Kelly

IIRC Pendolinos can run at 140MPH, super voyagers may be able to as well. The reason they don't on the WCML is it was iirc deemed far too expensive to upgrade to cab signalling for 140mph running. Hence a new line designed for higher speed from the get go makes sense. WCML has reached its limit of improvements. The other aspect of HS2 is that it is aimed to make it possible to spread parts of London to Birmingham in a sense and take pressure off there by being able to commute between the two in a relatively short time comparatively.

Afternoon all. Hope everyone is well and if not, speedy recovery. I've woken up feeling full of another horrid head cold so planned trip in to the city centre to get supplies for Sunday's trip to Ally Pally didn't happen.Oh well, always tomorrow. Natalie's also feeling ill too, but as I've had some new books arrive the last few days she is happily engrossed in those (southern/southern electrics related naturally).

Morning all. Hope everyone is well, and if not then speedy recovery. I have had a bad night sleep wise and seem to have picked up another cold. Hopefully I can manage a few hours before Richard wakes up or we'll have to postpone our planned trip to the Birmingham jewellery quarter today to look at rings.

Impressive range so far. The bridge items might prove useful at a later date. The engine shed could also be adaptable to what I'm after, though finding decent photos online to illustrate what I mean is proving difficult atm (I'm referring to the Lillie Bridge Depot LT steam shed). Thats about the best photo of the front i've been able to find online, there are better photos around in books etc however.

Great work on the HAP and TC. The Mk2 etches look good too, not of use/interest to me, but the methods are as I intend to attempt to make my own etches for some SR/BR(S) EMUs when I get chance to try drawing the artwork.

Afternoon all. Not been online the last few days for one reason or another. Hope everyone is well and if not they recover quickly. Sorry to hear about your loss Debs, never easy losing a pet. I don't get it when people describe it as 'just a pet', when they affect peoples lives so deeply. Had an interesting definition of 'good runner' turn up in the post the other day in the form of a model with the bogies on one carriage dangling from wires and with broken plastic clips. Annoying, but resolved in the end with the seller satisfactorily. A quiet weekend with Richard (other half) has been much needed after recent busy weekends at shows, then next weekend back to the grind of shows with Ally Pally (a long, but usually worthwhile drive).

Came across this layout post primarily due to the original BR(S) original plan, but having read through the posts and the progress I'm impressed. Great work, and interesting idea with the split level platforms. Look forward to seeing how it progresses, I also took a brief look at your Croydon layouts and liked them. I'm sure you'll return to 3rd rail at some point, in the meantime have fun As for old cars overlapping, remember there was a big classic car revival of 70s cars in the late 80s and into the early 90s and beyond. Even today some marques that are a bit maligned have a popular following in classic car circles. It wasn't that long ago that I still drove a Vauxhall HA (later a HC) Viva as a daily driver, it was only ill health requiring a bigger car that lead to giving it up really. The average life of a car is reckoned to be around 12 years, but that number gets less the newer generation the car is. Old 60s-70s cars (especially pre-71 due to car tax rules) have the advantage of being rather easier to keep on the road than 80s or 90s models (electronics and catalytic converters being the primary problems for such era cars, making keeping them going less economical or worthwhile unless they're a cult classic).

Could you add Natalie's and mine Woolwich Dockyard/Charlton Junction inspired layout. It hasn't a formal title beyond Woolwich Dockyard atm, but likely will end up named after a street nearby when we've finalised the plans and started on boards.The thread can be found here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/108757-woolwich-dockyard-working-title/ Thanks.

Rymans are sometimes best to get them. 4L as stated above at 2 for £7, or 9L 2 for £10. I use them for my jewellery stuff so have loads around the house, Hobbycraft tend to sell the 4L ones for £8.

Morning all. Hope all are well and those not recovery soon. A quiet day ahead I suspect, probably more research on 3rd rail subjects and watching some of the DVDs I've got on various topics. That and waiting for the postman to arrive with bits from eBay and Amazon.

Thanks Rich. I'm hoping to have something physical started before the end of the year. The next step is likely to be to get a point kit from C&L to attempt before I attempt the points templot has drawn for me - it won't go to waste as I have a few ideas for some dioramas that it'd be useful for. Atm I'm concentrating on stock items as well as continuing to plan and tweak the plan in templot and discussing ideas with my co-conspirator Natalie.

Thanks.We're not planning to feature the station,it being set between Woolwich Dockyard and Charlton in effect. Though the plan is hopefully to make it a generic enough plan that it can represent other locations with different buildings etc.

Some more progress on the plan in templot, trying to rationalise the width a little and straighten out the access to the traverser/cassettes, and also to remove some points. Added is a couple of hidden sector plates and some hidden sidings behind a scenic background to allow a combination of running around and lowering the need to assemble trains on cassettes.

Afternoon. Hope all are well and those not recovering well. A lazy rest day today. Both Natalie and myself are worn out after yesterday's LWMRS show. It was a good show, but with the DEMU stand a bit understaffed (just Natalie and myself), we didn't get much time to look at the layouts or the show in detail as we'd have liked and consequently I didn't get chance to take photos (forgetting to take the camera Saturday didn't help!). Was meant to have an appointment today, but my back is having very stern words about the weekend with me so alas had to cancel it again.

Morning all. Up early again - urgh! - didn't sleep too well, so plenty of tea required to get through today I think.Thankfully I can hand Natalie the car keys if I feel too tired to drive at least. Should be another good day at the Leamington Show, hopefully will get more progress on the Networker and EPB I was working on yesterday. Hope everyone is well and those who aren't have speedy recoveries.

Thanks for that information Steve.

Morning all. Hope all are well and those on the sick list make a speedy recovery. Started snowing here in Coventry last night, which is rare as often when Birmingham and surrounding areas get the white stuff Coventry gets missed due to the micro-climate type conditions in the area. Am off this weekend to the LWMRS show in Leamington Spa, so hopefully the roads are clear. But if not it is only 11 miles at least from here.

Have been playing with the layout plan in templot and decided to change it a bit. The revised plan, with double track crossover rather than a single siding coming off the double track. More complicated by far than the original plan, but better scope for operation. Effectively compressed the layout of the real track between Woolwich Dockyard and Charlton Junction. Added a siding going to a home fuel depot as well as a hidden siding at the back for stabling. Also added a branch for the docks near Woolwich (in reality they closed in the 1960s). Templot drawing of the plan. The templot plan. I was wanting a slip on the left, but haven't managed to get it to work correctly yet, so for now this will do and is a bit simpler, if not great space wise.

Morning. Feeling more with it today than I did yesterday, though fell asleep not long after we got back home last night on the sofa. Only then later to wake at 1.30am and not get back to sleep. Still I have tea, and Richard is cooking breakfast.

nice to see some more great modelling, and that RS does look nice. Personally I'll stick with my Mondeo

Firstly glad to see you've been discharged Gordon. Hope you make a speedy recovery, norovirus is a nasty one. I'm almost of the cold I've had the last few days at least. Managed to make it out with Richard to visit his mum in her new flat, and was good to see she is much happier there. It is a retirement type flat with accessibility and care facilities on-site if she needs them, so she has no worries (nor does Richard and his siblings) about her future now as it is also social housing. A nice day out turned rather wet and road closures on the road towards Northampton lead to us ending up almost in Banbury due to other roadworks diversions! eventually made it to Northampton where we'd intended to go (from Daventry) a while later, a toasted panini and a few cups of tea were welcome by then Tomorrow I go collect Natalie so we can get the DEMU stuff ready for the LWMRS show over the weekend and I've organised the things I want to take with me.

More EMUs is always good in my view, whatever the scale personally I model in 4mm/EM, and 31x/32x/45x are wrong areas for my interest at this point in time - although my plan is to be able to cover South Eastern and South Central divisions, so my needs might change at a later time if 4mm models are considered for any of them-, but good luck with the project, judging by what I saw of the Pendolino I'm sure it will be another cracking model

I have been working a little on planning for a short time. I've come up with the following sketched out drawing for the layout: Attached are some google maps images of the area. It is still likely to be 'based on' rather than an exact match for the area. For instance the siding coming off in reality splits off north of Charlton, but I'm putting it with a crossover nearer the crossing and suggesting that traffic is going towards angerstein wharf or other docks etc, giving a bit extra traffic flow and interest. I've not decided yet if the lines behind/under the backscene houses will join up at the other end to allow running round. The plan above also introduces a gentle curve (as per the prototype), but again not 100% yet as that'd complicate the modular nature of the layout potentially.

That would indeed be a real shame, a characterful building.

Nice progress and some lovely stock