johnarcher

I know someone who had a 48xx kit about 4 or 5 years ago, I don't know if they were available after that. It would make a nice follow-up to the 517 Mr Finecast perhaps, as otherwise it's only old K's kits on eBay and even in RTR the DJ one seems to have some problems, and otherwise there's only the old Hornby/Airfix etc one.

I hope both ranges continue, does the Geen sale include the Mitchell kts, or are they gone into the Waterman situation? I suppose you're right about the Perseverance chassis, but the range included a good deal of other useful bits, and, I think, the best kit in 4mm for so popular a prototype as the 48xx. Your remarks about the quality of current SEF kits make me tempted to revise all current plans so I can use one.

I strongly agree with all that, I have great gratitude for those, like Dave, who put in the time and effort to keep these valuable ranges going. If the demands of doing so mean that the website lags behind a bit that's a small price to pay. I wonder if it would be worth some such suppliers using a much simpler website, with an easily updated pdf of current products and prices that could be emailed (rather as Branchlines do), or even (my inner Luddite bobs to the surface) be posted, and purchases made by phone or cheque? Looking at the loss of good kits etc by the recent disappearance of David Geen and Perseverance I reckon a bit of occasional online frustration is worth it to have them still going. I also agree with your last sentence, smoothing 3D prints seems to me a lot less interesting than putting together a real kit. Long may they and their much appreciated producers survive.

I suppose in a way you could rule out much of the modern railway for that reason, certainly I feel less interest in it personally, especially as the very local, rural, lines that have always most interested me have mostly gone. Certainly the preserved lines do move people around, it just seems to make a difference to me that those people are from elsewhere and there just for the experience rather than using the line as part of the normal life of the local community. I suppose it's part of my preference for the railway in its setting, rather than in isolation, I don't find models that are all railway and no setting very inspiring. I used to live near the Looe branch, now live near where the Presteign branch used to be. So much of the character of each comes from landscape, and the specific place and area served. Usual caveat, all just personal opinion. Preserved lines are great, just don't inspire me (and presumably some others) as models.

For me, I think the lack of freight is part of a bigger point. The 'real' railways were part of the communities they served, especially when they rather than roads moved most freight and passengers, the lack of freight on preserved lines illustrates that this isn't (can't be) any longer the case. They are tourist attractions, no doubt they contribute to local economies, but don't take people to work, or off to college or the army, don't deliver Mum's new piano or the new farmer and his stock. That's no criticism, obviously the world is different now. Preserved or not no railway can be that now, but it is part of why I find them less interesting as a model (though I applaud the efforts of those who created and run them, and have njoyed visiting some). Also, as someone else said, too clean.

That may well be so, but I wonder can we really know, if they don't go to exhibitions, and don't appear on here much (or appear in magazines perhaps, though I don't see all of those)? If it is so, it is (as you say) as it should be - let everyone do what pleases them. On a personal note though, I am a litlle bemused to think that such a large proportion of a hobby I've had some (although intermittent) connection with for about 60 years is actually a form of activity that hardly interests me at all.

Do you really believe 95% of all layouts have no reasonably consistent theme? (Not necessarily a model of a real place, but some consistency in stock, buildings, scene etc for a period and region?) Sure, I have seen some themeless ones at exhibitions (often I suspect club layouts, where everyone's models must run), and rather uninteresting they usually seem to me, but looking at layouts that appear on here (I don't get to exhibitions much now) I don't see many like that. Maybe you're right, I rather hope not though.

Actually Copydex doesn't seem that nostalgic, I've used it recently. Still a very useful flexible glue, I recall I once mended leaky bellows in a harmonium by painting them with Copydex. Croid really took me back though, I think I still remember the smell.

That's probably true, however what about the high-level, near eye-level, view that some favour (I do myself)? If I had a lot more room (which I never shall) I'd really like to do a fairly simple, rural, terminus at scale size with eye-level viewing. Has that been done, I can't off-hand think of one. (Personally I'm not that fuseed about lots of operation, so would like to use more space to try and get the sprawling effect of many rural termini rather than fill it with a busier sort of railway)

Ah, but you didn't know Mrs Jones as well as I did. Happy days.

A good illustration of what has been said about different tastes. Personally I'd probably walk straight past that type of layout (however good the operation), but have spent quite a lot of time looking at good scenic or structure modelling on others which only had occasional movement. I'd, for instance, find Lydham Heath far more fascinating. Oh yes, thanks for the mention of Lydham Heath Tony, I can't think why I didn't mention that in my post, especially with the Bishop's Castle picture. I just missed it unfortunately, the Bishop's Castle museum closed just when we moved to this area.

I think the first paragraph is dead right Jol. Which model most influences one depends a lot on one's preferences. I like railway in setting (the latter as important as the former) so, fine though it was, Borchester, which seemed to be nearly all railway, was less inspiring to me. Petherick now, I really liked. (Pendon too, of course). Also, re the ECML, excellent railway though the LNER doubtless was, my own preference has always been more for LMER (Light, MInor and Eccentric Railways), so I look back to things like the Madder Valley, or Tregarrick, or some of Dave Rowe's things. Light status is not essential, small rural branches with at least some surroundings are fine. (Hembourne in the current Cameo thread is nice). Inspiration from the real thing, certainly, there's the well-known image of a well tank taking water in Pencarrow woods, or my current pin-up, Carlisle having a drink from the River Onny on that most LME of railways, the Bishop's Castle. A long way, in more than miles, from a pacific and twelve coaches on the ECML. Chacun a son gout.

Yes, the one with Tom Ferris is pictorial, concentrating on the last decade of the line.

Just a quick question from one who has not yet actually bought anything 3D. Partly I haven't because I am put off by the question of surface finish in things like locos and coaches (less so for wooden goods stock I suppose). I have however been encouraged by some pictures of the resin prints Mr Sparkshot has produced. At the moment I believe these are done on a domestic machine, so I wonder is the technology there for someone to produce those sort of prints on the larger, Shapeways-like, scale? If it really produces prints of at least FUD quality at a lower price the opportunity seems to be there?

That was my inpression too, I've not put one in anything yet, but on just test running they seem to start much more steadily and smoothly than some others I've tried recently, which seems hopeful for good starting and slow running to me (thanks to 5 pole skew-wound armature maybe?)

Yes, the colour one's nice. I do rather like grubby engines. I'm happy if the stuff is helpful, I've had useful help from people on RmWeb myself (especially recently from Albyn about Bishop's Castle matters), so it's nice to able to be helpful in my turn. As I said I no longer have the C&L books I had, but I still have a fair number of photos and some other information on the computer, so if anything else may be of use..........

Re the cab backs. IIRC (can't check, don't have the books any more), 4 were built with cut-away cabs for the tramway, the rest straight. I'll attach pictures of No 8 (tramway cab) and No 2 (straight).

It occurs to me that if you didn't know about those drawings you might not have this list, I'll see if this will send OK. If not I'll try with a PM. C&L Drawings.pdf

Sorry that didn't work, I'll try again as a different sort of file. If that doesn't work let me know and I'll try and send with a PM. If you do ever get a chance to lay your hands on the Backwoods kit, either secondhand or via N-drive it's worth doing so, it's quite a nice kit. I made a couple of them.

Hello There are drawings in the 7mm NG Association 'Narrow Lines Extra No 6' 1988 Also a rather basic 4mm drawing in Railway Modeller May 1958 (If you're talking 4mm scale, didn't N-Drive take over the Backwoods Irish range, so maybe the kit will reappear some day) I'll try and attach a copy of the RM drawings for you to see if they're worth having. C&L dwgs May 58 4-4-0T and wagons.doc

How much (if any) smoothing of the brake van did you do, Albyn?

Thanks for all replies. I had forgotten it was Jim Read, I have enjoyed his posts and blog - real traditional modelling. I will indeed rejoin if I go ahead with 7mm, but I need to think a bit first, re practicalities etc. The pension's too small to pay subs casually I'm afraid. Thanks again. PS I have now had the article I wanted, and the GOG 'Small Layouts' book. Thanks to all the helpful people.

I am thinking of trying a (little) bit of 0 Gauge (the frequent reason - ageing eyes and dexterity), but having thoughts about what is possible in a small space. I was a member long ago, and I recall in a Gazette an article about a small display layout - "A Layout for Mike" IIRC. Probably sometime in the '80's. I would like a look at said article again, does anyone have either a very good memory or an index to old copies, and could let me know which it was in? There seem to be old copies on eBay, or maybe someone would even copy just that page/s? (unless copyright forbids).

Yes, it would be good to hear if anyone has heard anything about a future for all or part of the range. Not just the chassis kits, but other bits and kits (the 48xx kit would be nice to have around again).

Yes please.