Phil Copleston

Me too. Updates on your modelling progress continue to impress me. Well done. Absolutely superb!

Good stuff, Scott! This was taken at the SSMRS Autumn Meeting in Exeter last October, right? Maurice's 'country boards' will be at several shows later this year (see notices in S 1:64. exhibition list). Hope to see you again soon. :-)

Julia,

Wow, your GWR single line token apparatus looks wonderful. Hard to tell it's 2mm scale! Well done. Now I see your technique for making the rope catching mesh I'm much inspired to have a go at this in S scale now...

- Phil

Oh thanks! :-)

Very interesting. Looks like a 60cm gauge MPSSB coach from Germany/Poland. Wouldn't mind a few of these coaches myself. Do you have the link to the relevant Shapeways webpage please?

You've captured a delightful down-at-heal weathered look there. I'm sure your stoic 'passengers' revel in the rustic charm of every mile of their bumpy journey. Good stuff. The Colonel would be proud!

Thanks for the update, Barry. (not sure why I addressed you as "Andy" before!)

Phil

Andy,

A nice clutch of old Centre Models kits and good to see them made up. Very characterful and practical locos. Prob. would benefit from repaints and a tidy up, but otherwise quite delightful! You've got the core of a lovely industrial shunting layout there. :-) 

Phil

I feel slightly sick... 

I recommend that you read The 2mm Scale Association's 'Beginner's Guide'. This will give you a good grounding in miniature finescale track construction, whatever standards you use.

But while your at it - go 2mm Finescale! It's much easier to build trackwork to this consistent and proven standard, which will give you better running than any N gauge, and is better looking too.

Anyway, good luck!

Is there an RMweb app icon for Android phones? It would be very helpful to check on updates by touching an icon, rather than going via bookmarks or Google search every time. If not, someone please make available!

Phil Copleston

Frank,

I believe you only need three coaches to replicate a 'typical' coast passenger train - a brake second, open tourist second, and a compo (or similar).

My observations from many dated photos from the mid-50s to the mid-60s is that the basic Cambrian passenger formation for ordinary summer/winter trains between Shrewsbury/Welshpool and Machynlleth was a six coach formation, made up of two sets of the above (usually with brakes outermost), plus stengtheners tacked on as required in the summer months.

The formation would then split at Mach or Dovey Jnc with the two three-coach sets (plus any strengtheners) going forward to Aber and Pwllheli respectively. The set with the Mark 1 choc-cream "auto buffet" going forward to Aber.

These sets can be seen made up of either BR Mark 1s, or ex-GWR/LMS coaches (but rarely mixed, due to incompatibilities with corridor connections).

Maybe this is a well-known fact, but I've never seen an explicit description of this formation written down before. However, you can consistently see this in photos of the late steam period. (Not sure if this applies to the CCE.) Has anyone else observed this "standard" Cambrian train formation make-up?

So Frank, maybe you don't need all six coaches after all - you can get away with an authentic coast "stopper" hauled by a Manor at the head of just three coaches. Wasn't the Cambrian a delight!

Phil

I'm not a great fan of backscenes - especially if they compete for attention rather than compliment the forescene - but they can work on small scenes. I like your plan for Morfa Bach of a simple backdrop showing just a blue sky and clouds. Neil (Rushby) just about had it right on 'Shell Island', methinks.

Inspiring Cambrian modelling, Frank!

Phil

This layout just gets better and better - captures the essence of the Cambrian to a 'T'! Well done, Frank.

Phil

Delightful, Frank - it's veritably the Cambrian Coast in microcosm! Keep it coming, I'm enjoying your posts.

The Gronk in the video's looking good Tim, and sounds subtly like one too (or maybe that's me!). I'm enjoying following progress with the layout and am loving the muted brick paper colours - those Howard Scenics terraces look fab!

Phil