Brian D

IMPORTANT NOTE - This topic was previously entitled "Hawthorn Town Mk 2 (Working Title)" and renamed on 11 November 2017. Please go to page 52 post number 1288 for layout title back story. Having retired over two years ago (slightly early, just now turned 65) but having the last two years interupted by my operation last year then my wife's this year, matters are now in hand to get moving on my next (who knows, and possibly my last) layout. Living in a three bed semi with a pint sized back garden and having one and a half daughters (long story) still at home, the site of the new layout has been restricted. The location options were considered as follows: One of the bedrooms - not feasible due to human occupancy. The loft - not feasible due to a very slack roof slope, I can't quite stand up straight under the ridge line. Move to a larger property - I don't think so! Couldn't face the grief of buying, selling and moving. The garage - our garage is not used as a garage, more like an overflow store for bikes, fishing equipment, ladders and garden tools/mover/strimmer, additional refrigeration, (don't ask), etc, etc. A garden shed - feasible, just, but the garden is very small. After much deliberation going back over quite a few years now, and more recent research and experimentation, the shed option has now been enacted. The shed base was installed a couple of weeks ago (see picture below) and the shed arrives next week. The base comprises a pressure treated timber base installed by others. 4 x 2 treated joist are supported on 4 x 4 posts concreted into the ground. Hopefully, it will last many years (thought concrete was a bit OTT and paving slabs not quite up to it - this using my professional judgement as a structural engineer). The shed I selected will be supplied by Summer Garden Buildings (see link below). It is pressure treated shiplap. Since the base was installed I have added a geo-textile sheet to keep vegetation down or dead and additional boards under the external joists in an attempt to keep little furry animals from getting under the shed. There is an 18 inch gap between the shed walls and the concrete garage on left and the rear timber panel fence to the rear for maintenance access. http://www.summergardenbuildings.co.uk/products/garden-sheds/garden-shed-200810.html An unbelievable amount of semi related work has gone on over the last few weeks, including sorting out the garden and redecorating our bedroom (ulterior motive - carpet being replaced by a new one so old one rolled up a and put in the garage ready for installation in the shed). Enough for now. I'll post more info about the further work I need to do to the shed and the layout plan as time goes by. This thread will be a slow burner me thinks. However, all comments and questions are welcome but I only come on here usually once a day via my laptop, so apologies if I don't respond quickly, but I will try to respond as soon as I can. Regards, Brian.

I have only just heard this very sad news. I had been watching with great interest his latest version of Tetley Mills, much scaled down to accommodate his illness. So much progress made, such positivity and now this. I admit to uttering the obscenity "Oh F*ck!" when I caught the headline of this thread and have felt choked up ever since, although I have never met Dave, but what an inspiration on many levels. I'm always jokingly telling my wife (we have both had to call on the NHS in the last couple of years for some fairly serious stuff but nothing involving the aweful C word) that it is important at times like this that one retains one's sense of humour. Dave, I believe, never lost his. Top man, sadly no longer physically with us. But such a modelling legacy left behind. Up there with the greats of the hobby in my opinion. My sincere condolances to his family. Rest in peace Dave.

Thanks Andy. A very interesting bridge indeed just a mile or so down the line. I've taken the liberty of editing your railway map showing the position of the bridge, thus.. I visited the area in 2010. As a retired structural engineer who had some responsibility for bridges at one time in my career, I was struck by the unusual configuration of this bridge which includes a goal post frame like stucture at mid or third span, both of the goal posts being founded in the Bristol Avon. It has a concrete deck as can be seen by the photos below so was possibly a relatively modern replacement structure but I have no more details, no doubt fellow RMWebbers can shed some light. You mentioned in your PM that you might not have room to model this structure in your shed. Perhaps a garden extension of Bitton could accommodate this interesting bridge? Regards, Brian

You can't keep a good bodger down. Keep up the good work Andy, looking forward to your updates. All the best. Regards,

B*gger!

Thanks A1X. Have just done as you suggested. I am over the moon with this announcement, despite the two year wait.

There is a mention in post #1978 that "With a RTR Q6 proposed...". Have I missed an important announcement from Hornby/Bachmann/Dapol or whomever or has a cat been let out of the bag? I would love a RTR Q6 which would evoke fantastic memories for me of the end of steam in the Durham coalfields. Can I start getting excited?

You may well be right, it's the age you know

Yes indeed, thanks - my effort preceeded the Smart Models kit by a few years but I have salted away a download for future reference

This is my take on an ex North Eastern Railway box. The inspiration was taken from the box reconstructed at (the excellent) Beamish Open Air Museum and was constructed about three or four years ago. The structure is mainly card clad with Scalescenes textures. The windows (which I think could definitely be improved upon) are overhead projector acetate sheet with the glazing bars inked in using a correction fluid pen. To aid construction, a scale drawing was made after counting bricks and estimating other dims from photos of the Beamish Box - not sure whether I've got the roof pitch exactly right. The original at Beamish. Part complete model planted on the layout to gauge the overall effect. Completed model. Regards,

Appalling ref, I agree. How come the horrendous knee in the back that saw Neymar stretchered off was not spotted by any of the officials?

You have to feel for The Rams having read this morning's papers. So, another London side in the PL next season to replace Fulham. That makes 6 London sides again, nearly a third of the league. You have to admire the "travelling support" of teams like mine. Could be worse I suppose with more south coast or "extreme" west country sides in the PL. Mind you - I can't see Exeter City, Plymouth or Torquay making the PL any time soon - apologies to anyone supporting any of these teams. I am always amazed by the number of Sunderland fans making the Southampton trip on a Monday (Sky TV) night, probably not getting home until the next morning. Although I was at Wembley living the dream for the first 56 minutes against Man City, the Southampton away Monday night gig is not for me.

Dear Frank, Thanks for your help in downloading this kit. It looks impressive and the kit construction notes and the general guidance notes are very comprehensive. I wish you well in your new enterprise. Regards,

My antivirus software did not like this download - it warned me about potential spyware content - so I obviously did not complete the download.

A fantastic experience for me at Wembley today, despite the fact that The Lads lost. When my son and I emerged from Wembley Park station we were both blown away by the sight of the sea of red and white travelling support - quite an emotional experience which continued down Wembley Way. It was a shame about the result but me and number one son dreamt the dream for 55 minutes before a truly world class strike got the Mancs level and downhill from there for SAFC. We are still in the FA cup so, who knows, we could end up in another Wembley game or two soon - only the mighty Tigers to get past. But also there is the relegation fight to contend with. The PL results went our way today so we are still in with a shout I hope.

I too am not a 2mm person but this indeed looks good - shame about those horrendous auto couplings though.

No, we are too good for that - we have a halfway decent manager now (he said, fingers crossed...well, everything crossed basically!).

Haway the Lads. Two cup finals would be nice

I've spent a good hour or so catching up on this thread, A great nostalgia trip. I remember visiting the York Way shop just once I think in the 60s sometime in my school days with a friend when we used to whizz round the London Termini, at least those still exhibiting steam locos. I also remember Allen Brett Cannon at London Bridge - happy days, now so long ago. Central and even Greater London is now, by comparison, a model shop waste land!

Great stuff, Les. N gauge is not normally "up my street" but with my North East connections and knowing the area I really like this layout (love the White Steps which I remember as a lad). You must have good eye-sight though to plant 2mm scale leeks :-) Regards,

What can I say but "Like" to the power of 10 or even more. However (Oh no! Not the dreaded "however"), I don't think that the head on view of southbound departures headed by A3s and A4s are flattered by the (altogether forgivable) over scale tight curvature of tracks heading round to the fiddle yard. The front bogie wheels are just too far to the right of centre in my opinion to be "up there" with the standard of realistic photos posted on this magnificent thread to date. Just a very minor criticism on my part on what has been an incredible journey back in time for me, and I assume, countless other RMWebbers. Regards,

The Ashdon and Midport mk6 in the August 1986 Railway Modeller (and some of its circular predecessors) always appealed to me. Perhaps others on here might remember it. Regards,

Dear Jukebox, I have only today caught up with your news and you therefore have my best wishes for a speedy resolution of both your personal and resulting modelling issues. Things can only get better mate - onwards and upwards! All the best for the festive season and I trust 2014 will treat you much better. Regards,

Hi bigwordsmith, I have only now just caught up with this thread. What a great layout and an impressive collection of locos! Keep up the good work and those posts coming. Regards,

Get them on Ebay fast - you'll make a mint.