kathymillatt

On 07/02/2022 at 21:48, CVSNE said:

 

Hi Kathy, 

I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't disappointed by your layouts pending doom, but I completely understand the whys and wherefores. 

 

We downsized a few years ago - of course when we downsize it means there's a 15 x 30 single deck layout .... no 60-footers for me!!!

 

Seriously, while a number of folks immediately honed in on urban switching layouts in HO, NYC waterfront themes are in danger of being done to death, at least over here. 

 

If I was going to take your approach of very small projects - I had to use a conversion app to figure out how big (small!) 900 mm is - I'd go with something in 1/4" or S scale. A real modeling project that you'd be able to detail to your heart's content and then really see when it's completed. 

 

In any event

 

Hi Marty

Whilst I do love that NY waterfront vibe, I’m doing a Welsh slate dock next. The laser cut baseboards arrived today. The High Line is one of my favourite parts of NY but I’ve done the elevated section already so probably won’t repeat. 

After the slate dock I like the idea of a Maine seaport if I can bring a fresh twist to it or a slate quarry with incline. I have a 16mm brass kit for that so really big!  
 

So much choice but at least I can do more than one at the new size. 
 

I’ve sadly no plans to come to the US in the near future but if I do, I will certainly let you know, thanks!

Kathy 

18 hours ago, 298 said:

Something I like in Chris Nevard photos is it seems he has a railway room with a number of layouts set up in, so going into the room is like entering your own exhibition. What might work for you is retaining an outer perimeter of New Haven around your loft with such layouts below it, as a continuous run is always useful and something I can only attain from a circle of E-Z track on the floor.

 

This is my own interpretation of Brew St, in about 26". I did send it to the museum in the US but I don't think they know what to do with it....

 

 

 

Another favourite loco from a side project that you may also have is this Atlas HH660, it's not much longer than a GE 44 or 70 tonner but runs alot better....

 

Hi

I can’t keep a full loop and have my new vision sadly as there is something else planned for the other side and I am not doing hidden track ever again. I do like the way Chris Nevard has multiple small layouts too and I think I am channeling that here.

I have two HH660s and they are my favourites. They run so well. They are definitely on the keep pile. 
 

It is embarrassing how many new items I have that have never been out of their boxes…

Kathy 

On 04/02/2022 at 14:04, jasond said:

Kathy, I've followed the D&H, but occasiona regularly aspects of Nth Am modelling hit you between the eyes.  Here's a shot on the South Brooklyn Railway.  OK, limited traffic these days, but the atmosphere still gets me coughing.

Hi Jason

Sorry, I responded to this on Friday but it seems to have lost that - I do love these New York waterfront railways.  Another favourite is the Jay Street railway running through the corner of a building.  It's a really rich scenic area to model.

Kathy

4 hours ago, jasond said:

Keith's advice above is good, Kathy.  I'm an old O-scaler and went to the NMRABR meet in Stokenchurch, nr High Wycombe last Sunday.  I haven't been a member for many years, but was welcomed by the organisers to the extent that I may rejoin.  Anyway, rather like the bicycle salesman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, I gatecrashed some O-scale threads on forums I watch, mentioned the meet and was really pleased with how many customers that pulled in for me.

Jason

I do love O scale for the size - you can see the details!  

I should go with the buildings etc to a meet but it will depend on what's local whilst I am clearing out.  I've not been to any in a couple of years - I am out of the habit!

You should rejoin - they're a great bunch!

Kathy

4 hours ago, doctor quinn said:

From experience selling a friend’s collection and downsizing my own, eBay worked well with a surprising amount of interest from N America and Europe.
 

Having tried Global Shipping Program once I decided not to use it for nonUK sales. Where there is an import tax eBay collects it and in the case of Europe obtains a reference number which I quoted at the post office. 
 

On the future layout, New Haven’s Union Freight RR in Boston might be worth a look for inspiration.

Hi

I have done ebay in the past and it takes a lot of effort and I am about to start a new full time job so I know that I will be more lacking in time than I will want to be.  I think the global shipping programme seems to confuse almost everyone!

I saw John Pryke's excellent Union Freight in person - awesome - but I think I am more likely to head to the East to New York and do that end instead.  I would like to do street running through the waterfront.  I have a car float but it's too big so it will be going too.

Thanks

Kathy 

4 hours ago, Patrick SPF said:

Kathy

 

There is also the Region Meet at Kelverdon at the end of May

Brilliant thanks Patrick 

5 hours ago, 298 said:

Anoraks Anonymous for the stock if you want to get rid all in one go, otherwise eBay, possibly with international delivery. I'd also consider the same for selling some of those wonderful building kits as I doubt there is much if an appreciative market in the UK for them. I've also known of Warwick & Warwick sell a large collection of US narrow gauge but that method seems to be more for convenience than realising a good price.

 

Your interpretations of a micro layout will be good to see although one disadvantage of building a US themed Chris Nevard type layout I've found is the stock is alot longer than British shunting locos and four wheeled wagons which can make a similarly sized train look smaller.

Thanks on Anoraks 

I do have a lot of stock and US can do small if you use small switchers and 40' box cars - I have a lot in the 40'-50' range plus tank cars, hoppers, flats, gondolas etc...  The switchers are my favourites so it will be great to use them in that.

That is all larger than a UK 4 wheel wagon but still doable, I hope.

Thanks!

8 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

Perhaps a small permanent layout with some detachable sections, such as Tom's marble works sidings might be another way forward.

Hi Richard

I won't go permanent this time as I want to be able to build it in my kitchen downstairs.  I will do laser cut baseboards and then just put them on a cupboard top.  Works well for small layouts without limiting options.  I can store them in the cupboard underneath then!  I want smaller layouts and that brings limitations so these will be alot more limited I know.

Tom's modelling is top notch isn't it - thanks for sharing.

Kathy 

Wow, so much great advice - thank you!

Responding in order:

Keith

On the US layouts, there are definitely a lot of people who have gangs of friends helping them on their 60' basement layouts.  I do know guys who manage that on their own but it is a lifetime achievement and normally does have help on key parts or with motivation.

On my stock:

I do have the original boxes so it's just a lengthy exercise to reunite them from their stock storage to their boxes.  

I feel that I don't have room so rather than have them clutter up my house, I will try and clear in one go.  That makes a dealer a good option and I have had a lot of joy from them - even if some have hardly run in anger!

I put something on the NMRA BR forums but haven't heard anything yet.  I didn't make the recent meet but only decided this after that had just happened.  It's just so much to lug there if most won't sell.

I plan to get rid of the large locos and coaches that are too long for a future cameo layout.  There are just a lot of them!

Thanks for a great reply

Kathy

Hi Everyone

After much soul searching, I am downsizing my US New Haven layout.  The current one is stalled and to be honest, it's too big for my attention span!  I like to do smaller achievable projects.  I am therefore taking out my large layout and will be doing a series of smaller more finescale cameo layouts which can fit in the same slot as each other but be put away for storage.  Each will be 900mm by 400mm on laser cut baseboards.  I am really inspired by layouts such as Chris Nevard's Brew Street.  I would like to explore more prototypes beyond the US, such as Port Dinorwic (a North Wales slate dock), a Maine Seaport and something with canals on.  I will also be doing a few small New Haven cameos too. 

The upshot is that I will probably sell my larger rolling stock and locomotives such as coaches or big diesels.  They are all New Haven so it is very specialised for the UK.  I know when I sold my On30 it was well below cost!  Does anyone have suggestions on the best way to sell the stock eg good dealers etc?  I also have a few buildings I will be offloading too.

Thanks

Kathy

We were told we were 'too extreme' with our design at the very end. Once some of my team realised we never stood a chance they questioned why we were allowed to build this model. We all had to submit our designs weeks beforehand.

Laurie

I'm really upset to hear you were told this. 

The production company loved the idea of sci-fi and I like modelling sci-fi as much as model railways. I certainly thought the layout made excellent TV and showcased a different slant entirely.

I want to reassure you that the sci-fi/steampunk theme had no bearing on the decision.  When I look at a layout, I don't look at the theme they have chosen but at how closely they achieved it.  I certainly leave any personal views on favourite types of layout or theme on one side.  For example, I don't watch Eastenders or Blackadder and I'm a rabid Doctor Who fan but I judged each layout on how well it represented their stated show.  As you say, the production company also okayed your theme.

Theme is just one of four criteria, the others being functionality, quality and creativity.  None of those are affected by the theme chosen.

I hope that helps and I know I spoke to your team about why they didn't win at the time and gave them my reasons, none of which were around the theme being too extreme.

Regards

Kathy

Thanks Kathy for the explanation. I had not realised that. 

 

I may have to watch these shows more than once, because I seem to miss some of the vital clues (probably while gossiping to the wife about which we thought might win). 

I have the joy of watching them 3 times each plus I was there for all of them.  I watch them with friends on the Friday, with my Mum on the Saturday and again on the catch up...

You can tell if trains have been slow in getting going when Tim makes a comment asking if anything is going to run or words to that effect.  It's subtle, really subtle.

Kathy

 

_{As far as I could see, the Diesel Dynamos chances were lost simply because a lorry fell off the end of a wall, and yet there appeared to be far more effort to create entertainment value in both their layout (and The Railway Children's) than having two rotating water columns and red LEDs in loco fireboxes.} 

 

 

_{Their layout had a very unfortunate computer crash at the start of judging and nothing ran for most of the judging period.  The most important criteria that we have is that the layouts must run.  It's a shame as it was a lovely layout otherwise.}

_Kathy

I can see there’s been some confusion about why Fawley won this week. It was very clear when you were there but not so much when you watch the programme.

Ignoring any merits of the layouts themselves, they have to run to win. That’s the number one criteria. The Diesel Dynamos were using a computer to run their layout that unfortunately crashed just as the judging started meaning that nothing ran for a long time. It was long enough to put them out of contention.

Fawley’s layout ran flawlessly so that outweighed any deficits in their interpretation of the theme.

Hope that clears it up.

Kathy

I thought I would shed some light on why all the layouts are OO.

It was originally envisaged by the production company that the heat layouts would join up in the final to one long layout hence they needed to be the same gauge. It became obvious to them that this would require a lot of ripping up of work and no one had the heart to do that. That means the requirement for them all to be the same scale wasn’t needed but the teams had already started planning by then so it was too late to change.

Kathy

It's been fascinating to see what people think of the show.

The production company did film loads of pieces on static grass, ballasting, weathering etc but unfortunately, they didn't fit in the 45 minutes running time. They also visited all the teams beforehand but again, time was against them in the final cut.  It's amazing how little you can get into the time and they had 3 cameras running continuously for around 10 hours each for 3 days on each heat plus the pre-visit footage.  I am so glad I didn't have to edit that down!

For those of you wondering about Missenden's backdrop, I've added some of the photos I took at the time to my behind the scenes post:  https://www.kathymillatt.co.uk/blog/2018/10/05/great-model-railway-challenge-movies/.  I believe that the terraces were Scalescenes that they changed the door colours on and resized into 5 different decreasing scales.  The backdrop itself was photoshopped from google map views and was several layers deep of cut outs.  It was also lit as all of the terraces were.  The whole lot was made so that when you stood in front, all the pieces seamlessly melded into each other with perspective lines.

It was truly a piece of art and I am looking forward to seeing it fully completed at a show soon.

Kathy

I had an exciting afternoon - I went to visit the TV production company making this programme.

They’re really keen to make this work and show what can be achieved with a model railway. They’re thinking how best to make it work for TV and the teams who are taking part. We had a great time bouncing round ideas and debating what can be achieved in the timescales.

If you are interested then I encourage you to get in touch with them. It’s going to be a lot of fun!

Kathy

Thanks Andy!

Hi All

I saw this in BRM and was intrigued. I normally model North American but have been hankering after building a small layout based on Bryn Mawr from Railway Modeller in March 1985.  It was an early inspiration and I do fancy paying homage to how much it inspired me.

It's a small Welsh slate quarry.

I am therefore thinking of doing this challenge based on a small section of a slate quarry.

I'm still percolating ideas but I think it's going to be raining...  it is Wales after all!

Kathy