hayfield

Agree I stopped going to both the west end and city years ago, the reason London looks less expensive is that everywhere else has put up their prices to match.

Andy I thought it was those who wanted RTR track saying no one would pay £30 for a turnout, seems there is still a bit of friction against those who like making things !!! As for they would never sell I can think of 3 other projects mentioned on here plus another from someone who does not use this site, though DCC Concepts seems to have gone quiet on their proposals

Back in the 6's Teddy boys with cutthroat razors, all the original trouble makers have grown up, still a bit iffy but no where as bad

Sorry I was on my phone whilst on holiday and spell check kicked in Peck should have been Peco, plus I did not pick up you were using code 125 rail Very impressive, but short of a total rebuild by lifting the rails by 1 mm to fit 7 mm chairs, having said this my idea of using the C&L ST baseplates (4SC 101B) may still work, or perhaps some 4 mm chairs. send me a PM with your address and I will send a sprue of 10 chairs of ST baseplates and some spare half chairs I have in 4 mm scale to you With hindsight I would have used C&L flexi track Which and glue one track/ spike the 09 out of code 82 flatbottom or the Peco Pandrol clips with code 75 flatbottom, Must say a great idea

I totally agree with you it was wrong not to replace the houses that were sold off, but the stigma of being a council tenant was always there. People were looked down if they lived on the Merridan, Hollywell or South Oxhey estates etc. The right to buy has greatly improved these estates for both tenants and owner occupiers. Right to buy should have helped to increase housing stock rather than increase the councils reserves The only reason houses are bought by private landlords to rent out has been the fault of the benefit system in the past being far too eager to pay any amount in housing subsidies, which has made this possible. In the early years it was very different as rents did not cover costs unless you had large sums to put down as a deposit. It was first time buyers who were setting the prices and the buy to let market struggled to complete Quite simply the buy to let investor asks what rental income would this property let for, the purchase price is calculated from this. Whilst people and or state benefits are willing to pay/support high rents they will continue to push up house prices Here is an example, two identical houses next to each other being rented by different landlords. Landlord A has low fixed overheads of say £400 per month, Landlord B has recently bought so has costs of £1200 per month. I will keep the numbers simple for this example These houses are renting for £1600 per month, on the face of it there is a nice profit, but drill down and the reality is totally different. Take away 10% agents fees and the profit is £240 then there are costs which have to cover insurance, maintance, periods of non occupation etc. Landlord A is fine, just the profits are not as large, landlord B may just be breaking even and is consoling them selves on the increasing property values. Now throw in a hike in interest rates, landlord A is still fine, but landlord B may now be having to subsidise the rent. He could try and put up the rent, which might be met by a tenant who is paying the whole amount themselves, but someone who is dependant on housing benefits cannot pay any more Both tenants leave, but in the meantime owing to a downturn in the economy prospective tenants can only afford £1400 per month Now do both landlords hold out for wealthier tenants and have no income, or accept a lower income for cash flow purposes. Not an issue for landlord A, just not as profitable as it used to be. Landlord B has a major problem, their asset is making a loss. They decide to get out of the rental market, but the housing market has changed, due to falling rents housing is not worth as much now, which in turn makes property more affordable to owner occupiers, add in rising interest rates and it becomes even less valuable to the buy to let buyers. Home buyers are now pricing the market Quite simply to aid the owner occupier market, the returns of renting need to be reduced. Rents need to either remain static for a long time and or state housing benefit needs to reduce and stop artificially inflating rents thus house prices

Check out the Kato chassis, they do there 0-4-0 which many use and if you look out they can be quite cheap http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kato-11-104-Powered-Motorized-Chassis-N-scale-/362073751198?hash=item544d46fe9e:g:jJsAAOxydlFSsWwS http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kato-11-104-Powered-Motorized-Chassis-N-scale-/362073751198?hash=item544d46fe9e:g:jJsAAOxydlFSsWwS

It may be that the check rails need slightly larger clearances (that's why Peco have short check rails) as the wheels cannot move sideways in their chassis enough. Also try longer wheelbase wagons

Tim The cost of C&L kits with pre-formed parts is still dearer, but if you preform the parts yourself and use the components, from memory using the Exactoscale parts equivalent the their kits come out well under £20. Certainly for those who for what ever reason prefer not to build their own, a cheaper alternative and what seems to be a much better looking alternative to H0 products, now how about a modern image 4 mm scale turnout in 00 gauge Seriously, a first class result for 00 gauge modellers and you never know if it catches on additional products may follow and prices could drop

David I have had 2 railway journeys to Italy in the past 3 years, I was amazed at the number of factory sidings in Italy. Whilst travelling on both the UK's mainline and the French TGV none Now I think with the exception of heavy industry these sidings have long gone. I guess there is a prototype for everything and of course there is modellers licence

Mark I think most of us would like to get rid of MP's and as far away as possible Houses are a supply and demand commodity and you can have market corrections which affect prices in the short term. Negative equity is only a problem if you are trying to sell/remortgage. What has been suggested from some areas is not a period of negative equity, but a wholesale reduction in property prices to a level which all could afford, this would collapse the banking industry whose balance sheets rely heavily on rising property prices. We could build more houses, but look at the size of land banks which are carefully brought to market to maintain/ increase land values, what land owner would sell land below its value?. Then if land was made available show me a building company who is willing to cut their profit margins to sell houses cheaply. If you pass this hurdles find a bank willing to lend on an unprofitable project. Another thought is who should social housing be for, and for how long. Example 1 A person who earns enough to either buy a property or pay for private rent, should we subsidise their rent? Example 2 When a person(s) circumstances change, should we change the type of property they are entitled to. If its right to give them a larger property when their family grows, surely the opposite is also right when family leave home I used to live near a housing estate where after the war was build for homeless Londoners, by the early 80's there were more Rolls Royce's on this estate per square mile that most other local areas, which were supposedly better off. The rental sector in my opinion needs a rethink, prior to the change in legislation allowing Short hold tenancies the balance was too much weighted in favour to the tenants, resulting in homes which became available being sold rather than re-let, Now the balance is too far in favour of the landlord. We need a rental sector which works equally for both landlord and tenant. Landlords are always looking for good tenants and I think in many cases good landlords try to look after good tenants, we need to squeeze out bad landlords, but also protect good landlords from bad tenants

This is fine providing you get a good bond between the paper template and the track bed. Or as I think on at least one of Iain's layouts the paper template was stuck to the baseboard at the edges allowing the track to float. Just ensure all areas that have been glued have bonded well and the correct type of glue has been used. (Avoid PVA if sound reduction is desired)

Ivan a bit radical and knowing you its mostly tongue in cheek/irony. On the other hand all over the country in desirable areas wealthy individuals and companies are buying second homes/holiday let properties, which make it impossible for locals to complete. Walking back to the hotel in St Ives I went past many ex-fisherman's cottages, all of which had been either turned into holiday lets or commercial premises. This was common in most of the coastal towns and villages, the exception was Clovelly (which you paid to enter) which has strict occupation rules. Then you have the likes of myself moving out from the London area a bit thus increasing the prices further out You are right in many ways, certainly those who live elsewhere and buying for investment purposes only put nothing into the local communities should be discouraged. Also our major cities are getting far too overcrowded, Years ago there was a move to relocate jobs to other areas, seems only national and local authority jobs moved. Perhaps a tax on nonessential jobs in the centre of London might focus minds, but the financial carnage which decreasing property values would cause might collapse the banking system?

Grenfell was in the borough of Kensington, but not in Kensington. I think white city is a better description and whilst the cost of properties is much higher than many in the greater London area, its no where near the prices of Kensington. One bedroom flats £300k three bed flats £350k. However whilst these areas are very close to each other, different additional factors may alter prices slightly

In many areas if you buy a commodity at the correct price and market it well you normally make a profit. Was the collection built up for profit or pleasure ?

Mike With straight track you can lay both rails, the method I have explained we used on a club 7 mm scale layout Turnouts are similar, I tape a piece of tracing paper to the plan, then cut strips of double sided tape about 3 mm wide and have 2 lines of tape to hold the timbers. Most chairs will hold the timbers in place. The exception being the slide chairs, super glue the slide chairs to the stock rails. When removing the tracing paper just wet the double sided tape with white spirit and it will come off very easy. carefully glue the timbers in place. The odd one may need adjusting

Dave I was talking about the buildings insurance, as there as several different properties within a block of flats unlike contents insurance it is totally impracticable to have individual buildings insurance policies in the same building. As part of the annual maintance agreement the managing agent arranges for one policy which covers every flat. This protects all owners that the correct policy for all flats remains in place, and insures that no one individual owner jeopardises the others. There are two groups, the owner occupiers plus the housing associations (non Kensington) and Kensington council. The owners will claim a total loss be reimbursed by the insurance company, as for Kensington they will be reimbursed for their loss and I guess will do a deal to buy the land back for re-development . Anyway what I was trying to comment on was the ability of the owner occupiers to be able to buy a property with the compensation from the insurance company in the same area Firstly generally ex local authority property normally is less valuable than privately owned property, secondly looking at the BBC article the flats were quite generous in size, thirdly with the loss of so many housing units within the area will increase the cost of existing housing stock. Fourthly after the experience of seeing their homes destroyed would they want to live in a high or low rise flat again, houses are dearer Plenty has been said about tenants being able to remain in the area, heard nothing about the owner occupiers who suffered the same fate, and for the above reasons may be financially forced out of the area. I feel all should be treated equally

Mike If its a section of plain track, why not make a card comb to hold the sleepers whilst laying one length of rail on to the sleepers, the solvent if run along the rail, when dry will be strong enough to hold the sleepers in place during the move to the baseboard. stick the sleepers to the track bed, once set fit the other rail

This is, as all agree a terribly sad affair and our hearts go out to all, I guess like all right minded folk hope those affected get the housing they rightfully deserve There are several points that arise. Firstly those who owned their own property will be insured (via the properties block insurance) for the value of their asset, will the payment allow them to buy a property in the same location? I doubt it and I guess they will have to look further afield and move away. Will anyone care I doubt it In the locality housing is short especially with social housing, is their suitable housing stock within the area available to be brought for social housing ? if not in the short term how can the authorities provide housing within the area other than evicting other tenants Then their has been the almost instant response of political pressure groups, some agreed are concerned truly for those affected, but many seem to grab the opportunity to cause trouble. Looking at the reports of certain Camden tower blocks, 3 of which were so bad the residents had to be evacuated, everyone seems to have forgotten about these and the local socialist councils seemingly contempt for their tenants safety. In my book equally as bad as Kensingtons Yes Kensington's response to this disaster seems far from what we would have expected, too little to slowly, as it seems is the distribution of funds from the millions of £'s given to the survivors and others affected. Hopefully things are now speeding up and beginning to happen Sadly Kensington is not alone in what now seems to be underestimating fire safety in tower blocks, it seems common to all political parties both in local and national government. It is grossly offensive and totally dis-respective of those affected to make political capital out of this sad event. Politicians should be joining together to put right the wrongs that have occurred, as it seems many providing these services have failed their tenants/co-owners. Hopefully the legal system will step in and take action, not just in Kensington but everywhere else where finance has been put before peoples safety.

On a recent visit to Bodmin station I picked up 3 used railway books, all in excellent condition for £7, all 3 will be a good source of model making reference, plus enjoyable holiday reading. Would struggle to buy a rubbish paperback from a bookshop for this

One for the 0 gauge boys Several sets of older style Slaters wheels. 3 pairs of 4'5" 4 pairs of 3'7" drivers 5 pairs of 3'3" drivers. 6 sprung hornblocks. A couple of chimneys and a few other turned fittings. A Buhler motor Plus a chassis frames for an 0-4-0, with the remains of a cab and bunker and top of a saddle tank plus 2 buffer beams with sprung buffers.The chassis has a 38 mm wheel base (5'6"?) All for £20.55 inc postage I may put a set of wheels on eBay to recoup some of the funds, the 3'7" wheels may fit a P class (with worn down wheels) and the 29mm wheels could fit something a bit bigger. OK the wheels need quartering, and in some cases a bit of a clean, but I have paid less for this lot than the cost of a new pair of wheels The motor is similar the this one but in better condition, Any ideas please http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BUHLER-MOTOR-FOR-O-GAUGE-MODEL-RAILWAYS-MODELLERS-TESTED-AND-FULLY-WORKING/272598036895?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D47510%26meid%3De5f3d4842eed4840ab23e0283176f09d%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D262885093835&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

I think there is with narrow gauge models a situation where reality differs from perception in what looks right. It may be that deeper cuttings hide the tightness of the curves, plus many of the Welsh narrow gauge railways run through cuttings etc.

Bernard I totally agree with you regarding the instructions which I found vague, then Peter re-wrote them The other problem is that there are several different sequences which are mostly down to personal choice. So with so many differing pieces of information confusion sets in The actual assembly is quite easy, the difficult part is the fabrication of the parts. Which in themselves are quite inexpensive in materials just the cost in labour, but the real costs from what I have noticed has I think been down to outsourcing the fabrication and the mark up required by a small size business. What is needed is a small one man cottage industry to step in This has nothing to do with the new Peco turnout, which on looking at the Peco photos could be very promising

Reply If you like it then there is no issue, especially as the 00 track gauge is a far greater compromise We are building/using models where for many reasons compromises have to be made and if you are happy with the looks and performance then all is well

I have a contact in Germany who re-motors modern RTR locos with coreless motors. So where there is a will there is a way A couple of recent threads are about the supply and manufacture of a replacement etched chassis for newly introduced models. This is another way of improving the chassis to complement excellent bodies

Did you use flatbottom or bullhead rail? The smaller chairs from C&L are the code 82 flatbottom ST base plates. Not only would you have to cut them in half but also cut a notch on the inside to clear the foot of the rail Peck sell spikes or fit down Bambi staples, then drill holes in the sleepers. Or just put blobs of thick glue of filler For 009 I would go for flatbottom rail and spikes or spikes and plates. Unless someone does TT size chairs