joppyuk1

See the blog Chuffers Duffers for an (I think) 3mm version of Cardigan, Boncath, Killgeran and others.

'Love on a branch line' by John Hadfield. I seem to remember a TV adaption some years ago, but have no idea of how much the railway was involved or featured.

This book was sold in an era where other retailers were trying to break into the book market. They would source a likely volume from a previously published list (Often Paul Hamlyn or Octopus) and have copies specially 'own brand'ed for their stores. They did it with gardening, cooking, military and naval books, all illustrated and easy to read. If you check the title page you'll probably find details of the original publication.

Thank you for this thread. I've ordered one of your kits after seeing them in the GNN, and wanted to investigate if they would be suitable for a currently projected layout.

It depends on how you want to do your research, and how far you want to go. There's the easy way of using the internet, but remember it's not all on there , or there's the hard way. Write to the local newspaper(s)** and county magazine asking for anyone with memories to get in touch, check with the area archives (usually the county library) to see what they have, join the appropriate railway society, whose members will know far more and can probably point you in other directions. Each enquiry will usually give another point to chase up and could take a while to track down. Of course, you could get so involved in research that you never get round to building the model. ** remembering to check which ones were extant in the period you want, as they may have articles in their back copies as well.

I seem to remember a diorama size layout recently, but can't remember any details as to what or where it was. So it can be done.

I had the idea of a similar theme in the North Sea, called Doggerland. Used the Isle of Man, but flipped the map north-south and east-west. . Never got out of the sketchbook though.

My daughter's instructions were - "keep it short, make it funny, don't embarrass me". I managed to get a short poem written and used that. Mind you, it took three months working on it to get the scan correct! One wedding we attended recently had the bride make the 'groom's' speech.

I think I've still got some of this buried in the depths of the garage. Unless it's soaked up the damp from the concrete floor by now.

I agree that track plans help one to find the spots the photos* are taken from, but my gripe is slightly different. I hate it when a track plan states the size as Afeet x Bfeet and I think to myself "I could fit that into my space" only to find that there is still a fiddle yard, sector plate, what-have-you that still has to be included, with no indication of how large this might be. * one magazine used to have a small camera icon at the appropriate point of the plan.

Just seen that 'The Night Mail' is on Talking Pictures channel at 9.35 tonight.

I agree with you, by the time Christmas arrived we menials on the shop floor were heartily fed up with it. December is quite soon enough for advertising, after all, we all know it's coming, we even remember the date! I wonder when the Victorians started Xmas shopping? Probably on Xmas day if you were Scrooge.

What you have to remember is that many of the major retailers are already thinking of next Easter. When I was working for a big High Street stationer/bookshop our first job in January was to work out the orders for next Christmas' cards and calendars.

Bang goes my idea of using the picture from 'Duke the lost engine' of two clergymen peering through a hole into the old shed.

I can understand an exhibition layout modeller wanting to get his layout as much coverage as possible by multi-magazine coverage, (we don't all read them all), and it may be that different lead times between submission and publication are to blame when articles appear nearly simultaneously. I know one recently published article mentioned a new layout being planned, at the time of publication it was practically completed. Personally, as long as the pictures are different, and there is new information in the content, then I'm happy.

While this local show is an annual 'must see' I had only just returned from a week in Lithuania so was shattered and didn't get there. Lovely location, easy and plentiful parking, Southwold to visit for non-railway family members, and always a different selection of layouts. I always let MrsJ choose the 'best in show' as I can be biased and she has an unjaundiced eye. Next years date already noted.

I remember their Skegness shop was a 'must' visit whenever we went over for the day (from Boston, so fairly often) and putting the money in the slot to operate the display layout. I was gutted when we went one day and the shop had gone!

Scograil in Ipswich had a copy on the counter this morning, if that's any help.

Sorry, old age and too lazy to go upstairs to check the facts.

Wasn't one of Peter Whimseys pseudonyms 'Bredon De'ath', being his middle names? Railway Modeller did a number of short articles on various East Anglian branches, way back, I remember Aldeburgh and Long Melford among them. There must have been more by now - just remembered this on my bookshelf - "Ideas For Layouts", 7 great layouts that you can builkd brought to you by Model Rail (2015 annual) includes - The Aldeburgh Branch, Aldeburgh to Saxmundham, Modelling Thorpeness station and Super Sizewell from this region.;

Unfortunately they take up space when binding. I've tried weighing them, the bound volume of 1957 comes in at 1kg, while the 2016 one shot of the scale at 2.5kg.

I started buying the RM in the early 1960s after discovering it in the school library. Have every issue since then and most back to 1955, that I purchased later. I have mine bound into volumes (sans adverts) annually and they have certainly grown in thickness. I just wish I'd indexed them, but the joy of looking for an elusive article I remember is the sidetracking that takes place when I spot something else.

If you want to be accurate, try get hold of a period copy of Kelly's Directory (the library might help) and pick a village of the right size. This should give you an idea of what was still in situ, and of course let you know of genuine names.

Back in the 1970's, when Smiths were modernising all their branches, ripping out all the old oak shelving and replacing it with modern stuff. the board decided to restore one of its shops to original state. They chose the one in Newtown, Powys; and took it back to 1929. Upstairs is a museum of the firms artifacts, free entry when it's open. I'm sure a polite letter to the manager would get you the information needed.

A cobbler is a possibility, but he'd also probably be a saddler as well. All those huntin' types living in the area. Fire station is unlikely, but possibly a 'fire house' (small barn type building housing a small water pump).Our local village had six farms, several shops, including baker, butcher, general store/post office, market garden, builders with associated builders yard, a furniture maker and undertaker; plus others. Now, alas, only one pub and a community shop.