-missy-

Hi Tony.

I think its good that you have decided to improve the layout a little. It seems a natural progression to 'tweak' a layout in 2mm and I know it will improve the appearance and running of the whole thing long term.

BTW congratualtions are in order too! I look forward to meeting you at the next comittee meeting...

Missy

They are the old skool models (I have 2 I think). Not sure about the 08 though, need to get the Nigel C auto uncouplers finished off sometime...

(how is you class 37?)

In my ebay box for selling!

Hi Pete

Ahhh ok, I thought for a moment there that you were going to dabble with some nice looking engines for a change!

M

Not done any etching for a while now. Between your inspirational work and Pixie's general ear bending this might resume shortly

Good!

M

Hello Guys

That crane jib is wonderfully spidery doesn't look 2mm at all. Pity about the City I wonder if the errors mean it would suit one of the other GW 4-4-0's they had quite a few Abatra's, Flower's etcDon

If I can 'crack' this engine then hopefully the enthusiasm will be great enough to have a go at another. You have to bear in mind that this is only the second time I have really got anything etched and I am on a seriously steep learning curve!

The crane is looking excellent. I'll PM you a pic of the real thing so you can see the colour to paint it.

Thank you VERY much! I remember seeing some photos of yours of the crane in a thread sometime ago but cannot for the life of me remember where! Do you know by chance when Fawley will be open to the public again? BTW it was very nice to chat to you again at the show, I really value your help and advice.

The crane looks excellent.I assume it is a 6 ton GWR crane. If so, is there any chance of me being able to buy an etch from you as I need this size crane for Tavistock and was struggling to work out how I was going to make it.

Sounds like I went through exactly the same thing as you and I didnt know how to make one until I figured out how to draw things for etching. Its the GWR crane which the drawings were published in issue 0 of a wild swan publication, I think it was the Great Western Journal? As for making it available to others, like with my other stuff, if there is enough interest then I could put something together. It would be rather cool to think something I have designed will end up on your exceptional layout though.

Hi Missy, that is a beautiful crane. A whole work of art in itself. An congratulations on taking the plunge with the CoT kit. Are you just making a few, or will you be marketing it more widely?I have to tell you, though: A 1 Pound coin of that size really isn't prototypical ;-)

As above really, if enough people show an interest then I could be persuaded to take it a little further if you know what I mean? As for the pound coin I was planning on using a penny but I felt that would give the impression I was cheap!!

Watching with extreme interest...

Really Pete? I am intersted to know why, is there something you arent telling?

I'm sure the City etches can be redesigned.

Im working on that already!

if you do proceed with the smaller-wheeled alternative a Bulldog would suit me fine

As you know I have a half drawn one of those somewhere! I quite like them too (plus they were seen on the DNS)

Whilst searching the floor under the 2mm Roadshow tables on Sunday for a lost solebar we encountered a tiny etched coupling of DG-like appearance, which we assumed was one of yours - I think Noel has it now. Unfortunately beyond my photographic abilities to capture such a tiny beastie...David

Ahhh, that sounds like one of my failed NEM DGs that I need to 'tweak'. I dont need it back so if you can let Noel know please?

Wow, quick work with the crane! It was still very much 2 dimensional when I saw it in the morning! Exquisite work as usual Tom

I can be quick occasionally, especially when I am enthusiastic!! That and the fact I dont like half build things littering my workbench..

Ahhh... the joys of etch design, no matter how many times you check your work there is always one glaring error.

That is so true! I am guessing it gets better with experience like most things. It feels like I am learning the hard way though ATM. How are your designs comming along Bryn?

I would try to build as much as possible to test as much as you can (even if you have to modify some bits to get there. (I'm sure you are already aware that writing everything down - I have a personal preference for annotated illustrations - is desirable so that nothing gets forgotten when you get back to the 'drawing board'). There may be other errors further along and you will reduce the number of iterations to a completed etch. I find it even more demotivationg to find further errors once corrections are made.P.s. It looks really nice, but everyone else said that and I'm trying to be constructive for a change!

Thank you for the advice Rich, that is very useful. I have been tweaking the drawings as I go so hopefully I wont miss anything but I will carry on with the build to see what else is wrong.

M

Thank you for posting that Mikkel.

A very well explained and photographed explaination on how you achieved a quite realistic effect. There is definately an amaount of truth in using real wood for something that was wood! I will remember this method for the future...

Missy

That is incredibly impressive Pete!

The photos really do make the layout fit if you know what I mean, some of them would be impressive in any scale let alone 2mm. Your work is first class...

Any chance of a tutorial for the MIG weathering powders at all? I have some but have never been able to get any results with them.

Missy

Hello Bryn.

Inspirational

There was a rumour that you were going to make an appearance so it was a shame you didnt appear. I am guessing work got in the way so its understandable. You will have to let me know where you are next likely to appear so we can arrange to meet up or something.

M

Me again

More like something about being too critical.

Its my train set so I am allowed to be critical about my own work! Anyway its human nature to over critisise your own work more than you would anyone elses, the secret is not to get too critical and not get anything done isnt it?

Missy,Thank you for the chance to come and have a play, it was a pleasure to be part of the team for Highclere's first official show and I'm pleased that performance more than lived up to expectation!

Paul

Im glad you enjoyed yourself Saturday, of course you are more than welcome to help next time if you would like. I think in hindsight Highclere would be too much for just one operator, the minimum would be two, and it would be comfortable with three or more dont you think? One thing for sure is I couldnt have managed it without the help of you, Andy, and Steve so I have my fingers crossed you three will be available next time its out!

Cant wait to see the video footage too!

M.

Thanks for the comments, As for the mediocre comment its just how it feels, there is lots of stuff around (not only in 2mm scale) that blows me away and makes my layout look very plain and boring!

No mention of "Elvis" the GWR Railcar? Does it not meet your standards of reliability for exhibition use? Or just held in reserve?

Elvis is unfortunately in bits so couldnt make it to Abingdon. I need to finish it off sometime (like many other things!)

What did you way to me yesterday?

Erm....stop picking fault with all my stuff??

Hello Jerry

Running trains innapropriate to the location - thats shocking, you wouldn't catch me doing a thing like that!!Seriously Julia, if the few niggly little problems you mention were all you had on first time out in its complete format then that is testament to the layouts build quality. Highclere looks stunning and is destined to become one of the real flagship layouts for 2FS. Looking forward to seeing it again soon.Jerry

Thats really nice, thank you. Especially from someone whos modelling is absolutely amazing and a real inspiration. I have always loved the fact that layouts can have visiting engines and rolling stock and I want to keep that tradition up. Some people can be way too picky about what ends up on thier layout but thats not me (if that makes sense?)

I dont agree with you comment on Highclere being a flagship layout though! Compared to some of the 2mm stuff appearing on RMWeb recently I would class it as rather mediocre (but thats just me!)

Hi. The whole setup looks ecellent. Must be a good feeling after all that hard work; once you've got past the nervous stage, I guess. Congratulations!Ian

Hi Ian.

Thank you, it is a BIG relief and to celibrate Im just about to have a full english breakfast!! Seriously though its given me lots of encouragement (along with the desire to do it again sometime soon!)

Excellent job Missy - I was looking forward to seeing it 'in the round' and I wasn't disappointed. the fiddle yard design struck me as an excellent, nay brilliant', idea and looked to be working well. As I said - now you've got a fully workable layout i'm sure it will encourage you to get working on the scenic bit and develop it further to the same high standard with even more original ideas.Talking of original ideas that gearbox was amazing and ought to merit a description on here or in Andy's 'Modelling Inspiration' if only for its size and compactness - great stuff.

Thank you

I am so glad you werent disappointed and it was great to chat too. You give me lots of encouragement which it really appreciated. I dont know if Andy would be interested in the gearbox or not. It does feel like I have 'dropped off the radar' a little bit so maybe something like that would help?

M

Hello.

Glad you had a successful day. I would have loved to have seen Highclere but work got in the way this weekend. Maybe sometime soon. Keep posting updates for those of us far away.

Im sorry you had to miss the show, it would have been nice to catch up with things. Im sure there will be other oppertunities though.

Wish I could have been there Missy. Its nice to have all the backstage stuff working. I look forward to seeing Highclere in its new guise sometime.Don

I did wonder if you were comming or not. It is a nice feeling knowing that the fiddle yard works now and I can now concentrate on the 'fun' parts of the layout with only a few minor asthetic tweaks left to do to the behind the scenes bits. The 'keep it simple' rule does seem to be true!

Good to see Highclere again - when are you next showing it?

Thank you David, and that is a good question! Although I got 3 potential invites as a result of being at the show I am still reluctant to take it to too many shows as its still not really finished, or at least in a state I am 100% happy with. Saturday was really an experiment to test parts of the layout for me so right now I have no immediate plans to take it out again (unless Andy Y would like it at the next RMWeb @ Stafford show?)

There seemed to be one set of points giving problems when I saw it - the rest seemed to be working well.

I heard this as well although I couldnt find anything really wrong with any of them! There were some random bugs with various bits of rolling stock throughout the day but I am putting this down to things like wheel back-to-backs, badly adjusted couplings, and wagons with next to no weight in them. There wasnt any bit of the layout which really caused problems, all just random stuff.

It was good to see the new fiddleyard - a simple design, with a single through line providing "roundy-roundy" capability, plus a siding in each direction connecting to cassettes.

KISS! Plus in time I can run some decent length trains

I have fond memories of my warship from N gauge days, many years ago - it was by far the most reliable performer, with excellent haulage properties. Looks like the current version is similar.

It did run well but then its a converted Farish diesel! It hasnt even got the detailing bits added to it as to me, its a 'reserve' engine. Fortunately it didnt look too out of place on the layout.

Choice of stock was good - a few more steam locos would obviously have been better, but the diesels and dmus looked fairly plausible there.

I would love to see more steam engines on Highclere but unfortunately as you well know they are a little harder to find in 2mm scale than diesels! My pannier tank engine once again gave a sterling performance throughout the day so it wasnt totally steam free. I am always torn between bulding engines (which I love doing) and working on the layout, if there were only more hours in the day!

Some of the mineral wagons seemed to be lacking couplings - or were they just so ultra-fine that they defeated my poor eyesight?David

I think I will leave Pixie to answer that one!

It looks fantastic Missy, just as I Imagine Highclere looked back then.The egg train is, um, different :-)

Thank you Mikkel, it is starting to feel a bit atmospheric and I am very happy with the way its turning out. The 'egg train' was very 'different' and you can thank Andy for that one! I believe it came about from the fact some of his wagons desperately needed a little more weight to them!

M

Hello Jack.

WOW that looks impressive! It all looks nicely weathered too. I feel this is going to be a great advert for N Scale...

Missy

Hello Tom.

It looks like there is an infinate combination of things for this! The question I have though is what is N2.0 Scale? It looks like you are trying to decimalise it or something? It just looks weird to me.

You could really make it swanky and put some of those QR Codes on the front instead of the web addresses too!

M.

Hello Tom.

That is comming along really well and those photos do show how much of an improvement the 'finescale' track is over the more mainstream stuff. Your modelling is really good ad the photos do, do it justice, you have given me ideas to try in the future.

It was a shame we didnt really chat for long today, it would have been nice to talk for longer but its always difficult at shows. There is always next time...

Missy

As N15Class said, its really starting to come together and you can get a great sense of what the layout is going to feel like once its finished. I love the way the colours are all so muted, there is nothing that stands out and looks out of place.

There is always something quite satifying about sitting back and moving a few wagons about, Im looking forward to that bit on Highclere.

Missy

Congratulations Ian!

It looks like a great start, Im looking forward to seeing more...

Missy

That is VERY impressive! The whole thing just oozes atmosphere.

There are some little layouts appearing which are truly brilliant, just like this one. Who needs a whopping great layout these days! I like Wills idea of some kind of smoke effect too, I can imagine the haze inside that shed with sunlight streaming through the skylights.

Missy

Hello folks.

Thank you for the comments, I know its not the most exciting of times for Highclere but its good to know some people are still watching what I do!

Hi Julia. Very interested to see how your fiddle yard develops having being giving some thought to this area recently also. Is there a track plan for the yard? Tom.

Hi Tom, I have added a sketch of the fiddleyard I did a while ago and hopefully it shows the idea I have. I have tried to keep it simple and straight forward to use.

Very neat Missy - I like the copper sprung contacts idea.Can you just remind me on your fiddleyard idea again...are you making an overall roundy roundy single track circuit with a turnout to a spur so you can plug in individual cassettes? Have I interpreted correctly?...

Hi Pete. You have got it spot on! The whole idea behind a 'roundy-roundy' layout

came about because I want to try and recreate the long Fawley Oil trains which ran on the line and I couldnt see how to make it possible with a fiddleyard at each end.This way I have plenty of length to fit some nice big trains, if I ever make enough stock for it is another matter!

Cassettes - definitely the way to go - and I like the copper contact idea - very neat, but typical of your work :-) Where do you get beryllium Copper strip? Looks much better than my bulldog clips!RegsIan

Hello Ian. The contact strip is something I 'aquired' a while ago now. It was a sample of something called 'Finger Stock' and its used to shield doors on electrical cabinets to help with the EMC. I think RS Components do it although its not cheap, you could always do what I did and rung up a company asking for a sample!

M.

Now if there was something available of that quality in 2mm scale I would be a happy bunny

I have missed your posts Mikkel, dont go quiet on me again!

Missy

My feelings are that with bushing the wheels for insulation at the axle there is a greater risk of eccentricity/ wobble however I am not a skilled machinist.Don

Of course there is the 2mmSA wheel jig (3-275) which makes quartering and fitting wheels onto muffs/axles a doddle. A very handy tool if you are assembling chassis.

M.

Hello Don.

Brilliant as usual Missy. I know you are not in the least put off by needing to have and insulated driving wheels but for us normal mortals it could be an issue. Now if you could find a way of changing the last gear for one mounted on a Muff so that it would accept the normal association wheels..... There would be the problem of making the gear and what you would do about bearings. I am thinking if you could get gears to match one of our muffs with a gear on and fit a short length of metal tube over the ends of the muff. This could then run in suitable bearings ( or plain holes) in the gearbox.Don

Its a good point and one that I didnt realise until it came to assemble it. The meshing centres of the gears I used didnt take into consideration the diameter of the wheel axle muff. The gear I selected was chosen as it could fit over one of the smaller muffs the 2mmSA do (the 2.3mm diameter one). Its not difficult to tweak the gearbox it would fit but it will mean either loosing some of the reduction or gaining some height. The gearbox as it stands will work and as you say, with a little bit of tweaking to the wheels it would be possible to get a working chassis using one. The question now is do I spend time redesigning the gearbox with the view to make it easy for others or do I stick with what I have got because it does what I want it to do!?!

Selfish I know...

M.

Was good to meet you at the week end and discuss several bits n pieces with you.The gearbox looks fantastic - Can't wait to see your future developments! x

Likewise Josh. Im looking forward to seeing some of your 2mmFS stuff here on RMWeb soon....

... small enough for 2MM FS narrow gauge applications?Or would that need this gearbox's 'little brother'?

Hiya Will. That gearbox wont really fit, the motor is far too big for starters. I have been looking into chassis for NG engines a little more recently and it is possible using a small motor like Nigel Lawtons. You and me need to talk....!

I need to learn to make chassis in order to make myself a pug!

The best way to learn is to have a go. Practice definately makes perfect!

Out of interest what is the benefit of the 2mm motor over the almost identically sized Mashima 1015?

Hello Katier. I dont know so thanks to David for replying to this for me. Do you know something I dont?

Dissapointed..... can't believe you haven't cut your own gears......(!)

If I had the tools I would!

I think that gearbox would work a treat in the Peckett with those Mike Bryant plastic-centred wheels (which have 1.5mm axle holes.....)Andy

Thank you Andy If I could find some of those wheels! Mission Impossible!!

Quite a clever design in that you've folded a flat plate into a gear case. Is there the possibility of making a smaller version with the Lawton motor and 'rolling' the gears so it's not quite as tall? You've sold one if you can!

Hello Mr Nth. Thank you, the design is nothing new or special, the 4 and 7mm peeps have been using this design for ages. As I mentioned above I have been looking at making something smaller to fit some NG engines on my drawing board. Im not sure what you mean by 'rolling' the gears though, do you mean rotating them slightly? FYI I originally designed this chassis to fit a 2mm scale Peckett 0-4-0 engine which is not that different from the one you are looking to make.

Just brilliant Julia, inspirational stuff. I have some of those Mike Bryant wheels. When can I have one of these gearboxes?!!This gearbox would open the door to all sorts of small prototypes, like Nick I fancy one of the Colenel's Ford railbuses, perfect for the North Somerset Light.Jerryps. can we have the answers to the tree quiz please

Thanks Jerry. Thats rather ironic really! You have the wheels but no chassis and I have a chassis but no wheels! When would you like one of these then? I would love to see how you get on with one. As you say it could open up a few possibilities for the smaller engines. As for the answers to the trees I did post them on the last entry but just for you here they are again...

1. Silver Birch

2. Cedar of Lebanon

3. Scots Pine

4. English Oak

5. Hawthorn

From the replies I got I think I need to practice tree making a bit more...!

M.

Hello

Thanks for the comments so far folks, it sounds promising so far which is good.

Julia this looks really good are you planning on marketing this ?Nigel

Hello Nigel, I guess if enough people ask for one then I cannot see why not. As I mentioned in the post it was designed for a particular engine (a peckett) but I tweaked it so I could use it on other projects so there is no reason why it couldnt be used on anything really.

impressive as always wonder if it would fit in a ford railcar ?

Hello Nick. A what? I havent a clue what that is let alone if it would fit! I have posted the dimensions so you could try it out for yourself.

Top stuff, as always, you never cease to amaze me with what you do with all these fiddly little things ;)Thanks for the link to Mikroantriebe, that's bookmarked for future reference, there's loads of things on there that will be useful for future projects. That motor looks rather useful too!

Hello Pugsley, thank you. That is a useful little company and although they are in Poland I havent had any trouble with them at all so I would recomend them to anyone. They have some very useful little bits.

Most impressive piece of work.You need another photograph with the obligatory small coin, to show just how small it is. Your photographs make it look far too big (and still show no obvious defects, even under such cruel enlargement).

Hello David, that is a good point and something I forgot to do this time. Hopefully the dimensions will help.

That looks very neat. As ever, your skill and will serve you well. I take it the PCB cheeks are soldered onto the motor mounting plate, and the gears a push fit on the axles ( a la High Level) ?CheersJan

Hi Jan. Yes, the PCB is soldered to the side of the etch frame its there to insulate the gearbox electrically from the sideframes. The gears also push onto the axles as you say. I dont understand why the 4 and 7mm peeps get all the gearboxes and the 2mm folk dont so I am trying to fix that!

M.