Chris M

Sorry to hear that, I hope things go well. I recently finished my radiotherapy and am awaiting the recent PSA test score to see if it has worked. I had no symptoms to speak of either when I had my PSA test.

Answer - generally yes. Having said that there are some very big layouts that somehow manage to not run many trains and this is he worst kind of layout. Every is entitled to their own point of view and nobody is right or wrong but I find dioramas boring no matter how well they are modelled. I can see how operating a diorama would be interesting but watching one is about as interesting as watching paint dry (for me). My N gauge layout history suggests bigger is better for me - first 1 - 44 in by 27 in, second one 7 ft by 38 in, latest one 11 ft 6 in by 40 in. I agree modelling competitions are fairly meaningless as it says more about the judges views than the modelling, and how can you compare very different concepts? The visitor vote for best layout at a show can be a useful tool as the complete results give the organisers information as to which layout types are popular. The layouts that come third or fourth won't get a public mention but they help to show the organisers what the paying public like.

Going back on topic, I bought a number of Peco N gauge points with their plastic packaging last October. I laid the points and, after following this thread, I kept the packaging with my modelling materials. I have now used the packaging to glaze a large scale project for free. So thanks for raising it and thanks to those who have good advice.

Looks like I'll be there in the queue on Saturday morning clutching my £10 note.

The weather looks set to be mild and maybe a bit damp for next weekend. Looks like no chance of snow.

Here's mine on action. Shame the motor made more noise than the chuff chip.

I had the Lionel G Harry Potter set some years ago. Sorry to say it was junk. The loco was a very poor model but the coaches were abysmal. The radio control has hardly any range. I bought the set hoping to make a reasonable loco out of it but in the end sold it on eBay.

Thanks for all the input. The layout is progressing slowly.

You could balwaus buy uoirsel a cherished number from DVLA. Costs about £400.

Interesting off topic point. Would some people be saying the hobby is better for not having an NEC show?

I didn't go to this show because I was too busy over the weekend - shame because there were a few layouts I would like to have seen. Regarding small traders at shows. You have to consider that they will have to not be working (and therefore losing revenue) on the Friday before the exhibition and probably the Monday after. They will have the cost of getting to the show which may include hiring a van and possibly have to pay for two nights in a hotel. They may have to pay for an additional helper over the weekend or at their shop if they have one. Its not just the cost of the trade space at the show which is an issue. Many of these specialist suppliers are only just eking out a living and simply cannot afford the luxury of attending exhibitions. I don't think you can blame show organisers or small traders for their absence from exhibitions - its just the economics of the situation. Looking forward to Stafford in a few weeks. It is a very good show which is well worth visiting but it is not quite as perfect as suggested. Even the best of shows have some issues. If it is wet then cars get stuck in the mud which looks a lot like grass until you put your car on it. I'm picky where I park but my brother got stuck a few years ago. Unless things have changed there isn't much in the way of phone signals in and around the halls which means trying to contact people you plan to meet is a pain as is buying anything by card from the trade stands. The exhibition centre owners really should get this sorted. Finally it goes very cold in the halls overnight. The heating is very effective and the temperature rises quickly to a very comfortable level by opening time. This makes it great for exhibitors and visitors but I reckon some of the layouts get gremlins due to this sudden change in temperature. Nevertheless, always an excellent show and well worth a visit. Good bunch of lads running it as well.

I drove a gen 2 Astra for a week on holiday many years ago. I'm pretty sure is was a 1.6. Engine wasn't interested and wouldn't rev past 5,000 and it rolled like a boat on bends. The third worst car I have ever driven. Later generation Astra's (in 1.6 format) seemed ok but totally lacking in character.

Just one operator. We sometimes have two operators but then we have to agree who is going to make adjustments. You can't really speak to visitors while running four trains though. It's simple analogue with only two controllers. It's all about watching where the locos on the two middle trains cross each other on the storage sidings and making minor adjustments. One surprising thing is that without any changes to the controller each loco speed alters very slightly over time. If you get it perfectly balanced within a few minutes you can be sure it won't be.

Going round bends on two wheels is a bit tricky with a loco. I operate my Little Aller Junction layout sensibly most of the time at exhibitions but when youngsters are around I put on a bit of a show. The little people seem to enjoy it a lot, as do some big people.

Maybe because I’m well known for being daft. :)

That's probably because they don't know either. If you talk to the Dapol bosses at shows you will get an idea of what is in the pipeline and roughly when based on the best information they have at that time. My initial comment wasn't entirely a joke. Dapol, like most other manufacturers rely on Chinese factories doing what they say they are going to do when they say they will do it. Probably due to the difficulties of getting everything together for a relatively short batch production run the factories don't always manage to do things according to their plan. Its not always late production, I have heard that sometimes these factories can make stuff ahead of schedule or make a bigger batch than was ordered. Often the first thing people like Dapol know is when they get the shipping note. And of course, sometimes a factory does a complete batch wrong despite going through a sample checking process. Even Bachmann have had similar problems despite being part of the same company as the factory.

You do need a good degree of swivel on the bogies. I'm not sure any UK model has enough swivel. Its not a good thing to be doing and I don't approve of such things......unless it is out in the sunshine. USA Trains GP38s do have plenty of swivel on their power trucks. I initially did this by accidentally changing the point at the wrong time and was surprised to see the loco come round the bend running perfectly well on two tracks so I had a little play.

There is a garden railway size kit available. See https://www.rail-roadmodels.co.uk/product-page/ivor-the-engine

Everyone should plough the furrow they want so I wouldn't criticise anyone for not thinking the same as me and I don't consider myself to be a more serious modeller than anyone else. If a fellow enthusiast gets satisfaction from running trains on a bare baseboard that is fine by me and I see what they are doing as being just as valid as what I am attempting to do. For me though it is the whole scene that is important. I like a reasonably accurate train to run through a carefully thought out landscape. I always build open baseboards with land height going both below and above track level. This really helps to give the feel that the railway was built through a landscape that was already there. It's a shame (in my view) that so many layouts are still built by laying track on a flat board and then building scenery around it. That never looks right to me but on the other hand I am quite happy with Peco track. I have built my own many years ago but it isn't something I like so I don't do it. I like the train itself to be a reasonably correct formation although scale length trains can look too long on smaller layouts. So sometimes it's about looking right rather than being 100% to prototype. I also like stock to look like it is in use so everything has a light weathering; I could not bear to run anything straight out the box ( unless already weathered). Stock out of the box just looks too "plastiky". The other thing I like to do is model a representation of a real railway location. I find this to be an interesting challenge. I spend as much time investigating the place and it's history as I do building it. The frustration of doing this is that you never have as much space as you need. The satisfaction is ending up with something which is a reasonable representation for my eyes.

Two photos from some time ago, please excuse the quality. The 8F was always my favourite loco on the SVR, wonder when/if it will get to run again.

The MG ZT 260 V8 is probably a classic - and rare too. I had a drive in one once and very nice it was too. Relaxed but powerful and sounded great (as do all V8s). Shame it only had the standard fuel tank so you couldn't go far between petrol stations.

I use latching relays

Happy days at Arley

Love Arley - both the village and the station. In the warmer months I love to take the grandchildren over there. Feed the ducks, look out for stick man going down the river from the bridge, picnic in the station garden (and see a couple of trains if my timing is right) then back to the car and a little sleep on the way home (the kids not me). A brilliant, simple and very cheap day out. The volunteers that look after Arley station do a wonderful job and I am always amazed at how well the gardens are kept. Very well done to all involved; you have created something special. I always feel a bit guilty that the above day out is great for me but does nothing to help the SVR. I am a member like to support the SVR by travelling on it and going to events but unfortunately I don't have the spare time to become a volunteer myself.