Chinahand

Hi Stephen, There are some excellent texture files on the CG Textures web site which are free once you register and will save you the cost of the Scalscenes ones. CG Textures

Oops. Sorry about that Kris but a belated thank you for the info.

Thank you so much for that information Steve. However, although I have already retired I don't actually hit 'Retirement Age' until May so, as I'm not in a great rush and there is a not insubstantial financial benefit, I will postpone applying for membership until then.

Hi Steve, I really like the look of those etched bufferstops but presume they are only available to members. If that is the case could you please advise me how to join and how much the buffers cost. They look so much better than the plastic Peco ones. Having said that I presume they are equally at home on standard Code 55 track.

Hi Simon, It would seem to me that maybe the attic window in the gable end is a little on the large side and that a smaller window would give a better impression of it being an attic.

Notwithstanding the paralax problem that's not a bad piece of work at all. I would say that if it works then that is a major achievement and you can only get better with practice.

Good afternoon all. Well it's been another very pleasant day here in SW China. Started a bit overcast but soon cleared away to give bright sunshine and the temperature pushing up to 16°C. Not looking forward to next week though as I'm heading for Beijing on 3rd Jan and the temperature there at the moment is minus 11°C.

Hi Steve, When I first read through your post and saw the iron in the vice I had wild imaginations of you getting clobbered by SWMBO when she found out. As it turns out my fears were unfounded and you have my total admiration for your track building. I just do not have either the skill or the patience for it. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Stephen, I'll drop them a line in the New Year.

Hi Stephen, Those storage tanks and fueling points look very good and even seem to be partly weathered. What make are they, if you don't mind me asking ? The layout is certainly starting to come to life now.

Hi Blacksheep, I have much the same dilema. I am theoretically modelling the GWR in the very short period after WWII but before Nationalisation. However. both the King and Castle producd by GF are in early BR livery. I therefore have to decide whether to move my chosen time frame to 1947 - 48 and say that the smaller locos have not yet been re-liveried or re-livery my Kings and Castles to GWR. The other problem is finding vehicles of the right time frame and there, I'm afraid I do cheat a little as I have a couple of Morris Minors that post date 1946. If it's of any help I think I will probably re-livery the Kings and Castles to GWR and hope nobody spots the odd vehicle or two. With living in China I will certainly get away with it as far as the locals are concerned so it's just here on the MRF that I have to worry about.

Well it's 7 a.m. on Christmas morning here and the weather is a b**** awful. 4°C and tipping it down. SWMBO has decided to stay in bed so I'm getting on with fabricating some N Gauge MBD couplers.

Certainly 1 in 13 is far too steep. Most locos will think twice about anything steeper than 1 on 30. Personally I try to get my gradiemts to 1 in 50 or less.

Hi Steve, Notwithstanding the revised domestic arrangements you are still achieving things that I would not even attempt. I continue to enjoy your thread and look forward to following it in 2011. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year

Mornin' all. Well it's 6:50 a.m. here in China but I suppose most of you are just about thinking of going to bed. The weather here has turned a bit nasty. After being a nice sunny 19°C for the past few days it's suddenly raining and 10°C. Ah well, at least it's not snowing. I can fully empathise with you on the pain front Gordon and hope that your treatment proves a positive move towards a cure. Having had a trapped Sciatic nerve for the past 6 months I have become something of a junkie myself. 2 Co-codamol + 2 Tramadol + 1 steroid, 4 times a day certainly takes the pain away but at what price. Added to which the nerve is still trapped and my foot is completely dead. Sorry for the winge but I just felt the need.