theplasticbrummy

This is about the only thing that I'm not looking forward to from RT - This and the third one of course! Cheers, Andy.

I believe the correct term is, "FA**IN' HERBERTS!", Dave. And anyway! What's wrong with a 15' micro layout? IP#6 Cheers, Andy.

Don't be like that Dave. You know we all look forward to seeing what you've come up with - It's the high point of the week(end)! Sure Steve's layout is STUNNING but that doesn't mean it will win (if there is a prize that is) - It could be as bent as last year when George A won the "Award for the most S-Kits items on a layout".... Need I say more? Cheers, Andy.

Are the crayons for Dave to weather his stock? Oh wait, he borrows his stock from other people! *Silly me!* I always like your weathering Stu, they look great. Glad you got the 08 converted, I didn't fancy it after looking at the kit and anyway, an 08 wouldn't really suit my layout. I was reminded of you the other day actually - I've just started a thread on my layout Sheppey Steel. I'm just about to write about the gantry crane (You might get a mention). Just mind your eyes if you take a look! Hopefully see you around at a show or two. Cheers, Andy.

Hi Jeremy. HSTs sound good! (I have a bit of a thing for them) After seeing what you are building (Which is excellent by the way) Control Panel??? - Eeeeep! Cheers, Andy.

Those are fantastic David! They are right in that period that I am wanting to model and clearly show the almost brand-new MCB crossing. I've got two class 120 kits from BH Enterprises to build that will complete this late 70s, early 80s scene. Thanks very much for posting them here - they really are a missing link in my research. Cheers, Andy.

m Staythorpe fly ash loading sidings Staythorpe power station Oct 72 J3124.jpg David, I've just come across your picture (above) of Staythorpe power station's ash plant, from a post last year, whilst researching my new layout - Staythorpe Crossing. I have managed to find a few photos of Staythorpe in the 1970s and thought I'd share them with you. I thought you and highpeakman, among others, might be interested, so, without plugging my own thread - please see post #9 on the first page: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/119947-staythorpe-crossing-nottingham-to-lincoln-line-circa-1980/ I thoroughly enjoy your thread and would like to take this opportunity to thank you for sharing your collection. Hope you find the photos interesting. Cheers Andy.

I've literally just received a box full of these this very morning for Staythorpe. They are all unpainted so this is very useful. The handrails make all the difference Steve and the paintjob makes the wagon look suitably knackered! Some good stuff going on here! Cheers, Andy.

Thanks for all of your input Gents. I've managed to find one model so far that is suitable for the later period. It has the added advantage of already having the destination blind wound round for Sheerness. It's a Bristol VRIII in the later Maidstone and District livery, made by EFE, #20416. BRC 834T, was, according to my research, bought by M&D in 1993 and had the new fleet livery applied. It was in service up until 1999, passing from M&D ownership to Arriva, a year earlier. Apparently, it now resides in Bulgaria? And this is spot on for the early late70s, early 80s period! Thanks. I think the Leyland Olympian will fill the gap between the two above. I didn't expect this thread to be so good - keep the information and memories coming chaps! Cheers again, Andy.

That's fantastic. Some great information there Nedrahn. I like the idea of a Leyland Olympian as I used to go to School on one, albeit a Kinchbus (A local Leicestershire company which has managed to escape the Arriva monopoly). I'll have to get one of those! I'll do a bit more research tomorrow with regards to the route number and I'll probably pass the choices of models past you all. I suppose it/they will be from that well known shop on Merseyside that was closed when I was up there for a Christening Sunday last . Thanks to you all again. Cheers, Andy.

Shroomy, crompton33 and chrissixties, Cracking stuff, many thanks. I did think the services would have been to and from Maidstone given its size and locality but as I said before, I'd got nothing to confirm it. Bus history is certainly more illusive than railway history - I assumed the bus fraternity would have been similar to us rail enthusiasts. Cheers again, Andy.

Hello Shroomy, Is Maidstone and District the green and cream livery? Again, I've come across photos but with no annotation as to location. What I do know is that Arriva serve it now - but where don't they? Cheers, Andy.

Hello Ian. Yes, some dates would be useful. I'm modelling two periods, BR Blue into Sectorisation and Privatisation, so 1980 to 2000 should cover it. I've amended the first post too. Cheers, Andy.

Hello all, I'm hoping that there will be some knowledgeable person(s) reading this, who could possibly help me out. I'm in the middle of constructing a layout based on the now demolished steel works in Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, and I would like a bus on the layout to try to "locate" it. Is anyone able to advise on what bus companies served the island (and route numbers if possible) during the period of 1980 to 2000 please? I've done the usual Googling and the like and have come up with a few possibilities. Maidstone Boro'line pops up along with travelmasters, however, I am unable to confirm where the photos were taken, so I can't rely on them. Any advice is much appreciated and if anyone knows of a model that would suit (in 4mm scale), that would be even better! Well, thanks for reading and I look forward to your responses. Cheers, Andy Porter.

It is yes Steve. For a multitude of reasons, it was packed away. It was started at the same time as Loch Tat, all the boards were made at the same time and they were both running at the same time, the difference being Adrian had got all of his buildings ready and we hadn't. Most of the buildings are now complete and we are making headway with the scenery. If there is a Stourbridge Exhibition next year, we'll offer it to Pat and see what happens. I'm sure it will be finished by then. As for photos, you'll have to wait for it to appear on the circuit. Cheers, Andy.

It would have to go another 4' 8 1/2" board towards Nottingham to allow the ash plant to be modelled and to incorporate a visible connection to the Down Main. Towards Lincoln, it's a case of where do you stop? I'd like to share the aerial photos but I'm not allowed. As I'm sure you can imagine, the sidings sprawl across a massive area and are more than long enough to accommodate the 46 HAA long trains which brought in the coal, this is after the length of the reception road and the fan of point work. The sidings then taper down again and lead on to the rapid unloader and the maintenance shed for the resident shunting locos. The rapid unloader would be an ideal point to stop as the overhead conveyor would provide at least, a partial scenic break. Modelling up to this point though would mean that the layout would be approaching 25' long - too long. Bearing in mind that I still have New Dalby, Sheppy Steel and Tatlock to finish (I'm back-tracking like Angela Merkel now), although New Dalby is literally on the verge of completion and Tatlock isn't too far away either and benefitting from two other people working on, I have various other plans for a "Fence Houses" size N gauge layout (I need somewhere to run all of those Revolution TEAs!) and I don't want to commit to another large layout which would push back plans that I have had for a long time. I think it might just stay as its current size, maybe just one more board for the Ash Plant to complete the scene that will begin on the original board. Cheers, Andy.

Fortunately, there are no LEDs on this panel and most of the wiring is already done! Staythorpe will eventually bolt onto the front of this fiddle yard, sharing it with Loch Tat and Tatlock. Unfortunately, I've gone against the norm with controller colours so it might end up being a case of black to brown, red to green and blue to bits! I'll just plug in those infamous two wires for DCC control. Cheers, Andy.

Nobby must be starting out in Gauge 3 then. X Andy.

I thought Caterham was your challenge layout Ernie - thought you'd just got carried away with the 4'8.5"! I'll ask George A to bring his back scene for you again. Cheers, Andy.

Just hope for everyone's sake that it doesn't feature Nobby and George! Cheers, Andy.

Snap. I get the impression that Paul thinks we'd just ignore his plan and put ourselves next to each other regardless. N Gauge contingent is getting stronger by the day - even S-Kits-George has gone N gauge! Perhaps there should be a special N Gauge only show starting on the Monday prior to the LR weekend with the "non-sh*te" scales arriving on Friday and Saturday as usual. Cheers, Andy.

I'm hoping that our efforts will consist of more than a house brick as a station building and gravel from Paul's drive as ballast. Cheers, Andy.

How the hell does Richard cope with this? Cheers, Andy.

Good stuff. Can't remember if I've got one or two Halibuts. I've also got a Caroline which is destined for its current green livery - I suppose you're going for NSE like everyone else *yawn*. I've been watching the Derby Lightweight progress on the "other" forum/farceberk, I'm also going to go for an Iris. I still reckon we should try to link all the N Gauge sh*tes together. Cheers, Andy.

Thanks Carl. It was suggested that I just take the panel because the layout will be crap due to it being "N Gauge sh*te". Also, in my very best Stoke accent, "What'ya bought from Shapeways Carl?" Cheers, Andy.