Geep7

I used to be of this belief with Austrian (and Swiss) layouts, but having visited the area that I believe this layout is modelling (the Tyrol region of Austria), it really does look that clean, especially when the sun has come out after a rain shower.

My layouts have always been built with exhibiting in mind, so i've often wondered about this myself for my next layout project. |Whilst I can build baseboards myself to a reasonable standard, i'd probably go down the laser cut root, just some I know that each module is 100% accurate and identical, and with the added benefit of having all the alignment holes pre-drilled.

I've done the same with my old Lima Class 73's, replacing the Lima chassis with the Hornby one. With just a couple of minutes work (which included getting it out of the box), I had all-wheel pickup, a much smoother motor, a DCC socket already wired in and NEM coupler pockets. The reason for doing a chassis replacement was that the body was a repaint job i'd done myself, with some extra detailing, including some Dapol 73 jumper cables..... However, i've recently acquired a couple of Dapol Class 73's, so my Limby ones might just end up on eBay.....

With regards to any of the BR Southern Region EMU's, so EPB, Cep, Cig, Vep etc, most, including the 4-Vep were fitted with the EE507 traction motor, and would sound pretty much the same. The only units that sounded a little more distinctive, were the 4-Rep's (and Wessex Electrics) which had EE546 traction motors. The latter, if I remember rightly, had a bit more of a deeper drone and a much higher whine to them compared to, say a Vep or Cig..... but other than that, most of the sounds would be the same, such as the horn or compressor. Hope this helps. If you want to know more about Southern Region EMU's, can I recommend the Blood and Custard website. It's very comprehensive, although probably has more info. there than you'll ever really need to know.

On behalf of Clive (owner of Horsebridge Wharf) I must echo the thanks to the Basingstoke exhibition team for all their hard effort and hospitality. It was a very enjoyable weekend.

And not forgetting the fact that steam didn't only just come from the chimney......

Watched Monday night's episode last night. I didn't know quite how "rare" the #22 Scalextric Dodge Viper was. Maybe I should put my boxed one up on eBay..... they've possibly gone up in value now they've been mentioned on TV.

Tbh, with how prevalent graffiti on trains is in Spain, i'm surprised it didn't get tagged before it got to this country.

I have one from the second batch in Blue. There was a change to the LegomanBiffo sound project for these, and I think this really sounds good. I wasn't sure if the Bachmann release was those left-over at Kernow or not, but not being privy to that sort of info. I assumed they were a new run.

I thought Bachmann had already released a run of it's own in Green and Blue a couple of years ago?

Or maybe some Dreadnought stock in OO to go with all those Bargain Heljan Bo-Bo Electric loco's that some of us bought.

I seem to have been finding recently, that the white grease that seems to be used in more recent Chinese made models tends to harden on loco's that haven't been used for some time. Removing this, and replacing with something slightly better seems to do the trick. I've also found, certainly on Bachmann EMU's, the pick-up design isn't the best, as the brass bearings and wipers tend to get lubricant oil creeping on to them from the gear tower. Taking the whole thing apart, cleaning up the gears, bearings and pickups, then replacing the lubricant seems to do trick. I use the Bachmann Moly Grease (Molybdenum based grease) in small amounts, and it seems to do the trick. However, the pickup from the bogie to the motor could be done better, as it's generally a brass tab bearing upwards onto another sprung brass tab. I have resorted to soldering wires between them on my 4-Cep due to pick-up issues, and probably will on my recent MLV purchase. I don't seem to have the same issues on my 2H Thumper, but suspect it's only a matter of time before I do. But it's horses for courses. I only do the above because I run DCC and Sound too, and it can be somewhat of an issue when operating at an exhibition. I just don't like having to prod my locos every 5 seconds to get them to move.

Funny you should mention that. I did select Hornby in the manufacturer's section, but over the past few years, the vast majority of my "Hornby" purchases were of the Electrotren flavour, i.e Hornby International. I'm actually trying to remember the last time I bought a piece of Hornby British Outline locomotive / unit / rolling stock. It would be a good few years ago, and was probably either a 2-Bil/Hal or a 4-Vep, and those were most likely secondhand. I'd be happy to be corrected, but I think Spanish railways is a minority in overseas interests, not just on RMWeb, but in the UK as a whole.

This is why I am so glad I have a hobby such as ours. I spend all day (well most of the day) staring at a computer screen, and the last thing I really should be doing is spending the rest of my evening staring at another large rectangular object which displays varying quality of programming. I really find doing some modelling an escape from day to day life. I would count myself as one of those rare modellers who has continued modelling thoughout since my teenage years, except for a short spell while at Uni. However, I have noticed that since my son has been getting older (he's now 11), i've been finding my spare time stretched, so less modelling has been happening over the past few years. I'm sure, once he's at college / uni (hopefully), i'll be wondering what to do with all this free time i've suddenly got.

Thanks all for the comments and ringing endorsements. I did assume that this was the case. I seriously have my eye on something on the site, I've just got to convince SWMBO to let me buy it. 😁

For something in O gauge that would fit your 25ft x 3ft space, you could have a look at the excellent (in my opinion) Harlyn Pier, plenty of pics etc. on Google and it's been in the British modelling press a couple of times. Ok, it's Southern Region, but it's a small branch terminus which can handle 3-coach + 4wl van trains and tender locos.

I have some decal removing solution from my American modelling days. It smells of lemon, and seemed to work well on American stock. Either that, or it'll have to be the IPA on a cotton bud or cocktail stick.... I'll report back and let you know.

Hola a todos desde Punta Brava / Hello everyone from Punta Brava Things have been progressing slowly with the layout, plus I had a bit of a minor set-back which has proved frustrating. Firstly, on a positive note, i've got the bridge / retaining wall section fixed to the baseboard and given the open areas a covering of flock. Any gaps under the bridge supports and retaining wall have been filled with sculptamold. Unfortunately, while gluing the bridge down, I got some PVA on the backscene, and have had to add a new layer of backscene paper. This hasn't quite gone to plan, as you can see just by the building, and behind the fencing on the retaining wall. The bit by the building can probably be disguised with some clever pipework, etc. crossing the tracks, but the bit behind the fencing might be a bit more difficult to hide. I might have to paint some clouds, or buy some more backscene sheets (i've run out), as i'm not too keen on having anything 2D on the backscene. I will say, this will probably be the first and last time I use a printed photo backscene. Previously, I have used lining paper painted a suitable shade using emulsion paints, and this method makes it easier to repair any damage that might occur. I've started blending in the retaining wall into the surrounding area. Having learnt from my previous mistake, the clingfilm is there to protect the backscene. I have used sculptamold for the landforms here, and also in the flower beds of the memorial. It's very lightweight and easy to use, but very messy, and sometimes doesn't go exactly where you want it to go (like onto the brick section of the retaining wall), but once it's dry, I can clean up any area's it wasn't meant to go on. Something I should have done while adding the sculptamold here, is add a few bits of small stones, to look like some of the stone base showing through the grassed areas. I recently found some Woodland Scenics Talus in my scenics box, so I will come back to this, and dig out some areas to add some. Next we move on to some new arrivals: These 2 are courtesy of my wonderful wife for my birthday. They both came via that well known internet auction site, and are both essentially brand new condition. As you can see, the 269 hasn't even been fitted with it's handrails or wing-mirrors. One modification I am going to do to both models is to remove the sub-sector logos either end, as they were added in the early 2000's. I also received this pair of coaches from my lovely parents. They are basically similar to the old Tri-ang CKD (Completely Knocked Down) range. So they are mostly completely decorated, and just need putting together, and transfers added. These will join another of the "Costa" coaches to form a 3 coach rake which can go behind some of the older locomotives, like the little steam engine, the 308 and the 319, forming a heritage train. Going forward, i'm hoping to move on to the next board and make some progress with that, as well as complete this end board.

Usually I am at the show as a visitor, but this year I will be there helping exhibit Clive Abbott's EM gauge HORSEBRIDGE WHARF; a fictional ex-PD&SWJR Southern Railway branch terminus, set on the banks of the River Tamer in West Devon.

Class 128, one of the Class 116 DTS's converted for Parcels Service and what looks to be an LNER BZ (thanks to the photo in the above post, or I wouldn't have known what it was), crossing the River Thames on one of the many bridges near Pangbourne. Photo would be circa. 1975. Taken by my father (Malcolm Chinery), scanned in from a 1980's print (would love to find the negatives) and cleaned up in Photoshop.

I've seen this new online model shop advertised in the Classifieds section of the Railway Modeller over the passed few months, and having popped on their website, there are a couple of items that have piqued my interest. However, being the wary sort, I thought i'd ask if anyone had any experience of buying from this new shop, before jumping in the deep end.

Personally, i've never understood the "don't tell the wife" thing, beyond it being a little side joke. Maybe I am just lucky to have a supportive wife who encourages me to do my modelling, even though I do tend to take over the dining table with my stuff way too often. In her words, at least she knows where I am, what i'm doing and what i'm spending my money on. I am however, very wary about who I do tell outside of my close friends and family circle. Very few, if any, of my neighbours know, and I prefer it to stay that way as a matter of security. It's a bit difficult hiding it away from my upstairs neighbours (i'm in a ground floor maisonette), when i'm airbrushing models and the layout in the garden, but they've never seemed that curious about it, so i've not said anything. With regards to work, however, i've never tried to hide it if anyone has asked. Actually, these days, it's seen to be quite a plus to have an interest that is outside of your main area of work (at least in the industry I work in), and i've never had any negative comments made from any of my colleagues, and in fact had a few actually take quite an interest in it.

Ok, so for modelling a 4-Rep. The outer 2 driving coaches were all-but identical to the 4-TC driving coaches above the underframe (Window layout, seating plan, roof layout etc.). Below though, and both driving coaches were mounted on 2 Mk6 motor bogies (very similar to those under a Class 73) with all the associated underframe equipment of an SR Mk1 style EMU. In between were a TBFK (Trailer Brake First Corridor) and TB (Trailer Buffet). You could modify a Kernow/Bachmann 4-TC into a 4-Rep. Motorising could be the issue, but not impossible. I would perhaps suggest putting the motor in the Buffet car. The driving coaches are sorted, not much you really need to do to that, except add the underframe equipment, and change the bogies (MJT cast sides?). The TFK you can probably do easily by swapping the sides from a standard Bachmann Mk1 BFK. The trailer buffet could be problematic, as Bachmann haven't done an RB in their MK1 range yet, however, you could do a Rep from the second batch built in the 1970's, which used standard Mk1 RU's, and i'm pretty sure Bachmann do one of these. Either that, or you can go down the etched brass sides route, MJT do the sides for the 4-TC, but not the Rep, so you'd need to get a pack of these (if they are available) and then Comet brass sides for the TFK and TB. If i'm honest, it sounds like a lot of work, even for someone who hasn't recently returned to the hobby. As regards the rest of the EMU stock, it was rare, but the odd 2/4Epb did venture west of Basingstoke, generally going to Eastleigh works. 2-Hap's definitely did go west of Basingstoke, usually tacked to the front or back of a 4-Vep. I'm sure there were rare occasions, but I don't think the Bournemouth line saw very many 4-Cep's or 4-Bep's, especially in pre-rebuilt condition. Thumpers were definitely used in this area though, although were the more usual 3H/3D variety. Actually into the 1970's there were only 4 2H sets, and by the 1980's these had been made up to 3-car sets by inserting a surplus 2-Epb Driving Trailer from disbanded Tadpole sets. Once you get into the Network SouthEast era, things get a tad more complicated, and units were moved around between divisions, sets reduced in length (i.e most of the DEMU fleet were reduced to 2-car sets by removing the centre car), all in an effort to keep this running. As already mentioned, this, and a lot more besides is on the Blood and Custard website. There is probably a bit too much information for the casual reader who just wants an overview, but it really is an undisputed resource of Southern Region unit information.

Was exactly what popped into my head when I saw it.

With RMWeb being a mostly British railway orientated forum, it will be interesting to see how many of us there are that model something other than that. In particular, i'm most interested to see how many model or have an interest in European railway modelling.