checkrail

A couple more of Anthony Manor. I'm sure you'll have noticed the lack of a lamp on the smokebox door to denote this as an ordinary stopping passenger train. That's because of the lack of a lamp bracket to put it on! Obviously I searched the elaborate de luxe packaging, and the area where I'd unpacked it, but to no avail. There's just a little glue spot where it once was. I emailed Accurascale, who referred me to Rails of Sheffield, who in turn informed me that as Accurascale had not yet arranged for a supply of spares Rails would be reliant on cannibalising any returns. So I decided to make one myself, using offcuts from old brass coach part frets, which I save for just this type of thing. I've had three unsatisfactory attempts so far, so fourth time lucky? The backstop of course would be to glue a lamp on the smokebox door, and restricting the Manor to stopping trains, parcels and some freight classes (which is how I'll be running it in practice anyway!) Other jobs to do include: Replace the tender handrail I dislodged while fitting the decoder Paint the front screw coupling. (No, I couldn't get it to hang on the stowage hook either) Add the crew I got from Modelu a while back Put some real coal in the tender (once I've worked out how to remove the plastic one) Then finally some light weathering. John C.

Visualisations look fabulous. I'd like them all, but one has to eat. Seriously though, you knowledgeable folks out there, which one should I order for a late 1930s S Devon location? (I'm happy to change insignia with new transfers - and even the number if necessary, but there might be pitfalls waiting there.) 4408 ? 4402 ? And what about that gizmo on the side of those working the Princetown branch? Flange lubricator? Spoilt the look of them anyway. John C.

Thanks John for reply and suggestions. The real game changer for me was the Panasonic TZ100 camera, with its ability to shoot in 'post focus' mode, essentially shooting a short MP4 video clip. I think the original purpose of this facility was so you could pick the frame you liked best, but it also takes you half way to focus merging without having to alter the focus manually at all. On my 70th birthday (5 years ago!) family and friends crowd-funded a snazzy DSLR for me. I couldn't get on with it at all (far too sophisticated for me - I didn't understand the manual or the jargon) , and I bought the TZ100 with the proceeds of its sale. When Andy Y. was photographing Stoke C. for BRM back in 2019 focus stacking came up in our conversation, and he observed that with my new camera I was already half way there. He was right. So thanks Andy @Andy Y And unlike the DSLR it's compact. I can stand it on the platform, or on a wagon box placed across the tracks. I use a tripod as well when required, but I do like to take photos from within the frame of the layout where possible. Regards, John

Hi John I'm afraid the answer is, "I don't know'. There are three elements to my new set-up - Mac, ffworks and Affinity Photo 2. I had to buy Affinity again when moving to a new computer so it seemed logical to buy the latest version. But I've only scratched the surface with Affinity. Focus merging is all I do with it, though I must learn how to clone and 'paint' to edit backgrounds in due course. The focus merging is now an incredibly quick process compared with before, but I'd guess - and it's only a guess - that it's the ffworks software that's made the difference rather than the updated version of Affinity. Unfortunately I don't think it's available for Windows but there are probably equivalents that are better than Windows Media Player. For cropping, colour adjustments etc. I just use the photo editing tools that came with the pc rather than try to do this with Affinity. Regards, John.

You're unlikely to be disappointed when it does.

Here's a new kid on the block. 'Manor from Heaven' as i called it on the Accurascale Manor thread just now, along with other musings. So I won't repeat what I posted there except to say that it's a beauty. I know that Manors in Devon and Cornwall was very much a 50s thing, so when this one was announced I dreamed up a might-have-been scenario in which one was sent temporarily to NA for testing on the banks and curves of the S. Devon main line. But I note that Anthony Manor went to Bristol Bath Road when new, so could very plausibly have appeared in the area on through workings, rendering my Rule 1 fiction redundant. I've not seen any pre-war photographic evidence but if anyone has I'd love to hear of it. John C.

Manor from Heaven. This beauty arrived on Monday from RoS, but excitement had to be curbed for 24 hours. I'd ordered the 'DCC ready' version (in the absence of a 'DCC fitted' one, other than the sound-equipped model). It hadn't registered with me that it required a Next-18 decoder and I only had 8-pin ones in stock. So I ordered a RoS Next-18 4-function one for next day delivery by DPD. (There's another story!) Fitting the decoder into the tender - and shortening the rear coupling - made me realise why Accurascale are so adamant about minimising the times you part tender body from chassis. As for the loco body I read their near total silence on the subject as "Don't go there". Super realism indeed, but at the price of a certain fragility in some areas. I'm afraid that while fitting the chip I dislodged a tender handrail. But I'm in good company - so did Andy Y in his video review. The loco runs beautifully - smooth, quiet and instantly responsive, with sensible gearing and a realistic top speed. The only electronic gremlin I had was that when I first put 7801 on the track on Monday the firebox glow came on. It hasn't done since, but since I hadn't missed it until now I care not a jot. Well done Accurascale. What's next I wonder? State of the art pannier tanks? More pics of 7801 on my layout thread in due course. John C.

This sequence ends with 8709 crossing over the pointwork to the down main to continue its journey. (The colour went haywire on thiis shot so I finished it in b & w.) The third vehicle in the train is one of those new-ish Rapido ex-SECR vans. As this photo series has shown I don't run to timetable or even give much thought to what time of day it is; I just run a random selection of trains typical, I hope, of the area in the late 30s. But I think it does show that there is enough operational interest (for my short attention span anyway!) in a roundy-roundy layout, especially if a junction and a decent goods yard are included. And this sequence didn't include any of the tail traffic or through coach operations I've illustrated on this thread before.. But a lot of the time I just like watching the trains go by! John C.

The pannier has now got all its ducks in a row ready to move on, and waits in the yard loop until a Castle-hauled up Plymouth express has cleared the station limits. John C.

Gosh, time flies. Last time I looked it was 1947 - now it's suddenly 1957! 'We've never had it so good'.

Shunting has recently paused for a couple of minutes or so allowing 4574 to run round its train. She's now re-coupled and simmers gently in the branch platform. The fireman has moved the lamp to the bunker end and they wait for the signal and the appointed departure time. And as the branch train departs for Earlsbridge 2818 comes through on the up line with returning coal empties. Meanwhile 8709 carries on shunting. John C.

'Carry on Shunting', Scene Eleventeen. 4574 arrives with a train from Earlsbridge. 8709 carries on shunting. John C.

Have always thought just the same. They look like there's a bit missing!

Mogul looking really good.

Now a Star turn as 4018 'Knight of the Grand Cross' runs through with the Wolves-Penzance. Quite like this second photo. Hornby's N16 horse box is a fine model, and even finer once the ends have been painted black and the roof grey. Meanwhile 8709 carries on shunting. And here's a rare aerial view of Stoke Courtenay yard. John C.

Yep, sure. Here it is, dredged up from old files imported from last PC but one! I've also appended it to page 1 of this thread as you suggest. Don't think I ever drew a track plan of the fiddle yard, which has 'just growed' like Topsy to use up every bit of space as stock accumulates. Basically it consists of four up and four down loops, a two road branch FY with crossover, plus four sidings/spurs to accomodate spare locos and stock. It's now ram-jam full with no room for further expansion and some stock is stored in drawers. With thanks for the suggestion, John.

Well, a couple of people were kind enough to exhort me to "keep them coming", and with this new combination of iMac/ffworks/Affinity Photo 2 processing layout photos has never been so quick or so easy. You have been warned! Anyway, here's the stopper again as it slows into the station .... ... and, soon after, pulls away again towards Brent, Totnes and Newton Abbot. Meanwhile it's busy in the yard as 8709 carries on shunting. John C.

Next to appear is 4908 'Broome Hall', heading towards home with a Plymouth - Newton Abbot stopper. Meanwhile 8709 carries on shunting. John C.

4117 and vans head west, leaving 8709 to get on with the shunt. John C.

The only additional loco I really crave (apart from a 44xx - on the way we hear) is a GWR Bulldog (preferably of the 'Bird' series). But as few of the class survived to the early 1950s, and so many people want to model the remembered scenes of their 1950s/60s childhoods, I realise that I'm very unlikely to see this wish come true! Perhaps 'historical railway modelling' could be defined as modelling a period before one was born? John C.

Even more freight as 6305 meets 4117 on a down train of vans. The next one was an experiment, with the TZ100 balanced precariously on a stock box sitting on the rather uneven grass in the field behind the embankment. One of those where as you lean over to press the shutter you think the whole shooting match is going to topple over. But it worked out rather better than I expected and I guess I'll use that angle again. In the last one we see 8709 heading back to its wagons while the guard watches 6305 and train go by. John C.

And as soon as the pick-up goods has stowed itself into the yard loop and cleared the main line 6305 drifts past with an eastbound freight. As it comes through the station we see that 8709 has parked its Toad and run round the rest of its train, and now stands by the water tower in the loco spur prior to doing the necessary shunting. Nice to see that 6305's fireman has given the number plates a wipe-over on this otherwise fairly grimy loco. John C.

As the express clears the platforms 8709 slows through the station, where Herr und Frau Preiser can be seen crossing the footbridge. With the advance starter 'on' the loco comes to a halt ..... .... and once points and ground signals have been changed (the latter in my imagination only!) she begins to set her train back into the yard loop under the watchful eye of the signalman and the guard. John C.

Here's 6019 'King Henry V' approaching Stoke Courtenay on a Penzance- Paddington express. The contrasting profiles of the first two coaches are notable - a low-waisted D121 followed by a wide-bodied Centenary composite. Coming through the platform roads it meets a pick-up goods coming the other way in the charge of 8709.. John C.

You say 'mundane'; I say 'beautifully framed shot full of GWR main line atmosphere'. Feel like I'm standing by the lineside.