jcm@gwr

For those that haven't been, Minature Wunderland is a good example of what can be done with lighting, and special effects. I appreciate that some of the illusions created can be borderline 'toylike', but again, it's down to personal preference, and where your level of compromise lies. They go through a regular cycle of night running (for about 20 mins, every couple of hours) Overall it's impressive, and I would recommend a visit to anyone.

Had you said that you didn't find it funny, I wouldn't be responding, but you are not really in a position to comment or criticise, firstly, humour (like beauty) is in the eye (or ear) of the beholder (listener), secondly, you are from the USA, where the concept of humour is still trying to establish itself!

The area the Bishop came from/presided over was not mentioned!

I can't comment on Oxford, but I've punted regularly around Cambridge over the years. There is definitely a nude bathing club, complete with clubhouse, decking, diving pier, etc. and I've punted past them many a time, since the '70's

Was Sir Sean Connery your patron?

To be honest I don't know, and unfortunately, I can't seem to find the spare track I had, also the test-track is at the club. I'm going to be working at the club over the weekend, so I'll measure it and let you know, ok.

Thank you, I have more photos (taken during lockdown) of how I built it, including the unusual method I used for electrical continuity across the board joints (without using any connectors) The test-track was designed to be light, small and easy to assemble, so that our older members, or those not used to portable layouts, could borrow it for use at home. The photos were taken so I could write an artical for our newsletter, and if there is any interest, I'll happily post them up, ok.

The Lima set-track was 700mm radius (2' 31/2") and all their locos go round, including the 4F, and their Bo-Bo diesels. I have a number of 0-4-0 locos, and an Alas Plymouth 0-6-0, which all go round without issue. But at the moment, the track is just a circle, on a 4 piece board, for testing and running in, I knocked it up as a test track for small locos, as our club layout is in the process of being rebuilt. packed away for transport/storage and set up for our reopening on New Years Eve!

I've used, and would recommend, a couple of rolls of shed insulation. It's basically double thickness, silvered bubble-wrap, and you put it up with a staple gun. also you can tape the overlaps with the special aluminium tape to get it perfectly airtight. It has the insulation effect of 2" of expanded polystyrene, and has the other advantage of leaving an air gap (you staple it to the beams), so you don't get mould problems. You could also use it in you garage! (and it'll improve your loft, which will save you money!)

If you're worried about the glue holding, why not pilot hole the ply, once the glue has dried, and then use longer screws, that go through the ply into the frame/board.

His wife has confiscated his house key!

Do you have any offcuts of ply left over, you could laminate them together with PVA to get the correct height, you could then have them at the most convenient size for your preferred hinges, and they're far less likely to split.

Not that long, you don't need that much meths

I don't use washing-up liquid, I read somewhere it potentially could be the cause of some brands of ballast going green. I use a splash of meths, it does the same, if not better, job of reducing the surface tension, it also helps speed up the drying process. Also, I sometimes add a bit of acrylic paint, normally black, for areas where locos stand, plus some sidings, etc. because it looks more natural than trying to paint it later.

I feel reasonably qualified to give you an answer, as I have built a cardboard layout! Many moons ago, there was a thread on here about building a layout for £100, which included buying the stock. The OP used free corrugated cardboard, which I felt was not a good idea, during a chat with fellow club members, they challenged me to do a better job, if thought I could! I used large sheets of grey board from HobbyCraft, which I strengthened with sections from packaging (U & L shapes), I glued it together with PVA, and it got 3 coats of Shellac. It was a 6'6" x 1'4" 0 gauge Inglenook, that I took to various local shows, over 6 years, stopped by lockdown, and a point failure. While it survived, and is back working (new point tie-bars), I wouldn't recommend using cardboard for a permanent layout, it doesn't have the strength, or enough resistance to damp, etc. Is there not a local club, or a friendly neighbour, who could assist with making a wooden baseboard for you? (I've no idea where you are on this planet, as you don't say, either under your avatar, or in your signature!)

Not forgetting the Treacle Mine, and the Broken Biscuit Repair Factory!

Thanks, I obviously didn't dig deep enough, sorry.

Thank you, but that raises the question, how can you check what topic you've ignored (in case I've done it by accident, or I've changed my mind), as Settings on My Profile only shows Ignored Users

Unfortunately, that was a useful feature, if you were looking for something in a thread, but couldn't get the search option to look for what you wanted because you couldn't remember how to describe it perfectly! (also, it appears to not understand normal English!)

My problem is trying to remember which way to rotate the sundial!

I like Smart-ies!

It maybe that some clubs will have to change their approach to layout building. I admit that we are lucky, in the fact that we own our clubhouse, which makes it a lot easier. We haven't built a specific exhibition layout, but we have built club layouts, that are portable, and have been invited to shows; the rest of the time they are set up in the clubhouse, for our members to use and enjoy. Obviously, leading up to a show, there is a flurry of activity to fix any problems, or finish off any upgrades, etc., but it does mean more members can be involved.

It would have been interesting to hear what his answer might have been to the question, "Why did you choose wagons that are already covered by kits, instead of ones that aren't available, but we're numerous, and wanted by modellers?"

He missed Graffiti off his list! (I know vandalism covers it, before anyone points that out!)

I would suggest that all that is wrong, is that the centre axle/wheelset has been fitted the wrong way round. So just a case of assembling correctly, not re-designing/changing.