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Wright writes.....


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13 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

I find your response somewhat odd, Clive.

 

Though some of the names I mentioned are (obviously) not known to you, does it matter? All have an excellent 'pedigree', and there work has regularly appeared in the model press and at exhibitions. 

 

Interestingly, I DO know some of the names on your list (I've photographed Tonbridge West Yard, and taken pictures of Wibnenshaw). Is Phil Eames of Calcutta Sidings? In that case. I've taken snaps of that. 

 

Why have the names on your list not appeared on Wright writes? Is it my fault? 'Wibble' (KH) posts on here from time to time, though I doubt if many (or any?) on my list post on DEMU sites. That said, John Phillips is building a cracking EM model of Doncaster in the 1970s, with Tony Gee making the pointwork. Do you know about that? 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Why do you find it odd?

 

Like I said there are names that mean nothing to me. Also because someone in the past has done something good doesn't mean everything they do is good, take the writer of the song Helter Skelter, excellent song , pity about its connection with Charlie Manson. The same person is responsible for the Frog Song (We all stand together). Now the second song you would have thought having the pedigree of being written by Paul McCartney would have been as good as the first one. 

 

Calcutta Sidings was Phil's layout, he retired it after the Glasgow show.  Wibenshaw is now with Mike Witchurch in Spain.

 

Strangely Tony I have mentioned you and Little Bytham on the DEMU forum a few times, I even used it as an example when I told Phil what I thought was wrong with Calcutta. The rule of threes, Calcutta was too long, wonderful modelling of the straight lines through Burton on Trent but the trains got lost on the layout. Pandrol clips on the fast line tracks and BR1 baseplates on the slow lines, wonderful detail and observation of the prototype.

 

I am aware of Tony Gee is helping John Phillips to build Doncaster, I chatted to him about it at Doncaster last year.

 

 

Edited by Clive Mortimore
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2 hours ago, Clive Mortimore said:

Hi Baz

 

I agree with you.

 

Have you ever gone to an exhibition slightly excited that a layout that looks the bees knees in print turns out to be :boredom:

 

At other times seen a layout that is so :locomotive: which you were not expecting.

 

I did find Tony's attribute of pedigree to what makes a good a layout some what odd. Some the names were just names and meant nothing to me. Wow that was close a lightning bolt form the steam model railway god just missed me. It would be like me saying unless these blokes were involved in the making of the model it is useless, likes of Paul Wade, Phil Eames, Si Bendall, Andi Dell, Alan Monk and Keir Hardy. All excellent Diesel and Electric modellers but rarely mentioned in the realms of Wright Writes. 

 

The reason why some of the names will not mean much to many people, not just you Clive is that some are, or were, quite happy to work away out of the public eye, with no recognition for their efforts other than a supply of tea and "twinkies" (Kitkats!) and the pleasure of spending time with a great and tightly knit bunch of people.

 

There was the "core" of regulars who met once a week, or sometimes people went over individually and there were more fringe members who lived too far away or who couldn't come every week but who still contributed some lovely modelling.

 

Being accepted as part of that group, perhaps even helping to get it going, was one of the highlights of my modelling career, such as it is.

 

Roy's legacy, to me and to many of us, was not the layout. It was the friendships that grew from it.

 

All of this, until now, went on in private. It was just a bunch of mates quietly helping Roy with his layout.

 

So if you didn't know the names, until now, that was because it was how they wanted it.

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I'm sure many of us have groups of friends who model and get together privately and socially on a regular basis (covid excepted) - I certainly do. And they all produce great models, cooperate on various projects and help each other out with regards to modelling.

 

However, I wouldn't post up their names as being the 'pedigree' for justifying a category of consideration for compiling a list of 'greatest layouts'. But then that's perhaps just me.

 

 

 

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7 minutes ago, grahame said:

I'm sure many of us have groups of friends who model and get together privately and socially on a regular basis (covid excepted) - I certainly do. And they all produce great models, cooperate on various projects and help each other out with regards to modelling.

 

However, I wouldn't post up their names as being the 'pedigree' for justifying a category of consideration for compiling a list of 'greatest layouts'. But then that's perhaps just me.

 

 

 

 

Well said, I have no idea if you have a 'pedigree' or not, you probably have. It makes no odds to me, I can see you are a brilliant modeller.

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13 hours ago, t-b-g said:

 

Nothing except the same in O gauge with bigger speakers and louder sound

 

I visited a show once that had 8 O gauge diesel depots, all with loud sound echoing throughout the venue. I didn't stay long. I fully appreciate that some people actually like that sort of thing. but it is just not for me!

The worst I experienced was long before the days of DCC sound. It was a large-scale narrow-gauge layout with meths-fired live steam. We all had hangovers by lunchtime.

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12 hours ago, James Fitzjames said:

Bill, surprisingly, she wasn't too put off once the dust had settled. At least she thought the 'Sunday' response hilarious, though, I think, a little disturbed at that level of 'commitment' to prototype operation!  Sadly, her stilettos clicked out of my life a while later and she ended up with a (later famous) pop singer, but that's another story...

I wonder whether that's how he got hooked on railway modelling...

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6 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

The worst I experienced was long before the days of DCC sound. It was a large-scale narrow-gauge layout with meths-fired live steam. We all had hangovers by lunchtime.

That wouldn't be the one we had Cwmafon next to in the Corn Exchange? We couldn't even get the track clean, never mind keep it clean, with all the clag the meths fired steam locos were putting out. I think that was the last exhibition before I widened the layout - at least partly because a well known exhibition manager was struggling to turn round inside it.

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9 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

I find your response somewhat odd, Clive.

 

Though some of the names I mentioned are (obviously) not known to you, does it matter? All have an excellent 'pedigree', and their work has regularly appeared in the model press and at exhibitions. 

 

Interestingly, I DO know some of the names on your list (I've photographed Tonbridge West Yard, and taken pictures of Wibnenshaw). Is Phil Eames of Calcutta Sidings? In that case, I've taken snaps of that. 

 

Why have the names on your list not appeared on Wright writes? Is it my fault? 'Wibble' (KH) posts on here from time to time, though I doubt if many (or any?) on my list post on diesel/electric sites. That said, John Phillips is building a cracking EM model of Doncaster in the 1970s, with Tony Gee making the pointwork. Do you know about that? 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

If I want my involvement with John and his layout revealing to the world, it would have been nice to think that I could have been the one to mention it.

 

I am not sure John will be too pleased about his project being announced on here either.

 

Next time there is an opportunity for you to tell everybody what I am up to, please keep it to yourself so that I can decide if, when and where I tell people about it.

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52 minutes ago, Michael Edge said:

That wouldn't be the one we had Cwmafon next to in the Corn Exchange? We couldn't even get the track clean, never mind keep it clean, with all the clag the meths fired steam locos were putting out. I think that was the last exhibition before I widened the layout - at least partly because a well known exhibition manager was struggling to turn round inside it.

I think it probably was, Mike. The fumes got me to the extent that I couldn't remember that I was operating a layout, never mind which one.

 

I presume that your last sentence refers to the manager of a well-known Easter show?

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11 hours ago, grahame said:

 

Hmm, that makes it sound like this site is a steam only one (which it's not) and is not for diesel/electric modellers to post on, or that this thread is the preserve of steam era enthusiasts only. I thought it was for all modellers who make some constructional effort and presumably regardless of any scale or any genre.

 

 

It is Graham,

 

My comment was in reaction to a rather odd post.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

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17 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Tim,

 

I know; it's one of the V2s. 

 

I really should have deleted it, but I was in a rush to get it 'shot' and didn't have time to check the footage before it went to Howard for editing. It occurred at the 'V' of the point, and is most-annoying. Needless to say, I've subsequently tried it again (and again) and nothing but smooth passage is the result! All I can put it down to is that one of the loco's drivers is not 100% at right angles to its axle; just a twitch, no more. Thus, the driver's gone through the 'V' at its tightest point (a one in 360 chance?), causing the jolt. 

 

It must also be remembered (though I'm not offering an excuse) is that LB's scenic-side pointwork is made to 'finescale' OO standards (an admitted misnomer), which means it will find an errant b-t-b. At least it didn't derail (if it had, I would have just scrapped the footage, of course), and it also shows (I hope) that all the other locos/stock are entirely compatible with the trackwork.

 

That said, since I'm zealous (overly so?) about good running, the loco will be investigated.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 


Tony,

It's good to read that it's a locomotive issue that you can resolve rather than being a track issue, as I'd wrongly assumed. Having seen first hand how well your locomotives perform that it hadn't even entered my mind that there could be the slightest chance of a problem arising with one of them.

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2 hours ago, t-b-g said:

 

If I want my involvement with John and his layout revealing to the world, it would have been nice to think that I could have been the one to mention it.

 

I am not sure John will be too pleased about his project being announced on here either.

 

Next time there is an opportunity for you to tell everybody what I am up to, please keep it to yourself so that I can decide if, when and where I tell people about it.

Goodness me, Tony,

 

Is there anything I mention that you approve of?

 

I seem to recall discussing a fair bit about John's layout with him at one Doncaster show where he had buildings on display and parts of the trackplan. I believe there were also examples of your excellent pointwork. I also seem to recall he had locos and stock on display, too.

 

I'm told that up to 10,000 visited the Donny Show. Some of those might even have seen what I've just mentioned.

 

In future, I'll mention nothing more about what you're doing, or have done (I assume you've never minded my praising your signals on LB?) and nothing more about Buckingham.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Edited by Tony Wright
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Something Graham Nicholas mentioned yesterday set me thinking (good, provocative and challenging posts always do). The gist of it was about how our 'standards', 'opinions', 'perceptions' and 'observations', among others, might change over time. 

 

Few can have had the resolve of, say, the likes of Peter Denny (I'll not mention his layout) who, over 60 years maintained a consistency of standard so that everything was harmonious. 

 

I can only cite my own modelling 'journey'; not over 60 years, but over the last 45, since I took railway modelling 'seriously'. I can look back at things I did/tolerated, which I wouldn't do/tolerate now (this is not an implied criticism of anyone else's standards, just my own).

 

Regarding layouts I built or was involved with the building of in the early years; to start with, none was based on an actual prototype, the trackwork on the scenic section was all Peco and none of the signals worked. Points were also just finger-worked. 

 

As for locos, far too many were RTR, any early kit-built ones were glued together and rode on proprietary chassis (not even re-wheeled in many cases), none was glazed, nor carried lamp brackets (so, no lamps), had no brakes and were not crewed. Early couplings were Peco/Hornby-Dublo metal types (the kits accommodated these). Even when I did build 'proper' chassis (and how daft is this?), in the case of my A4s I stuck them underneath Hornby-Dublo bodies (repainted, though).

 

Rolling stock was almost exclusively RTR (yes, on my first non-childlike layout I used Hornby-Dublo SD Mk.1s!), and no thought was given to modelling 'accurate' trains. 

 

Scenery was very basic and any buildings were just card or plastic kits, with no observation of 'reality'. 

 

The potential list could go on and on...............

 

It's largely through the influence of other modellers that my 'standards' improved and the list of things I'd 'tolerate' would get smaller. Thus, comments in the past (the bookazine in question, I think, comes from the last century) I made might not be the same as the ones I'd make now. Is that not 'progress'? 

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Tony, a quick question if I may.

I have found your coach couplings have worked very well on Brent so far.  Given that I have quite a few wagons in various stock boxes which are without couplings, I am interested to hear what you have used for couplings on freight stock for Little Blytham.

 

I have settled on using Dinghams on the stock which is going to be shunted (on the very rare occasions that I decide to do some shunting!)  But really don't fancy having to buy and solder up couplings for all of the mainline wagons which will remain as a fixed rake in the fiddleyard.

 

Thanks 

Rich 

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22 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Something Graham Nicholas mentioned yesterday set me thinking (good, provocative and challenging posts always do). The gist of it was about how our 'standards', 'opinions', 'perceptions' and 'observations', among others, might change over time. 

 

It's all part of 'continuous improvement' and the desire to produce more accurate, more reliable and better performing models. And, of course, it doesn't only apply to individual modellers. Manufactures too have changed over time and now produce RTR product that is more detailed and with greater fidelity than ever (not so sure about reliability/performance for some thou).

 

I doubt anyone aspires not to improve their standards, although rate of improvement change will vary depending on the individual. Mine is slow, but like BR 'we're getting there' .

 

 

 

 

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Just a brief thought or two on what may or may not count as a great layout, and whether such a classification matters. Some (many?) modellers may be very happy to admire accurate, large re-creations of real places, the building of which has been a real self-inflicted "rod for the owner's back", others may prefer to admire layouts that operate exactly as per the prototype, even if they have to stand there all day, mostly watching nothing happen if it is absolutely prototypical (or perhaps watching the operators having nervous breakdowns trying to follow all of the rules in order to operate at a fast pace even when items or systems mal-function), and if the die-hard observers stand there all day, they prevent others from getting a view. Some modellers may want both physical and operational accuracy. 

 

At least some modellers may not get "up tight" about whether their preferred layout, or their own layout, is classified as a "great", providing that it gives them personal satisfaction.

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1 hour ago, The Fatadder said:

Tony, a quick question if I may.

I have found your coach couplings have worked very well on Brent so far.  Given that I have quite a few wagons in various stock boxes which are without couplings, I am interested to hear what you have used for couplings on freight stock for Little Blytham.

 

I have settled on using Dinghams on the stock which is going to be shunted (on the very rare occasions that I decide to do some shunting!)  But really don't fancy having to buy and solder up couplings for all of the mainline wagons which will remain as a fixed rake in the fiddleyard.

 

Thanks 

Rich 

Good afternoon Rich,

 

Glad to help. 

 

I have three types of couplings for the freight stock on Little Bytham. On some fixed rakes (which merely go round), I have screw-/three-link shackles. These are on the rakes which are not pushed to/from any kick-back sidings.

 

On other sets, where some propelling is required (though still fixed rakes), I have my 'own' hook and bar system; a discreet hook on the towed wagon, engaging with a 'goalpost' on the towing wagon. Because there's no risk of buffer-locking by this system, it works well. It's really the same as my coach couplings, but without the extra pipes. 

 

For the pick-ups (which have stock which can be uncoupled) I use Sprat & Winkle couplings (which also can work, at least in part, with my own couplings).

 

I hope this makes sense.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

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I think Tony might have left this particular can of worms rather less stirred had he used the word "reputation", indicating ability and merit, rather than "pedigree" which, all too often merely implies status. :mellow:

 

John

Edited by Dunsignalling
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Just a thought on mentioning 'names'.

 

I consider it an imperative to usually credit those who've done any work in pictures I post on here, or where I make comment as to certain layouts' 'pedigrees'. I think that's only fair, because I cannot stand the notion of those who 'bask in praise' by omission. 

 

If anyone is 'offended' by my doing that, I'll happily delete their names.

 

Many thanks. 

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4 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said:

I think Tony might have left this particular can of worms rather less stirred had he used the word "reputation", indicating ability and merit, rather than "pedigree" which, all too often merely implies status. :mellow:

 

John

Thanks John,

 

However a 'reputation' can be a dubious one. 

 

Semantics, I suppose...................

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

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1 minute ago, Tony Wright said:

Just a thought on mentioning 'names'.

 

I consider it an imperative to usually credit those who've done any work in pictures I post on here, or where I make comment as to certain layouts' 'pedigrees'. I think that's only fair, because I cannot stand the notion of those who 'bask in praise' by omission. 

 

If anyone is 'offended' by my doing that, I'll happily delete their names.

 

Many thanks. 

 

I can't see my name there so it must already have been deleted....:D

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2 minutes ago, chris p bacon said:

 

I can't see my name there so it must already have been deleted....:D

No matter how hard I try to write something which is unambiguous, there's always one...........................

 

Thanks Dave.

 

Speaking of writing, something was mentioned yesterday about how many articles on model railway matters an author might have written. 

 

I've never counted up mine, but I've just done a little piece of mental arithmetic (difficult for me, I know). My first piece in the model railway press was published over 40 years ago now, and for the last 30 years I've written 'professionally' for the press, both model and prototype; articles, bookazines and books. 

 

Assuming a rate of ten articles a year, that's over 400 pieces! In some years there was one, or more, a month. 

 

No wonder folk get fed up with what I write!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

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