HAL 'O THE WYND

Hi again, You might already be familiar with it, but Shaun aka Sasquatch does an interesting blog on working ground signals and he uses bulbs. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1263/entry-13366-working-ground-signals/ They might not be as fine as the pieces you have but here might be something useful there, Tony.

I've got a tripod for my Nikon...

- Incredible work! You might well be aware, but Jaz is plugging your layout as the "best anywhere" on Facebook - particularly the maintenance piece. (Gawd I miss her!) Tony.

Hi Brian, Please forgive my ill manners for so late a call. Your progress as absolutely excellent! As it happens, I am a huge Scalescenes fan, although - up till now - this has been limited to brick retaining-wall material, plus tarmac and concrete papers, plus the incomplete garage that's visible in one of the videos. I will be using the new factories complex, plus warehouses and modern flats. I built a section of the latter as a trial, but I need to modify it to suit my local needs. Three blocks must rise behind the terraces near "Scotsward Bridge" (still just a mock-up at present). But enough of me! I particularly like the new track plan and the station building is looking very good in front of that back-scene. I really admire your methodical approach - I must learn from that. And now her Ladyship awaits her dinner. Regards, Tony.

Hi Al, Just playing catch-up after being off the scene for a few months. How I envy your excellent progress... - but the signals? - gob firmly smacked! Regards, Tony.

I gave up smoking for four years after smoking for forty-four - I swore I'd never start again! Then Joan was in North Tyneside General for nine weeks after breaking her hip... Rattling round the house, sick with worry, I started again. Idiot! Still smoking now - double-idiot! LOL Regards, Tony. PS: It can help to weather layout, locos, etc, but that takes a decade or two to be effective.

Thank you, I'll look forward to that. I'm sure many others would love to see your layout in action. As it happens I've just dipped my beginner's toes into a couple of vids. Forgive me mentioning this but it might be of passing interest: - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/94153-scotsward-road-fantasy-ecml-in-the-60s/page-15 As I'm technophobic (thick) that's #360. Warning, there is a 15 second delay in action. Also, they're very short so there's not too much time wasted. lol I mention it for three reasons: Firstly, it's all diesels (most waiting for weathering) this is down to you; secondly, I'm having trouble with carpel-tunnel syndrome - makes modelling a challenge. Having done nowt for ages I used some loco-cash to buy some Hornby terraces - as you've done. The colour wasn't the right flavour for my layout so I gave them a mortar-wash. The brickwork wants some work and they're all still to be detailed, but it's allowed me to get on - at least one section of my layout looks almost passable! And thirdly, the Spotter's Spot thing I've started seems to be popular: no zooming, no movement, no panning, even - though this will change. I'd just love to see sections of your layout from a spotter's viewpoint - it would be soooooooo realistic! I apologise for interrupting your thread, Tony. EDIT I almost deleted this as inappropriate - my layout isn't remotely comparable to Shenston Road, but now you are one of my greatest influences. But, be assured of this, if you didn't get round to having a butchers I wouldn't be offended. Nobody knows the value of time more than me.

Just shows how badly I've been keeping up with stuff - missed your reply and Jock's kind comments! Everything is looking good - domestically and your scenic development. Just thought I'd mention what I quoted on my thread regarding YouTube embedding: share, paste in and cross the "s" off https, ie, "http" - and it's as simple as that. Regards, Tony

Hello Ian, I have followed your excellent work under a former name - Brass0four (killed off because he was a big mouth pain in the arse who did nowt) Unfortunately I've never actually seen the layout, being housebound due to family health issues. I only mention this because of your remark on approaching seventy. Well. I'm sixty-eight in January - believe me, I know the feeling! But it is good to plan for an unlimited future. My uncomparable toy-train layout is my only escape, bless its OTB capability. One thing I will say to youngsters reading this: Do not put off till tomorrow whatever you MR dream is. Life is too short - time passes much quicker than you think and health issues are likely to compromise things as you age. Common sense? Maybe, but many off us don't realise as much till it's too late. Regards, Tony.

Hi David, Apologies for the massively delayed catch-up. I'm fairly speechless (which is a first!). I think I need to go back about ninety pages to get a proper picture. Lovely to see the bairn enjoying herself. My grandson isn't even allowed in the railway room. To be fair, he grabs at everything, and if it was an A4 that wasn't shifting he'd snatch it up and try to push it along the floor... I was surprised when I clicked your *My Videos* list! ??? My gob is firmly smacked. Being as technophobic as I am, I wouldn't be at all surprised if you told me that whoever clicked it would get their list, naturally. Oh, BTW (should have mentioned it on my thread) but my Dynamis works perfectly. The two receivers are slightly under the board where they can see my hands but not the striplights. No... my problem is programing!!! The damn gobbledygook scrambles my grey matter and I make mistakes because I don't understand the damned acronyms! It started when my box-thingy was returned from repair. Almost nothing worked anymore. Some of the locos which were still *3's* worked, some didn't. And a few others worked... with different numbers! This was a year ago and I still haven't had the time and patience to sort it. Fortunately, 3 out of 4 sound-diesels worked. They are the only reason I have DCC. I can run 5+ locos at a time with DC. Sorry for arriving out of the blue and nicking your thread. Regards, Tony. EDIT I bet you voted *thanks* before you read my last edit.

Well, my jaw is firmly pinned to my chest, I disappear offsite for a tiny few months, and when I return... This! I must be honest, I was a little worried that you kept changing your mind over various plans and locations - actually laid some track you were unhappy with, and so on. I even thought, maybe Andy is happier with the smaller exhibition layouts. But I was wrong! Obviously you weren't content till you'd perfected your creative requirements, then - Hell's teeth! - what would take most of us several years, blossoms into the above! (The first layout to be built in the Tardis?) I'm over the moon, for you and with you. Now, seeing how all the articles, images and set-pieces are perfected in every detail - in every blade of grass, that'll be the pleasure for all of us to follow over time to come. I shouldn't have been surprised... Actually, I'm not. Nothing more than should have been expected. Tony.

Hi Guys, I have all of your photos on my PC (strictly for my own use) and I really enjoy running them as a slideshow - very stimulating. My steam/diesels layout is steadily progressing to more green diesels - they are so much more realistic - and you are tugging me towards Blue... A while ago I'd never have thought it. Anyway, watching the slides, I had a sudden hopeful thought. I went to YouTube and typed in Shenston Road... Sadly, nothing. Any chance? Tony.

I just love your joinery, Graham, When I was building my boards I had the first severe panic over arthritis. No one will ever see pictures of my wood-butchery! Tony.

Exactly the same thing happened to me. They're incredibly good for checking out detail, paint, weathering etc. And if you save them (strictly for your own use!) they make wonderfully relaxing slideshows.... Tony. Sorry for the late response. Doing an embarrassingly delayed catch-up. I didn't realise how far I was behind.

As ever, and excellent layout in a very short time! I must take a lesson from you and break my layout into sections, each to be finished, scenically, before moving on. As it is it's all mock-ups - everything half done. If anyone gives me a tug towards modern image it's you! Tony aka Hal

Just playing catch up following my somewhat precarious return to RMweb. Everything looks excellent, particularly your light weathering. Bunging on loads of clarts is easier in my view. Otherwise, regarding the grass - and I'm serious here - there's no one better as far as I'm concerned. Tony. EDIT: Thanks for the support guys (jrg1 and Bedders), but - believe it or not - my original praise has been bothering me for days, it was just a little bit too much... So I've re-phrased it. Not much, some might think, but I'm more comfortable with it. Hope that doesn't annoy anyone. Tony.

Hi Stu, I think it's an excellent idea! I'm not remotely technical so I won't remark on any of that other than the reverse-minic idea (Nick Halliday? Forgive me if my memories gone - again!) It sounds dead simple and sprung pickups either side of the insulated centre could keep contact and even softly grab the rail; I'm thinking round-headed pins. Even I could mock up something like that. Otherwise, forgive me as - yeah, the time thingy with me as usual! - I read rather hurriedly, so I might have missed someone remarking on Google Images? I put the name into GI and lots of pictures came up. I don't know if any are different from the excellent ones people have posted, but it's a dead easy quick look. I found: - Again, maybe my impolitely swift look might have missed it! If you find this image on GI, click on it and it might even take you to more similar, technical ones. Anyway, I think it's a fascinating project you are well capable of. Regards, Tony.

A long, rather hellish story. Her Ladyship's MS is much worse and I'm not too good - severe carpel-tunnel in both wrists - not the best outlook for the hobby. But hey, you manage, despite being much worse. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, but it is a very, very expensive light! so we'll see what transpires. Regarding the layout, I'm thinking - rather than post a tiny bit here and there, with long gaps in between, I might get a lump together over a few months, then post something worth looking at, followed by *how-to's* of completed pieces. Maybe a bumper Christmas Special. (I wish! lol) Whatever, time will tell. More important, it's great to see you going on and on, despite your domestic chores. Goathland is already a classic ~(Why the hell haven't Brm looked at your stuff - there should be a vote - someone should raise it with his nibs) - but G up 'N will be a real page turner. It has scope, originality, and high quality. Anyway, L8r Tony. Nice to see you, Jock, BTW. ;-)

'Know the feeling... Sigh... ;-) Yours sincerely, Tony.

Delightful as ever!. I am so looking forward to when/if I have something worth photographing. :jealous smiley: Bloody awful night with the bladder playing up. I trust my break will reap some benefit. But that's me being shellfish(typo) as usual. Hmm, must be something fishy about the holiday. Back on topic. The trouble with your work is that your admirers run out of superlatives. For all our sakes I recommend you become less good. Tony. (I don't think therefore I am not)

Self centred as usual, I omitted to thank you, George. Sorry for that. As Andy's friend and spokesperson, I'm sure you'll repeat what as been said by everyone. Health, personal satisfaction, then the enjoyment of others, the latter being very much last. Tony aka Hal

As my own thread has lurched to a stop for health reasons, I am empathically concerned about Andy. Having talked to him about my issues and received great personal support, I can only urge him to relax until he once more looks upon Bitton as a joy and not a chore. I've no doubt his many, many followers will be happy to rest in support no matter how long it takes. Hal

You know what, Girls and Boys, I can no longer trust myself to make a simple post! Take Care,

Take Care, Jock.