martin_wynne

Hi Gordon, Well it's getting on for 30 years since I last built a platform -- these platforms on Adavoyle Junction in fact: The entire platform was first constructed from balsa wood. I'm fairly sure we used 3mm or more likely it would have been 1/8" thick in those days. But not the overhang -- the sub-surface was trimmed flush with the side walls. It was cut lengthwise, from 4" and 3" wide balsa planks. I remember cutting the framework strips from balsa on the circular saw, to provide the correct height, but I can't now remember the actual dimension -- the intention was for the balsa sub-surface to be 2mm below the finished platform top. Then the coping stones along the edge were laid using Evergreen 2mm x 6mm plastic strips, scribed to represent the individual stones and overhanging the side walls a bit. There is not much overhang on Irish platforms, see: That left a space between the coping strips 2mm deep which was first filled with 1/16" cork sheet, and finally surfaced with 10 thou plasticard to represent the slabs. The latter being scribed and pre-painted streaky grey, and then cut into strips laid individually cross-wise in order to create the staggered joints. I remember a good few evenings spent making and laying those strips. I found a couple of pics showing the layout under construction in 1986. Showing the balsa sub-base and the coping strips added: I'm not sure if all this helps you much -- it is all such a long time ago now. But I do remember the ease of fixing items onto the platform by simply pushing in thin pins. More Adavoyle Junction pics: http://templot.com/GNRI/adavoyle.htm regards, Martin. edit: link added.

Don't overlook balsa wood as a platform sub-surface. Items can be attached quite firmly with Peco track pins through their feet (people) or glued into the corners of buildings, or into the base of lamp posts, etc. The items can then be easily removed and replaced or moved at any time without needing drilling or glue. Martin.

Man and bike in Runcorn grot: https://www.flickr.com/photos/21602076@N05/4295697573/in/photostream/

If you are looking for something a bit different but not too difficult to build, how about a "Barry Slip"? Two turnouts of the same hand, reversed and overlapped. They are called Barry slips because they were a feature of the sorting sidings at Barry Docks in South Wales: Thanks to Sandy Croall for the pic. This one is at Beverley: Thanks to Mick Nicholson for the pic. Martin.

Next:

Market Warsop. Sherwood Forest Railway: http://www.sherwoodforestrailway.com Martin.

Still there, and bigger than ever. Now part of Danters: http://www.billydantersfunfair.com Days when you might wish to be somewhere else, but children enjoy it. Martin.

Winter sun on brick and stone: Martin.

Most folks think that steel rail looks better, without the yellow colour of nickel-silver (although HiNi nickel-silver is much whiter). But steel rail can be prone to rusting, depending on where the layout is stored. Indoors with central heating it should be fine, and many users report no problems after several years. But if the layout is in a cold attic or loft, or in unheated outbuildings, steel is not a good idea (and it is out of the question for a garden railway if using 2-rail electrics). Steel is also more difficult to solder, requiring an active flux which must be cleaned off afterwards. Whereas (clean) nickel-silver is much easier to solder, and you can use an inert electronics low-residue flux which doesn't need cleaning. Martin.

Along the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal this afternoon: Martin.

Just received this important email: "Dear Recipients, The King of Thailand has been dead since about the end of 2008. The current King of Thailand is a fake one." If you are approached by the King of Thailand in the street, be warned. Martin.

It is not necessary to rebuild the platforms. The track level is adjusted up or down at the next track renewal time. Unless that is not possible -- for example over a subway. Martin.

For the BR steam era, 3ft is the actually the maximum. Otherwise there is a risk of conflict with the loading gauge. Some platforms are lower, down to 2ft-9in minimum. Here's the relevant part of the BR 1950 Structure Gauge drawing: And the full drawing: Martin.

Just back from a meeting where I needed to provide some ID, so I took along my birth certificate. "Sorry, we can't accept that any more". It's no wonder I'm feeling old if my birth certificate is now invalid. Fortunately I had my driving licence with me. Martin.

A week gone by and no takers? Here's a bit more:

7mm GWR slab & bracket "A" chairs now available from David Rayner, see: http://85a.co.uk/forum/view_postx.php?post_id=17704 Martin.

Hi Gareth, Gordon has described what is involved. However there is an easier way -- just press the \ backslash* key on the keyboard. If you are moving all the templates there is no need to group the templates first, because Templot will ask you if that is what you want to do. All these different ways of doing the same thing are because not everyone around the world has the same keyboard, and some things are tricky on a laptop or tablet computer -- for example SHIFT+CTRL+F7 may need 3 hands. You can always click on the action menu instead if you are really stuck. The / forward slash key lets you rotate the group of templates to a new angle rather than move them. As an alternative to using the mouse you can move the templates a fixed amount by clicking the group > shift group by... menu item. If the position of the track plan on the grid is important, instead of moving the templates you can move the page origin for printing. Then templates beyond the 0 grid origin can be printed if you wish. For that press SHIFT+CTRL+F10. This is also helpful if the printed page joins come in an awkward position. *near bottom left of keyboard. regards, Martin.

This topic has now been running for 5 years, so maybe it is time to have a vote for our favourite(s)? http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/196-creative-photography-railway-related/ Martin.

Try the opposite approach -- it makes you feel better: "Oh hello thanks for ringing I'm glad you rang I was hoping you would I wanted to tell you about what happened to me today well you know I always go the the library on wednesdays to change my library book well today the bus was late in fact I nearly gave up waiting for it and went home anyway when I finally got to the library they were just about to close for lunch but they said I could go in if I was quick well you'll never guess who I met in there in the fiction F to M section no that's wrong it was N to T anyway I haven't seen them for it must be 25 years at least... click.

Hi Gordon, Haven't you made yourself a water level? 1. small plastic bucket 2. drill a hole in the side of it near the bottom. Glue in a long length of clear plastic tubing, say 10ft. Put a temporary plug of some sort in the far end of the tube. 3. stand the bucket on a chair in middle of railway room. 4. fill bucket with water and a drop of washing-up liquid. 5. remove the plug and allow a little water to run through the tube to clear any air bubbles in the tube. Put the plug back in. Top up bucket if necessary. 6. take the end of the plastic tube to where you want to measure a level. Remove the plug again.. 7. the water will rise in the tube until it is the same level as the water in the bucket. Mark this as a datum from which to measure gradient heights. 8. without moving the bucket, repeat this anywhere else in the room to establish the same datum level. 9. don't let anyone else in the room while you are doing this, because for some reason they always burst out laughing. 10. don't knock the bucket over. Martin.

Hi Martyn, David Rayner already has some 3D printed 7mm chairs available, and is planning more. Not GWR as far as I know, but a slab and bracket chair is much the same in any design: http://www.shapeways.com/shops/otr?s=0&section=Chairs http://85a.co.uk/forum/view_topic.php?id=1503&forum_id=6#p16971 P1 slide chair, the standard REA design from the LNER in this case. regards, Martin.

Hi Martyn, The slab is 1.7/8" thick, the same as the base of a chair casting. That scales to 25 thou in 4mm scale. See also: http://www.norgrove.me.uk/GWRtracknotes/R1734.pdf Martin.

Hi Steve, You need this: from: http://gwsg.org.uk/GWSG_Publications.html Chair drawings on page 98. All the GW track info you could want. Martin.

Hi Peter, I prefer the wider view, but I would have cropped it closer and to a landscape outline: Either way it's a great pic. Martin.

Hi Chris, Templot is ONLY for handbuilt track, so if you are not doing that there is no point in even trying Templot. Instead use AnyRail, or SCARM, or XTrackCad, or Winrail, or several others, for ready-made track. But not Templot. It's not surprising that you found it unintuitive if you are trying to use it for a purpose for which it is not intended. From the Templot download page: AnyRail is here: http://anyrail.com regards, Martin.