Douglas G

Hi Sarah, It was the N gauge version I was meaning - it looks like the OO version has yet to be released. While searching around I found a post (pun not intended) on RMWeb where ex-Dapol Dave was asking how tall the GWR round post signals were, and Stationmaster said they could be 17'6" or 12'6". Maybe Dapol decided to do the shorter length. Douglas

I have been looking out for these Dapol GWR round post signals and didn't realise they had been released. Looking at pictures of these signals on the websites of online retailers it looks like the posts are shorter than in the GWR square post signals. Can anyone confirm if this is true please? I couldn't find the dimensions anywhere. They look more like starter signals as seen at the end of platforms. Douglas

In N gauge steam, two obvious gaps to me are a GWR large prairie to modern standards and GWR Churchward and Collett Moguls. I had thought that since Ixion had said they were going to produce a GWR Mogul after their Manor, before they ceased N gauge production, that Dapol would announce one after they took over the Manor from Ixion. Instead they have chosen a Grange instead, which would obviously use more common parts from the Manor. I also thought that Bachmann would have done a replacement for the Farish large prairie by now, as it is one of their oldest models. With almost all the GWR 4-6-0s now available or announced, and small locos such as 14xx, 57xx and 64xx also available or announced, there is a gap for medium size GWR motive power. This is especially the case now the Peco Collett seems to be out of production. Douglas

Not a comment on the Clayton, but a general comment, Dave. I just wanted to say that one of the things I most enjoy reading on RMWeb is the interactive discussions when you announce a new model, whether previously at Dapol or now with your own company. Not only does it allow people to give feedback that will hopefully improve the model, but it also gives potential buyers a sense of "ownership" and generates goodwill. I think this is important, as railway modellers aren't just consumers (unlike with washing machines for example), but have an emotional investment and enthusiasm for the subject. I used to feel the same when George was in charge of Dapol - he took a very interactive approach and was very approachable through e-mail and at exhibitions. Best wishes, Douglas

Hi Ben, Given that some of the maroon liveried examples had route branding and maroon came in around 1958 or so, this suggests to me that the route allocations were still being followed by that time, and that when they were in crimson and cream would have been kept to their allocated routes at least most of the time. A lot of the published pictures, for example in the Russell and Robertson books, were taken at main line depots and main line stations, so would be of coaches included in main line trains, for example parcels and mail trains; these were most likely to have route brandings. I have seen pictures of unbranded BGs on branch lines and secondary lines in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but they are always too far away to see the numbers. I think unbranded examples may have been more common than the photos in books about coaches suggest. Douglas

I have just ordered the maroon version now that it appears it will not be route-branded, unlike the one shown earlier. The problem with route-branded coaches is that this limits the prototype area they can be used, at least in theory. It is the same as with the Farish GWR Toad brake van. The BR grey is the only version that has not sold-out so far, and I think this is because it has a specific depot branding. These are looking good, Ben! Douglas

One of the issues raised with Peco Code 55 points is the large gap at crossing vees and between the rails and the check rail, which doesn't look right and can lead to wheel dropping at the crossing vee. Is it just my imagination when looking at photos of the Finetrax points, or is the gap as big as in the Peco Code 55 points, and might wheels drop in the gap in the same way? Douglas

Thanks Allan. That's a good question about my eyesight! I am now over 50 and it is becoming an issue Getting a daylight anglepoise magnifier last year has made a big difference, and using my reading glasses while modelling also helps. But it isn't as easy as it was when I first started my buildings for Dulverton, ten years ago... BTW, there are some more buildings on my Dulverton thread: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/46817-dulverton-in-n-carnarvon-arms-hotel/ Douglas

The Carnavon Arms Hotel, next to Dulverton Station, in 2mm scale - still lots to do... Douglas

For a change from carving foam, I have returned to some of my buildings, which are at various stages of completion. I have now had the chance to spray the specially etched windows for the Carnarvon Arms Hotel and fix them in place in the window apertures, which makes a great difference to how it looks. I have also been working on the surrounds of the hotel, including the road at the front, the garden at the side and the lawn sloping down at the back. This has involved lots of poring over photographs, Ordnance survey maps and Google Maps satellite views to get the slopes right. I am still not happy with the garden and path - it is shaded by trees in the photos I have, and I will probably need to do a field visit to take more photos. The base for this section of the model is grey Sundeala board topped with black plasticard for the surfaces. Here are some pics of the real thing for comparison: http://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?_adv_prop=image&fr=altavista&va=carnarvon+arms+dulverton I still need to add the conservatory, porch and larger windows. My plan is to make these from microstrip stuck to transparent plastic sheet using limonene solvent to avoid clouding. I will also need to add the extension at the back now I realise there will be room for this in front of the backscene. So lots still to do - I sometimes wonder if I will ever finish this project. Douglas

I think the reason this photo is so convincing is the depth of focus, with the rear wagons still pretty much in focus fading into the slightly more blurred background. I bet the excellent lighting rig on DITD made all the difference when taking it. Douglas

If you cover up the left-hand side of this picture, I think the right-hand side really is indistinguishable from a photo of the real thing, especially the way the background blends in. Douglas

What a fantastic layout this is! I saw it at Midland Railex today, and spent ages watching it, even though 4mm diesels are not normally my thing. There were so many small details to take in, such as the overgrown concrete pads between the building and the caravans in the corner. And the lighting with daylight energy saving spiral lights particularly caught my eye - it gave a very convincing impression of daylight. Great stuff. Douglas

I just got my copy and I totally agree. This has to be one of the best N gauge layouts around, and shows just what can be done in the space that N gauge gives you compared to the larger scales. The way the colours blend in and have been muted to suit the viewing distance is excellent, and the weathering of the stock makes a great difference to the overall effect. Douglas

After a few weeks of carving the Space Board, the landscape for Dulverton is taking shape. Here is an overview looking to the north (the line to Barnstaple): This is a closer view of the road overbridge looking towards where the Carnarvon Arms Hotel will be: For comparison here are two photos of the real thing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/8577644731/ http://www.francisfrith.com/dulverton/photos/pixton-park-and-brushford-1934_86317/ This is the view in the other direction (south, towards Taunton): A close up of the southern end - the land drops down here below the main baseboard level, so I have a cut-down baseboard frame and a foam insert for the field leading down to the embankment base: Finally two pictures of the waste foam generated - some bits to keep and the rest to bin. I can't believe how much I have had to carve away, but then the Spaceboard sheets are around 60 mm thick. Also I have had to redo a couple of sections - it is easier having done it wrong once to then get it right. It can be hard judging heights from photos. I have still to add the slopes behind the station and embankment at the right/southern end. What is not on the layout is the platforms and the raised area of the goods yard and access road at the back - these are grey Sundeala board topped with black styrene sheet. So there is progress, slowly and surely. Douglas

Back in February I managed to get an extra sheet of Knauf Space Board from the last couple that Mansfield Wickes had in stock. Having cut down a couple of sections of the landscape too deep, I now want to get another couple of sheets of the Knauf product. But neither B&Q nor Wickes are showing it in stock on their websites anymore. This problem with supply has been discussed elsewhere in the topic on foam baseboards. However, I have now found it available online from Taskers, if a little expensive compared to the subsidised prices that the big sheds were selling it at, and have ordered a couple: http://www.taskersonline.com/products/Knauf-Space-Board-%2850096880%29.html If you live near Aintree (I don't) it can be collected from their store to save on delivery. I have also noticed someone selling a big batch on Gumtree at a much reduced price compared to the original shop price.

I always look forward to reading about this great layout. Any more updates, Carl?

Phew, it's tough stuff, Knauf foam. What I thought would be a quick job, getting the foam to shape, is taking ages, and knives blunt VERY quickly. I am using a couple of Kitchen Devils kitchen knives and a serrated bread knife, but am finding for big pieces of foam, to reduce the height, an ordinary wood saw is easiest, and gives a surprisingly smooth finish. And a Surfoam is proving great for smoothing things off - I was afraid it would tear at the foam, but is working well - pink globules everywhere! I have cut the height down too far in a couple of places and have had to stick on some extra thin pieces with No More Nails Adhesive - I now need to wait 24 hours for it to dry. But I'm making progress...

Some cracking photos have been added to this site recently (see http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/index.html ) Despite its title, the website covers not just Cornwall, but Devon as well. I heartily recommend it (no connection). Douglas

I am pleased to say that over the last few months I have made some progress with my model of Dulverton on the WR Taunton to Barnstaple line, although sometimes when I get home from work I just don't have the energy to get going. I have built the island station building and the two platforms, and have partly built the cattle dock and the surroundings for the Carnarvon Hotel access road and garden. It has taken a long time to work out how the ground level changed around the Hotel - in the end I had to splash out over £20 on a 1960s Aerofilms aerial view from English Heritage, but unfortunately some details of the garden and retaining wall were still hidden by tree shadows. I am currently cutting sheets of Knauf pink insulation foam for the landscape. Again it is hard to work out the levels. The road bridge and road provide useful datum levels and I am working away from these. An old Ordnance Survey map has spot heights at various points on the road, which helps. Google Maps street view is also proving very useful in working out the levels of the road and surrounding landscape. I am really pleased to see that Farish are going to do the Hawksworth WR autocoaches, as these are an essential part of my model for the Exe Valley line trains at Dulverton. Now I won't need to build the three Ultima kits I have lurking in the cupboard. The Farish Bulleid and Hawksworth corridor coaches will also be useful, as will the Farish N Class locomotive (although Dulverton was Western Region, Southern coaches and locomotives sometimes appeared, provided from Barnstaple). Douglas

I suppose passengers would have to plan ahead (!!!) or change coaches at a station on the way if required. There were plenty of stops on the Taunton-Barnstaple line to allow this. I am planning to model the B-set and BCK combination for my N Gauge model of Dulverton, but it is a bit annoying that the new Farish Hawksworths coaches do not include a brake composite in what has been announced.

It is worth mentioning that B-sets in later days were often strengthened with corridor brake composite coaches to provide toilets, for example on the Taunton-Barnstaple and Minehead lines. In "The Country Railway" David St John Thomas says he was told this was done after an "unfortunate accident" on a long trip along the Taunton-Barnstaple line! Surely it is time that an accurate RTR model of the E140 B sets was produced, given the inaccuracies in the Hornby model (and also in the Dapol N gauge version which seems to be a shrunk-down copy of the OO model). Douglas

What beautiful, atmospheric modelling. I love the way the layout blends into the photographic backscene, especially the trees in the second picture. Great stuff! Douglas

There doesn't seem to have been any mention of N Gauge models so far. Recent developments mean that a wide variety of parcels stock is, or is going to be, available. From Farish we have the BR Mark 1 BG, BR Mark 1 CCT and BR Mark 1 GUV and forthcoming LMS BG. From the N Gauge society there is the LNER BG kit, RTR LMS Stove, and forthcoming RTR GWR Collett BG. From Dapol there is the GWR outside frame Siphon G, Siphon H and Southern CCT, with the GWR Fruit D to come soon. From the Lima there was the GWR inside frame siphon G - OK if you add Dapol bogies. From Chivers Finelines there is (or was) the LNER extra long CCT, Southern CCT, Southern PMV and GWR Python. Douglas

Further to Dave's query, I have looked through my Ian Allan colour albums and while most GWR round post signals seem to have been painted aluminium/silver, there were quite a lot painted in white in the late 1950s and 1960s when the pictures were mostly taken. This includes one of the main platform starter signals at Dulverton in 1962, which is my particular interest. So it is worth doing some in both colours, I would say. Douglas