Mike Bellamy

Very pleased to see that this has been mentioned especially as some of the examples shown have been built around wooden boxes. For portable layouts this may cause problems as PAT testing is a requirement at some exhibitions. Bob - you are very welcome to call in at Mickleover Club and see what the guys have done there - 5 layouts and all have different control panels Mike

Geoff You may be thinking of 'Dr Mike's' glue which is imported into UK by Paul Martin of EDM Models. Details on the NGTrains website here http://www.ngtrains.com/Pages/EDM_Models/Dr_Mikes/dr_mikes_glue.htm The manufacturer's web site is here http://www.drmikesglue.com/index.html Sold in USA through Micromark http://www.micromark.com/Dr-Mikes-Formula-2-Glue-1and2-fl-oz,8534.html Mike

This was also being discussed here a few days ago http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/31528-animation-on-layouts/ Although it originally started out as a request for the Dave Rowe book, it developed with more information about what is available and it might help to look there as well. Mike

Hotmail problems are also being discussed here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/30217-registering-on-rmweb-with-hotmail-addresses/page__pid__317776#entry317776 I recall your discussion and so I think I know the manufacturer you mean who has also bought products from two other manufacturers who have both retired but won't release them until he has upgraded the kits - they were excellent when first introduced many years ago but things have moved on since then. However I do know that other brand new kits recently introduced have helped to progress the improvements to the others and so there is light at the end of a long tunnel Mike

A few pints of ale is always a good place to start Sorry I can't answer some of your questions but I am pleased that you have already discovered the 7mmNGA site. A couple of obvious omissions from the list on the 'links' page are Port Wynnstay Models (Phil Traxson is often here on RMweb) and also Smallbrook Studios. Have a look at these sites for further information as they both offer simple (and more complex ) kits that would be a good starting point for you. http://www.ngtrains.com/Pages/Port_Wynnstay/portwynnstay.htm http://www.smallbrookstudio.com/page_1201118902437.html You may get a more detailed response if you ask your specific Peco/Branchlines questions on the 7mmNGA Yahoo Group (details at the bottom of the Assn front page) http://www.7mmnga.org.uk/ Seeing your location, you have missed the biggest narrow gauge show of the year which was near to you at Swanley in October - next is Shepton in February and then 7mmNGA at Burton in May. I look forward to seeing the progress Mike

Thanks Graham - even though I know what the layout looks like it still took me ages to finish and I forgot about the release of the Hornby info at midnight Mike

Hi Nick A couple of other ideas for you - use the Port Wynnstay Festiniog 'Bug Box' coach sides to make a railcar as shown part way down this page http://www.ngtrains.com/Pages/TVG/wigan.htm Model by Tim Allsopp and photos taken at Wigan 2009. Also Mount Blue do 3 different laser cut timber bodies for the Bachmann Truck - Open Back, Closed Freight Van body and Passenger all illustrated here http://www.ngtrains.com/Pages/MountBlueModel/stock.htm scroll to the bottom of the page for the passenger one. Mike

Half right They built the carriage half but all the mechanical and steam bits at the front end came from Kitsons Copied below from the Ixion web site http://www.ixionmodels.com/news.htm Mike

The Ixion South Australia Coffee Pot is now available and was on display at the NEC today Details here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/25782-ixion-coffee-pot-now-available/ Mike

Congratulations to Glenn and Graham for winning another competition Best Layout voted by the LYDCC members Aberdeen Kirkhill Mike

Available from Port Wynnstay at ExpoNG Swanley tomorrow - just so that I don't get accused of only advertising EDM Models Mike Edit - they look like Phil's windows in the background as well

My apologies - that was changed at the last minute then as I know that they had been asked to do the judging earlier that day. I missed the actual presentation of your award as I was sorting out the door cash and didn't realise that Mike and Barry were involved - a well deserved award - and I'm not joking this time Mike

What Graham has failed to mention is that the 'Best Layout' award was decided by the ladies from the tea rooms and who knows what criteria they used to help them decide that this was better than all the others Sorry chaps - yet another joke which isn't really appropriate - of course it was the best layout there - well at least on that side of the room Mike

Again promoting both EDM Models and Port Wynnstay (but not steam powered), have a look at the conversion carried out by Tim Allsop (tim@dy) to a Bachmann ON30 railcar using Port Wynnstay Festiniog 'Bug Box' coach sides to make a replacement passenger compartment and trailer. Half way down this page http://www.ngtrains.com/Pages/TVG/wigan.htm You can also get a replacement passenger compartment from Mount Blue shown near the bottom of this page http://www.ngtrains.com/Pages/MountBlueModel/stock.htm Steam 'era' but petrol powered example here http://www.colonelstephenssociety.co.uk/Ford%20Railmotor.html and it seems that 'Steam and Things' from Australia plan a 7mm kit http://www.steamandthings.com/fpage44.htm as well as the similar machine from Shropshire and Montgomeryshire http://www.steamandthings.com/fpage52.htm Ixion Models (again from Australia) are introducing a 'Coffee-Pot' railcar as shown here http://www.ixionmodels.com/coffee_pot.htm Hopefully you are now spoilt for choice Mike

Also available in 7mm from our new forum sponsor EDM Models http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/5742-new-7mm-kit-for-blanche-linda-and-charles/ Sorry I couldn't resist a shameless plug for my 'employer' - in fact Paul is staying at Boston Lodge at the moment and driving on the FR for two weeks. I see that Phil Traxson has also just replied - Phil and Paul have a lot to answer for as they first got me interested in narrow gauge railways by taking me to the FR on working parties about 25 years ago in the days when we went around local garages and factories collecting waste oil Mike

Didn't he go to the same evening class as you learning how to make blue movies Is it really only another 11 days to the Derby Members' Day - come and see this layout at Mickleover Community Centre near Derby. Details here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/16471-derby-members-day-10-july/ What Glenn and Graham haven't added yet is how they plan to move such a big layout to the Centre - they are so keen to show off their work that they will be delivering one board a day every day next week - as long as the seagulls don't get loose in the Clubrooms we'll be OK - although a pile of guano on some of the layouts won't make much difference Mike

Looking forward to seeing this at DERBY this weekend - of course with all those seagulls, by the end of the show the whole layout could be a pile of guano Mike

. . . . and I can't remember when I did anything either. Isn't Glenn the guy who runs the storage depot where you keep your layout Mike :icon_wave:

Hi Jon Looking good so far - I guess this is the new photo diorama that you will bring to the Derby Open Day - no pressure to finish it but it's only about 3 months to go I'll be in touch again nearer the time to sort out final details. Mike

Searching Ebay for 'Narrow Gauge' I came across this item http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ENGLISH-NARROW-GAUGE-RAILWAY-DRAWINGS-TUSTIN-Very-Goo_W0QQitemZ130363657817QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Books_NonFictionBooks_NonFictionBooks_SM?hash=item1e5a478e59 The seller is asking £67.75 for a book of drawings that is still available from the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association for £6 - that's a mark up of over 1000%. It just goes to show that not everything on Ebay is a bargain and it's always a case of 'Caveat Emptor' The seller has over 40,000 books for sale and only needs to sell a few like this to show a healthy profit Mike

Another version is illustrated here http://www.backwoodsminiatures.com/xaero2.jpg and yes it does work by prop power as demonstrated at several shows Mike

Hi Matt I don't actually model anything!! I have been a member of the Mickleover Group in Derby for about 25 years which is where I first met Paul Martin and Phil Traxson (Port Wynnstay Models) who took me to Festiniog and created my interest in narrow gauge. I joined the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association and have served on the committee but apart from a couple of balsa wood coaling stages I haven't built anything. Paul's business started in a small way importing a few things from USA but has developed a lot since I started helping him at shows a few years ago which is how I have picked up some knowledge about On30. However he still has to have a day job to pay the mortgage Have you seen the On30 Annuals that Paul has - lots of ideas there. Also the 7mm NGA have an On30 handbook designed for those starting out. I'll be manning the Assn stand at NEC with this handbook (and many other's) for sale. Mike

Hi Matt Sorry it's me again :icon_wave: I know what you mean about the Peco track - it's too late now but when you start the next layout :icon_e_biggrin: then have a look at the MicroEngineering track that's avaiable from Paul Martin at EDM Models in code 73, 80 and 100. Points (I know I should call then turnouts) are in code 73 and 80 but for some reason not 100 :icon_what: http://www.ngtrains.com/Pages/Track/track.htm#ME0n30 Have to declare an interest here as I help Paul with his trade stand at shows. However he's rather poorly at the moment and missed Swanley - next outing will be to Mickleover, Derby in January and then Shepton in February Mike

Looking forward to seeing how this develops. I see that you have some of the Bachmann Wooden Side Dump wagons - have a look at Backwoods as they have replacement link and pin couplings that remove the big gap that result from the use of the Bachmann version http://www.backwoodsminiatures.com/xcc1.jpg Mike