Will J

I have signed up to show intent with the usual disclaimer of 'something something something to do with money....'. I hope I can eventually order one.

If you could do an unpainted one that I can spray in Renault Brooklands Green with GWR logos I'd have one like a shot..

..seriously, a very interesting proposition. The ultimate 'Rule 1 Toy'.. no further justification needed. I'm becoming a serious admirer of the whole RevolutioN concept, before too long I hope to add to my 1x order for a tank wagon!

Erm..... 'wot they all said' sums it up nicely. Just needs some humans and a bit of clutter! I can't help but notice perches for those 3D printed pigeons!

Cheers Ben.. it might add a few extra sales to SVR fanatics! Though I have no problem with sticking with 'Plan A' if that is what seems best to everyone. Personally I'd be very happy with the 345 number, but with the general colour scheme and details matched to an in-service photo.

Echoing everyone else's excited anticipation about the wagon.

Hi Ben, Mike,

any idea if the '345' number is possible on the single REGENT tanker? (To match the SVR example in Gareth's pictures).

Absolutely no bother if it is not an option... one of those moments when it is always worth asking just in case! Hopefully my order has got though OK.

I notice that the real thing has vanished from the siding at Arley.. I wonder if it is getting a repaint like its 'siding mate' the Hawksworth sleeper which is now looking superb.

If there was any way that the single 'REGENT' tank could be numbered '345' as per Gareth's excellent photos it would be much appreciated.

...though if I need to renumber my tanker, I can easily cut '3-4-5' from a transfer sheet!!

Really looking forward to this, there is a space waiting in my N gauge Arley station siding.

Looking forward to seeing more of this! I can't think of 'approaching Birmingham' without imagining a karting track, but that is from the wrong direction, but the kind of thing that makes sense on the site where some gasometers or whatever used to sit.

I have always pondered something like a drive-thru fast food establishment, with moving cars, as a nice little N gauge urban feature.

Fascinated to see progress here. I love 16mm stuff but I tend to be less keen on things rushing around circles of track (though my N gauge roundy roundy-s suggest otherwise!).

Looks fascinating.

It'll be fun to watch. I enjoyed Scrapheap Challenge without ever rummaging through a car reclamation yard trying to find the necessary parts for a racing car / speedboat /trebuchet.

(Though I was once attacked by what looked like rabid dogs trying to locate the starter motor for an obscure jet engine in a long defunct scrapheap in Essex)

Maybe I need to adjust my set?

While the photos don't contain any big manufacturing revelations... the sight of a complex livery 'half way there' is oddly compelling. Thanks for the insight Ben.

Shame about the track!

I shouldn't worry... you see track as smooth, shiny and daringly sleeperless beneath 'yer actual full size trains.

Anyway, the forum can sit back, relax and play a game of spot the RMWebber...

Mmmmmmm. Varnished teak effect goodness on the carriage pictured. Looks good to me!

Watching the Stanier Mogul with interest... I'd got as far as getting a spare Crab body and tender with similar thoughts in mind. (Yet to do anything about it though!)

I discovered half by accident that Renault Brooklands Green from Halfords is a nice approximation to the new gWr green on HSTs etc..

You are going to wear out the rubber bands powering that thing.... get some modelling done!

PS. Nice shots, very steady....

Look up 'Kato D51'.... that would get you 99% of the way there in N... (as you can tell I have been asked the same question)

Just catching up with this thread, incredible work on the Dogfish interior surfaces.... I'm not sure I could emulate it so I have filled mine with ballast! (but the close up images are giving me further inspiration).

PS.. my similarly aged son is keen to see your Sodor fleet develop! Those engines have plenty of troublesome trucks to trouble them.

It is much easier with a stripy livery, blue and grey, something and cream etc.. as you can get away with just suggesting the vertical elements of the frame, and leave it to the viewer to imagine the horizontal bits which tend to be bordered by the livery edges anyway. Interestingly, on the SVR you see Crimson and Cream carriages with different 'depths' of cream stripe depending on whether the frames are there or not.

Anyhow, getting a bit off piste Ropley wise...!

I reckon that, though it is a more involved process with the plain green, it might yet be worth a go?

Here is one to ponder Tom, some Mark I carriages seem to have a raised frame around the edge of the windows, some, perhaps the majority, do not. Somebody out there might be able to explain why this is. Is this noticeable in MHR rakes? It can be simulated with a bit of masking and dry brushing darker tones around the window perimeter.

I will post a few more details later today, and Love Productions, who are promoting it, will doubtless provide more shortly.

Hi Kevin, do you know if the same researchers (Rebecca & Holly?) are still involved with making contact with us?

Cheers,

Will

I am coming to the conclusion that TomE is one of those really annoying people that does everything well ;-)

Being serious that coach looks excellent, you captured the look of the roof perfectly. When you are ready perhaps you can bring the layout down for one of the galas?

Roy

You have obviously never heard him sing...

PS. Tom, I'm keen to have a go at de-ribbing my rooftops, any useful hints?

Brilliant stuff Tom. The original Bachman green always had too much of a camoflauging effect against your green bank.. the lighter green makes the model train 200% more visible and gives it chance to compete with the scenic modelling. It also very effectively disguises the 'out of the box ness' of the mark ones!

You'll recall the same 'visibility' consideration is why I favour crimson and cream mark ones over maroon ones for Victoria Bridge, despite the modern day SVR having a set of both. In real life I actually prefer the duller 1960s look!

The only remaining detail to add are some handrail stanchions.

And maybe a pigeon resting its wings sat in the firebox door....

Re: the static boiler- gosh blimey and other much ruder words... that's rather smart!

Re: the transparent roof gubbins, glad they are useful, do you need any more?

Hi Tom,

love the boiler, it compares well to this 3D print of a 'rusty boiler' available on Shapeways: http://www.shapeways.com/product/9GRUL29SD/rusty-boiler-british-n-1-148?optionId=58505434

Which, browsing 'Rail N Scale's 1:148 Shapeways catalogue got me thinking about your car park. (Tom will no doubt roll his eyes at this point as I'm always waffling about the potential contents of Ropley's parking area)

Knowing a little of your modelling style you are going to want something a little more 'modelled' than just a few freshly opened Oxford diecast cars (good though these are, they have a 'new' Mini on the way apparently and some other vaguely modern models)

From my experience of their Volvos, the 'Rail N Scale' range is exquisite but tends towards the retro end of the market! See http://www.shapeways.com/shops/rail-n-scale?section=1%3A148&s=0#more-products I do like their Citroen 2CVs in 'parked' and 'cornering' poses.. with the front wheels printed at a jaunty angle....

The drawback with these models is the need to glaze them which is tricky, but far from impossible. I managed a half decent job on one of these Maestros http://www.shapeways.com/product/65CTVZZ2J/nam01-1-148-austin-maestro?optionId=42373118 with a surplus window 'prism' from an old N gauge car, but more by luck than judgement.

Another option is this shop http://www.shapeways.com/shops/madaboutcars?li=pb&section=1%2F148&s=0#more-products (with a huge range helpfully categorised by scale) which has much more up to date vehicles, and a useful mix of the usual muscle cars alongside more mundane contraptions. The drawbacks here are the solid windows (not strictly a problem if you decorate them all in a consistent fashion)and the relatively high price, which is a problem when you have to purchase the cars two by two. This gives you a weird 'Noahs Ark' of a carpark but that could be remedied with some swapping with fellow modellers (I have 'swops' ready if you were interested....).

Why all this talk of cars.... ? I guess it is the modern bits that help set the context of the layout, especially to exhibition viewers who might not be familiar with the 1:1 scale location. It helps to set the story of a modern preserved line, with its attention to historical detail, with the odd hi-viz jacket and reasonably priced hatchback parked somewhere incongruous. As folks keep telling you (I'll choose to agree with them because they are right!) Ropley paints a remarkably beautiful picture.