RMweb Gold traction Posted September 10, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 10, 2014 Unlike some plans books, at least with this one you know they can be built - because someone has already done it! No optimistic pencils here. I understand that completely. I've just put my initial thoughts down for those that might be looking for, as I say something like the Peco Setrack plans book, which incidently can all be made without the use of optimistic pencils. It was also to reply to sammyboy's post which did ask the specific question of are they new plans or just from previous issues of BRM. Cheers Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanj666 Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I Bought this on Saturday at the RMWeb live show. Usually I have everything digitally but these kinds of MagBooks I get on paper as they are well worth keeping IMHO. My thoughts are: Good clear diagrams Good explanations of the various features The +ve's and -ve's for each layout start out nice and clear but seemed to degenerate somewhere along the line. A continuous run layout had a -ve of 'not much shunting' where an end2end was -ve because you couldn't run long trains round and round. In the end the -ve's could have been summed up with a simple comparison list of the various layout styles. Despite this, I like the magbook and am happy with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted September 15, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 15, 2014 For what it sets out to do I think it is rather good - nice, colourful, presentation and showing layouts that already exist has the big advantage of proving that they work with the _/+ elements of the design presented in the little box. So in most respects it is better than many previous attempts at producing books of track/layout plans - very similar to an approach a certain US publisher has used for many years and no bad thing for that. But while accepting that it is about model railways I do think it might have been helpful if it had contained a bit more drawn from the prototype in terms - if nothing else - of some simple do's and don'ts such as pointing out you can only sensibly shunt sidings if they trail into a running line and possibly a bit about using track layouts to help set period and place (the 'country junction' on page 53 is a bit odd in that respect ). But perhaps this is something which could be tackled in future editions because while the book in itself is good it could have, like 'Model Railroader's example in thsi field, the 'legs' and flexibility to turn it into something which runs to a new edition every couple of years or so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted September 15, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 15, 2014 For what it sets out to do I think it is rather good - nice, colourful, presentation and showing layouts that already exist has the big advantage of proving that they work with the _/+ elements of the design presented in the little box. So in most respects it is better than many previous attempts at producing books of track/layout plans - very similar to an approach a certain US publisher has used for many years and no bad thing for that. But while accepting that it is about model railways I do think it might have been helpful if it had contained a bit more drawn from the prototype in terms - if nothing else - of some simple do's and don'ts such as pointing out you can only sensibly shunt sidings if they trail into a running line and possibly a bit about using track layouts to help set period and place (the 'country junction' on page 53 is a bit odd in that respect ). But perhaps this is something which could be tackled in future editions because while the book in itself is good it could have, like 'Model Railroader's example in thsi field, the 'legs' and flexibility to turn it into something which runs to a new edition every couple of years or so. I think that is the strength of the OPC "Historical Survey...." series, although they did not manage it as well as they could have done. I can definitely see a niche for a series of books that take, perhaps, 20 stations (so perfect-bound 96pp paperback size) that are suitable to model and show how they can be adapted to a suitable layout in the home, probably with variants for 4mm and 2mm scales. CJ Freezer did a great series like this on Exeter Central with three variants. And recent RM has a good plan based on Mortehoe although it could have shown the layout in a room setting (i.e. with the approaches curved round to the hidden loops). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyboy Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Cannot find it in stock in the WH Smiths where I live in Chesterfield, has it not been delivered to everywhere in the country yet? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Locoshed Manchester has some - he might be able to post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Boco_D1 Posted September 25, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 25, 2014 I've looked in the Swindon smith's twice, the cirencester and cheltenham stores and Cheltenham model center and still can't find a copy, are they out yet? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norwenglish Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 We found (and bought a copy) at WHSmiths in York, but the WHSmiths shops in the small towns we stopped at between there and East Sussex had no sign of them. Even the staff had no idea when I asked them about it and showed them the picture in this months BRM. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Picked it up in WHSmith in Brighton this afternoon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Peter Beckett Posted September 25, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 25, 2014 My hard copy arrived from Hattons yesterday. Seven days from ordering, not bad. While its the same as the digital one on my tablet, I still prefer a hard copy for the railway room. Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators SteveCole Posted September 30, 2014 Author Administrators Share Posted September 30, 2014 I've looked in the Swindon smith's twice, the cirencester and cheltenham stores and Cheltenham model center and still can't find a copy, are they out yet? Hi, I'm told the Cirencester store should have copies. Yes, copies are now in stores. Or, you can buy direct from us with free p&p: https://www.model-railways-live.co.uk/Store/1213-26/Books/BRM_Guide_to_Trackplans__Layouts_-_First_Edition/ Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Boco_D1 Posted September 30, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 30, 2014 Thanks Steve i'll pop into the Swindon store tomorrow on my lunch break and try again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
definate maybe Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Managed to pick mine up by Smiffs in Ipswich, although it was well hidden behind numerous other titles. The plans and photos are nice and have a good mix but I do find some of the pros and cons comments rather strange. A lot of them are the negatives about the actual layout the plan its taken from and not the plan itself. For example some have issues about wiring leading to limited operational appeal. Overall though it has given me some food for thought and surely that is what these books are meant for. Being rather cheaper than some plan books then its definitely worthy of being added to your library. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators SteveCole Posted October 1, 2014 Author Administrators Share Posted October 1, 2014 Thanks Steve i'll pop into the Swindon store tomorrow on my lunch break and try again. Good luck. I am told that the Swindon store does stock the book. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Boco_D1 Posted October 1, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2014 Good luck. I am told that the Swindon store does stock the book. I had another look but it's like a needle in a haystack checked the mag isle, I looked in the book section and the stands around the tills, but there was nothing so I ordered one off the link you gave me instead, alot easier. Thanks. Jimmy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators SteveCole Posted October 16, 2014 Author Administrators Share Posted October 16, 2014 Hi all, We have now sold out of this book - thank you to everyone for your support! It's still for-sale in the WHSmiths stores listed on page 1 of this topic. It's also stocked by a number of model shops. If you're after a copy I would recommend you try calling some of the retailers who advertise in the pages of BRM. I also know of 1 or 2 retailers who are taking stock to this weekend's Peterborough Show. If you're still struggling to get a copy, please PM me and I'll gladly put you in touch with some stockists. Thanks, Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Told you people wanted track plans! Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spannerman Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Managed to get my lovely wife to pick one up from WHSmiths in Norwich today, just got to complete a 12hr night shift until I can get a look. A brilliant opportunity to do some more planning without actually achieving anything physical! Nik Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators SteveCole Posted October 22, 2014 Author Administrators Share Posted October 22, 2014 Managed to get my lovely wife to pick one up from WHSmiths in Norwich today, just got to complete a 12hr night shift until I can get a look. A brilliant opportunity to do some more planning without actually achieving anything physical! Nik Great news Nik. I have seen plenty of copies still for-sale in various WHSmiths stores plus I know a number of leading model shops still have stock. If anyone is struggling to get a copy, please PM me and I'll give you a list of model shops I know have stock. Or, you can download the Digital Edition version for just £3.99: www.pocketmags.com/BRM Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium mezzoman253 Posted October 22, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 22, 2014 W.H.Smith's in Basildon town square had a few on Monday. they now have one less. They were right at the bottom of the display that had the railway mag's on. Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePurplePrimer Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 If anyone in East Sussex is looking for a copy I saw two today on WHS in Crowborough If you are looking for them though they are in the general modelling section and not in either the Railway section or the Railway Modelling section Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spannerman Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 Enjoyed these plans immensely . I've already found two (Pages 47/74) which with a bit of tinkering could put off actual progress for some time! Nik Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Barry O Posted October 27, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 27, 2014 I hope you sent a copy of the bookzine to the owners of the layouts featured? I know one layout where the owners didn't know anything about its inclusion until someone showed them the bookzine. Baz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beejack Posted October 27, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 27, 2014 Great news Nik. I have seen plenty of copies still for-sale in various WHSmiths stores plus I know a number of leading model shops still have stock. If anyone is struggling to get a copy, please PM me and I'll give you a list of model shops I know have stock. Or, you can download the Digital Edition version for just £3.99: www.pocketmags.com/BRM Steve I have purchased the digital version, how do I download it to my PC? I only seem to be able to view it with silverlight Reader on the pocketmags web site or print it out one page at a time! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
daftbovine Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 A friend has asked me to get a copy of this (in magazine form) but Warners say it is out of stock. Has anyone seen a copy in their local model railway shop? I will need to order it over the net as I live in Africa. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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