MarshLane

Hi Jon, I was thinking you’ve been quiet recently then realised that rmWeb hadn’t been notifying me of your updates since around May!! Hope your keeping well. The signalling projects look as superb as ever! Rich

Hi Duncan, Sorry not been around on rmWeb for a bit, other things have been getting in the way. Love the work that you have done on the locomotives. I really need to start weathering some of my stuff, but there is a fine line between total novice and total fear! I have got an old Class 33 body that I acquired from a swap meet ages ago for a couple of quid which has been paint stripped, need to have a go at masking and painting it, then weathering ... knowing if I c*ck it up it doesn't matter! I am tied up on the 19th unfortunately, but fingers crossed I can get over to West Yorkshire for the next one. Looking forward to seeing the layout in the not too distant future Rich

Oh nooo! That will eat into modelling money .... <wispers> will a packet of Jammie dodgems be enough to bribe make one change ones mind?</wispers> The Ads issue is a shame I (like many on here) do love following what your doing, especially given the speed and ease that you achieve things, so dont give up. I am not really a YouTuber (although I do watch the videos on here) and never bothered with social media ... just monitor rmWeb and Western Thunder for the modelling. Glad to see the shed has got a roof - will stop the servicing crews and drivers moaning when they are working in the rain. Somebody at West Leigh Depot was saying something about H&S checks the other day and I briefly thought that may have been Health & Safety with having no roof, but then realised he was actually making sure his Ham & Salad sandwich was still in his locker Rich

Hmm ... are you slowing down Andy? An hour without changing hehe! Looking good and as long as your enjoying yourself I am off to watch Video 44 with a good old cup of 'ot Chocolate to drink! Hope your keeping ok, haven't been on as much lately, due to work and family stuff, but there is the danger of some modelling on the horizon! Catch up soon, take care mate. Rich

My British Steel examples arrived this morning. Not run yet, but superb and the detail on these is wonderful. Looking forward to getting things sorted out to be able to use them. Well done to all involved.

Morning Rod (et all..) I really do not know what it is about modern day life that people think its a) acceptable and b) needed to swear and use the F word in the majority of sentences? Its the same as modern day comics, its not needed - Morecambe & Wise could make anyone laugh and there wasn't a swear word in it. I do not say I get offended by it, but it just dont think its needed, the English language has evolved enough that it simply doesn't need it, even to express severe disgust at something - or am I just getting older? I was out walking the other day and a group of four school lads passed me talking between themselves and the language was awful - Its only 25 odd years since I was that age but I would never have dreamed of speaking like that, even among friends. Anyway, sorry for the deviation, just a comment to say @pwr, I totally agree with you. Glad to hear you've solved the 03 problem. I do love to see an '08' pottering about in the station, but there is something about the '03' and its track circuit detection wagon that fits the scene well. Also love the busy scene behind. I know you love your DMUs, one hopes the loco-hauled service won't disappear entirely ... your not under new management who are thinking more about pennies than passengers are you Bring back Regional Railways 31s Loving the thread as ever mate, keep going! Rich

Hi David, Totally agree with @DavidMcKenzie comments on those blocks they are good and quite durable, have seen them used, but not used them myself. Also bear in mind, while not as neat, there is nothing to stop you running a small cable, ie daisy chaining, all the ports on one side of the chockblocks so that part or all of the strip connect across multiple ports, I have done that in the past where multiple track connections have been required. Only used Gaugemaster controllers a couple of times a few years ago, but always found their connectors to be quite durable if that helps. Rich

If cost is a factor, you can get screw terminal strips from Wilko's and the link that are similar, but screw up rather than being a flick-lock. I picked a few up the other week, about 10 or 16 'ports' on each side ... each of which pass through power from left to right, for about 59p each! Rich

And to you Simon. Always love your updates with Dallam - here's hoping you might get to exhibit it next year! Have a great Christmas. Rich

Hi Ian, Whose rail chairs did you use on your layout trackwork? Richie

Hi Andy, Not getting on to rmWeb as much these days, with other things being required to take precedence, but you look to be getting on well with things. Love watching the videos when I get chance to catch up and the layout is really coming on well. Hope your pleased with it. Have a great Christmas with the family, and I'll drop you a PM about having a catch up at a convenient point before New Year. Take care mate. Rich

I thought it was one of those wish you were here postcards … Llanyblod by night…

Hi Kevin, Just looking at ways of building trees, but your article is coming up with a 404 error on that website. Was it published anywhere else or is it available anywhere else? Richard

Hi Dave, Interesting idea, having 'swap out' scenic boards. Stops you getting fed up with a layout too Rich

Superb Dave, All the wonderful qualities of your previous layout! Rich

Hi Jeff, Really is looking good, your speeding on! Wish I was making the same progress I would agree with the previous posters about a dark colour on the fascia, as well as the camera issue, it would stop the viewers eye being drawn to it. Personally I prefer black fascias, as black is the one colour the eye doesn't notice, and a black surround to images always makes the colours more vibrant and visible. Just my two penneth tho! Rich

I see that following the death of David Randles last year who ran the uksteam.info website, it has now been brought back on line by Railway Herald magazine as a historical reference. Not updated any longer, but useful for the old info that was on there.

Hi David, Love what you have done with the station lamps, and the edging on the platforms looks equally superb, really getting the feel of a North London WCML station now. Rich

Hi Ian, The Parts Officer has a B2B gauge made out of L shape steel that should achieve what you want I think. I have one - it came in useful for kit building too being metal! Richie

@Scottish Modeller ove found some Ruston polyurathene sealer in the rainforest store. One thought, from your experience how does glue attach to it? The track work on the layout will be hand built, so sleepers need sticking down. I am just wondering how the glue for copper clad sleepers will take to it, as they don’t want to be coming off! Rich

Hi Andy, The loco was named after the wife of John Smith (GBRfMD), the loco being chosen as, I am told, it represented her age that birthday! The larger than normal numbers were part of that! Rich

Thanks Phil, That confirms my thoughts. I’ll have a look for some polyurathene sealer, I generally paint baseboards a brown colour, but my thought was to paint the sides/fascia black to emphasise the layout. Rich

I thought it might help to show what I mean by the 'end keeper plates'. These are them on the 3D design work for the first of the baseboards.. Showing them either end of the board, attached by magnets for storage, and clearly protecting the end of baseboards, scenery and track. EDIT: Forgot to add, there has to be a slightly cut out or 'stand off' to allow the Modeltec pieces to overlap the ends of the board, if I use them. A close up showing how it covers the outside of the baseboard. And just another view from the opposite end - for the avoidance any queries, the large upright towards the rear is a scenic divider to split one part of the layout from the other. For those following my Rock Creek thread, all will become clear when the other boards are designed! Richie

Evening guys, I am designing some baseboards for laser cutting, the aim being to use 3mm or 6mm birch ply. I know from experience with MDF that if it is not treated or sealed then it can warp. Can anyone offer any advice on whether birch is the same or not? Is it advisable to seal birch regardless? If so, should that be varnish or Cuprinol type products, or a watered down PVA? Apologies for the question, but I have had a search through the Laser Cutting forum on here and cannot see anywhere where it has been asked - and spending the money on getting baseboards right, I didn't want to mess up on what is an easy thing to do if necessary! Rich

Hi @D Thompson, Apologies, I hadn't seen your response to the thread! Things are progressing, I had some very kind help from a chap who was close to the Metro system and provided some info. The project has been put on a the back burner a little bit, just because of other priorities etc, but I do want to get back to it and finish it! Overall it worked quite well, where I fell down was in the articulated centre bit and getting the two outer vehicles to connect to the articulated section. That didn't work and needs a redesign, which I had started, but then stopped because I realised I was going to run in to the same problems. This was 7mm, although a couple of people have asked about sizing it down to 4mm, which in theory should be possible, perhaps with some amendments to the CAD to ensure that minimum thicknesses etc are kept. Rich