njee20

You can do anything wrong the first time, or at least to a standard you believe can be improved subsequently. Simple or not.

Nothing overly complicated in that plan... what are you seeing? Scissor crossings, reverse loops, they’re not inherently complex. I disagree that there’s huge amounts of skill involved in laying ‘complex junctions’ (ie a handful of RTR products laid adjacent to each other). If you lay it and it doesn’t work you try again. How will building a BLT develop any skills which you can’t learn on a bigger layout? How does that help with installing a reverse loop module? Itself maybe 5 minutes of work. Personally I’d make it a roundy-roundy in some capacity, I agree, but I still don’t see an issue with the OP starting with a larger layout, just because it’s not the norm.

It’s conventional wisdom. It’s not law. Not everyone wants the same thing. Even if the OP does discover that some years down the line I don’t quite get the animosity, people have said “not what I’d do”, isn’t that enough? He can do with that information as he pleases. Some are dangerously close to projecting their own wants onto the OP.

It doesn't get more illegal. Yes, GDPR is more over arching, and has all sorts of irritating nuances that are keeping contractors in business up and down the land as they help make companies comply, but publishing personal information online (for example) isn't great now, and won't be under GDPR. It's not something I would say is "VERY important" in this context, YMMV.

Whilst you've made 3, so you're winning, well done! There is so little being captured to which GDPR applies it's not really an issue. Sure you can exercise your right to be forgotten though! Still perplexed by the whole thing, but intrigued by the results nonetheless!

I must say I don't understand the vitriol coming from some posters (most notably Denbridge), whilst I agree that things like the gradients look excessive, at the end of the day if you want a 'train set' full of track then fill your boots. It's your money, your layout, and your hobby, no one else's. Someone else may want to run a specific timetable as it was on 12th July 1931, renumbering stock to ensure perfect fidelity, with a weather appropriate backscene. Someone else may be happy running a German steam loco alongside a US diesel, hauling some LNER coaches. Each to their own! I model N, and modern image at that, so I can't comment on train lengths, haulage power etc, but I'm surprised by people saying locos won't manage more than 6 coaches on a 30" curve, yet a 36" one is fine. I started out building a small layout, mainly because that was the space I had available, but also because 'that's what you do'; you have to start small, and hone your skills on something manageable. I never used it, because it wasn't what I wanted in a layout - I wanted long trains and what not. I laid some track, and that was about it. It languished in the spare room until a house move facilitated a bigger layout. I immediately scrapped the original layout, and built a larger one. It's been 3 years and I've not done any ballasting or scenery, but all the track is down, some of it relaid as I've learnt along the way, I've wired all the points up, and integrated with JMRI and a touchscreen to operate them. It's not a given that you'll become disillusioned just because it's a bigger job. Yes I got bored of some things, but you can mix it up a bit. Bored of laying track? Wire up what you've got. Bored of wiring? Add a couple of signals. We're now looking at moving house again and I'll (hopefully) have more space, so I'm considering upsizing again, because I can. I can recover everything I've done, and repurpose the boards. IMO there's not much point in building an 80s N gauge branch line unless that's what you want to have (and it seems it's not). Just because a layout is big doesn't mean you can't focus on small sections of it, completing individual bits, or start with one loop before laying others etc. I've learnt huge amounts on my layout, would I have learnt more on a smaller one? I'd have obviously moved on from wiring points more quickly if I had 5 to do, instead of the 50 pairs I did, but meh, if I was never inspired to get the layout out to work on the 5 it's moot. I've got all sorts of ideas of what I want to do, some of which will probably be many many years away, but that's ok, nothing's ever finished after all!

Mine turned up yesterday. Very impressive, the detail is superb, I really like the fact one buffer beam comes detailed. No speakers in the DC ones, which is a bit of a shame, but there's a slot to mount one (obviously), which is better than nothing. It feels like a real step up for Dapol - the PCB quality looks far superior, the box is better. It runs beautifully quietly, very smooth and slow. That said... I had one handrail which will barely attached, and fell off removing the model from the box. To my surprise they're actually plastic, I'd assumed they were metal, but it re-attached very easily. I also had the light tubes fall out of one end when I removed the body, and I've seen someone saying the front valance was detached on theirs out of the box, so some silly little QC issues still present. Haulage is good, romped around the layout with 16 Megafret flats with weighted containers, definitely better than their 66 (not saying much). All in I'd say it's hands down the best Dapol model I've bought, possibly the best British N, I'm excited for the 50 now, I'd say it bodes well.

Never had it, not a massive seller, probably about 300 items over 15 years, mostly in the last two years. Items up to £3000 or so. Describe well, put decent photos, be honest. Never had a single problem.

Well now I feel a bit guilty as the original recommendation was mine! Didn't even know Piko did AC ones, assumed they were all 'normal'. Sorry!

Everyone has their own favoured niche, I for one like contemporary stuff, I'm barely any more interested in BR blue than I am big-4 or pre-grouping layouts, so your "modern image" magazine would potentially still include stuff I don't want. Personally I enjoy the diversity in magazines, even if I'm not necessarily interested in all of it. You'll never please everyone after all.

Piko. Often available with sound for a good price on eBay with people splitting them from SmartControl starter sets.

Set track spacing by the looks of it too!

Meh. The buyer will likely know they can’t get combined postage, or you can take it out of the GSP if you want. Otherwise it’s very easy, and offers a load of extra protection versus ‘normal’ sales. I’d rather sell through the GSP than to a UK buyer. I had someone buy 5 lots through the GSP, we discussed it, but he was happy using it. Never had any late deliveries flagged, nor complaints from eBay or buyers. Works for me.

Is there more to it, or are those the only questions? What will you conceivably gain about runaways from a single question where the only answers available are basically "it never really happens" or "it happens all the time"?

Weird. Not a company I was familiar with, as they don't offer anything I want, but if he wants to raise awareness he's managed that! Always find professional communications that are tinged with emotion like that a very curious thing.

Flightradar24 is your friend!

That being advantageous over long distances. I love the i8, I drove one, and was a bit underwhelmed. It felt like a futuristic Fiesta. Quick, for sure, but a real lack of ceremony about it. Louder Soundaktor needed! HUD is cool though!

Even then, a buyer can just say "I'm really sorry, it got ruined", if you've had a refund what can anyone do? They can't force a buyer to send you an item they may (genuinely) no longer have. As you say - ignore the seller and hope to find things elsewhere!

Well it wasn't clear, hence people seeking clarity. Glad it's all resolved. I personally browse on mobile 99% of the time, so never have icons!

TT, TTS, S3; basically anything with a 4-cylinder engine which ‘should’ sound better. They work very well, mind! Convinces me my Golf GTI has a nice throaty roar!

But do you mean you can’t rate your own posts, or they’re missing on everyone’s?

I just chucked some 1mm card strips under the outside rail on my (n gauge) layout. Nothing's ever derailed. I let it sort itself out on the straights. It's quite subtle, but that's what I was after, I think it's one of those things that can be overdone, but I'm pleased with it. Weirdly I also have a Voyager demonstrating it, one missing the coupler it appears!

I’m glad you didn’t describe it as a class 60, we’d be here all day!

Worthing MRC have an excellent modern layout in Loftus Road, sure there are others.

I’d read the OP to the robbers, then rescue everyone whilst they were still dumbfounded.