Dzine

Hi Folks,  We'll be at Bakewell Show this coming weekend with our usual clinic.  If you need help with a new layout or an existing one that's in trouble, come and book a free session of up to 30 minutes.  They're aimed at all skill levels and ages and we'll do our best to help.  We'll have copies available of my recent bookazines; British Railway Modelling- North Wales and British Railway Modelling - Detailing.  Volume 2 of North Wales will be out later this year as will By Design, a new work, also out later this year. 

Look forward to seeing you there.

All the best, Paul

Hi Folks,  We'll be at the NEC this coming weekend with our usual clinic.  If you need help with a new layout or an existing one that's in trouble, come and book a free session of up to 30 minutes.  They're aimed at all skill levels and ages and we'll do our best to help.  We'll also have a tiny double shoebox OO micro mock-up, largely from recycled materials, a section of cardboard baseboard and a double sided, two scene, recycled layout based on British Oak Coal Disposal Point.

We'll have copies available of my recent bookazines; British Railway Modelling- North Wales and British Railway Modelling - Detailing.  Volume 2 of North Wales will be out later this year as will By Design, a new work, also out later this year. 

Look forward to seeing you there.

All the best, Paul

Hi Folks will be attending Howden exhibition this year with my regular Layout Planning and Design Clinic for all ages and skill level.  As always, sessions are free and last between about 15 minutes and half an hour, so if you're having problems with a new design or are stuck with an existing one come along and book a session.  In addition, I be giving two lectures; An artistic approach to railway modelling (Saturday) and Recycling for railway modellers (Sunday) and I look forward to seeing you there.

Details are as follows; 

Carlton Railway Society - Howden Model Railway Show, Sat 23rd - Sun 24th March 2024, Howden School, Derwent Road, Howden, East Yorkshire DN14 7AL

Open:  Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 4pm,  Admission:  Adults £7.50        

Kind regards Paul

Hi Folks, my next clinic will be at Cromford Community Centre, 7-9 Market Place, Derbyshire, DE4 3RE, Saturday and Sunday 2nd and 3rd of March 2024.  Exhibition opens 10-30am to 5pm Saturday and 10-00am to 4pm Sunday.  I'll be undertaking my usual layout planning sessions so if your looking for help with a new layout design or having problems with an existing one come and have a free session.  They're aimed at all skill levels and ages and whilst the exhibition is aimed at continental modellers I'm happy to do UK designs too.  It's a bit of a learning curve for me, in that whilst having a little knowledge on some locations in; Spain, Cuba and India, I have much to learn.

Look forward to seeing you there.  Kind regards Paul

On 12/02/2024 at 14:00, SteveyDee68 said:

I don’t know if this helps, but I remember Paul Lunn did a plan for a layout where a fiddlestick/train cartridge hung off the front of the layout (at each side, as it happens); the layout was for home operation with the operator in front, so having the fiddlesticks at the front made sense as they were easier to access.

 

Could you have your line enter on a curve from the right hand at the front, leaving on a diagonal (90° would be too sharp a curve). You would need to think hard about the interface to the cassette, as you’d want the track/cassette to be square at the ends to allow it to be turned. You’d also have to think about how the stick would be supported in use.

 

How long a train do you plan for? That would determine the length of your cassette.

 

Coming in from the front edge would leave space for goods sidings where you currently show fiddle sidings.

 

If I can find a reference for Paul’s plan, I’ll post it here for you.

 

Steve S

Hi Steve,  I've always thought if you're going to operate from the front (especially if there's a wall to the rear and or either side) it makes sense to have any kind of fiddle system at the sides.  I've designed a few layouts like this but most notable are both have appeared in the OO Setrack Planbooks, if memory serves me right; one is an oval based on the Settle and Carlisle and the other was a console type with a railway scrapyard to the right and cement terminal to the left, each with a 'fiddle stick' behind.  Out of interest the former layout is part built by one of my design clients and will appear in a bookazine much later this year.  Hope this helps,

Kindest regards Paul 

Hi Folks will be attending my first exhibition this year with my regular Layout Planning and Design Clinic.  As always, sessions are free and last between about 15 minutes and half an hour, so if you're having problems with a new design or are stuck with an existing one come along and book a session.  They are aimed at all ages and skill level and I look forward to seeing you there.

Kind regards Paul

Hi Paul, Good to see your post, hopefully it will encourage more people to attend.  On a minor note can I point out that my Layout Planning Clinic is a Demonstration and not a trade stand.  Kind regards Paul

Hi Folks, my first bookazine, see title above, has recently been released by Key Publishing.  It's a companion to my last with Bauermedia, In the Detail, and comprises 19 new chapters, in alphabetical order. The content is designed to inspire modellers to look at real railway subjects for interesting and more unusual detail and in doing so set your layout as being different from the run-of-the mill.  There are a number of rarely modelled ideas and a keen awareness of reusing and recycling, wherever possible.  Please ask if you need to know more.

Kind regards Dzine (Paul A. Lunn)

Hi Darius, Pleased you liked the bookazine.  Perhaps I should explain a bit more.  It's my second with Key Publishing and consists of the following; besides an introduction and chapter on Welsh railway landscapes, there are 13 chapters covering, 6 mainline sections, 3 standard gauge branch lines, 3 narrow gauge lines and 1 miniature railway.  The content, in terms of text, photographs and plans is almost entirely new though in response to many of my regular readers and contacts, a small element of previously published has been included for completeness.  If anyone wants to know more please don't hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards Dzine (Paul A. Lunn)

PS Also see additional post on the first bookazine with Key Publishing, Modelling British Railways - Detailing. 

Hi Folks, I've just been catching up with Chris.  He's seems to be staying at the existing nursing home indefinitely.  His legs are causing great problems and he needs a wheelchair to go anywhere, otherwise he's bed bound.  Though his home is still full of layouts, he's not been able to get one into the nursing home for multiple reasons, not least is being able to operate it.  In the meantime he's desperate for reading material and would welcome any recent railway modelling magazines, books etc., either posted or dropped in at reception.  As in previous years, it would be good if any RMweb members could send him a Christmas card, please PM me if you need his address.

Kind regards Paul

Hi Folks,  Just to let you know I'll be at Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes this weekend with my Layout Planning and Design Clinic.  

If you need help designing a new layout or are having problems with an existing one, come along and have a session.  They're available for all skill levels and ages, take between 15 and 30 minutes and are FREE.  If I'm busy when you arrive, book a session with my wife Melenie and she'll phone you when I become free, that way you can keep looking round the show and not lose any time waiting.

In addition there is information about two, soon to be available, bookazines from Key Publishing; one on Inspirational Detailing, the other Modelling the Railways of North Wales.  I'll be displaying several models, some old some new, that appear in the former, together with my part finished, recycled micro, layout based on British Oak Coal Disposal Point.

Look forward to seeing you there, all the best Paul. 

Hi Folks, will be attending the East Midlands 009 Narrow Gauge Society Open Day at Portland College this coming Saturday, 22nd July from 10-30 to 4.30.

I'll be undertaking two free mini lectures, the first, An Artistic Approach to Railway Modelling, at 11.30am and the second, Mock-ups, Re-cycling and cost effective modelling, at 2.00pm. Please note lecture content is specific to all gauges. 

From 10-30am to 11.15., 12.45 to 1.45pm and 3.00pm to 4.30 I'll be undertaking my regular Layout Planning and Design Clinic, aimed at all ages and skill level.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Paul

Hi Folks, Will be undertaking my usual clinic on Layout Planning and Design at Bakewell Agricultural Centre this weekend, 10th and 11th June.  Sessions are free and last up to half an hour, for modellers of all ages and ability, whether you're starting up, or have got in a tight spot with an existing layout.    Come and have a chat and I'll do my best to help out.  Look forward to seeing you there, Kind regards Paul

Hi Folks, Will be undertaking my usual clinic on Layout Planning and Design this weekend.  Sessions are free and last up to half an hour, for modellers of all ages and ability, whether you're starting up, or have got in a tight spot with an existing layout.    Come and have a chat and I'll do my best to help out.  Look forward to seeing you there, Kind regards Paul

Hi Richard, Yes I'm still in contact with Chris and will pass your message on to him.  I'm sure he will be pleased with your index, I certainly will as there are many bits and pieces I want to refer to from time to time, and can't find what I'm looking for.  Kindest regards Paul

Hi Folks, Just to let everyone know I'll be taking my clinic to the Sheffield Model Railway Exhibition at Birkdale School, 1st and 2nd April, 2023.  As always, if you need help with an existing layout or planning a new one, free sessions up to half an hour are available to all ages and skill level.  Look forward to seeing some of you there.  Kind regards Paul

PS If you can't make the dates, I'm also doing one Saturday a month at WD Models shop in Chesterfield,  next one is on the 15th of April, but there's only a couple of spaces left.  Date for May has not been decided yet (though it's usually the middle Saturday in the month) but you can always check and book a space by phoning the shop.

Hi Folks, Lovely to see British Oak getting the exposure it deserves, it was a great place.  I'm currently working on a micro, entry-level, version of the site with the canal loader on one side, screens on the other and a double sided backscene between.  Hopefully it will have a operating canal loader and screens but there's a lot to do yet.  Kind regards Paul  

Hi Gilbert, many thanks for your very kind comment.  Regards Paul

Hi Folks, Just a quick message to say I'll be undertaking my usual layout planning and design clinic at the EBOR (York) show on the 18th/19th of February.  As always it's open to all ages and skills, sessions are free and last up to about half an hour.  Look forward to seeing some of you there. Kind regards Paul

17 hours ago, Butler Henderson said:

Er... so 322mm long worth of the small sections plus a standard (168mm) and double (335mm) on three lines (825mm in total)  equating to a two doubles (670mm) and a point of 168mm length, 838mm in total.

Hi Butler Henderson,  If you imagine the loops being horizontal then points at each end will be on the angle.  When used in this way, in-between sections of standard straights of any suitable configuration will not work. I'm afraid it's the only way to get them to fit properly, if you don't like or can't cut  accurate sections from Flexi track.  Just out of interest the track planning was done by Peco, using their software, based on my sketch design.  Kind regards Paul

Hi Folks, Have found one of the track plans I did for Peco which shows why they have the shorter straights in terms of point arrangement,  I did say it would be complex to explain!  Hope this helps, Kind regards Paul

15 hours ago, RobinofLoxley said:

But presumably, if anyone was making up the equivalent length of  a standard straight from four short pieces, the length would be more than 164mm and if you allow small gaps at each join, which I would, the outcome would be close to 168mm. Not really 1mm per gap exactly as there would be only 3 internal gaps. The Hornby short straight was surely intended for another purpose, correction of the lengths of express points?

Hi, I sort of get where you're going, but I believe the short straight was included in the range for a different purpose (plan to follow when I have time to scan it).  I can see how the Hornby version  might work with express points but, if memory serves me right, it was in the range (as a steel version) long before express points existed. Kind regards Paul

1 hour ago, Butler Henderson said:

Re Peco Setrack the one difference to Hornbys is that there is no exact direct equivalent for the R610 38mm straight  - Peco have ST-203 41mm and ST-202 79mm

Hi Butler Henderson, absolutely right and even worse it's in the straights where most of the discrepancies occur.  Now if we start from the premise that both Peco and Hornby's standard straight are the same length at 168mm, but when it comes to the shorter sections is where the mischief happens so, Peco's ST-203 is 41mm long, Hornby's equivalent is 38mm long.  Multiply 41mm by four you get 164mm (not a 168mm of the standard straight.  Do the same again with Hornby, their short straight is 38mm long, multiply by four and you get 152mm (much less than the standard straight).  Then you've Peco's ST-202 at 79mm, divide by two at 39 mm which doesn't match up to the ST203 at 41mm.  If that isn't enough, two times 79mm equals 158mm which is 10mm short of the standard straight.  Whilst all this can be a problem there are some benefits relating to points and loops, but it will take forever to explain.  Hope this helps as far as it goes.  Kind regards Paul

2 hours ago, RobinofLoxley said:

Looking at this again, I am a bit puzzled why in what is essentially a table top layout size, needing full access to 3 sides, why you would specify either or both the cassette or loco lift sections.

 

Otherwise, I would have to say that I would avoid anything with setrack curved points due to the probability of derailments. Unfortunately its not really an option to replace them with Streamline items as they arent really compatible with the layout geometry. To eliminate all the curved points but retaining the same geometry (although without the concerns as to whether it joins up properly) requires a space of 2.1M x 1.4M.

 

 

Hi RobinofLoxley, The non-scenic sidings and loco lifts were specified to help accommodate all the films trains; 14xx, O8 shunter, colliery loco, and 9F  and so, at other times, it could be operated, outside of film constraints, as the Longmoor Military Railway and the ex-GWR Neath and Brecon line. Kind regards Paul

On 31/12/2022 at 16:12, Pmorgancym said:

I feel slightly guilty as if I've ghosted this thread, but I never got any notifications that there were any replies! So thanks for all who played around and replied and to Paul for replying.

 

I'm now reading through with interest.  My first thought is I'm using PECO, does the turnout geometry still work out?  (I'm sure there's  a Hornby/peco  conversion chart out there)

 

(On a personal level I've always struggled to with converting plans to physical form!)

Hi there, don't feel bad about things, what matters is that you get a good working layout.  Many of Hornby and Peco's rigid geometry track matches perfectly and you'll have no problem with the curved points in terms of their geometry. They can be notorious for derailments, partly because there's a manufacturing design issue with them, which I've explained in a previous issue of  BRM magazine (if I can track it down, and it's from some considerable time ago, I'll post it on here).  Derailment is not particularly just to do with the curved point, but how larger locomotives are made these days, the problem, if memory serves me right, only exists when travelling from the toe end and issues around centrifugal force.  I guess the advice here is to set the curve up and try the loco's you intend using and see how you get on.  If it helps, please PM and we can have chat by phone.  Kindest regards Paul