sml1983

Where's the amazing button

regarding the loco picture special effects; I liked the pastel and watercolour. They'd make nice desktop backgrounds for a pc. I've done the same with some other chaps pictures of loco's using his test plank.

Hi Mark, just been perusing the site and came across your old Wolverhampton Low Level layout. Any news on if it'll be coming off the back burner anytime soon, or are you focussing all efforts on Fryers Lane?

I think if I enjoyed building structures more than running trains I'd do what you're doing Jeff. I envisage it as you would only really use one station as a station during the running session and the other would effectively become the fiddle yard. It's not a two station layout, it's two station layouts. I think that makes sense . Is this how you intend it? If so go for it. Whatever makes you happy

Nobodies suggested extending upwards and adding a second floor to tops! You're allowed 4m from ground to apex of a pitched roof without having to gain planning permission

Get well soon Andy

Don't know if I missed it, but what's the price for it?

Just an idea. Not sure whether it is meant to be intentional or not. Would the wires have a little sag between the posts? If yes have you thought of using some kind of former to add pressure to the thread whilst a coat of varnish or something similar applied to the line goes off, thus leaving prototypical sag? Or is that considered a little ott?

A gimbal is a pivoted support that allows the rotation of an object about a single axis. A set of three gimbals, one mounted on the other with orthogonal pivot axes, may be used to allow an object mounted on the innermost gimbal to remain independent of the rotation of its support (e.g. vertical in the first animation). For example, on a ship: the gyroscopes, shipboard compasses, stoves, and even drink holders typically use gimbals to keep them upright with respect to the horizon despite the ship's pitching and rolling. As taken from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimbal) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gyroscope_operation.gif

 These things Just to make things clear....I am not in anyway suggesting you would want to represent the actual wire as anything you did would be well overscale but the naked eye would likely expect to see the stakes and would then 'fill in the blanks' for the wires

The only thing you may wish to consider is any signalling in these stretches may require representations of the wire run 'pulley stakes' (dunno if that's what they're called) if you're inclined to model these.

Done the first bit for you. Now all that's needed is for those clever fellas that know all about signal placement to add them to it

perhaps you could post a track plan (a scale one would be best), and if you've got one a signal box diagram, and then we'll be able to give you a better idea. Looking amazing Jeff btw Steve

For the bridge structure, what were you planning on the underside of the track bed? If you were thinking girders could you not just use the 12mm board you normally use but route it down in places to make crude representations of said girders?

Ironically considering the following posts but I'm also a Steve too. Although to be pedantic I'm a Stephen

I've just spent almost a week reading this entire thread (sorry had to go to work during the days) and I must say I am amazed at your layout. I remember reading about the original KL in its infancy and can't quite work out why I stopped following it. I think you made the right decision moving to EM as, artistically speaking, it adds a realism to the layout that just couldn't be achieved otherwise. I like how humble you are pertaining to your own skills and how you are open to 'constructive' criticism to further either your own knowledge and skill base or to improve the layout. Your logical approach to some of the obstacles you needed to overcome have been illuminating but I must say that had I been reading right from the very beginning I believe I would have suggested the 'fell bridging section' about a month before you mentioned your dislike of that then blank area as I too thought it let down the layout. Regarding heating in the bunker. Have you thought about having your radiator set on a timer with a thermostat also wired in as I have found this to be a very efficient way of keeping a near constant temperature. The reason for an external thermostat (some, possibly most, oil filled radiators have a built in thermostat) is that this can be on the opposite side of your bunker thus being more accurate and ensuring the room is up to the correct temperature you require. All you do is set the timer and temperature and turn all the little switches and knobs on the radiator to full. Hey presto toasty room. Regarding the ratings. Until getting to the discussion on them, I must say I rarely use them and that in all your 136 pages I haven't left one. Do not think that this is due to thinking your work is substandard, everyone's humour is sub-par or that I believe you're all cretins . It's simply I'm a lazy . I follow many of your regular contributors layouts and must say how impressive they all are (and there's a lot of them when you think that includes Bodgit). I only hope when I get round to finally building something 3D that it is even slightly as good as layouts made by the likes of yourself, Andy or Jason. All in all a great thread and interesting read. Mark me as a follower.

just to add a touch more realism and set the location better...you may need to change the sides of the road the people are driving on or does it change 'up north'. They're mighty strange up there

Morning Andy. I think the plan is looking great. Regarding the accusation of shoehorning sidings in, I believe you've done the right thing. Your love of shunting is what drives your build, so why should you not have more of the trackwork you enjoy traversing. Rationalising what siding takes what, works for a newly installed trackplan but I'm assuming Pencarne Junction has been in use for many years and so subsequently supply and demand would have changed thus altering trackwork. You never said you were attempting a realistic prototypical layout, just a realistic one. I think your plan will do everything you want it to. Good luck with the build. Well done for persevering. I challenge someone to come up with uses for all the below sidings

My tuppence.... 'Kings Prawle'. Could have a hilly backdrop as the name translates to "Kings' Lookout Hill"

That's also the great advantage of multiple layouts. You can fulfil different criteria with each layout. Below is another suggestion you could go with to utilize space but also allow easy access to the workbench and offers very different operational interest. Of course they don't need to represent the same time periods or geography and some parts could utilize set-track whilst others could be hand built. You can do as you please. The carpentry doesn't have to be a headache. You've got good solid walls you can attach to and what is a non-transportable layout if not a long wide shelf along one or more walls . Do not think of this as your last great project but as chapters in a book. That noggin has far too much electrickery sparking to be happy with just one layout or project. All the best, Steve

Glad to hear you've decided on a course of action that will make you happy. I know I've learnt plenty from you, you've inspired many and entertained all. I have a suggestion regarding your option 3. Could you make two scenic layouts either side that share a fiddle yard. This would allow each board (scenic, fiddle and 2nd scenic) to be that bit longer. Also as another suggestion, have you thought about going modular. Having lots of small boards that could be pieced together in multiple variations to add versatility and keep attention. Of course there is always P4 Just my 5 pences worth. These may well have already passed through your train of thought (pun intended). Well done for the article and keep inspiring us all. On further thought perhaps you could lose the 4th layout (box F) as this would possibly make access to the workbench slightly difficult unless of course said bench was moved to centre back instead?

Does anyone have either a copy for sale or a digital version of the booklet "British Railway Signalling Practice - Mechanical". This is a combined volume of 3 re-issued IRSE 'Green Booklets' and appears to be as rare as the proverbial rocking horse leavings. Thanks in advance for any help given.

Sorry if this has been asked already but can't remember reading it, but how many people are working on this project? If it's just a solo effort then I think it's coming along really quickly and really well.

What about removable backscenes? You could have half relief buildings either side then a backscene for each side of the board which you would apply respective of where the layout is being displayed. The home use backscene could be applied direct to the wall.

Had a thought whilst reading your posts. Would a simpler way to make the layout be to make 1 1/2 layouts at the same time. Basically make the scenic and fiddle yards as two separate concerns then have two different versions of each end pieces, one for at home and another for exhibition. Done this way would mean that you'd have better viewing at home, easier wiring and possibly more reliable running?