Warspite

Chris K and Chris B Sorry, I've been a bit slow on posting on this thread and see it's already up to six pages! Congratulations on your new venture. The new Minerva website is excellent - the section on "What's different about Minerva" sums it all up really! As one of those who is a proud owners of all three Ixion industrials, I'm really looking forward to adding a Peckett. An inspired choice of prototype which offers all sorts of opportunities. Wishing you every success for the future. Stephen

Giles This is looking very nice. Looking forward to see how it develops ..... By the way, what size are the scenic boards? Stephen

Chaz Great photo! Dock Green does photograph extremely well at track level. Stephen

Chaz As you know, Jane (Mrs Warspite) also took some photos of Dock Green at Telford. Just a few attached. Looking over the fence ...... Nice one of the loading bay and a very nice ex-GWR wagon - photo in a 'hand-finished' style ...... Some of the superb details on Dock Green ...... ...... and, finally, "where's my train gone?" Not sure about the lipstick and eye shadow though! Stephen

Chaz The loading bay is a great feature on Dock Green and I desaturated this one to give it a slightly 'gritty' feel …… Finally a couple of ‘Susan’, first another panned shot …… ...... and a portrait of her when you kindly held her on the bridge (again photo slightly desaturated). Stephen

Chaz I’ve sorted out a few of the photos I took at Telford. Lighting in the hall wasn’t brilliant for photography and because I don’t like using flash, I had to push up the ISO and widen the aperture. So I tried some panning shots of your J50 shunting …… …… together with a close-up of your very nice horse box …… Stephen

Excellent conversion, Chaz. Great improvement. Now, where did I put those drawing pins ....... Not sure whether I missed it, but what diameter are the drawing pins you used? They look just right. Stephen

Hi Mark Never did get to say how great the Manning Wardle looked with the ironstone tippler. Could be Irchester! Juniper Hill certainly has been in the limelight. A lovely layout which has inspired a lot of us. Bit worried about this news of it bowing out though? Happy New Year Stephen

My sound-fitted Fowler arrived this week from Paul Martin at NG Trains/EDM Models and I've now had the chance to run it although I haven't been able to try all the functions yet. This is a beautiful model and the sound project developed by Paul Chetter is very good. The sound is really convincing and just what you would expect from a small diesel mechanical loco. The start-up sound is well done and the loco revs up and down realistically on the move. For such a small loco, it has a surprisingly loud engine sound (which can be reduced if necessary) and good tone. Included with the locomotive is a very helpful guide that Paul Chetter has provided to explain the Fowler's prototypical operations and how these translate to the model. This is particularly helpful in using the clutch, changing gears and even whether the loco is under load or light engine. There are 28 function key operations covering all sort of sounds although the loco is still easily drivable with 8 functions if that is all you have - me included until I upgrade my rather old DCC controller. It is a smooth runner anyway but Paul Martin's 'Keep Alive' installation means that it will trundle along any variation in track and pointwork without hesitation. I don't attempt to understand the technology behind this but it works really well and any concerns I had about running a short wheelbase 0-4-0 were quickly dispelled as it ran flawlessly at a crawl. Be warned though. Don't count on running it into a dead siding and expect it to stop because it won't! The combined efforts of Ixion and the two Pauls have produced a remarkably good little loco with a great personality. I love it! Usual disclaimers apply - I'm just a very satisfied customer. A couple of pictures attached. I asked Paul Martin to paint the wheels and rods on mine but I'll weather it myself. I'll post some pics when I've done that. Stephen

Absolutely! I saw Richard's Orchard Road layout last year and it was superb. By the way, I also saw 'The End of the Line' (which you mentioned further up this thread) at the Shepton Mallet NG show this year. Quite exquisite in every sense and very inspirational. Stephen

Mark Love the latest photos. The one in the afternoon light with the pipe in the foreground is wonderful - very atmospheric. Great stuff. Stephen

Not wanting to take this thread any further off topic ..... ;-) ....., can I add my plea for East Yard to go on the exhibition circuit. No pressure, Richard, no pressure. Stephen

Hi Mark Thanks for the info. and the link to those very nice pics of Storefield. Judging from the photos in Bylines, Cranford looks like a great prototype with a nice balance of ironstone workings and rural Northants. Sorry, I didn't mean to trample all over your thread with discussion on a 7mm version of Juniper Hill! ....... however, a Class 14 would definitely do nicely! Thanks Stephen

Thanks for this and for the links. I've just found a cracking photo of Manning Wardle 'No. 14' out of use at the recently closed Irchester quarry in 1969 ("Railway Bylines" July 2012 page 359) and it's a dead ringer for the Ixion Manning Wardle. The author states that it arrived at Irchester in 1957 and, after leaving Irchester, started a new life in preservation. Stephen

Steve Wow, this is really coming on. Just love those last two pics. Stephen

Hi Mark Not having been on here much recently, I have somehow missed this absolute gem of a layout. I've been researching East Midlands ironstone workings for some time (inspired by some great articles and photographs in "Railway Bylines") with a view to possibly creating another minimum space 7mm layout. Juniper Hill is a great inspiration for this sort of layout and it really exudes atmosphere. The Ixion Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST and DJH's forthcoming class 14 would seem to be ideal motive power for a 7mm layout. It's a shame there isn't a current R-T-R Austerity in 7mm. However, I wonder if I could justify Ixion's 0-4-0ST Manning Wardle or even their forthcoming Fowler 0-4-0 DM!! Keep up the great work. Stephen

Rob Clearly the right decision in the end. I've just discovered a similar problem with one of my well-ballasted points and will need to 'remove and re-lay'. Luckily, mine is in not such a cramped position. Stephen

Steve It's a real dilemma isn't it, especially where those of us haven't much space in the depth of our layouts. I've chosen to go with the 'grey sky' option (although I haven't painted the back scene yet, it's still white board) for the same reason - the lack of any real space for an effective transition. The only thing I would say about making it viewable from both sides is that other things (furniture at home, people at exhibitions) get into your photographs. Cardiff Canton 6x2 will look stunning viewed and photographed at low level but you will want something to hide the extraneous background. As a compromise, what about a temporary grey back scene you could slot in for photos? Just a thought. Otherwise, looking good! Stephen

Chris A belated 7mm welcome from me as well. I was always very impressed with what you did on 'Diesels in the Duchy' - one of my favourite exhibition layouts (I remember getting some nice photos of it at the DEMU show in 2010) - including your stunning buildings. Can't wait to see what you will achieve in 7mm, particularly some Cornish wharf side industrial buildings. Totally agree with the statement from your post yesterday. One thing I've learnt from years of making modelling mistakes is the importance of the layout being part of a scene and not the other way round. Both Martyn Welch and Gordon Gravett have achieved this with great success in 7mm scale. With this in mind, your track plan looks good - lots of operational interest without being too crowded. I'll be following this one with lots of interest. Stephen

For anybody that is remotely interested, I've now posted an update on the Layouts thread of my progress with the Slaters kit (which I bought, um, well over 12 months ago .....). http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/48794-minimum-space-o-gauge-layout/page-9 Stephen

Oh, very nice Chaz. Excellent little cameo. Agree, though, it's probably better without the wooden shed if you can relocate it. Stephen

Steve I think the diorama concept is a brilliant way of showing off your superb locomotives. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this develops. Can't wait to see the pictures. Presumably, you will be able to have a Canton Western (when it arrives) and a Canton Hymek as well as your steamers? Stephen

Hi Andy Just love your recent photos especially that last set of low-level shots. The layout is looking superb. Stephen

Chaz That signal is superb and beautifully engineered (as usual). I also would have said 'rusty black' for the railings. The white does look good but just think of the fun you can have getting the rust right ...... and all that flaky paint! Stephen

Chaz I've followed this latest development with interest as I would also like to get rid of the unsightly box. Your remedy is very impressive and I will certainly give it a try. Like you, I will have to make the changes in situ as the points are well set in lots of 'yard gunge'! Stephen