John B

Thanks, guys, for the appraisals. I've cancelled my pre-order on the basis of the poor QC / assembly issues, particularly the footplate. Sending it back is a non-trivial matter for me, and frankly (like others) I'd prefer to work from a decently-made starting point than pay GBP150 for a faulty one.

According to a well known Sheffield retailer, the 700s will be in stock next week. And are sold out at Hornby. So order now or forever hold your soldering irons..

There was a 4mm (OO IIRC) model of Ilkley Station and Shed in the Railway Modeller in the late 70s - 1977/78-ish, I think. Might provide some help with water tower & other structures. I'm long parted from my RMs of that era, so I'm sorry I can't be more precise..

As someone who has also struggled with the Jidenco / Falcon Brass etchings, I'm really looking forward to these.

As etched, the Jidenco / FB kits have a fairly major (cosmetic) error in the driving trailer, on one side. So even those that have been seen built (I used to shunt a beautifully - built set up and down a P4 plank many years ago) weren't right. Thankfully the majority of the exhibition-going public hadn't a clue...

So, Damian and Paul, it's an easy job to re-gauge it to EM then?

I placed deposits on the GNR and LNER versions back when they were announced, but haven't had any emails (other than the order / deposit confirmation) since. What is the process for taking the rest? Do we have to call back in? Not too convenient for me as I'm 8 hours behind you....

Thanks!

The finish on all Rapido's North American models is as good as it gets. If not better.

Buy with confidence!

The taped commentary on "Winton" may have been annoying to other exhibitors, but to a kid watching the layout at shows (York, twice, IIRC) it was enthralling. And informative. And hugely inspirational..

"Allied Marine" was a favorite of mine, too - back then you didn't see many (if any) industrial layouts, let alone grotty industrials. Some of the adaptations of kits were inspirational.

I built the footbridge as a callow youth, and it went together very easily. Makes for a good model.

As designed it's for use at track level, back when I built it, it was necessary to the steps / side panels down if you wanted a platform level bridge.

If it's NOT an Adams Radial, then I'll look forward to a public consumption of humble pie by Mr ABS.

Although I reckon I've a better chance of seeing swine on the wing...

I was thinking the same, Bob. And if it is, I'll be frothing like a loon..

One (at least) was on loan to the Highland Railway during WW1 - the Highland Railway Society has at least one photograph of it at Fortrose.

Always liked this layout, Rich. Glad to see it's still giving you enjoyment, and thanks for giving it another airing.

The group is well worth joining, Dave. There's a couple of serious historians active who do a lot of research at local libraries - I'm sure questions on O'Brien's Steel Works would be readily answered by the local cognoscenti!

For me, it's just making me scratch that IAIS / CN itch....

Whenever I try to post a link lately, the site crashes on me. So I'll just recommend the yahoo group "PeoriaRails" for some excellent pictures of Illinois railroading, contemporary and historical.
 
I'm working in Peoria at the moment. For a sleepy town on the banks of the Illinois River and seemingly in the middle of nowhere (where nowhere is a giant cornfield) it's a real hotbed of rail action still, with no less than 9 railroads serving the area, ranging from the big boys (NS / UP / CN / BNSF) to regionals like the reborn TP&W, IAIS, and EJ&E) to real short lines - including one which still regularly uses F Units in regular freight service..

The Peoria area is certainly well worth a visit - either in real life, or have a surf around the various websites and GoogleEarth. Lots of inspiration...
 

Rapido's Canadian models are (IMO) better than any of the "major" North American outline providers.

Order with confidence. I have!

Tony, this is terrific stuff. I'll look forward to watching this develop!

Dr G-F - The Central Cheshire was sold by Don a few years ago to another Scalefour Society member, John Sherratt, who has published a couple of articles in the Scalefour News lately about the layout in it's new home. It's still providing joy and inspiration.

Latterly Don wrote quite a number of articles, many operation-related, in MRJ over the past 10 or so years. Definitely worth seeking out.

Don has embarked on a new layout based upon fictional passenger operations - still LMS in the 30's, still in Central Cheshire.

Like many others, I never met Dave, but from our many humourous email exchanges over the past few years I know that however great a modeler he was, he was a finer man. One of the most genuinely decent guys I've ever encountered in this hobby.

Saddened from afar - condolences to Julie and family. RIP, Dave. Your bravery, courage and wit will remain as inspiration.

Worse than the swamp & rotting crayfish is the huge Weyerhaueser Pulp Mill out near the airport...

Mine arrived yesterday - splendid read, nice photographs, justice well done!

Agree with Pete, too - it does look like NW Georgia to me. Atlanta and points north have a lot of rugged terrain, it's the south end of the Appalachian chain. Lots of trees too - Georgia Pines in abundance. Ticks the necessary boxes for this Geography major (and pedant!).

It's only in the south and east of the state that you get the vast "low country" - endless flood plans and swamps draining into the Savannah River system.

"Finally" Daniel?

You've got your copy in the UK quicker than me - not yet made it from Wisconsin to California....

The earthworks of the completed but never opened Cromarty branch in the Highlands;

Connel Ferry bridge, as already mentioned earlier;

Remnants of the slate quarries and tracks on the remote island of Easdale;

Shawford viaduct on the DN&S, which always seemed to be mocking the thousands of road users stuck in traffic by the infamous traffic lights, before they blasted the M3 through Twyford Down;

Kiplingcotes Station on the Beverley - York line: the absurdity of a station in the middle of nowhere, serving only the local Lord, and a few farms, yet almost perfectly intact, sans track. Many times I walked from there, all you had to do was let the imagination run riot;

Tracks in the sand, and stray bits of concrete, remnants of the Spurn Head Railway.

The East Hants Area Group of the Scalefour Society, of which I was one some 11+ years ago, used to hold regular meetings in the workshop of Dr Alan Coppin. He had built an exquisite, only somewhat compressed, P4 model of Aberystwyth - just the Standard Gauge side - set in GW years. He sold it around 2002/3 - not sure what became of it.

Along another wall of the workshop was an embryonic Cambrian layout, again in P4. Alan was a retired dentist, and constructed everything with the meticulous attitude of a surgeon. The buildings on Aberystwyth were masterpieces, as were his locomotives and rolling stock. A very modest chap, his models were never exhibited, nor did they make the "press", more's the pity. I learned a lot from him..