David41283

Ha ha - yes, absolutely! This is my reason for extending the siding into a branch, gives a little justification for the infrastructure not having been severely rationalised!

Yes, I believe that was the plan - an extremely condensed Ashburton. The numbers on the original sketch refer to the length of each section in inches. I have tried to extend it a bit, as a 3" loco-release excludes pretty much everything except 14xx and pannier tanks! The plan also doesn't quite work in it's original guise as the Code 55 track that he purchased doesn't quite allow the geometry as per the plan. I am a modern-image modeller, but I intend to stick fairly close to the original idea and try and make the layout 'timeless', so that in future it could be operated with Steam, early diesels or 1980's blue and grey. There are plenty of modern branch-lines in Cornwall that are painted in the traditional GWR colour scheme and have semaphore signals today!

Morning Everyone, I have spent the evening tweaking the track plan in Anyrail5. Here is my version of the original plan. I am going to extend one of the kick-back sidings into a branch disappearing under the scenic break. Could be leading to a factory complex, the docks, a cement works etc depending on your mood at the time! Having gone through everything I've got I discovered that the "wires" supposedly purchased for the wire in tube points are actually 0.8m Carbon Fibre rods which snap if bent. Unless anyone can suggest otherwise I have to assume this is a simple mistake on the part of the original purchaser. Luckily I have plenty of 1mm piano wire in my cupboard. Thanks for the comments so far. David

Evening Everyone, I've been thinking of ideas for my 2015 layout after pretty much finishing Exchange Square. I keep getting tempted with a large layout and full-length trains, but had pretty much decided to stick to my M.O. of a single board which can be put away in a cupboard. Today my next project sort of emerged fully formed, however there is a sad story involved. I have purchased the started layout of a deceased gentleman, who had begun a project, accumulated most of the parts, but sadly passed away before making much progress. His widow had sold his collection to Chris' Crafts and Model Railways in Plymouth, from where I have purchased the start of the layout as a job lot. For £100 I received: A nicely made 46" x 11" baseboard, with a lid for storage. All the hinges, catches, screws etc to complete the baseboards. A complete control panel, with all the switches, wires and screws etc to wire it up. A Gaugemaster Combi All the code 55 track for the design (which was nicely illustrated with measurements in a sheaf of photos and bits of research) Plenty of buffer stops Rail joiners Peco Electromagnetic Couplers Ratio Signals A bag of ballast 2 rolls of cork Wires and Tubes for point control Various pots of Railmatch paints I have promised to document my work on the layout and the final result to show the chap's widow. My first thoughts at this stage, having evaluated what I've got, are to pretty much stick with the original design, as it's pretty good, and it feels like the appropriate thing to do. I also feel this gives me a nice challenge with some fixed parameters to work within. I think I am going to move the control panel, which takes up far too much room in the scenic section to the spare area of fiddle yard. I am going to re-align the track plan to go diagonally across the board to maximise space. I wonder if anyone on RMweb in the Plymouth area may recognise this story or know of the chap who did such a nice job of making the baseboards and planning the layout. I am sticking with the name he'd come up with - Poldeen. I hope I can do his excellent work so far justice with my effort in the next few months. Cheers David

Takes me right back to 1988 at the end of platform 12!

Hi Steve, you're making me wish I'd persevered with the ITtrunking cassettes now. I never thought of trimming off the top lip. One of issues with my layout is the amount of handling of stock you have to do. APA Park seems to have gone from strength to strength. Love the new stock. Did I read somewhere that you're exhibiting at TINGS? I will have to try and get there and say hello.

Hi Steve, The videos look good. Just a couple of tips from my own experimentation... Purchase a generic digital camera mini-tripod, mine cost £7 from Argos. This means that the camera is absolutely static and then you can edit knowing that the frames will fit together and the viewer won't be able to tell where you've cut and spliced the clips. The generic video editing tools on a PC or Mac are actually pretty good and self-explanatory! I've got quite into making videos - planning a few more now! Cheers David

Wow - congratulations Steve. I would love to have made it to Westbury, but was at Legoland with the kids. (clearly some of the modelmakers there like railways - surprisingly good renditions of locos!) Congratulations on the well deserved trophy!

Hi Steve - looking good. I think pallets get everywhere! Modern ones are often painted too green, blue, yellow etc.. I think drums and sacks are a bit 'steam era', but it hasn't stopped me using them!! I think some of the peco/ratio bikes can look good. Sleepers are also pretty much everywhere too. David

That water is amazing! Having tried and failed to do water, that is impressive!

Great idea, I'm very envious of those carpentry skills. My only suggestion re the track plan, would be at the moment it looks like the line has always been single, rather than having been recently rationalised as per your description. I've followed this one and I'm looking forward to watching it develop. David