Phil Copleston

Superb modelling work as ever, Ian. The point rodding looks to die for! Keep up the excellent progress. Good to bump into you (albeit in passing) at Trainwest the other week, though I didn't manage to catch you for a chat (I was too busy playing with 'Wadebridge'!). Maybe next time.

Thanks Andy, indeed. David Short deserves particular mention. Well done him! I'm beginning to wish I had made the effort to attend this super Scottish Supermeet too...

Looks like it was a successful event. Super layouts and modelling. Well done all. And for David Long and Andy Hanson for travelling up from Manchester and York respectively. Wish I could have gone too - but at 533 miles each way, it was a bit too far from Cornwall! More photos please.

Hi RailWest, Thanks for the signalling info. You may be right. In the Down direction I accept the correct SR terminology for the Down 'calling-on arm' is perhaps a 'goods line signal' and have amended my caption accordingly. But I have left my description of the Up advanced starters (next to the overbridge) unaltered because at that end of the layout John has not strictly followed the original track layout, it being very compressed between the signal box and the overbridge. On John's layout this pair of signals thus serve as advanced starters. Hope this clarifies.

And finally... some pics of the folks who made our appearance with 'Wadebridge' at Trainwest such a cracking weekend! Especial thanks go to John and Edna Greenwood for kindly allowing us to play with their wonderful trainset, of course. And thanks to Jerry (queensquare) and Kim Clifford for their ever-welcoming hospitality over the weekend. Guest operators were Tom (TomE), Josh (SRfanJV), Laurie Griffin, Jerry and me. And what a jolly and inspiring time we all had! For most of the two days of the show the visitors were packed in front of the layout, as can be seen here. TomE is on the left, operating, while John Greenwood is sorting things out in the fiddleyard (St Blazey Shed). In front of the layout is Jim Allwood (far end) - former Chairman of the 2mm Scale Association. TomE and John G behind the layout (with Laurie Griffin obscured behind John), while Edna Greenwood is out front chatting to visitors and Jim Allwood (extreme left). TomE and John keeping the trains busy and the visitors (and picture-takers) happy! TomE having a fun time! What a stalwart - Tom put in many hours operating over the weekend. Behind the layout (with their backs to us) are Laurie Griffin and John G deep in conversation (over Laurie's scratchbuilt 7mm Beattie Well Tank chassis, I seem to remember). Jerry (queensquare) and John G busy operating. TomE and Jerry still at it - although Jerry appears to be distracted by a modelling question from Kyra Field (daughter of mutual modelling friends Eddie and Rachael Field) at the far end! The back of the layout - the bit you don't normally see! Left to right are John Greenwood and TomE, and out front is Edna Greenwood talking to Kim Clifford ("Mrs Queensquare"!). That's it for now folks. Next outing for 'Wadebridge' will be the Uckfield show in October http://www.uckfieldmrc.co.uk/exhib16nf.html (a photo of John's 2mm T9 4-4-0 No.119 is on their website's headline banner). So be sure to catch up with it there and see for yourself - it's quite breath-taking in both quality of execution and the vision of what John Greenwood is attempting - to model the whole of the Bodmin & Wadebridge railway in 2mm finescale (see earlier post #32 for overall layout grand plan).

Okay folks, Here's the second tranche of my 'Wadebridge' photos from Trainwest, Corsham, last weekend. This time we will look at some of the recently added details... What's this? A water meadow! Modelling the space between things is as important as modelling the things themselves - hence this area of water meadow between the railway boundry fence and the River Camel. This helps give the railway a sense of place in the landscape, allows the main focus of the layout - the railway - to 'breathe'. (See earlier post #27 for prototype plan of this station for comparison.) Look how beautifully John Greenwood has captured the feel of rough grass, muddy estuary banks, and clods of grass teetering on the edge. Superbly done! The new railway allotments: Again another piece of superb 'space' modelling by John. Between the second and third hut along the fence, you may just be able to spot runner beans growing up poles. The allotment huts are the 2mm versions of the Severn Models etched kits. Sheerleg crane on Town Quay: There's a distinct 'waterside' feel to this modelled location, most fittingly. Black warehouses: Jerry (Queensquare) has modelled these (and many of the other buildings on 'Wadebridge'), although they still need a bit of toning down and weathering. Nice feel of tarred corrugated iron about this otherwise humble structures. These replace a row of white paper mock-ups seen in earlier photos of this layout. The roofscapes of Wadebridge! We are looking across the Town Quay warehouses to the junction between Molesworth Street and Eddystone Road. Most of the model buildings on the far side of the railway/Eddystone Road are new. And quite cleverly are modelling in perspective to enable a reasonable representation of urban Wadebridge to be squeezed into just a mere few inches of depth! Looking along Molesworth Street from the river bridge, across the railway crossing (the gates are open), and up the hill. Molesworth Street curves around to the right, cleverly modelled in perspective. Delightfully done! The railway and road (well, half a road) squeezed between the houses and warehouses along what is now Eddystone Road. Go there today and you can hardly image they fitted in both a road and mainline railway into the gap! Provender Store and middle goods yard (there are three on 'Wadebridge'). The new Provender Store in close-up. Originally before WWII there was only one siding here. But in the 1940s another siding was added and this long shed was built alongside. New 'flats' go up in Wadebridge! Well, not quite. These are grey card mock-ups (made from cereal packets) along the backscene that will eventually be replaced by coloured and detailed proper flats. But they are nevertheless effective in giving the impression of the urban and enclosed feel of this part of town. Note that the houses are drawn in perspective, as they will be when finally installed, and will stand a millimetre or two in front of the sky backscene to give them an extra sense of dimension. Four-doll lattice bracket signal: These are UP starter signals for the main (left) and island bay (right) platforms, giving both routes for either the North Cornwall or Bodmin lines. They all work of course, mechanically operated from a lever frame behind the backscene. (Sorry for the slightly fuzzy image.) The two Down starters at the other end of the platforms, controlling departures towards Padstow. These also work of course, electrically controlled. To the left, against the backscene, is a further grey card 'flat' depicting a chapel and adjacent buildings. The Wadebridge Down advanced starter and SR goods line signal - both work and are electrically controlled. This also protects the level crossing across Molesworth Street. The goods line signal below the advanced starter is to enable the yard shunter to access Town Quay goods yard. The UP pair of advanced starter signals (dolls) were seen in an earlier photo, adjacent to an overbridge at the far eastern end of the layout. Also recently installed is the cast iron gents lavatory (still resplendent in unpainted brass!), crammed between the end of the boundry wall and the abutments of the footbridge. It's a Shirescene's etch, of course. Well, there you have it - a few of the recent additional details to John Greenwood's marvelous 2mm finescale 'Wadebridge' layout. I hope this all made sense! Next up will be a few shots of operators and visitors who enjoyed 'Wadebridge' at last weekend's Trainwest show.

Hello everybody, As Jerry promised earlier... "Phil will be along in the next day or so with some [photos] highlighting a number of the new bits". Well, here they are! First, some general shots to give you an overview of recent scenic progress on 'Wadebridge'. Obviously there is much more still to do, infilling some blank areas, adding details to buildings and gardens, etc. Some of the structures remain as mock-ups or flats, but they give you the impression of the emerging townscape at the rear of the station, and the feel of a riverine estuary at the front - just as it should be, just like the real thing! Apologies for some slightly blurry parts of some photos - taken in a rush on my phone at the end of the exhibition! Next up will be some photos of recent detailed scenic and signalling additions to the layout, followed by a few shots of the operators and visitors at the show last weekend. Eastern approaches to Wadebridge station, with the East Box and Guineaport Road and cottages to the left. This view shows the true landscape setting of the model - the railway squeezed in between the town and the River Camel. A Pannier and B-Set depart for Bodmin General (GWR). Wadebridge Shed - a Churchward 1361 class and Collett 1366 class behind await their next duties. Partially hidden is a Southern 02 class 0-4-4T. An N class on a local awaits the starter signal before departing for Padstow. Note the clutter of sheds and townscape behind. It's starting to look more like the real Wadebridge town now. Temporary grey card house 'flats' on the left. These will be replaced by coloured and detailed flats in due course. Layout overview from the western end - Town Quay in the foreground with the mainline to Padstow swinging off behind the black warehouses, the Molesworth Street level crossing and footbridge, and the expanse of Wadebridge Station beyond. The tidal River Camel fronts the layout on the left, with part of the Medieval bridge (which gave the original town of Wade its latter name) also modelled. Wadebridge East Box, controlling the two single lines - the left-hand track is the North Cornwall Line leading to Halwill Junction and Exeter, and the right-hand track for the two termini of Bodmin North and Wenford Bridge (both LSWR), and - via Boscarne Junction - Bodmin General (GWR). Note the Advanced Starter before the bridge, with the board up for a departing Bodmin train. I hope you enjoyed these. More pics to follow...

Steph', No railway, but Tatooine did have 'tracked' surface transport! http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/6/60/AncientSandCrawler.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20071006020832

Steph', Never mind, a W&G Landrover or tractor will eventually turn up on eBay. In the meantime, you could substitute a 1:14th scale Star Wars X-34 landspeeder hover-car! (At least it is spot-on for scale.) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Revell-Easy-Kit-1-14-Scale-Star-Wars-X-34-landspeeder-06685-/190808273743?hash=item2c6d0f334f:g:onMAAOSwr7ZW6C0G

How delightful! An etch from a certain 'small supplier' based in Essex, perchance?

Geraint, Glad to help. There's a link in my post above to Wilsons Paints, 1 Church Rd., Exmouth, Devon EX8 1RZ, purveyors of Maurice's magic liquid - Devon Wood Oil. Good luck! Happy Easter to you too. Catch you at a show soon.

Ahhh success! Thanks for the enlightenment and your kind generosity to Jerry, David. Now I can stop worrying about what happened to them. They'll make up into quite a nice little rake, albeit starting from just sides, no ends. Denys designed them to fit on the old Graham Farish 4-wheeler coach chassis, but no doubt you'll prefer to make your own from 2mm etches. Either way, these old mouldings have quite a pedigree and been on something of a journey!

Jerry, Oh no! I once had five or six sets of Denys's GNR 4-wheel coach mouldings in a gloat box and would have happily given you some, but I passed them on three or four years ago at a 2mm meet. Now I'm racking my brains to remember who had them from me...

Geraint, As Maurice Hopper is of this parish, maybe he'd like to answer direct. But I'm most impressed by the concept of your laser-cut baseboard 'kit' - very neat and saves soooo much cutting out by hand. I shall discuss this with Maurice early next week when we meet up. John, I understand that Maurice doesn't varnish his baseboards, but uses a concoction referred to as 'Devon Wood Oil' https://www.wilsonspaints.co.uk/devon-wood-oil. This is a natural penetrative preservative oil which protects and waterproofs the surface. More here: http://www.premierq.co.uk/wood-oil/ I've seen and handled Maurice's boards and can vouch for its effectiveness. Devon Wood Oil may therefore be a kinder and preferable alternative to Geraint's options of either varnishing or painting his under-bits!

YouTube link please! I searched for this, but couldn't find it.

Frank, I'm not aware of any 'minimum radius' being recommended for 3mm scale standard gauge as this depends on your prototype and space for a layout. But in modelling terms, minimum curvature is usually a process of trail and error dependant on the longest wheelbase of the stock you will use. But as Scale 3 is the same actual gauge as 'Fine Standards' 14.2 gauge, the same minimum radius should apply. However, as a rule of thumb the "Four Chains Rule" is as good as any. Here's how it works: A chain is 66ft (20.1168m), thus 4 chains is 264ft (80.4672m), and in 3mm/ft scale that is 792mm or 31" (2ft 7in) radius. So Scale 3 should be no more onerous regarding minimum radius than working in 'Fine Standards' 14.2 gauge (or 12mm for that matter). There is a most useful discussion regarding the minimum radius for 3mm scale/14.2mm gauge on the Templot discussion board, here: http://85a.co.uk/forum/view_topic.php?id=2183&forum_id=1 Hope that helps. Glad you found the various Scale 3 tables useful.

Nigel, I'm pretty sure no one else has tried Scale 3 either, apart from the experimental models built by John Delaney and Stewart Hine. Some 2mm modellers have indeed tried a version of "P2", but for reasons unconnected with this discussion didn't persue it. The point I was making here (apart from any personal preferences) is that Scale 3 is not substantially "finer" than the already well-proven 2mm Finescale standards, and is helped by the fact that 3mm scale has the advantage of 50% more mass then 2mm scale to keep things on the track. I think Scale 3 is a concept worth exploring, or at least discussing, in relation to options for 3mm track and wheel standards on this thread. To see how things looked, I drew up a table a while ago showing the Scale 3 figures compared with 2mm Finescale, 3mm 14.2 'finescale', P87 and P4 - as attached here (the non-3mm gauge-dependant figures are adjusted to suit 1:101.6 scale to make comparison easier). Based on this table, I'd be interested in what others' think of the relative technical and aesthetic merits of Scale 3 (not personal preferences). Scale 3 - Comparison Table - Comparison between Scale 3, 14.2.doc

Just picked up on this thread. Actually, P4 is not about gauge, but is a set of track and wheel standards that can be applied to models of broad, standard or narrow prototype gauges. So 3mm scale/14.2mm gauge 'finescale' is in fact (despite the correct gauge) equivalent to EM in standards, as is 13.5mm in that respect. The only standard in 3mm scale equivalent to P4 are the published Scale 3 standards (John Delaney & Stewart Hine, ‘Mixed Traffic’ No.29, July 1972), which apart from some trial models built in the 1970s, for some reason have not been adopted by the 3mm Society. Pity, as these should work fine (as they are not much finer than 2mm Finescale) and being based on the prototype and would look stunning! For interest, here is a Comparison Table for 3mm Scale Track & Wheel Standards: 3mm Scale Track & Wheel Standards

David, Ahhh yes very cute. Thanks - that was the clue I needed (that you bought it in Germany). So I searched Google images for 'Präzision Werkstatt-Winkel' (Precision Workshop Squares) and may have found a source for this tool - Messwelt: https://www.messwelt.com Of those natty marking-squares, they offer: Tiny 25 x 20mm and Small 40 x 28mm squares: https://www.messwelt.com/winkel-praezision/schnittmacherwinkel/1153/schnittmacherwinkel-din-875/00-aus-rostfreiem-stahl at 13.92 euros for the pair (£10.52). Medium 75 x 50mm square: https://www.messwelt.com/winkel-praezision/haarwinkel-din-87500-inox-flach/1566/praezisions-haarwinkel-din-875/00 at 14.50 euros each (£10.95). Large 100 x 70mm square: https://www.messwelt.com/winkel-praezision/haarwinkel-din-87500-inox-flach/1567/praezisions-haarwinkel-din-875/00 at17.40 euros each (£13.14). All very reasonable prices for precision tools. Total cost for all four, including VAT and postage to the UK = 74.17 euros (£56.03). Super. Lots of other nice quality stuff on their website too. Oh, and they take PayPal. I shall order some!

David, Good work. That's a natty looking marking-out square! Where did you get this, pray?

David, As an aside to Jerry's thread - mystery solved, I think. According to 'LNWR Wagons Supplement No.1' by Peter Ellis (LNWR Society, 2011) http://www.lnwrs.org.uk/Sales/book11.php (which I have), page 24 describes these vehicles, thus: "Chemical Pan Trolley to carry 12 Tons, Diagram 61: The Diagram 61 chemical pan trolley was introduced in 1883. What exactly 'chemical pans' or 'caustic pots', as they were also described, were, and how they were loaded and unloaded, is uncertain, but they were used to transport caustic soda in the chemical industry in the Widnes area." It goes on the say "No doubt the design was well suited to carry 12 tons in the heavy industrial environment for which it was intended." There are extensive descriptions and drawings for this 12 Tons, Diagram 61 trolley, but no photos of these elusive vehicles. The book also illustrates and describes a 15 ton, Diagram 106 version too. Interesting as a model, but not exactly ubiquitous. So, a bit like the mythical Maryport & Carlisle aeroplane propeller carrying wagon - every branchline layout should feature one! (maybe not)

Nice work, Jerry. I wonder if those awkward BH etches were derived from Falcon Brass (Jidenco) originals? Will catch up with you and Kim at St Albans. Maurice and I will be lurking in the basement as usual!

Erm... it's not a duck, it's a Rat! And there are a myriad of differences between the Rats of classes 25/0, 25/1, 25/2 and 25/3 and at different times in their careers. Though personally, I prefer the earlier Sulzer Type 2 'Yogis' - classes 24/0 and 24/1. Here's an excellent and comprehensive account: http://www.derbysulzers.com (paste in the link, not click)

Errr.... don't you mean a Bachmann centre attached to Hornby cabs? After all, it's the Bachmann cabs which look wrong due to the incorrect cab side-splay which makes their end roof profile too 'flat', which is why David (Kylestrome) is doing it his way round!

Mr Smiley knows which end looks more like a real Rat...