Royal42

Yep, still having fun and my enthusiasm hasn't waned. I suspect some compromises are in order and I think they will be: - make the body as visually accurate as possible at 2mm scale 3D printed. - make a chassis shell, to fit the axles and the front pistons box. - make axle apertures in chassis shell for wheels and bogeys - identify and add locating positions in chassis shell to fit to body. As the chassis shell will be virtually hidden behind the wheels, that should do for me. I don't plan to pick the loco up to look underneath once it has been placed on track. cheers, Mike

I have joined the 2mm Association and do like the idea of using that method, the only problem is that everything is expensively new; whereas the standard tracks can be sought more economically pre-owned. Again, here I have encountered another dilemma; having learned about code 80, code 55 and now code 40, I see there is another player: fiNetrax. It is all rather mind boggling, as each has their own view on what is best, and I wonder if I shall actually get any track laid! I have acquired lengths of old, used, track; of different brands and sizes, which I shall use as a temporary layout whilst I go through this learning curve. After that, I shall probably (until told something different or new) save up and invest in code 40 'make it yourself' trackwork. Whether my aged eyesight will be able to cope with threading rail through tiny chair things, then onto sleepers is another matter entirely. Thanks for the advice and recommendations everyone, I am enjoying learning; albeit perhaps not as fast as members here expect, and I shall continue with my online research. I may need to bide my time on this and wait until libraries and shows start up again. I really do need to get a grip of something more tangible in order to be able to build something. cheers, Mike

Thanks Phil, there looks to be some interesting stuff there. I will need some time to work through the threads, especially for me to get a good understanding of how to do it. cheers, Mike

Hello Nearholmer, You are correct in your assumption, in that I have no problem building components; if I can see them with dimensions. The diagram of the 2P loco is typical of the problems I am facing though. Everyone seems to draw these diagrams with the assumption we are just going to slot in a ready-made chassis, because that area is totally blocked from view. As I see it, only the body can be drawn and constructed from such a plan. If I can use the following, as an example to show what I need to build a model; then, if this was a vehicle or aircraft build the chassis would be included in plans, such as this. There is enough detail there for me to draw up the model in CAD. then, using the rest of the plans, I could add the body. With the end result that I can print a complete model, not just a body. This is why I am asking for help in my research, to find plans that show a complete locomotive and not just the external views. Perhaps someone has a plan and profile of a loco, one which would have been seen at Birmingham, that they could scan or loan me. I cannot keep buying books just on the off chance there might be a full plan there. cheers, Mike

Can someone please advise me what the recommended distance should be between the tracks? Also, would the measurement be from the centre of each nearest rail or sleeper, or perhaps the outer edge? cheers, Mike (before I stick the stuff down in the wrong place).

Paul Gandy, of PG Models, stopped producing models last year upon retirement. Kits can still be found at some model railway shops but items are getting scarce. I think Paul's last production might have been the Nubian Mk.9 RAF/Royal Navy fire truck. Mike

Hi Grahame, I have joined the 2mm Scale Association and bought some books and kits from them recently. I haven't joined the N Gauge Society, mainly for the reason you mentioned. I prefer to scratchbuild stuff and then just put in on display, either in a diorama or layout. I am still very much at the learning and researching stage, hence my requests for info on plans and drawings etc. cheers, Mike

Thanks Jonathan, I shall send a pm. cheers, Mike

I do like your work John, but what card and printer setting did you use to get such an authentic looking finish? I have an inkjet printer which can print up to A3 but I'm not sure whether to print at standard, photo or whatever. I shall have to buy card for this, so what is recommended? I noticed your query about the coal barge. It looks like a Thames coal barge similar to these: cheers, Mike

Thanks again for the recommendations everyone, I have found and bought pre-owned copies of "Historic Locomotive Drawings in 4mm scale" and "An Index to Railway Model Drawings" online and ordered them. I am now spent up, so I shall probably have to wait until the shows start again to find old back of Railway Modeller. cheers, Mike

Now you tell me! I have already sent them an email, telling them you recommended me! Thanks again John, I shall go and have a look at your info on Scalescenes. I see that they have a nice little set, called the Industrial Site boxfile, and I plan to get that after I've had some practice with what I already have. Edit: Yes, my layout will be N Gauge as I live in a small bungalow. cheers, Mike

I believe that is what I am looking for; generalised railway modelling with scratchbuilding advice accompanied with drawings. I remember Airfix Magazine used to do ongoing articles similar to this, although geared around Airfix products. I shall look for those magazines and see what I can find as I certainly cannot afford to be buying multiple books at around £20 per go. Thanks John, I have bought some in the last week or so; not unpacked them yet. I think I need to find a site where people are using these, just to identify any newcomer pitfalls. I would love to be able to produce good looking structures from these. I have started the plan, for one section of my diorama, and it has some high sided retaining walls and arches; plus various tunnels and iron-sided road bridges (there's probably a better term for them) so getting the detail right would be important. The turntable was 3D printed on an Anycubic Photon printer that has been drawn with Fusion 360. I wonder if any of you can remember back to doing something like this. I find this amazing, after sixty-odd years of building models, that I am just starting out on this venture! This module which, hopefully, will be one of four surrounding a well known junction at Birmingham New Street, covers an area of approx 80cm x 65cm. This is convenient for me as the layout is surrounded on all sides by overhead roadways. This means that each subsequent module attachment can be hidden under the roads or tunnels. cheers, Mike Hi again Richard, Yes, I really do need to join a society; however, I didn't know that there was one specific to the Midlands. Thanks for the link, I shall make enquiries. With regards to my asking questions on here, my mind is racing with all the things that I want to know but I didn't want to burden people with loads of questions. It seems that I've already posted queries in virtually all of the forums on RMweb! Also, this is probably the wrong time to be starting from new, with all the shows, meetings and libraries closed etc. Problem is that I'm quite enthusiastic about this new subject but have no-one to sit alongside and say "how did you do that?" or "where can I get that?" Thanks again. Mike

Thanks Dibber, John and Richard. Those books on LMS Locomotive Profiles look possibly to be good but only focus on one type; even then, over multiple editions. I will get one, just to try it out but I would still need to look for the other elements, such as coaches, wagons and the all important structures. The Historic locomotives book will be another to order and I shall have a looksee at the book exchange/ cheers, Mike

I am an absolute newcomer to model railways but have been a scratchbuilder for decades. I want to build a non-working railway diorama and have decided to treat myself to a few railway magazines, but which ones? I'm not interested in working layouts or RTR stock and am looking for a magazine that talks scratchbuilding and preferably has plans and diagrams of steam loco's, coaches, trucks, buildings and bridges etc. Can anyone recommend anything that covers those subjects? Also, perhaps a supplier that does back issues so that I don't have to wait for months for the right subject to come available. Grateful for any advice and help on this subject. cheers Mike

This is really useful information for me, thank you. Did you keep logs, especially of the engine numbers and types and, more especially, do you still have them? I have a great interest in what was where, and when, and spotting logs are the best method I have found for that. Unfortunately, my parents threw my logs away when I joined up. Talking of spotting logs, another diorama that I am constructing is Elmdon (Birmingham Airport); during the same time period. I have collected quite a few aircraft registrations and dates. These are very useful as they help me to decide which aircraft was present on specific days or months and that means I can match the correct vehicle types and structures to be found there. I would like to know more please, if you do still have such info about BNS. As an aside, whilst watching that Youtube video of BNS, I noticed a little number above the loco's number of the drivers compartment. Although very fuzzy, on one of them it looked to be 7F. Did engines have their type shown in that position? cheers, Mike

Confused? Absolutely! Interesting? Absoverylutely! So, not everything with the front flaps/side panels were Evening Star types? I have been trying to avoid buying any railway books, mainly as I want to concentrate what funds I have on actual layout and loco items, but it seem that I shall have to bite the bullet and get something about recognising LMS, LNWR and their ex- types in BR control during the 1950s and 60's. I have just started to read your thread about the LMS Layout. The first things that have caught my eye are your sloped retaining walls and bridges over the lines. I am going to read that again, just to get more detail, as my station layout will have very similar settings. Thanks, Mike

Thanks, I didn't realise that. Mike

Has anyone done a Thames Trader? I'd like do one but details seem to be scarce. Mike

Wonderful stuff and in colour. I can now go and identify the locos by using their numbers. I'm not certain but I think I recognise an Evening Star type, plus a Battle of Britain type, which means that I can get the Airfix/Dapol plastic kits and use them for measurements. thanks very much for the link. Mike

Thanks Nick. I don't use eBay so not familiar with the wordings. I shall give that a try now. cheers, Mike

Hi Adam, I did check out the Del Prado; however, they are 1:160 scale and hardly any British subjects. I have recently joined the 2mm Association and am currently looking at the site; although, I have been advised that a complete chassis; for a Black 5 as an example, would come to over £100 and that definitely is not affordable to me. That could be great for a running layout but not for me. I searched around the eBay site but couldn't find a tab, down the left side, showing choices for non-runners. I shall look again though, as I didn't realise that might be a choice. I do have a 3D printer and could CAD and print my own if I could source some plans of them. Thanks, Mike

I see lots of Graham Farish bodies for sale on the web that are at very affordable prices, but can't find anything equally affordable for connecting chassis'. I would presume that I am looking in the wrong areas, although I have checked GF spares, Peter's spares and eBay. My layout is a non-working scratchbuild and, as such, I could do with finding a source that deals in non-working, dummy or broken chassis units. If that is unsuccessful, are there any cheap plans available of chassis units in order that I could scratchbuild them? cheers, Mike

Love the lyrics!

And adding tens of thousands of pounds to the cost of the shipment. The bulbous bow looks to be embedded into the bank, either that or broken away/damaged so, once free, the vessel may have to go for repairs before continuing the journey. Mike

Don't forget the heavies! Mike