sidmouth

last night my eldest and I went up in the loft . we spent over an hour running trains and shunting around on the layout . His GWR era stock and my BR era . the end of the session saw a Dapol Pannier, B-Set and a couple of box vans departing our branch line terminus . Coach lights lit and the firebox glow apparent and despite my layout being very much wip it was a very evocative moment and one that I have never had in 00 . Everything about O gauge looks and feels right and you lose the compromises that you need to accept in 00

apologies ,only just seen this . Mine has no problem

nothing , will give them another poke

I did fear as much . Now replaced

3/4 of the length of my loft . An 00 gauge circuit impedes further progress one way and three rail electric o gauge the other . Actual dimensions I must have a measure

Apologies for the rotation which I will try to fix . Engine shed was going in the loop headshunt however I’m edging towards a cattle dock with an engine shed off the loop (Ashburton esque)

Further progress on the parcels office . Door made up and added ? Roof advanced but not attached yet . Woodwork and window frames all painted

presumably we will be none the wiser until the production batch is shipped a few of us asked on the facebook page last night and await an update

Further work this weekend on a parcels office . Modelled loosely on one built at Wallingford in the 1940’s I think I have probably made the building about 5mm too high as the perspective to the real thing isn’t quite there . Overall I'm happy with it constructed with a shreddies box overlaid with brick plasticard .Roof is not finished yet , cut out and joined with some tape to see how it fits and the overall look of the building , plus and a door needs to be made . Gutters and down pipes to be created too apologies for the slightly splodgy ! paintwork . it seems a fine line between too little and too much paint on the brush

correction on ownership . 120 is at Swanage however remains an NRM owned engine . 563 another LSWR 4-4-0 was the one that was deaccessioned and in now under overhaul at the Flour Mill for a return to steam at Swanage

When you think a Pannier is at a price point not a million miles from the 00 gauge version and you get something that looks and feels so much closer to the real thing

We should be thankful to Dapol for models which are at a price point and RTR that opens up O gauge to many more people .Without that I wouldn't have started . Wagons are definitely an interesting one as looking online 16T minerals , early BR box vans are nowhere to be found and crying out for a new run . Selling out is no bad thing for the seller as it builds demand for the next batch

Many thanks as promised some images of progress Booking hall has been internally details as it is visible through the doors I need to add some canopy brackets . The ones found on the internet so far are a little large for the one over the door The finished as in building Parkside wagon. Roof could do with being darker but will leave for now

@James Hiltonthat is one fabulous mini layout and one that resonates so much with south wales industrial scenes in the excellent Geoff Silcock and Peter Cavalier book

Morning all . reading others posts modellers mojo is certainly something that seems to ebb and flow . A busy week with work was not conducive to railway modelling although I did sneak a Peco loading gauge construction in as a distraction . The station building now has doors fitted apart from the non platform side as I managed to lose that which was a source of frustration . I was just considering building a replacement when it turned up on the floor behind a side table Yesterday was spent building a Parkside LMS ventilated wagon . Much cursing and bad language was heard as the recommended super glue was nothing of the sort and refused to stick anything together . once an adhesive that worked was found construction continued . ingenuity was needed to fit the buffers , quite how you are supposed to fit a tiny brass nut onto the buffer shank in a 4-5mm wide space that fat fingers have no chance of getting anywhere near i do not know . The instructions made no mention of blue tack on the end of a small screwdriver with the nut pressed in which became my eventual solution Once built a spray of Halfords primer gave a pleasing finish and when a little touch up was needed after I put a little too much black on the panel I was pleased to note an exact match to BR wagon grey . That got me thinking , what other cans of spray paint match to railway colours ? any suggestions gratefully received Pictures to follow and next project to be decided . A successful well known auction site added a Parkside mogo to the pile along with an Ian Kirk Siphon G, Parkside SR box van and Peco Toad brake van . I also need to build a parkside GWR Horsebox for my eldest

how to upset a few .I've pointed it out directly to them

So to add a little more colour Firstly why Ralph road , my eldest and I were bouncing around names and both quite liked Ralph Road as it has a GWR feel but also where our allotment is I don't have a specific geographic location , it rather flitting between whichever bit of the GWR network that grabs my attention . GWR standardisation meaning that whim can be happily indulged The station is a GWR Branch line terminus with two back sidings . My eldest and i are debating a bay platform versus a goods sidings . The back roads also act as headshunts into a goods shed road seen in the images above and a back road which leads to a couple of sidings which in my head is colliery sidings but can cover a multitude of options . The running line curves away and may yet run to a second station There is not a fiddle yard (heresy ?) as I'm quite happy to potter up and down

with the increasing price of 00 gauge , even allowing for increased detail and functionalilty doesn't seem to be always coming with either quality or longevity . when you are making an investment you do hope that the engine will be fit for purpose . Now I suspect that modern Hornby/Bachmann/Dapol/accurascale etc will not last as long as the Hornby O gauge, Hornby 00, Triang 00 . What realistically was the lifespan of the Airfix, Mainline, even early Bachmann , 20 years maybe less

£70+ on ebay £65 on amazon One of those books that has flown under the radar

Having been seduced by o gauge my play layout is set up and slowly developing.The idea being to explore operational opportunities and model building techniques . The broad theme is British Railways Western Region in the 1950’s although my eldest growing collection of his own allows the time line back into the 1930’s a broad layout has been settled on and buildings started . Inspiration is stolen shamelessly from classic locations with goods shed from Watlington, station building from heathfield amongst others .This is actually version 2 as version 1 featured an island platform with set track points . A spate of buffer locking and destroyed couplings quickly highlighted it wasn't a good idea Motive power is predominantly from Dapol whose foray into o gauge and affordability encouraged my move

I have one of those already along with an Auto Coach . A corridor brake gave an extra alternative set . I'd quite like a Collett or Stanier brake and keep looking out for one

daft question , can I get away with a brake for a BR(W) themed branch line ........

added a second to my collection and unlike the first one this one ran terribly with the motor clearly not engaging with the gears . Unwilling to risk £200 worth of engine to the post and stuffed in my plans for an unnecessary journey to my favourite model shop to do a swap because of lockdown I decided to remove the body and see what the issue was . Rapidly became apparent that the motor was not attached and turning a small crew secured it . Tested loco runs like a dream

one could hope for an O gauge variant ! in all seriousness I did think that certain of the preserved examples stood to benefit from the Dapol version

it is an interesting conundrum that faces all modellers and herein is the problem Whisper it quietly but railway operation is in essence a limited number of repetitive operations . Trains arrive and depart , steam hauled may allow a run round , pause for water . Pick up goods stop drop off/place/pick up wagons . The simpler the layout the more restrictive in part the operation. Full size what transfixes us is the sounds and smells and above all the interaction , opportune footplate rides , exploring overgrown sidings , conversations , a brew with the signalman things that are far harder to recreate in the gauge of your choice The fun in railway modelling is in the building , recreating or reimagining a long lost scene . It is what captivates and challenges the mind and our skills . Once the railway is built and the "historic" operation replicated the interest can wane , hence the cycle of tinkering , improvements, arrivals of an A4 on a running in turn on your GWR branch line terminus . I like my Hornby o gauge three rail electric , just for the fun of running . For all the detail of the latest models there is something charmingly tactile and nostalgic in the tinplate train clattering round a loop . Similarly my oo gauge is a traditional 8*6 double track loop . I can sit back and watch trains , or shunt a busy town goods yard I've thoroughly enjoyed seeing West Kirby evolve. It is a brilliant bit of modelling and I hope a way that allows it to hold your interest can be found