Llangerisech

Hi Stephen This is on our To Do list. A set of rods and a replacement front bogie is a straightforward etch option. We still have some challenges with tender wheel replacements due to the pin points, but getting the tender wheels turned is still an option. I have a Castle ready to act as Guinea pig. The hornblocks and gear would be the same as the Jinty items already in stock in the shops, so just regular wheels would make up a reversible conversion kit for the loco itself. regards Nigel (Products Officer)

After many visits as a punter, this was my first experience as an exhibitor at Warley and it was much better than some folk had led me to believe. Once we had navigated the NEC parking bizzarre-ness and numerous re-directions, we got straight in to unload and the Warley club bit of the organisation kicked in really smoothly. Once in the hall, we were pretty well looked after and club members were welcoming. Speaking to the organisers, they certainly felt that a bit more time and space had reaped rewards. When wandering round on the way to being fed and watered, the crowds seemed acceptable and aisles much more accessible than I recall. A lot more seating too, which seemed to be welcomed. As for the layout, we had a turnout require solder attention on the Saturday and another on the Sunday, both resolved fairly quickly. After that, it settled down and ran reliably for most of the show. You will always see layouts behave better on a Sunday on a two day show - they've settled in after being bumped around in a car or van. We had many positive comments - many about the lighting - and several tasty invitations to other shows. Highlight for me was seeing Leighton Buzzard - Genesis for finescale and still incredible. So now the layout can be re-installed in its home position today and I can relax until Stevenage. Plenty of modelling time over Christmas to perpare for that one!! Nigel

Thanks, It is weird reading the article slightly edited from when it was written over a year ago! Steve Flint's photos really do it justice although my favourite shot didn't make it to print. I may share that one when I get the copies. The track plan was also drawn up by (St Ruth gang member) Steve Croucher as his first graphics job for Peco Publications and he will be helping operate the layout at Warley, so a real 2FS team effort. Overall I am really quite chuffed with the result and like to think it all helps to promote 2FS modelling. Nigel

Evening all, Just a quick update to show progress has been made on Epsom. The loco chassis has now been shaped and is effectively now complete. I have still to fit crank pins and rods, but everything else is ready. The screws sticking up are in insulated bushes and will allow connection to the footplate. I hope to make a bit more progress on this and bring it along as part of a few bits and pieces we will bring to the 2mm AGM to show progress on the project. regards Nigel

Glad to be of service - the show was so local to me it seemed daft not to go. I too liked the 009 layout and actually got some useful info about CCTV board cameras off them. Other than that, a lot of roundy-roundy N gauge stuff predominated, so Kyle was the highlight. Nigel

Having seen the basis of this layout, I decided to join the Epsom club and David has given me the locomotive project of building Epsom. This was a Craven design 2-4-0 tender loco which was updated by Stroudley. To my GWR eyes, it is a bit like a scaled down Stella or Barnum class, or a Duke with fewer wheels! So I have quickly settled into a design and have started with the outside crank fitment for the 11mm diameter wheels. I machined the axle extensions and discs in my usual way on the lathe and last night at the club evening started to fettle these into the cranks. The discs are separated from the wheel and then a crank shape from the Association coupling rod etch was bolted on using cheeshead 16ba bolt and nut instead of the countersunkscrew used with the wheel. The shape is then very roughly cut with shears (disc thickness is about 25 thou) and then filed to the profile of the etch. Once happy that the curves are OK, I then bolted the crank to the wheel. I managed two of these in the evening, along with chatting to Andy, Dave and Michael, so not a bad work rate. The chassis will be one of my usual solid brass concoctions as this very small loco will need all the weight possible. Motor will be one of the little 7mm coreless Farish jobs in the tender. This is what we are aiming for...........

Plagiarism can always be translated as "research"! I claim no copyright on display boards - after all I came up with that after I couldn't get the departure board idea working very effectively and that was nicked from St Ruth. I'm glad I didn't have to calculate the curve on the slant that you have - a 20 degree slope on a 90 degree corner was enough for me! It does add something though, keeps folk away from the layout just enough without being a barrier and gives them extra info. On something like St Ruth with lots of prototype info to share, I'm sure you have lots of material you can play with. I look forward to seeing the finger-proofed version. The night view seems very effective although I'm glad it wasn't me who had to install all those LEDs. Regards Nigel

Hi, Just returned from Tonbridge and a reasonably successful show for Llangerisech. We had a couple of minor issues with the Pannier shunter at the main baseboard joint as the layout settled slightly, but it takes about 0.2mm to give this problem so it is a peculiar 2mm problem not suffered by the bigger scales. Couplings were a little random with the latches, but generally things behaved themselves and once all the stock had run once, it was fine. This was the first show since I did some significant re-working of the station building. Previously, the real thing had whitewashed quoin stones and window surrounds, but when I visited back in the summer, I found the real honey-coloured stone had been revealed. So it gave the opportunity to re-colour, add lintel contours and generally tone down and blend in the appearance of the main building. It now looks much more realistic and the whole tone of the layout has been enhanced. More work has been done on the allotments, so the virtual "to do" list is getting shorter. The show was quite busy with long queues outside at the start and eventually, as they worked through to the second hall where we were, the crowds remained consistent throughout the day. Several discerning punters were seen returning to have another peek, so we must be doing something right. So I include a couple of context photos of the layout plus one of the main building. Check the earlier views from Basingstoke last year to see how it has changed! I felt a little sorry for BCN Pete with Kyle as he was wedged into a corner, so very little opportunity to actually see the layout, but clearly the DCC sound was very effective when you took the trouble. Nigel

As I will have Llangerisech at the Tonbridge show too, I was going to offer to bring along extra DCC diesels - but I think you have sufficient there to nearly fill the layout! I will be interested to hear how effective the sound chip is in the 37. See you there. Nigel

Hi, In conjunction with Richard, I have been checking various bearings. The 28xx bearings are 3.92mm diameter so the same as the Pannier when looking at replacements. regards Nigel

Thanks for that Jerry, I think it is partly down to the nature of a show with room to move, but also visitors expecting a good number of finescale layouts. Equally, having done a few minor cosmetic changes toning things down, I felt the layout now stands up to this sort of scrutiny for longer. Certainly the feedback at shows is increasingly positive and the number of "I must get round to doing this" jobs is getting smaller at each show. Wycrail had a pretty solid presence in front of the layout from show opening through til 4pm, so the viewing side was rarely empty. We still have more signals to build to match the new control panel inspired by information from The Stationmaster, but the infrastructure is ready for them as they get added now. We will have to slow down our pace in order to check the route and signals now, so another reason to pace things. Someone in Ireland once said that they don't understand the Spanish concept of Manyana (sic) as it was way too much of a rush, but I think Dreckly takes things even further! We'll find a rural Welsh equivalent I'm sure. Nigel

We were at the Wycrail show yesterday in High Wycombe and a very good show it was. A good mix of layouts was present and a decent amount of space to move about, without things feeling empty. Out of thirty odd layouts, Llangerisech was voted 2nd in the Best in Show. Which was nice.... After operating Wadebridge a few weeks ago, we approached this show with a slightly different tack and enjoyed ourselves with less stress as a result! I also managed to get some shots with decent depth of field, so I will start experimenting more having cracked that concept now. However, two are worth adding here. First, a long shot of the layout And a proper selection of Cambrian area locos on shed Cheers Nigel

Who knew playing trains could be so serious??!! I'm clearly concentrating hard in the third picture, while Richard and Kevin seem to be enjoying themselves in pic 2. A great set of photos on the club website Adrian, and another extremely enjoyable high quality exhibition. Wadebridge was great to operate, even if I still didn't know north from south, left and right lines, Bodmin and Padstow by the end. It was a privilege to run my stuff on such a magnificent layout. Nigel

Hi, The Chatham show just over a week ago now featured both Llangerisech and Lighterman's Yard as 2FS layouts. A video is now on You tube with an excellent sequence featuring some nice movements on Llangerisech starting at 15:20 and less movement, but showing off some superb urban modelling on Lighterman's starting at 25:38. Sorry no pics on this post, but the video by Rob Farrell captures some excellent stuff from the show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsIyLzXPvCQ cheers Nigel

Hello Andrew, Thanks for the comments about the layout. The reason I chose 2FS over N gauge was the ability to scratch build locos using the components from the 2mmSA ( See the 2mm Finescale forum area) whereas FiNescale is suited to running standard N wheels. To make things like the Dukes and Dukedogs, I'd find it tricky to use standard N wheels. Other than that, I have taken inspiration from many books, by Kidner, CC Green and Christiansen, visited the area many times and taken about 15 years since the boards were glued together! Forums such as this are also great for sharing info. Anything finescale takes time, practice and learning through mistakes - don't be afraid to make them is the best advice I can give. For loco building the Russell books have many plans. The main building is designed on a computer and windows cut using a Robocutter before everything is finished by hand. The same architect was responsible for Oswestry, so similar techniques could be used. A detailed article appeared in the 2mm Scale Association magazine a few years back and all editions are available to members. Current exhibitions are Chatham in June 2016, Wycrail Nov 2016, Tonbridge Feb 2017 and Warley Nov 2017. If you attend any, feel free to ask questions. Nigel

Hi, Just thought I'd add Llangerisech to the list of Cambrian layouts. Although the location and track plan are fictional, most of the buildings are based on genuine Cambrian items. The layout is 2mm Finescale and we exhibit it in various eras. Most effort goes into the 1930s period with scratchbuilt Dukedog, Jones Goods and Mogul, although we devised a conversion chassis for the Ixion Manor too. I attach a few pictures, but more can be found on the Wealden Area Blog http://wealden.2mm.org.uk/wealden2mm/ View of the engine shed. This is a shortened version of the prototype at Llanidloes. The signal box being passed in 1970s mode. And finally, a view of the main station building. Anyone who has driven northwards up the A470 through Llanidloes will be familiar with this side of the station building. We wll be exhibiting in 1930's mode at the Chatham show in June if you fancy a closer look.

Well it certainly is converted and chipped, so could be borrowed along with some of the more "legitimate" stuff I was planning on bringing. How much hijacking does John permit??? best regards Nigel

Hi Chris, Just counted them and the unit uses 15 tooth gears with 7.0 mm wheels. I didn't bother checking the compatability with the drop in sets personally as everything was turned using the original components. I suppose that renders my earlier comment incorrect if the 7mm drop in sets have 16 teeth. I still reckon that turning is the best solution for these units simply to maintain consistency across the three different types of axle used. regards Nigel

Hello David, It's very much a Rule 1 device - a bit like the green Western and Britannia - all replicating OO stuff I had as a kid. Of course when we start to run Llangerisech in 1960s mode (hopefully soon) it could be on a charter.............. regards Nigel

Hi, If you haven't bought it yet, then Jim Allwood has one ready-converted for sale - see the newsletter that arrived today. If converting one, the geared axles are available- use the 7mm ones. But as yet, the drop-in sets don't include 7mm pin-point versions. You can use conventional coach wheels on the middle cars, but overall, I reckon getting the whole lot turned by the Association service is the way to go on these units at the moment. I did mine myself on a lathe, but this is the same as using Gordon's turning service. The sets run beautifully, so it is worth doing. regards Nigel

I have to admit that, as one of the layouts being judged by Mike, I agree completely with this approach. I was told we were in the top 8, but knowing some of the shortcomings already, (still quite a long "to do" list) that didn't surprise me. Mike was generous enough to come back and help plan the remaining signals, so I now have a better focus in this direction. The layout is a might have been with lots of prototype elements in the mix, but aiming to make it believable is the end game. As the old ads used to say "we are getting there"...... But this still allows for the fun of finding oddities that really happened like the class 128 hauling 2 Dogfish. It may not be believable, but if you have the photo to prove it really happened, then the brief has been met. Nigel

Llangerisech had a more "modernised" outing last weekend at Basingstoke with blue diesel stock and items suitable for the late 70's. While this isn't purist 2mm, it gives us a simple option and a welcome alternative for exhibition managers looking to ring the changes. The stock is also very reliable, so a more relaxed attitude can be adopted by the operators. The main problem is determining which of the class 24/25 variants is being used at any one time! The layout set up with David tinkering in the fiddle yard Class 128 parcels railcar being used in lieu of a loco to haul two Stephen Harris Dogfish wagons Quite a few RailNScale 3D printed cars in the car park (most still awaiting glasing) plus one of Richard Benn's Choppers. The layout being admired. Due to the orientation, many visitors got this end view of the layout first which was quite interesting as the finescale track is much more striking than side on. Overall we had a great weekend. Now it's all back home, it's back to preparing 1930's stock for Chatham in June.

Thanks for your indulgence today Pete. As usual, a good quality show at Uckfield. I've posted a couple of shots of Kyle interlopers on the 2mm Layouts at exhibitions thread. Nigel

Just been along to the Uckfield show today and grabbed the chance to back date Kyle with Pete's permission! The 4F has recently been converted using the Association hornblocks and the main mods to the Farish Stanier coaches are re-wheeling and paper corridor connections. We think this is the first time a kettle has ventured on to Kyle and I reckon it looks the part. For some reason the loco wasn't too keen on the Pictroller but was fine using the new little item stocked by the Association shop. At least I didn't inflict GWR stuff on Pete - and thanks for letting me play for a while. Nigel A

Hi Andy, Good to see the Hall living up to expectations. The only time I have found these chassis slip is if the tender or the front bogie is somehow lifting the loco slightly. The tender coupling being really sloppy helps here. Other than that, the driveshaft can have a jacking action if there isn't enough slop. Hopefully fixing the Manor will be simple. I will have one of my Manors and a 63xx using the same chassis at Chelford, so we could compare notes with you then. I remember operating Welton Down at Horsham when Bill Rankin still owned it and it had the Wurlitzer fiddle yard. Great fun and really helped me feel part of the Associaton. Hopefully we are as welcoming to new members now as Bill was back then. It is good to see Jim still using the layout. I must admit I'd always thought of Welton Down as in the Salisbury direction, but good to be told the true (imaginary) location. Nigel A