won't be, but just for my own viewing pleasure.

 

Must agree that well presented layouts do add to the viewing pleasure and that a few more articles dealing with these aspects would be welcome.

 

Izzy

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Good point there Grahame - personally I would be interested in any article which gives practical advice on overall presentation of layouts, perhaps aimed at those of us who are neither lighting experts or master carpenters. I am currently building a small layout - it has to fit into my car - and am keen to incorporate both lighting and some sort of fascia/arch so as to avoid the unwelcome sight of bare timbers and the edges of scenic features, but it would have to be light, fairly simple and permanently fixed to the layout.

 

I'm currently working on a new layout, which is made from foamboard fixed by glue gun, and so far l have been most impressed by its strength.  Using multi-braced cross pieces it's even strong enough to stand on, yet weighs very little.  Next job will be a 'proscenium arch', a la Iain Rice, which will l foresee be a wee bit more 'fiddly' but so far so good!

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This issue was the first time I've ever bought a copy of Hornby Magazine and I really only wanted it for Paul Chetter's article on fitting sound into the Hornby Peckett.

I doubt I'll buy it again (unless there's something I especially want to read) as it's got far too many adverts and reviews and what's coming from RTR manufacturers. The only other content of any interest was PMP's layout.

 

The magazine is a triumph of style over substance, IMHO, of course.

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I haven't seen Hornby magazine this month but, I see the ethos of a micro layout as doing something interesting in a small space. If the mag shows a good variety of alternatives for a small space then that is great. I don't see why micro should also mean simple. I can see the charm of a simple layout but a simple layout doesn't necessarily have to be micro. Having seen this topic I might just buy the mag to see what interesting ideas have been featured. If all it had was layouts with two points and a sector plate I wouldn't be interested.

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There's no definition as to how many points a micro layout should have, or indeed a size criteria, the size of a micro being intrinsingly linked to the scale you're working in. The reason why Shelfie has four points is to make it interesting to operate, and look realistic. One of the things I find with micro layouts is often they only have two points and follow a very formulaic style. That's fine if that's what you like, fill your boots, but the plans and most examples on the Arendt site leave me stone cold. There have been two 'crossover design' micro layouts that have caught my attention, Llanaster and Ruyton Road, both built to very high scenic standards, something in my experience not often seen on Micros. Not that Micros have a monopoly on that by any means.

Taking two points out of Shelfie and adding a sector plate makes the layout just the same as many other Micros, a cross over and an unconnected siding and for me would make it deadly dull to operate and view. For me in operating I want to see trains working on the layout not spend half that time working the fiddle yard with a sector plate. The sector plate immediately means a compromise in the backscene and scenery and how to get trains on and off scene discretely. Shelfie was deliberately designed to step away from the conventions of micros as outlined in the article. Its own variable color balanced lighting rig (there an article on lighting in MRJ in the future), wrap round seamless backscene and its 'Cameo' style presentation all take it away from the familiar, (generalisation here), crossover and siding or inglenook displayed with a light on a pole above it. Shelfies foot print/volume is that of a reasonable sized fish tank roughly 4ft x 1ft x 18 inches tall and is designed to sit on a shelf around 50 inches from floor level. It works just as well plonked on the kitchen table operated from a chair, you get the same visual effect. The fact that Alan notes it looks far bigger than it is illustrates how successful I've been in achieving that visual impact. What you see in Mike Wilds images is what you get as a viewer, that's the way the layout was designed, and has been photographed, by him, Chris Nevard for Model Rail, and by me in that same context.

Paul Lunn had a hand in the design too with some prototype inspiration and its far from complicated, being deliberately kept simple. For the Right Track DVD http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/91834-right-track-19-dvd-layout-planning-and-design/ the layout was used in, we used the same track plan showing several iterations of the same design, all completely different. Four blade contact points operated by Peco point motors, all basic Model Railway 101 components. It is transported as a one piece 'box' and can easily be carried by one person the basedboard being wood and the upper frame work, aluminium channel.

attachicon.gifshelf 1.jpg

attachicon.gifshelf2.jpg

attachicon.gifshelf3.jpg

Note the tape measure the red marks are 1ft graduations. This is what you get the only addition is the fiddle yard track, a single line extension of 2ft or shorter bolted to the right hand side.

Edit: The article was prepared pretty much simultaneously with the WSP Cameo book release timing and I suspect close of press may have overlapped, but someone at Hornby Mag may be able to confirm.

 

Shelfie is a great example of the micro layout principle and was a layout that orovided inspiration for my 'Sheep Lane'.

 

I do like the presentation.

 

I am well and truly hooked on the micro layout and J have a few plans in mind....

 

Rob.

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