Memphis32

I'm sticking with the twin mainline, but I was thinking the proportions were a bit wrong too. The thing on the left is representing a stone footbridge over the line, as a scenic break. I will try to move everything over to the left, giving the branch junction a bit more space, and will try to fit the left crossover off-scene. The branch has the dubious distinction of being the steepest adhesion-hauled (is that the right term?) in west germany, at 1:16.4!! On another topic - anyone have an idea of when timber sleepering would have been replaced by concrete? I've done some searching but with no useful results...

Right, finally got some ideas on (virtual) paper. I haven't looked at the links from that last post yet, so they may influence how this develops, but thought I'd just encourage feedback on this anyway! A track plan of Boppard I found years ago, doesn't appear to be to scale: A plan based on a simplifies right-hand end of that plan (big green boxes are a bad attempt at landscaping) 3D of above (station building is supposed to be two floors, lower at track height, upper at road height) There would be steep rocky/vineyard/forested hills behind the road, and to hide the LH exit and branch exit. Assumption is village is off to the left. Remember this is a freelance based on, not attempting to be a recreation of a particular place!

It does have to be H0 I’m afraid, partly that I like the size of the models better than N or smaller (0 would be nice, but no room!), partly sentimental attachment to a model or two. And the fact that I’d like it to link in to the other layout which has some considerable time invested in already, so as to form part of a continuous run (not enough room for each to have its own). I’m liking the idea of the partial station - I had dismissed it as there were very few bridges over the line that I could find, and none of them in attractive places. I’ve abandoned the idea of reproducing a particular location though, so “based on” will do fine. That ought to allow more space for the branch junction and small loco shed from Boppard. Any ideas what the last steam locos were to operate the branch?

Guten Abend! (Just caught the spell-checker change to gluten...) I’m compiling ideas for a German-themed layout and am getting a bit stuck on the vast compromises I’m going to have to accept... I would like to base it on the Rhine valley between Bingen and Boppard (I went on the river cruise a few times as a child) in late steam era, so double-track mainline perched on steep rocky hillside. I only have 3.5m (scenic) length however. I’d like a station (probably doesn’t need to be big enough for non-stop expresses), and a bit of shunting interest. St.Goar’s old layout, Kaub, and Boppard look good, but would take up five times the length I have. The branch line from Boppard is also tempting... Any thoughts? I was planning on compressing front to back, to make the hillside more dramatic (and take up less space!). In terms of how realistic I’m aiming for, I guess somewhere between a British scale model and a German tail-chaser, erring on the side of realistic (if that makes sense!!). Track would be peco c75 (Tillig would take up too much space, and would show up my other layout!!) I will also add that there will be a helix at each end, positions determined by the other layout, so the approach is fixed. I will try to get around to posting pics of what is planned already next week, so you get the idea!!

Is that broad gauge?

A 555 can also do that, ought to be cheaper...

Don't forget it's internal dimensions you want to be 45mm - not outside. With ali extrusion you may have 1mm+ wall thickness

You may be better off measuring angle around the curves, and calculating distance from that. However, the fact that the loco is on the curve or straight will have a big impact on the stopping distance...

I gather it doesn't last long, either...

Is that not the same as saying that music is about making it and not just listening to it, or enjoying good food shouldn't be done in a restaurant?

I'm glad this came up again, as I missed it last time around. I think this possibly reflects more on the attitude to photography than to manners. Speaking for myself, I view taking snaps with my 'phone as an aide-mémoire, not as something to hang up or publish for others to see, so had not considered it could be seen as rude until reading it here. I will endeavour to ask in future, but would also suggest trying to see it from this perspective.

The colder months came, and soon gone (I live in hope!). Any progress achieved?

We seem to have got back to the RTR-bashing again. Can we just let people enjoy their own way of doing things?

There also appears to be some sky between cab and cartazzi...

That makes a lot of sense - many thanks!

I've just read the MRJ article, and very good it is, too. I have one question for Tony, though: The flangeways at the barrow crossing, can they not be as narrow as those for the guard rails just beyond? The caption implies they were fettled until they worked, but I would have thought the pointwork therefore would be too tight.

I believe the usual trick is to spray into the lid then pour. I may be wrong, as I've not tried yet! Edited to add a caveat: I've seen some lids have ventilation holes in - don't try over the best kitchen tablecloth without checking!

Re: Gibson wheels, the gluing one side one comment gave me a thought: if one was wont to make several locos that required the same types of wheels, as Mr W does, could one stagger the sets as follows: use a set to build the loco, then glue on one side at final fitting, with a new half-set on the other side; for the next loco, glue the worn half-set to the axles and use the other new half set for setup, using the next new half-set for final fit; wash, rinse, repeat? And re: paint, if it is the paint that is the issue, and Halfords rattle can is too thick, one could decant, dilute and airbrush that...

And to add to that, to fit within the more usual context of the thread, I open boxes. I haven't even fit detailing to the contents of the boxes yet. I've had baseboards built for over two years and still no track laid, so there's no way I can spend time attempting to make locos that wouldn't be up to my expectations!!

I'm somewhere in between those. I came back to trains after almost 20 years away, when I realised I could try to fit something in the shed (12'x8'). I went through many iterations of roundy roundy - the one with the mainline station, the branch station, the MPD and two industries, to one station, one industry and the MPD, to just one industry and the MPD, before realising that it was still completely toy-like. I then spent over a year poring over MPD layouts from all regions except the southern to find something that would fit in ~12x2.5, but found there was nothing that would go that had the features and likely locos that would interest me. The plan at the mo is prototype-based but heavily compressed, and I think I can live with that. There's no fiddle yard, but I hope to get a garage sometime soon to give a bit more room at each end. And to cover the hole in the sky, I've moved a signal box from one end to the other - the prototype has the 'box right next to a bridge. What were they thinking!!

No, not at all, as long as the point is communicated, but if someone feels the urge to criticise, they ought to check their own contribution!

Indeed...

Very similar to the way the Americans have been modelling for decades, but generally with industries rather than stations.

If you swap the left-most diodes and switches (diodes before switches) and put a reservoir cap between diodes and switches, you should be fine. Adds to the component count, but you may find suitable caps in old PC power supplies...

Does putting the tank next to a noise generator not pose risks for the fish?