johnhutnick

Much of this discussion seems to be supposition or speculation.  Ghost shifts?  How about regular production where there are more models made than UK orders?

The overwhelming amount of our brand name model trains all come from China, maybe all from one or two factories.  Who here can describe the general quality of the trains that they have got directly from China.  Problems?   Regarding Ebay, I have been able to get a refund on any faulty goods.  If you do not like an Ebay price, you can always "contact Seller" and see if you can do better.  And we pay with credit cards, right?  So dispute the charge if something is no good.

I am in the US.  For us, there is no duty up to $800.  It seems that all of the European governments are happily screwing their citizens, and we are the victims.  But we are... free!

If you think that it is more appropriate, can you come up with an arrangement to place a turnout to access the turntable in the track to the immediately to the left?

For me, this is a model railroad layout, not everything that the prototype would typically do.  As I noted previously, I would position the turntable to fit the absolute highest number of tracks for locos.  Many or most of us have too many locos in our collections.  The more that I can put out on the layout is much better than having them live their lives in boxes.

I would like to suggest a slightly different idea.  Now first, I am in the US.  I do not care much about prototypes, I just want to run trains.

Consider putting the station right in the middle, with your 2 main running tracks, and possibly a third track.  So the station has all of your trains running through, no backing in.  With your fiddle yard next to this, filled with more whole trains ready to operate, it would look interesting to my eye. 

The turntable would be located to have a partial roundhouse and as many stubs that can fit to hold at least a little of your loco collection.  Your left loop would have a hatch and all goods sidings.

For track, I would use Peco Setrack R4(22 1/2") and R3(19 7/8") if this fits.  Otherwise R3 and R2.  Most locos are designed for R2.  I have used these sizes of Setrack.  I attach it to the baseboard with tiny screws, so that I can move the track around a little until I am satisfied.  Using this, I am working on a 5'x5' to run three trains, have a turntable and some sidings.  I have experimented with a Rivarossi 2-6-6-6 and filled the outer loop with hoppers, almost nose to tail.

Lidl(UK) has a 3 table set for 49.99.  Each table is 100cm x 60cm.  There are also various tools.

https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/parkside-multi-purpose-table-set-3-piece-set/p10011843

I have seen posted here a copy of a plan "South for Moonshine".  It is apparently from the Model Railway Constructor 1979 annual.  Does anyone have a copy to scan this article?  I can buy it online.  However, with me being in the US, the shiping costs that I am finding are very high.  Thanks for any help.

The March 2024 Railway Modeller, p. 206, shows the Young Model Railway Club.  They have a Minories, which has been incorporated into a continuous circuit:

https://www.themodelrailwayclub.org/layouts/minories/

Maybe I missed it - where does the "South for Moonshine" plan come from?

What is the source of the South for Moonshine plan?

The model that I have photographed is the new Flying Scotsman.

To answer my own question from earlier, here is a photo of the box that I just got.  "Made in China" is clear.  Don't the boxes in the UK have the same label?

Does anyone know how to correct the upside down?   I turned my photo both ways, but it did not work.  Is there something in forums that provides an edit to rotate?

I do not yet have my Scotsman in hand.  However, we should be able to settle the "China" topic readily.  Does the loco say "China" on the bottom or not?

So the correct cabside lettering is HO cream 8"?  I wrote to Railtec to ask if they are making a Scotsman set for the Marklin loco.  I would much rather have the 5 numbers already together on the transfer than try to get 5 numbers just perfect.  You can imagine looking at your final job and thinking that you should have left it alone.

So for all of this talk, do we have a first volunteer to try the job?  And how to do it?  

Are these the letters that we want?  If so, what size?  They have both OO and O.

And now what?  Did anyone get theirs and have it in hand yet to study the lettering?   In the US I do not yet have this.

So here is a screenshot of the Marklin cab side that I took from a video.

So what is "off" about the number?  Is the lettering slightly too small?  If so, who is volunteering to remove the numbering from their new model?  And what transfers are there to buy that will be any substantial improvement?

My Draycott has Pembroke and Cambrian in the parts bag.

In this general discussion, I see a lot of what I consider complaints.  The chimney is no good, the flanges are too big, the rear axle turns, etc.

Well, no one else is making British HO steam for us.  Scotsman is the most famous loco.  If it does well, maybe we can get something else, like a Mallard or maybe a Castle.  For those of us who want it all just perfect, we have to scratchbuild the whole thing.  Or build a non existent British 1/87 kit.   Or how many here bought a PSM and have 30 inch curves?

At least 5 Rivarossi Scots have sold on Ebay in the last few months, and a number of the LMS coaches.  So there is no shortage and no need to find at some auction.

I am in the US.  We as commuters do not have "embarking" and "alighting", we just get on and get off.

On the PATH(Port Authority Trans Hudson) line, or on some NYC subway line, when a train comes into a station, the doors are opened on one side for everyone to get off.  Commuters on the other platform waiting to get on are lined up waiting for those doors to open(so as to get a seat).

I am not sure that I would ever know what was a "north" platform.

Can someone please post a floorplan drawing.

Can anyone find a bargain on ordering the new Trix HO Flying Scotsman?

Is Scograil the lowest price that anyone has found?

The magnifying headset shown by Gedward is an Optivisor.  The typical lenses are from 2x to 5x.  There is also available a hinged auxiliary lens to move in front of the regular lens for added magnification.  You can change out your lens plate.  However, this is a slow process, not something that you might do for each time you are viewing a part of a project.  Typically you may need more than one Optivisor.  If only one, for me 3x is best.

As far as alternate brands, please look at BBC programs showing art restoration.  Paintings can be 100,000 GBP or higher.  They all use Optivisors.

Regarding the mention of the Paddington to Seagood book, does anyone have a copy to be able to scan the track plan?  I am always curious when old layouts are discussed.

Can someone please tell me who manufactures the GNR 4-4-2 posted by Chris H.  Thank you.