nhdesigns

I I did just take a look and yeah that's amazing work you done there. I didn't really think of using guitar string for such a thing. I know some have used piano wire. Did you use any scale drawings? Or go by what you saw?

I'm probably sure this is something that I might have posted before and something that I am sure many electric modellers are faced with. How does one go about making the registration arms for Overhead Line Equipment (OHLE). I am very impressed with the PECO Mk3 catenary masts, despite the hefty price for them and the wires, but there is no mention of them making any for multiple track spans. I have got a set of MK3 catenary gantries to run over four tracks that go from two tracks, all made and weathered and the PECO catenary wires to go with them. However there's nothing really there to hold them in place and finish it off. Does anybody know anyone who makes the registration arms for OHLE? Or does anyone know how to make them? I'm okay with soldering and fitting them in place but don't know to go about making any which would look the part in a way. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Below is a photo of one OHLE gantry I have, which has since been painted and weathered since this photo was taken.

You think so? I wasn't so sure after a bit of planning and looking into it. I did build a set of arches, with two workshops and a appliance shop with an offlicence, that might be used on this or as part of my main layout somewhere.

Yeah that would be something that would be good as well. I'll be making a new layout later on when I can have my families converted loft/office for a railway room and I could do something that would be apart of it.

Since my layout has been taken out of action, whilst undergoing some redecoration in my room where it stands, I've been looking into making a small diorama. Not just so I have something to use for photographing my models but to also keep up with my own modelling skills and try out some new things along the way, until I have my own layout back up in action. This is what I got in mind for a diorama of course and what I have at my disposal: A size of 4ft by 1ft to work with 4 lengths of Peco flexible track, to have a double track 4 peco catenary masts and wires Something urban or suburban possibly As far as era is concerned, I'm mostly one for diesels and electrics personally, mainly 1980s to current day run stock with just one or two heritage/preserved steam engines. I had begun by working on and perhaps making a set of arches and a track bed going over the top of them. But for some reason, I just don't know if it would be rather dull in a way. Anyone have any suggestions as to what I could do? Or what would be ideal for an urban/inner city/suburban looking diorama?

I'm mainly working in the diesel era of the late '80s and on from there. So I'm pretty much open to what would be ideal. I've started looking at things like the faller and noch building interiors like the machinery sets for metal and wood working. I might have something like that in one arch. Already got a small newsagents and appliances shop made up so that's those taken care of. Just need to have a light in the newsagents.

Hmm yeah I see where you're coming from. Especially now we lost maplin, as I use to get LED strips there for my buildings. I got the scalescenes interior packs so I might use some bits and pieces of them. I'll take a look at shapeways and the other as well. I know that there are things like Noch and Prieser who do good things for interiors, even though they are expensive.

I suppose this is something a lot of us have probably discussed, interiors for buildings. I am currently working on a set of arches from scalescenes, for a diorama and have two shops and two workshops under one set of arches. One shop is an appliance shop with the usual washers and ovens on display in the window with a satellite dish on display and on the front whilst the other is a standard news agent. I've got the outside elements done for them and have the interior walls made for them. Because the workshops and shops are open, I've not got anything in them. Anyone know what would be good for interiors for workshops? Or what would be good for them? I know garages are one thing, but personally I'm looking for something different than this. Any advice or ideas would be much appreciated.

So would 40mm or 50mm be a suitable distance? Or more?

So I'm doing a rebuild of my scenery to consist of a main street going across my layout with some low relief buildings on one side and basically an open pavement on the other side, towards the trackside. One thing I do intend to have is some working streetlights, which I have and some spares to order. The only thing is I don't quite know the correct distance between each streetlight. I have added them before but because they are rather bright LED lights, even on 12V, they lit up everything around and something just didn't feel right about them. I do recall fitting them with a distance of 21mm between each light that I think might be why the illuminated everything as you can see by these pics. I've done a web check to see it states that the distance between each streetlight is 200yds or 183m in real size but I don't know what that is in 1:76 scale. I used an online scale converter which has given a measurement of 2407.89 mm. Is that right? Or is it less? Can somebody tell me what distance streetlights should be in OO gauge please?

Well I found that the problem is down to the fact that I haven't added dropper wires from the track on my other boards to my power bus. That's why I have found power was going from the controller and power bus to only half my track, which has dropper wires attached. I had blade splices attached to my power bus added before which I am able to use again. I just wonder where I've taken them off do I cover them with insulating tape afterwards to ensure no power drop.

I seem to have encountered a problem with my layout. I've cut the track at the baseboard joins and copper clad the rails as well as cut them at the joins, then connected it up as usual. I seem to have power going from two boards but none on the other boards. I've added additional droppers onto the track on one side, where there are two tracks splitting into four which go to four storage lines and back around the layout. I never had this problem before but I seem to have now. Do I need to add more dropper wires onto my DCC power bus or is it something else. I've added a photo showing what I have done before but it's all changed since then and new track was added.

Now that does sound straightforward and easy to do. I think I might give that a go tomorrow. I also admire the work you did with the JNA wagons too. I'm yet to weather them myself. The way you added that rustic texture on them too is stunning and better than what I was able to achieve. I only got as far as covering weathering powders on them to highlight certain areas like brake pads and discs.

I just noticed the wonderful work you done there. I wish I could do an impressive job on weathering like that myself. I especially like the way you went about the MRA wagons. Can I ask what colors you used or would suggest using weather them. I noticed the insides are weathered with rust colors and then distressed with wet and dry and scouring pads which is something I've only just heard about. I mainly ask because I got a MRA rake which is yet to be weathered and I've been looking around at how to go about weathering them.

Oh right I see.

In my own view I find that Bachmann are better when it comes to the MK1 coaches. That said they're easy to dismantle and modify. I have a rake of MK1 coaches in the executive livery that I got and weathered and the level of detail is better than what Hornby are producing. Even though Hornby ones feature internal lighting. Or is it the MK2's? Can't remember.

So after such a long time and a lot of patient hard work I have finally got my layout up and running perfectly! I've not had a lot to do with fixing it apart from rebuilding the fiddle yard at the back. I originally had it laid out to house four three way points and three storage loops which might have worked if my layout was a lot bigger but for it's size and capacity I replaced the points with four running lines that merge into two lines on the left hand side via express points. Initial test runs prove that there are no catches, derailments or shorts on all the lines and no need for additional power feeds as I had before. Just got a point decoder to fit into place and then another test run to see that everything is still okay. Then it's a case of setting it all up on Hornby Railmaster and enjoying the layout. All that's need to be done next is to finish off the scenery. I've got the main part of it completed including a backdrop, which is only painted in sky blue. The only things needed to be done with it is to add some additional low relief buildings and some cameo scenes to finish it off. I will of course be posting images of the layout as it's nearing completion as soon as possible.

Those are some nice buildings there. Those ones around the market square, are they scratchbuilt or kits? If they are kits who makes them? I'm kinda looking around at adding some additional shops for my layout.