CourthsVeil

Hi Mike, this looks and sounds like a nice plan, looking forward to seeing it flourish. Armin

Only when using a Grassmaster – under 5000 V there should be no danger !

Hi Chaz, it is said that Wahl oil is identical to ATF = Automatic Transmission Fluid. With which I have no experience until now. In various German fora (forums??) one can read quite positive entries about ATF. The negative posts obviously stem from people who haven't tried it ("cannot be … oil is a lubricant … oil is an insulator … can't work at all …"). The positive ones from those who use it. I have still to get off the stick and ask my car service station for a few drops of ATF and try it out. Reason: my small 4-sqft layouts didn't deserve much cleaning. However, I now have a new layout with plaster adjoining the rails, so I'm hesitant to treat the rails with cleaners and thus spoil the hardstanding… Those who have used it emphasize that ATF be applied very, very sparingly – less than drybrushing and only a few centimeters for the whole layout. Will then be distributed over all the tracks; esp. good for the hidden ones (German Schattenbahnhöfe). It is reported that its effect lasts for months – like graphite. Regards Armin

Full agreement re. barks ! And a lot of manufacturers still make "makadam" sheets in flat black – and modellers buy and use them… Patchy light grey !!! Armin

Chaz, most modellers use Brown to paint the ground cover. Which, in my not so humble opinion, is WRONG. Experience shows that soil in reality is more grey than brown (yes, depending on the geology ! I know, there are red and even yellow, etc. ones). So, "Grey with a Brownish tint" would be suitable. And I think it is not so important whether it Light or Dank grey. Since most of it will be covered with grass etc., anyway. Regards Armin

What a relief ! Already feared "Four in One Shed" is equivalent to "Four in one Potting Shed"… And the Next Little P. then would have been no. three… Phew ! Armin

Which "next little project" ? ? ? Just curious… Armin

Hi John, you here have a short distance to span – in this case you might try out an idea I described in my Port Chambre thread there ('addendum' at end of post). This certainly is much lower than the tube you use and will easily fit into the cork. And the circuitry to change frog polarity is shown in this post; just one DPDT-switch (the left hand one in my drawing) to perform all: 1) movement of blades, 2) polarity change and 3) power the chosen track at point heel. Regards Armin edit: Ray was faster than me…

Mark, I'm a bit late, but here my little contribution to your (and Geoff's) servo solution: Just a length of alu channel plus two bolts – the baseboard in my pictures for clarity (p.i.) replaced by a bit of perspex. I don't use a mounting plate (because I've never heard about before…). My opinion: unnecessary! This simple approach makes adjusting the servo a snap: just loosen the nuts and jiggle the servo a bit until the wire goes dead straight trough the tie bar hole. As you said: SIMPLES! Don't forget to tighten the nuts again… And: piano wire or guitar wire are my choice too! No loop needed. The K.I.S.S. principle applies here too! Apart from that: a very nice and interesting layout you have there. Keep up the good work: Regards Armin

It's amazing, Rob! I was following this thread since its beginning, but I needed the second pic in post #493 above to realize how much width you have left in front of the tracks. This gives a feeling of ample space exp. as a contrast to the crowded background – very convincing! Great work – I do like simple and compact well executed layouts such as this… staying tuned for more. Armin

Can only agree and recommend these simple watercolours for staining wood (and plaster hardstanding). I - for example - use the set our doughter had when she went to school (Pelikan is the brand name - others as well suited…). Regards Armin

Agreed, Mullie! That's the reason why I fiddle around with some self concocted couplings like the left one shown here . Same working principle as S&W, just the hook made of brass wire. Armin

... best from both sides! Armin

Yeah, that looks really convincing, Jimmy. Well done. And the hull appears to be really bedded in. Just a minor point, if I may: the two reddish-brown streaks beneath the ship are a bit distracting. Keep nevertheless up the good work Armin

Sorry, Shaun, wrong button !!! Wanted to hit "supportive"… Armin

Apart from the speed needed to get the parts aligned, there's the problem that most of the foams used will melt when in contact with the hot glue. Experiments with scrap sheets beforehand are recommended. Regards Armin

Coming along wonderfully, Adrian. Armin

Really worth the revitalization, Stu! Best of luck and I look forward for the updates. Regards Armin

Hi Daniel, the next to last pic is really convincing! Very good this view into the street! Keep up the good work Armin

Jack: Just five days ? You lucky boy !! Last time the small loco I had bought needed seven WEEKS to find the way from Frankfurt/Airport to Mecklenburg (customs office) and back to Hessen, where I live… (You know where Mecklenburg is? Outmost north-east spot of Germany! And Frankfurt LIES in Hessen…) And I had to apologize to the seller in the US !! Armin No wonder that these days so many US-sellers refuse to post to Germany.

What a clever idea! Thanks! Armin

This is right up my street. Variation in "personality" applied to those nice "dwarf layouts" - that's it ! I'm following with vivid interest - don't hurry, though. Regards Armin

STUNNING ! Thanks for sharing. Armin

From me too A HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Andy, and the best wishes for many great years to come, YOUNG MAN ! (Mind, I'm only nine more than you…) You speak of "Greenery"? Really?? Fantastic !!! This means, you will sow grass and plant bushes and brambles, right? Don't hesitate - do it before next fall ! If so, you can make - and amend - track plans as you like, nothing can go wrong. Armin

Oooh! Wundervoll! What a gem… Armin