MarshLane

Any progress on the layout Roge? Rich

I was about to post an 'appropriate' comment to that image .. then I noticed it was already in your signature! So instead I'll just say when it comes to these modern things, "They dont like it up em!" Nice shot :)

Good man!! Great images again, damn lucky to get the test train passing through while you were there. Every time I go for them its the usual 'oh you should have been here 10 minutes ago' comment.... However, I can feel the chills coming on from that 20 minutes at the lineside, so I am off for the flask from the car 🤣

Must resist ... must resist .. must resist ...... Doesn't it look superb!

Well I cannot believe it has been 12 months since I last posted an update! Time flies too quickly these days - are we sure somebody isn't 'nicking' an hour here and there? However, I have just had half an hour and gone back through the thread and restored all the images that were missing following the server issues earlier this year. Last 12 months A bit has changed in 12 months, so its probably best to do a quick update, but just to confirm Rock Creek continues! 😃. The last update in November 2021, I had started work designing the the new curved sections for the lighter baseboards. I stopped work on this around Christmas last year, because it came apparent to me that id gone from one extreme to the other, the boards were lighter being smaller but that there would be just as much of a hinderance to erect them. Therefore I stepped back to have a 'big think' as they say in modern parlance. I took the principals I was working with and built a demo board earlier this year. That proved the concept in many ways, and confirmed it was a good way to move forward, but also flagged to me a couple of issues that needed further attention. Such as how to establish diagonal dividers, rather than square ones, supporting the surround structures needed a bit more work, and moving from 3mm to 6mm for dividers and 9mm for the frame would also help. Still it was a demo, it was there to prove what worked and what didn't. The year has been a bit challenging, juggling work with family issues - both of my parents have not really been unwell but have had numerous hospital visits this summer which has taken lots of time. Hopefully, things are heading in the right direction now (fingers crossed!). Moving Forward So I am back on with designing the new boards, again, the plan is to build one before building the others. However, having spoken to two different laser cutting individuals, 9mm birch ply is difficult to cut (I need to check with @BrushType4 (more commonly known as Phil at Intentio) to see if he can do 9mm. Failing that I have contacts for a chap that could CNC mill them out of Ply, who has done the baseboards for a friend of mine. As previously, lightweight but sturdy and storable will be the key. The key part of this is being able to work quickly and easily with an open frame principal that can put the railroad in the landscape, and give a minimum of 4ft radius curves, so that long freights with locos front and rear dont derail! I haven't added any more rolling stock this year, although may have a couple of pre-orders in with people! Richie

Steve, if you click the three dots top right of a post, and choose share, it will give you a pop up link with a url for that specific post. You can then copy and paste that into a message (forum or PM) which will display a link for the recipient. (Edit: For some reason my iPad decided to change for to fir! I know its cold but really.....) Thanks to everyone for restoring their pics where possible btw! Rich

I am struggling to find the entry from Nile that you refer to, can you give me a pointer or date?

Personally speaking, that has to be one of the best Nelliebashes I have seen .. makes me very tempted to follow your lead! What was the Electrotren chassis? Rich

Great to see Modbury on Sunday at the NMAG meeting. My father attended with me and took some video of the layout that Ian has kindly said he's happy for me to post on here. Hope people enjoy it, truly inspirational modelling. Rich

Hi Simon, Superb and very enjoyable as ever! Hope you've got a warm coat .. you can't stop entertaining us just because its cold!!! :) Rich

Yes there are similar forwarding companies in the UK that can send packages to Europe or the US. I have used MyUS.com to get stuff from the USA to the UK on a few occasions, found them really good - lot of reviews around talk of problems but Ive had an account for three years and its worked fine every time. A couple of issues with wrong import codes being put down, but an email with a screen shot and my description of the item saying it should come under code 1234-5678 for model trains has got it changed. They have a UK and US storage facility, so you get a UK shipping address - and I have found them really good. They talk about repacking boxes, but in reality I have found they pack all the boxes and packages that come into one bigger box. I like that as it gives more protection to the goods. They give you 30 days free storage, but will send from a UK address that you have goods shipped to, to Germany (or any EU country) if that helps. Rich

Nice progress on the NG Rod - is this 009 or 0-16.5?

Thanks - I think my mate has placed the order with C&L over the weekend, but the downside with the 3mm Society is that you need to be a member, which adds another £20 on to the cost of materials. That may have been a step too far for him, but we'll see how it all works out. Thanks to everyone for their help with this, really appreciated. I'll suggest that he updates this thread with progress as he makes it! Rich

Thanks Andy and Stephen, I think the Code 75 Bullhead will be the way forward (as you say Andy, its narrowness might work well) - I have just looked at EDM before suggesting it to my mate, who is in the UK yes, but unfortunately EDM are out of stock. I have sent them an email to ask if there is any indication of when new supplies will be available, but I suspect it may be a case that Paul waits until he has a variety of items required, given import duties and postage etc.. But thanks for pointing it out @Stephen Freeman. Rich

Guys, Just to say thanks for everyones input, my mate is going to do an order for some Code 75 Bullhead rail and appropriate chairs with C&L over the weekend, pointwork controlled by servos, which he fancies looking at the MERG boards for control of - should be an interesting project for him! Rich

Thanks. I’d forgotten when I looked it up on Festipedia that the page was talking about flat bottomed rail on NWNGR/WHR routes! This page talks about the various rail types https://www.festipedia.org.uk/wiki/Rail_Types The closest to Code 65 is some Code 75 Bullhead rail that C&L do. So that may be the choice I suspect, with 4mm sleepers cut in half as per FR history. Rich

Thanks Miss P, yes I had thought that, I am just not sure what his soldering is like. Off-scene it won't matter too much, but I know he's looking for a good track work 'on-scene'. Thans Keith. Thats interesting, although I am not sure the baseplates would look right for UK narrow gauge - although I have only had a very quick glance. Bullhead would be nice, perhaps in sidings, but I cannot find any Code 55 bullhead around. Rich

A friend has asked for some advice. He is building a small 009 layout, based (very) loosely on Ffestiniog practice. The FR has been using flat-bottomed rail for many years (pre-preservation) and he's asked what rail/chairs etc, he should used to handbuild the track. My track knowledge is limited, so I feel rather than give wrong info, it was best to throw it out to the more knowledgable ones on here. We had looked at Peco Code 60 rail (that is actually used for OO gauge conductor rail) but that is a) expensive and b) I am struggling to find any chairs, so it would be a copper clad soldered approach if we went down that route. My later thought was ScaleFour Society Code 55 rail - but then my knowledge runs out. Does flat bottom still use chairs or is it spiked? Given that this is representing 2-foot gauge, I think its probably spiked, I am wondering how he can create a decent impression of this in 4mm? Is it best for him to stay with copper clad and solder, or is there any way in which he could create the right view with laser cut sleepers? He's not a begineer at model making, but hasn't been down the hand built track road before. The layout track design (which is not complicated) is now drawn up in Templot, so I suggested a laser cutter or similar may be able to cut or CNC mill birch ply sleeper panels for him (no idea of the cost, so that may be a non-starter, and there is the waist element). Trackwork 'off-scene' would be copper clad sleepers and solder to create the panels for speed. Any ideas that I can pass onto him would be welcome. I get the feeling this will probably start as his Christmas hobby project!! Rich

Looking really good. Can I ask how you folded the tumblehome so neatly? Rich

Sorry dont know your name, but @bluestag you look to be making good progress with the bogies! Following along with your project, and I like the idea of the simple bogie making jig with wood, screws and plasticard - obvious way of constructing things straight but would never have come up with that myself! Nice tip. Rich

All displaying on my iPad and also iMac both using Safari and Firefox.

Superb as ever Simon! Rich

Aww go on Simon, you know you want to :) you'd miss the run that you have with Dallam if you changed .... grabs hat and coat quickly!

I thought we were encouraging Andy to get better Paul, not suffer further injury from Mrs P's right hook!!!! 😂

Trouble is ideas like that stick!! You do have my sympathy tho, my mother is a couple of years older and has Osteoarthritis that really impacts on her movement, its not nice and I know the pain she has at times. Hope your back on top form soon mate. Rich