Alcanman Posted March 21, 2011 Author Share Posted March 21, 2011 Mal I love it well done. Its got me thinking again and that hurts Chris Thanks, Chris The pics of Haston at Nottingham were superb. Those fall foliage colours reminded me of a holiday, sorry - vacation, in VT in 1993. I enjoyed a trip on the Lamoille Valley Railroad which included a photostop for the famous covered Fisher Bridge. Power was their strange looking chop nose RS3. I also managed to peek into the shops in Morrisville, which was full of vintage red and white New Hampshire & Vermont diesels. cheers, Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbb Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Mal definitely captured Lance M's minimal approach. What is he 'food processor' building? Assume others are Pikestuff cheers Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Paul - it is from Great West Models - a Google will find distributors - they also do extra pieces so you can slot them in and build or alter kits to your requirements - there are some on here http://www.toytrainh...20West%20Models Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 Thanks Paul, As Jack has stated the structure is Great West Models - #104 Star Manufacturing. This is the first time I've used this brand. It's a modular system where you simply join each wall section, approx 1ins, until you have the length and width required. Flexible also with doors windows etc. They also include loads of 60 thou plastic card for the roof and interior floor, if required. I've used the spare 60 thou along with some Wills box-steel profile sheets to build some small warehouses at the non-rail served end of the layout. The lack of Pikestuff has been a blessing in disguise, as I've saved a few pounds! regards, Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbb Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Jack, Mal Thanks for that Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 A better example of available models is here http://www.euromodeltrains.com/cgi-bin/search_gen.pl?company=Great%20West%20Models EDIT - just found this http://www.greatwestmodels.com/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 25, 2011 Author Share Posted March 25, 2011 Hi, My brother kindly offered to enhance my first 2 photos using photoshop, here they are: regards, Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Hi, Here's a pic showing progress at the right hand (non-rail served) end of the layout. The 2 'shoebox' warehouses(1 unpainted & 1 in grey primer) are made from Wills box profile steel sheets and cost about a quarter of the Pikestuff structure to the far right. The empty space in front of the train will feature more warehouses,including Pikestuff #7 ' Modern Retail/Warehouse',when I eventually find one! The loco is, of course, normally staged at the other end of the train, and pushes the 3 cars into Palmetto. In the bottom right hand corner is an open IKEA drawer, which conveniently holds a spare loco and 3 cars. There are 3 more drawers underneath, so plenty of scope for more stock when I win the lottery regards, Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 One of these? http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/Pikestuff-Building-RailTrack-Transfer-Facility/item541-7.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Thanks Jack - that's the one. It looks like I'm going to have to order from the US. Can you or anyone recommend a retailer who ships to the UK. I'm a bit concerned as I've never ordered from the US before and I'm unsure about customs/ taxes etc. Thanks, Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Basically - if it is under £18 (equivalent) HMRC will normally not charge - sometimes they will not charge for more than that - to some extent it is the luck of the draw.. Any of the major US companies are good to deal with, although I find Walthers pricey.. If you are bothered about entrusting your card number to email, it is worth a phone call to give them it - telling them you are calling from UK seems to ensure a] astonishment and b] unfailing politeness and helpfulness - just check the post costs before you go ahead - but expect postage on the kit to cost about $12 USD ( £8 at the current rate) for USPS mail, and to take about 10 days. To check equivalent prices, use http://www.xe.com/ucc/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Thanks Jack, You've covered all my concerns. I thought the postage might be expensive but this compensated by the cheaper cost of items in the US. regards, Malcolm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 Hi, Here is my second attempt at a video. Having collected a loaded gon from the Team Track #6351, backs onto it's train and then departs Palmetto I've soon learnt that there are 2 problems with videos: 1. It is very difficult to hold a digital camera steady whilst driving a train, so my wife did the filming. There was no alternative as her skills as a train driver would have resulted in one expensive model being destroyed by another expensive model 2. I am now happy with manual uncoupling and turnouts, however, this is no good for videos unless you want an appearance by the 'hand of god' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUQLY3kNRsY&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL cheers. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilM Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Mal note the threshold is £18 including the cost of postage. And if you havent arranged to pay up front then your carrier will normally slap on a further handling fee of at least £10. It can get very expensive if your parcel gets caught. It has happened to me too many times! Layout is looking good by the way and I have followed your lead by investing in some Wills sheets. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Mal note the threshold is £18 including the cost of postage. And if you havent arranged to pay up front then your carrier will normally slap on a further handling fee of at least £10. It can get very expensive if your parcel gets caught. It has happened to me too many times! Royal Mail's fee is £8.00, which was once added to a parcel I had where the VAT to collect was about £1.50..!!! RM and ParcelFarce will definitely catch you, other independant parcel carriers may not - I once got a £100+ loco through without any extra charges - result!! ...only the once, though.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Thanks for the replies regarding postage etc. It can be very frustrating at times being a US modeller in the UK, with only a few specialist retailers, but obviously they can only hold a certain amount of stock. Pikestuff is very popular with both US and UK modellers and seems to be continually in stock at Walthers but can be difficult to find in the UK. It took me ages to find my DCC sound fitted Atlas CSX GP40-2, but it was certainly worth the wait. Although CSX is a major railroad and fairly well represented by the model manufacturers, I still find difficulty in locating rolling stock. The retailers seem to sell out very quickly. Lance M seems to have made CSX more popular! cheers, Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Nice work Mal. Having been to Florida a few times and experienced a bit of CSX switching I'd say you have it cracked - I indentified it as FL anyway !!! Maybe a little bit more clutter on the tracks with some silver painted electrical relay cabinet thingeys which the Americans love !!! Not one for grafitti myself, but maybe just a very feint smidge here and there, and some more subtle weathering on the locos. CSX like other RRs leave the couplers and wheels rust colour. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Mal - a possible uk source is http://www.m-s-i-m.co.uk/pikestuff.htm HIH Jack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Nice work Mal. Having been to Florida a few times and experienced a bit of CSX switching I'd say you have it cracked - I indentified it as FL anyway !!! Maybe a little bit more clutter on the tracks with some silver painted electrical relay cabinet thingeys which the Americans love !!! Not one for grafitti myself, but maybe just a very feint smidge here and there, and some more subtle weathering on the locos. CSX like other RRs leave the couplers and wheels rust colour. Thanks for the comments Phil, Adding small details, weathering ,vehicles etc is on my to do list. Wills have recently introduced some relay cabinets which I'm going to have a look at. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Litter or trash is everywhere - and whether you like it or not graffiti is part of the railroad scene. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_long Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Thanks for the comments Phil, Adding small details, weathering ,vehicles etc is on my to do list. Wills have recently introduced some relay cabinets which I'm going to have a look at. Mal Mal have a look at www.unitmodels.com they do US style relay boxes, painted too if you've got a spare quid or two. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 31, 2011 Author Share Posted March 31, 2011 Thanks Dave, This look familiar, I think I may have seen Unit Models at a local exhibition. I wasn't aware they did HO stuff. cheers, Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted April 1, 2011 Author Share Posted April 1, 2011 Hi, Hoping to make some progress today with the 'shoebox' warehouses. Meantime here are some new pics, showing some dramatic skies in the Sunshine State Lance M would be proud! cheers Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 Hey Mal - that looks good - who are they by? - one small point - with the lighting in the sky background ( photo2 ) you will need to watch your lighting and shadows. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted April 1, 2011 Author Share Posted April 1, 2011 Thanks Jack, I took the original photos with a basic Canon Power Shot digital camera, and then my brother, who's a photoshop wiz, added the skies. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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