hap

That would be most helpful and appreciated.

I am considering modelling a motive power depot modelled on Holyhead depot 1920-1950s. My challenges are I'd like to model a LMS depot to match my loco stock and my location requires the depot to be long and narrow. Engaging with another kind member on this forum raised the idea of Holyhead as a suitable candidate. The depot also has the advantage that it was home to 'big engines' such Black 5s, Scots and Patriots as well as some Jinties - so would well with my locos. The track plan does look broadly suitable with some modification. While I have a number of books on LMS engine sheds, looking through them I have found I have very little on Holyhead itself. Hopefully some books currently in the mail may show more Hence my request for photos and other details. I have some distant shots of the engine shed and some of the surrounding buildings, but have nothing on the coaling plant, turntable, water column, water tank all of which are a mystery to me. Google images has been only slightly helpful. Thanking all in advance

While I contemplate and absorb all the advice I have been provided. I felt the need to do some other - non-layout modelling. Accordingly, I started work on detailing the Peco turntable. I wanted a brick floor in the well, so printed some segments with a brick pattern using a 3d printer. Given I have not used my 3d printer for much model rail printing, I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. The segments are only 0.5mm thick - so quite thin. The brick wall is simply printed paper using a laser printer. These have all been attached using simple PVA glue so I can easily remove them if I tire or want to modify the design. Since the photos I have detailed the track within the well. I am thinking I may try designing and printing an inspection pit for the engine shed as a next mini project.

Loving the pictures Free At Last. Please keep them coming

Very useful - thank you

Thanks Brian. Duly noted & the reference appreciated.

Again - most useful observations and some correct guesses Harlequin. Good points re the turntable and track needing to be perpendicular. I shall adjust The coaling road. Yes you are correct. If I am to keep it, it would be best to not connect to the turntable. Maybe an isolated line. I'll think about this one. As for the curved points near the shed. a) yes it is using points I have and b) I wat trying to get away from all parallel track. Useful to ponder.

Thank you David. I have been studying your track layout intensely. Some useful grist for the mill. I like the flow. May I ask how the track worked for the coaler - was it an isolated section of track or did it connect somehow to the rest?

An interesting point there TonyMay re the ramp. I was thinking having some varying heights would make it a bit more interesting, but you are correct, it takes space. One to think about. I am under no illusions the layout could store all my locos. and yes I have a mix of large and smaller engines including a Duchess and a Princess,,,, and a couple of Jinty's.... . Thankfully they all it on the Peco turntable. As for the Garratt that I own - well it can magically arrive in the depot whenever it is located within it. I suspect that expecting the Garratt to operate effectively in the depot is a step too far.

I have been remodelling my garage and found I have space for a long and narrow shelf layout. It will be 00 and powered using DCC. Economic necessity will require all track / points etc to be pulled from existing items I currently own. All are Peco and include a couple of curved set track one each of LH and RH, a handful of LH and RH streamline, a couple of set track Ys and a double slip. Flexible track will be used for the rest. As I have not built a layout since I was ~7 years of (I am ~7x that these days) - I would really value any feedback and comments as to the operating quality of my plan before any board building and track laying occurs. I am also seeking an appropriate name to call this. And for the curious, yes I still have that old layout from the mid 1970s - a 8ft x 4ft based on the Layout 11 from the Hornby track plans of the era. My chosen location has some interesting opportunities / challenges. At one end I need to accommodate the shed door spring and arm mechanism and the other end I need to allow access to a wall in the garage. This gives me maximum dimensions of 335cm x 34cm. It will be located at approximately my eye level ~175cm from the floor to accommodate a car. Thinking through what theme I'd to build, I have landed on a motive power depot (LMS to match most of my locos). The advantage is that it provides good operating opportunities for at least a handful of locos and some selected rolling stock. It would allow engines to come off an imaginary mainline and be decommissioned for the day. Then the next morning, be watered / coaled etc before returning to service. I'd like to include a turntable (I own a Peco one) to approximate what was at Camden (1B) and a simple coal drop (something like what was at Hull Botanic Gardens (53B). A traverser is also an optional extra - just for something interesting (possibly using a modified Dapol turntable kit). I'd also like to include a small area where selected wagons or a carriage is worked on. I also own a couple of Scaledale engine sheds (one 2 track, one single) which should be suitable (although more like branch sheds than a proper depot). I intend to computerise the turntable (via Arduino and stepper motor) and, if fitted, the traverser. My current track plan is shown below. It was partially inspired by Widnes depot - but much modified by my constraints and wants. If I could get glimpses of real sheds into the end result eg Camden turntable & water towers / Hull Botanic Gardens coaling area - that would be a bonus. The top most line in the track plan is intended to be an incline. to the raised coaling stage. And yes, I do know a few of the tracks do not connect properly - but the design was done using set track with more geometry constraints than flex track will allow.

Just an update. Hornby kindly will provide a replacement chassis block. Again I must compliment them on their quality customer service. It was really appreciated.

Just an update. I tried J-B Weld (2 part epoxy) over the weekend - let it cure and tested it to see if it would hold. While better than any other adhesive I have tried, it too failed to hold.

Thank you for your helpful suggestions. G-BOAF, yes the metal is fairly crystallised. Not a good sign I think – I wonder how the rest of the chassis will age? It also seems to mean that adhesives do not bond well to it. I plan to try some J-B Weld shortly to see if it will bond, and at the same time contact Hornby (thanks Fireline). I'll report back the results. Rob – a good suggestion re tapping in a longer screw. I am saving that one as a last resort.

Looking for solutions. I have a Hornby Royal Scot which has broken its mounting for the gear cover. You can see in the picture that the stub that the screw goes into has fractured at its base. Hence, has anyone had the same issue, and if so, how did you solve it? I have tried super glue, metal epoxy and gorilla glue and none are holding. Surely there must be an easy solution.

knobhead - you are an inspiration. Well done. I am enjoying all of your conversions. I was doing some research to do something similar to what you did with your Lord of the Isles and I came across photos of what the real engine looked like when built. Have you considered doing Lord of the Isles in this way with exposed & larger wheels, no cab roof etc? I found some photos at http://spellerweb.ne...oftheIsles.html and was thinking how elegant something along these lines would look.