Chris M

Have you thought of offering your consultancy services to Bachmann, Hornby and Dapol? I'm sure they would welcome your expertise on making perfect models and improving profits.

You are assuming that there are designers available to do this. In reality these designers are under pressure to get things ready for tooling kick off and get working on the next model. I don't work on the industry bit I do know of at least one model a manufacturer is very keen to get started but they just can't get a time slot allocated for the work to be done . From what I've been told funds are available but designer's time isn't. So a perfect model of one loco could but the next one back months.

The Llangollen Garden Railway Festival was postponed in May but has been rearranged for October 3rd. This week the organiser has said the show is "all systems go". It could possibly work out for them.

I would love to see this get enough support to go ahead and wish KR Models all the best. I'm tempted to show an interest but, having been bitten by DJ, I really don't think I would be prepared to part with cash up front at the moment so in fairness I can't register an interest. There aren't many details such as what amount would be required up front (100%, 50%) or at what point this would be paid. I guess if I payed by credit card any funding would be protected by the credit card company so maybe there is no risk. I paid by debit card with DJM which, on reflection, was rather stupid of me. I suppose one problem with this project for me is that it reminds me of how gullible I was with DJ. I know KR Models has absolutely nothing to do with DJ (apart from buying the CAD from the administrator) and I I have heard that the business plan for KRM is more sensible than DJM in that this is is not the main source of income for the folk behind KRM. This makes a very big difference to the chances of long term success. It sounds as though the KRM set up is more like Revolution than DJM in that respect but I don't have first hand knowledge. Anyhow, if this project appears to be getting plenty of support I could well become interested in having a king again, but not just yet. I bought a Britt when the king died so I have all the locos I need in my roster. Has the 00 GT3 actually been produced yet? I know there are pre production samples so it should be close if not already there. I think seeing customers receive (and praise) this loco would be helpful in drumming up support for the king. Apologies for being a little negative but being taken in by DJ still hurts.

It's down to each individual's perceptions. I would really have liked a large prairie for my N layout but the old Farish one was so far from right that I couldn't bring myself to buy one even though there were plenty of cheap ones around . The Farish class 50 wasn't close enough for me to buy one either (close but no cigar) but as mentioned above the Dapol 50 is very good so far as I am concerned. The headcode box could be better but it doesn't bother me. When it comes to the accuracy of any model I feel the worst error is to leave it as it comes out the box. A little light weathering, removing the front coupling and adding the separately supplied bits make all the difference. This is far more important than the usually fairly minor errors on modern models. I'm always surprised at how many layouts at exhibitions and in magazines run locos and stock in "straight out of the box" condition. Surely no serious modeller would run a loco in that condition.

Here's a comprehensive list of all the exhibitions that are confirmed to be on:-

A choice of class 45s!!! Us poor N gaugers don't have even have one available.

I'm sure all manufacturers do the best job they can within whatever constraints they may have - design time being one of them. All labour time creates costs that have to be recovered from sales. Also there is demand for models that have been announced to be made as soon as possible, while the CAD people are making one model perfect all the others behind it in the pipeline are being delayed. Models will always be a compromise. The quality of models in nowadays is quite astonishing. The Dapol class 50 in N got quite a pasting from some but I find it to be quite acceptable, well very good actually, and am happy with my pair. This is a much better model than the old Farish model which on itself was better than their earlier models. It would be nice if models were perfect but I like to appreciate what we have rather than spend my time trying to find fault. There does seem to be a lot of expertise in this thread. There is nothing stopping anyone getting down to it and designing a perfect model and getting it made. There is no risk as it these experts can be sure it will sell better than the inaccurate models currently on sale.

I'm the other way round, I miss exhibitions more than I miss the club.

Covid has been hard on my wallet. I've spent more on model railway stuff in the last three months than in the last three years! I suspect I am not alone.

I've jumped off the fence and votes for oval. I can't wait to see my current project running when it's finished. It's at the exciting stage where I can really see progress. I do like to see a train on the main line.

Wow.

Blimey your glass is so half empty. I can't see how an exhibition can take place while there is a need for social distancing but that won't last forever. When social distancing goes exhibitions will return. I think a lot of the trade are surviving ok. Nobody is saying much but the few snippets I have picked up suggest online sales have been going reasonably well. Anyone without an online presence or with a poor online shop will be struggling. I agree that trade exhibitors are essential to model railway exhibitions. They provide essential income for the show and also attract visitors, I always check the list of trade stands before deciding to go to a show. Many of the trade exhibitors are great characters who really enjoy being at exhibitions and they like to meet folk who they may deal with online. If you see a trader at an exhibition you may well have more confidence to buy from them online in the future and exhibitions are a great place for potential punters to see the quality of the products they make. For instance would anyone know the great range of N Brass Loco etchings if the owner didn't take his stand to exhibitions all over the country? An online presence is fine but you need to know these items are available in the first place. These small traders also provide inspiration for all those important little details. I'm quite optimistic that most trade exhibitors will be keen to be "back in the saddle".

I guess postponed fits because, like many shows, all of the layouts invited for 2020 will be invited to 2021. Obviously some won't be able to attend so it won't be exactly the show but it will be close. As the floor plan will have been worked out a few months ago it will save a lot of work if all the layouts can come.

Your layout is looking promising, the bridge at Dawlish is very recognisable. You have a big challenge ahead and I look forward to seeing progress. My project is much smaller. It's still a challenge, especially making buildings in N gauge. I'm getting on well though, well at least I think I am!

I have had interest from some friends but I've said no. I have looked at all the items I can re-use and I reckon I will be able to use items that would cost me over £500 to buy new. Also some bits of the layout are a bit tired. Unfortunately these are in difficult places to access. It runs fine at the moment but I expect it will cause issues in the not too distant future.

It's nice to know my little layout (Little Aller Junction) served as inspiration. There is something special about seeing trains from two destinations run side by side. I'm moving on to a new project, Dawlish Warren, and Little Aller Junction will have to be dismantled in a couple of months time. All the best with your project.

You can run an automated shuttle on an end to end, albeit limited as to what stock you can use. I've done this and quite liked it for those "relax and watch the trains moments". Agree about operating from the front at exhibitions although of course one wants to operate from the front at home. My new project will have a control panel at the front and another one at a rear corner so if it goes to an exhibition I can operate from the back. I'll probably cover the front panel if I take the layout to exhibitions just to remove temptation from visitors. An "oval" can take many forms from a very simple plan to a hugely complex station with branch which would give a lot of operating potential. For me the engine shed/MPD/TMD is the least satisfying layout. Yes it works as a space efficient scenic place to store stock so I can see why folk build them but I like to see locos working pulling trains not just aimlessly going back and forth.

I like both equally so I couldn't vote. One of my favourite layouts was a branch line featuring two intermediate stations as well as a terminus. You really feel you are driving along the branch and of course have to wait for trains in the other direction which is rather nice. One day I would like to do another of these. The majority of the layouts I have built have been ovals though. I also like to see trains running along the mainline.

A HST at speed and a just about possible shot. Oh bu&&er - just noticed the HST front wheel isn't on the track.

I have stock to do 1959, 1963 and 1968 on my layout. I am progressing towards a set of stock for the 1980s. Its nice to be able to choose eras. This layout is Little Aller Junction which is my take on Aller Junction in N gauge. Its been around a bit and is due to be ripped apart for spares in August. The first is close to blue era but no cigar. Others are a better fit. I have bought 3 more blue locos since these photos were taken.

I've put myself down for a skipper.

Luckily for me the local road is just too far from the station for the houses to be included on my layout. I took the pragmatic (well cheap and easy) approach. I grabbed photos of the houses in the road at the back of my layout from street view. I then modified them to look more like the back of the house than the front and made them about the right size. I then dropped them onto a backscene I had made in paint.net from my own photos and got the whole lot printed. I now have all the houses from the road and in the correct order. I'm quite pleased with the results. It's a shame I will be putting up a line of trees between the end of the gardens and the station which will obscure the view. What surprised me was that, when I drew things up to scale all the houses were over a foot from the station even in N gauge.

It's perfectly ok for a business to receive cash for ticket sales, record it correctly and then pay some of that cash out as expenses, again fully recorded and with a signed receipt from the receiver of said expenses.

The Great Electric Train Show and the Swindon Steam Museum both pay by BACS after the event . I think they both insist on VAT receipts for any expenses claimed. I have a feeling that The International N Gauge Show do as well but I am not absolutely sure; I know they are the tightest show in the country and don't even give you a cup of tea. My layout has been to all of these which is how I know . From an organisers point of view I can see the point of insisting on VAT receipts for everything if your organisation is VAT registered. Paying cash out on the day also has some practical advantages for organisers. There is less cash from ticket sales to be taken home and then banked. This reduces security risks and bank charges. Also you have helpers on hand during the exhibition to make up the expenses. For a club paying by BACS after the event means a lot of time working with online banking for the club treasurer. Not my idea of a good time. If you are a business, as on the case of the shows mentioned above then you are already employing staff to do your banking. And of course a business may lose out on a lot of money of it doesn't have the VAT receipts to claim VAT back from the government. It's horses for courses.