MarshLane

Thanks mate, That's an interesting thought that it doesn't need every sleeper, especially on straight track, just enough to hold the gauge together. Wow, another penny dropping moment! In the nicest way, can I ask you hurry up with Brecon yard then I have something to follow Rich

Nice first thread entry, well laid out and positioned. I'm looking forward to following this, trees are one aspect that I've never got right, and being an O gauge modeller, do seem to be somewhat massive! Hoping I can pick up a few tips as you progress. Rich

Quite agree Andy, Minty Jinty has been a great help to me, but also responsible for several decisions, especially after seeing his track laying, it was inspirational. Given my spell checker doesn't like LMS shutters, could I suggest we adapt that nickname to the Welsh Minty Mafia As for the BIG and BIGGER boxes ... Have you thought of a side delivery door - ie the trades mans entrance, with shute that pushes all incoming arrivals directly into the shed and out of sight The SWMBO would be less likely to see them .. Problem solved! One friend of mine suggested the easier way was to simply get rid of SWMBO, but I responded by saying something about cutting off ones nose to spite ones face! He is single however! Haha Rich

Peter, having had a little play with the part built brake van tonight - that works perfectly! I'm really pleased with it. I'll post a pic tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up. To anyone who has done copper clad trackwork before - following the comment earlier I'm seriously thinking about this for the fiddle yard work on the big layout as it will all be out of sight. Are there any advantages/disadvantages? What kind of solder and iron size is best? All advise gratefully received. Rich

Without wishing to be a damp squid, and it's entirely up to you mate, it's your layout ... But isn't that a case of the tail wagging the dog! Would you not be best deciding what you want from a layout, locos, period, style etc.. And then looking round for locos that fit with it? There's no rush you know Rich

Peter, Thanks for the heads up on those. One for experimental purposes has been acquired from eBay and arrived this afternoon, so I shall be having a play this evening and seeing what I can do with it. I can eventually see the battery being replaced by DCC connections, but either way, it is a quick and simply answer to the internal gas light question! Thanks Rich

Hi Andy, Really good progress made there! Glad to see/read that your water problems have resolved themselves .. Sorry reading that back, seems like it should have "just keep taking the pills!" Added on! Of course I was referring to the shed! Looking forward to seeing what you do with this one. Wish I could find a bit more time - loads of track work to build for the loft layout and I'm part way through the point work for Marsh Lane of course, but I see your progress and become very envious!!! Lol! Damm work always gets in the way! ..... Now, where did I put that lottery ticket? Rich

Have you thought about London (Buxton Road) Take the best bits of both! I have a play in Templot and see what will fit of the KGX, at least then you've some idea as to what is what. Rich

Ok and are you working on 2' wide boards?

I know your looking to work with 4ft long boards ... but what length/width do you NOT want the final version to exceed? That may help narrow things down! Rich

Hi Simon, Thanks for that. Yes, I've just joined MERG to be honest. I've been thinking about it for ages, but there's a few things electronic coming up that I want to do with the big layout, so I think its a good move. Rich Hi Duncan, How interesting. I'd looked at those in the past and discounted them for what I wanted, but actually seeing your little demo there, makes me think there could be a couple of options available! I'll give that more thought! Cheers Rich

Well I've learnt something today, thanks for that. Very interesting - sorry to have hijacked the threat Jinty Rich

Wow, they look superb. Hatton's you really do need to think about getting them released in O gauge as well! Im sure you'd be onto a winner. Well done. Rich

Wonderful Jon, looks superb! What was the reason for the fixed distant, any idea? Jinty, you'll get on fine with servos. Grab a Megapoints board and it's as easy as pressing a button! Will be great to see them on Tallyllyn Junction. Rich

I've asked the same question as what the shed was for myself! Doesn't exist any more, suspect it went with the track changes and resign along in the 70s. Rich

Thanks Peter, Thats appreciated. I'll have a look! Rich

Hi, Many thanks for the kind comments - plenty more to come, hope you'll stay along for the ride and continue to enjoy it! Thanks Jinty. I'll try that ... can I put responsibility down to you for any burns that may be incurred . Insurance claim form reads something like "Well, Jinty didn't offer any Health & Safety advice, such as 'resisters may get hot so leave go at the warm point!" lol!! Seriously thanks .. I know all the coloured bands on resisters designate different types and values, was just trying to work out which one(s) I needed, but I'll shove 10K resister in to eBay and see what comes up. Rich

Evening all, See this is why I really like rmWeb - there's always somebody who will freely and happily pop up with advice! Thanks guys. Hi Quentin, Many thanks. Strangely I found it a lot harder this time than last! But I think alot of that is me getting use to things. I have got a second copy of the template printed, which I'm using for checking various things, but as I've yet to have a response from the S7 Group, I think I'm going to have a go at making my own template for 1:6, 1:7 and 1:8 vees. Im assuming that each size always comes off at the same angle? With regards to your first point, actually, no I hadn't, but that could well be a good idea - well done that man! What kind of soldering iron is needed to solder to copper clad? Mine took a while to heat the rails to allow the solder to flow when I did that vee - I think the rails are acting as heat sink, so suspect I need a more powerful iron? I'll have to look into copper clad track work a bit more. Peter, You are a genius - I didn't know such things exists. I've been looking at little circuits and chips that will do Flickering, but it never occurred to me to see if you could get a flickering LED. I've ordered a couple, so we'll give them a try. Can anyone recommend a good resource (Book or website) for working out what resistor you want for different applications. Im sure I've seen a table online somewhere, that shows the output from each type/level of resister when given 12v input, but I cannot find it at all. Rich

If you think the 08 is heavy, you definitely better open that box SAT DOWN!!!! Well done mate ... Id suggest that you buy one of these pre-paid Visa cards with £50 on .. give it as a pressie at Christmas to SWMBO and suggest she has a day shopping with it ... then on the nominated day .. wait for an hour until after she's headed off ... then pop round and sneak the 40 in . Oh and keep sound on the 40 out of the equation if it starts whistling in the middle of the night, your snookered!!!! Rich

Wasn't that what the Paddington P-Way team use to say about delays to services from South Wales??? Really does look nice tho Steve ... bows to quality! Rich

Steve, Not wishing to criticise in anyway, but that middle picture does look as if there is a major signalling farce going on at Paddington tonight! Im also a little concerned, that when Network Rail (or should that be GWR's P-Way department) handed the railway back, there were a couple of rather crucial things they forgot to put back .... now what are they called .. ermm .. oh yes .. rails! . Driver of A58 might not make snap time on shed! Sorry, my sense of humour, couldn't resist! Rich

Quick question ... I'm moving forward with the big permanent layout that is going in the loft. The shed idea has been abandoned, after measuring up the biggest width that can go in is 9.5", so logically 9" maximum diameter, which is making for 4'6" radius outer curve, and its too tight. So back to the loft! However, the loft is going to be two level, with the lower level holding the fiddle yards and the upper level being the scenic area. With the fiddle yard being all out of sight, I'm going to use Marcway points to pus things on a fair way. Having used them on my test board along the office wall, they have worked well and not encountered any problems. However, I need to design this in Templot to make sure it all works. So the query is ... does anyone know what the radius, vee etc.. of Marcway's pre-built range is so that they can be accurately represented in Templot? I don't want to go down a bespoke option for this, as the track work is out of sight and it adds to the cost, so need to try and use their 'off-the-shelf' range, but also need to make sure I can make everything! Any thoughts/info/suggestions are welcomed. Rich

Just a lovely image I've come across that I've not seen before the of Class 15s - stood at Doncaster, between the 'Plant' and the station ... may provide some incentive for somebody modelling non London areas! Rich https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark-walker/29909253373/in/pool-1875459@N21/

Jinty (I corrected it this time!!) Just to say thanks - I've ordered some lamps from Slaters, and various electrical bits off eBay, so I'll be having a play this weekend hopefully. Thanks for the advice and links to your images, hope you don't mind me copying, erm, ah, ermm, I mean adapting your methods to suit mine! Off to research simple DCC two-function decoders, and ways of making an LED flicker to appear like gas light! Rich

Thanks Mike, Id taken a bite and committed myself to a Finescale Brass 'Brit'! Oops ... the bank manager will not be happy, although I have got 10-12 months to save up for it! If the sound is anything like the 9F, then I'm very happy! DCC Sound for steam certainly does seem to be coming on in leaps and bounds at the moment. Rich