MrTea

Rapido had a pre-production sample on their stand at the Warley show this weekend. It looks magnificent. If I ever have the space for a North American layout (and the spare cash) it would be on my list. Out of interest does anyone know what the big black piece teaching out from the tender towards the back of the loco cab is for? I’m assuming that’s a feature of the real engines?

Hi everyone, It’s my first visit to the Warley show today. Thanks for the tip about downloading the floor plan. Has anyone got any recommendations for must-see attractions this year for a newbie? Ian

There’s a sneak preview of a test model running on the latest video from SDJR7F88: (About 6 mins in) It even shows the rotating axle boxes!

I don't know if any other parents on here have ever seen this but there is an event called 'Track Party' where you can take your kids along and play with trains, cars and DINOSAURS: https://trackparty.co.uk We took our two to one held in a church hall in Reading the other year and it was great fun!

I do think Andy's original question, '...is this the best thing to happen to the hobby in a long time?' is worth exploring a bit further. It's great to hear from exhibition attendees and organisers that they've seen a noticeable increase in attendance by families in the weeks that the series has been running. It certainly encouraged me to get out of my (admittedly very comfy!) armchair and visit Wycrail 18 with my kids the other weekend. I put a few of my thoughts about our experience on Graham Muz's thread here. I've skimmed this whole thread but I'm not sure if I've seen any feedback from model shop staff or people who deal with club enquiries about whether they've seen any increase? I would imagine the next few weeks is critical in this regard, and the timing is perfect with it being the run up to Christmas. I suspect people joining clubs is likely to be more of a slow-burner in terms of take up. But if people are turning up to exhibitions then that's a great starting point. Getting people to join organisations and contribute isn't perhaps as easy as it once was but it's certainly possible. You just need to make the organisation accessible and fun to people who might be thinking about joining. As Andy mentioned the younger generation (and I can just about include myself in that) have a real tendency to look to the internet as their first port of call when it comes to research. I work in digital so I thought I'd have a quick look and see if I could find any evidence of increased interest in our hobby. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found: This is from Google Trends and shows searches for 'model railway' since January 2018. There's clearly been a spike in the past 6 weeks or so. It would be interesting to dig into this a bit more and see if it translates into interest in topics such as buying models and/or making scenery and the like. If you look to other major platforms such as YouTube and Twitter there are clear examples of content related to the show being very well received, as well as positive comments from people who maybe aren't long standing railway modellers. Top viewed videos as of Saturday morning on YouTube for 'Great Model Railway Challenge'. Some great feedback from a viewer via Twitter. As for how to capitalise on this, there's definitely an opportunity. And as a community we've probably got 2 or 3 months to make the most of it (unless there's a second series in 2019). For me, exhibitions and clubs need to make the layouts that were constructed during the series accessible to the viewing public. Some are already doing this e.g. the layouts featuring at the Warley show and Railway Video Division's layout featuring at a local model shop. Being able to include 'As featured in the Great Model Railway Challenge' on press releases and Social Media posts including using the hashtag seems like a bit of a no-brainer. I've seen some really good suggestions on this thread so far but what do others think?

I enjoyed the show too. There was a good mix of layouts and themes. In relation to Graham’s comment about families attending as a result of watching current C5 series, I took my daughters (8 and 4) and they had a good time. One thing that impressed me was how a number of the operators took time out to engage with them and answer their questions. I think it helps when exhibitors have gone to the effort to highlight some of the details that are within the scenes with the younger audience in mind - San Maria Gandia was a good example of this. Provision of portable steps for the little ones was also a nice touch from the organisers. I hope the club sees an increase in membership enquiries as a result of their efforts.

Test shot showing Bulleid West Country 34107 Blandford Forum on shed. Made a start on the rest of the ground cover tonight, painting the water crane and the first few panels of fencing. I’ve been checking out the range of figures and other items by Modelu and I can feel a purchase or two coming on!

That's the plan. I've got a Dapol Standard 4MT kit to make. That way I can have the loco facing out on one road and the tender on the other. I've also got some SR style concrete fencing to build to give a bit more visual interest (and keep all the 4mm scale trainspotters out!).

These seem to be the options but I'm not sure which looks quite right/most prototypical? Facing out. Facing in. At the side.

So, I've finally got around to doing a bit more work on the MPD. As GeoffinOz suggested I've got a Dapol (ex-Airfix) water crane to go in front of the shed building. The only thing is I'm not sure which side it should go or which way around? I had assumed in between the two shed roads but space is quite tight.

I enjoyed tonight’s episode. Makes me wonder if the model manufacturers will consider more pre-grouping rolling stock, especially if it has ‘pretty’ liveries? Oh and having been to the IoW Steam Railway recently riding in Victorian compartment carriage is way more fun than a bog standard Mk1 TSO!

Having made good progress on the first day I then tackled the pits and an extension of the base to enable them to be attached below ground level. Pits partly installed Having got the hard standing cut to shape and the rails painted (I'm really glad I followed the instructions here rather than just jumping ahead and trying to do it afterwards) I didn't waste any time getting the shed glued to the base. Side view Front view Next steps are to work on the area in front of the shed doors in terms of ground cover and to think about what sort of backdrop would make sense. I'm also planning to build one of the Dapol (ex-Kitmaster) plastic loco kits to provide some motive power for the shed roads.

After a few doodles trying to see what I could fit into 8" x 8" I figured the front of an engine shed in 00 could be something that could work quite well. I wanted to try out building a Scalescenes kit after a previous attempt at putting together an arched bridge from their range stalled mid-way through. It also seemed like a good opportunity to try out some of the new PECO bullhead track that I'd acquired to test out over Christmas. I had a few spare afternoons over the Easter holidays so this is where I've got to so far... Foam board base Front and side walls Test fitting completed shed on base Basically this is the front half of what you get in the standard Scalescenes gable roof engine shed kit. I wasn't sure about whether to build the inspection pits but when I measured the height of the building above the base I reckoned it would just about fit within the 6" height limit.

Thanks VanBasten. That GE 4/4ii looks fabulous. Will have to get a move on with planning my 1:150 RhB layout!

I ‘accidentally’ bought a 2018 catalogue from W H Smiths at Peterborough Services yesterday. I was planning to send off for one (and the Bachmann one) but by placing them at eye level in a shop I was in anyway they’ve just got a sale. And it was the last one on the shelf. Good work Hornby. Just when I’d started buying n gauge again and all!

Dear Channel 4, I watched last night's episode of The Biggest Little Railway with interest. After a promising start I'm afraid my enjoyment was spoiled rather by the fact that, although presented by a retired Army Colonel Dick Strawbridge, the model viaduct being constructed across the spillway was clearly being built of plywood! I have to say that I am very disappointed and unless issues such as this are addressed I am afraid I won't be tuning in for future episodes. Yours etc. A. Pedant 3rd armchair from the left Little Wingeing Surrey

Fabulous Tom. I still can't believe that this is N Gauge sometimes. Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh sometime soon.

I enjoyed it. Good to see some modellers I've got to know online starring on TV. Hands up who's plans for their next layout now include expansion into the garden?

Been thinking that maybe it would be interesting to see if RMWeb-ers could come up with suggestions for Hornby on what they think the punters out there would want (i.e. what would sell well) and why? We could call it ‘Fantasy 2018 Range Planning’ if it needs a name. I reckon it would make a change from the usual wish listing and might even give the guys in product development at Hornby some useful insights if this takes off. Therefore in the spirit of kicking things of can I suggest the following 4 items, along with my reasoning: 1. RailRoad Class 37 in large logo BR blue - because it would be perfect for anyone looking to model the Highlands or the West in the 1980s and 90s 2. Royal Scot Class in BR Green as 46100 ‘Royal Scot’ - recently back on the main line and a famous namer with an American connection 3. Resurrecting the RailRoad Limby HST in InterCity Executive livery - for those of us entering our forties who have some disposable income (but not enough to justify the full fat version to our domestic authorities) 4. Adding TTS sound to the Thomas range - because there’s a new season of the TV show and surely DCC sound for the kids market is a no-brainer when it gives so much extra ‘play value’ What do you guys think?

Ed, Hopefully this diagram (via Model Railways Direct) will help? I got a couple of these the other week and they make quite a nice curved loop. The only thing you have to watch for is that the frogs are quite long and therefore wheels do drop into the gap as they pass over. Ian

The bit that the Hornby PDF doesn't show is how to use them other than as a crossover between R2 and R3 tracks. There's actually a useful diagram on the back of the packaging. I'll try and take a photo later and post it on here.

Flippin' eck Tom this is shaping up to be some model. I'd been wondering whether this section of Ropley yard would make a good micro/mini layout and this proves it. Although you're making me wonder whether abandoning N gauge was such a smart move... Keep up the good work! Ian