JimFin

I have no idea as the the roots of the Magnet policy but I did my own research before taking it out. Magnet act as the intermediary for Ansvar Insurance who underwrite the policy and provide all the documentation. Ansvar in turn are a subsidiary of Ecclesiastical insurance who are the UK leading provider of insurance to the museum and charity sector. Indeed the museum where I volunteer has most of its cover with them. Ecclesiastical are in turn owned by the Allchurches Trust - a charitable body not a commercial profit making organisation. When you take out an exhibition policy, there is an extensive bundle of documentation provided, including a schedule laying out the amount of cover and excess for each aspect of that exhibition. The general details of the personal policy can be found here - http://www.modelrailwayinsurance.co.uk/docs/policy-Collection.pdf and the Exhibitions cover here - http://www.modelrailwayinsurance.co.uk/docs/policy-Exhibition.pdf

As far as the record shows, Grosvenor Manx International Ltd ceased to be authorised on 13/1/2011.

If you check you will see that I have quoted from the "Collections Summary" which is specifically the personal insurance not the Exhibitions or Cub Rooms sections. The Magnet policy is not like a car insurance policy with any element of no claims discount so you would not be penalised at renewal. In all honesty, it would be an added burden. The cover certificates issued e.g. by Magnet are for a total sum and do not have individual layouts detailed so any information you were given by the organisers, you would still have to take the organisers on trust. I think if you are really concerned, rather than ask the organisers to provide this information to everyone, you could request individual assurance from the exhibition manager of the specific information you require.

Lovely job and great to see 3d printing used in conjunction with other materials where they are more appropriate and new skills being learnt.

If you get away from the concept of a single print item, horizons open up wonderfully - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:259005 - and its free. I completely agree with this view but I think it highlights the uncomfortable boundary between the hobby and the commercial world where new technologies may be contributing to some blurring. I do design and make for myself as I am fortunate enough to have some 3d design skills and a printer - other friends and modelling colleagues do not and in a spirit of support and collaboration - yes I am happy to print "stuff" for them. I am equally grateful for their input to my projects in other ways with their skills and knowledge as well as time and effort given helping me at exhibitions. On the rough estimate of 18p / metre for filament and 8p per hour running cost, I am hardly going to charge them for something modest - I don't have the mindset that the restaurant bill has to be broken out to what each person had. For me, part of the hobby is sharing and collaboration and that's where the conflict with the commercial world lies - where the new skills and technologies overlap, particularly 3d printing, laser cutting CAD and CNC, realistically all driven by the digital age. Previously, no hobbyist would produce injection mouldings or die casting but current technology has given the hobbyist and commercial producers alike access to the same platforms and we are going to have to learn a new set of accommodations.

Possibly because the Magnet policy document runs to 36 A4 pages of small print and a further 9 pages attached to the schedule covering the legal notices. Copying and sending that lot would add enormously to the organisers admin and I am not sure would actually add much value. Since you have your own Magnet insurance, there is little need to be concerned about what the organiser of the exhibition may or may not cover as the Magnet policy you have has the cover in place - http://www.modelrailwayinsurance.co.uk/cover-summary-collection.htm see the section "Cover" - I hope you find this reassuring, I certainly do as I am confident that whatever shortfall there may be from the organiser, I can always claim against my own cover.

Insurance is a complex subject but to add a couple of observations, Other than as a personal and exhibition organiser customer I have no involvement with Magnet so am quoting their details as I have access to them - as far as I can see with Magnet, the number of days does not affect the premium they charge so including the set up day would never be a concern with them. Personally I am happy that organisers arrange insurance as they would certainly want the cancellation / public liability etc. As far as my layout and my stock are concerned, I want to have my own cover anyway and the standard Magnet policy covers - "The policy covers loss or damage to your Model Railway, including Garden Railways and Model Railway Engineers: whilst kept in your own home, garage or other outbuilding whilst in transit anywhere in the UK, and whilst at exhibitions in the UK. The policy provides cover for your layout, locomotives and rolling stock, scenery and track work, scale model buildings, electrical control equipment and wiring and other model accessories and tools, memorabilia, photos, books, DVDs and all other property used in connection with your model railway or model engineering activities." In my own case, my 3d printer is included as a specific item as a tool. In that instance, I think most insurers would just say no - Again Magnet are specific about trailer security as a requirement - "Fitting security devices and keeping trailers in a locked building or locked compound" Having previously been involved with motorsport I can say that that is the same condition as applied to competition car trailers.

Looking good - but I do think you are just showing off by having CARPET! where you solder

I wish you all the best with your build, having seen your coach work, I am sure it will be a success and look great. I have 2 factory built G 4/5's - I suspect from Joe Works - and while lovely to look at are very poor runners and I had particular problems with the crank pins unscrewing. A tiny drop of loctite has largely cured it but they have been removed from regular running and grace the display shelf very nicely. I suspect the assembly of them has not been as diligent as you will undertake and I am particularly interested in what you find when you get to the motion aspect. I am pretty sure something is out of true with both of mine as they pitch and roll a lot until either a pin works loose or I think have seen parts of the valve gear bowing on the rolling road . One day I will need to do a complete rebuild to see if I can resolve the issues.

An entry here is a good starting point - http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/layouts/main.shtml

Mr Decal Paper is excellent for what you need as are https://www.madaboutink.co.uk/laser-waterslide-decals-clear-93-c.asp . Separately, a word of caution to others - "Laser" is also a brand of decal paper for inkjet printers - it fooled me.

Thanks! This one shows what they are used for, apparently they need to tilt to fit the loading gauge with a built up point. Very cunning. If I put one of those on a layout, folk would think I was having a laugh. http://www.haribu.ch/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=953&pos=16

Look ideal from my perspective. Given that these are end templates and you are free to develop terrain between them, the 3 formers give all the variation you would need.

Thats helpful, and module length?

A dedicated forum for RhB modellers has unfortunately closed but one popular section was dedicated to the unusual and interesting traffic spotted on the various webcams dotted around the Swiss system. An example would be this - http://webcam.schmalspurbahn.ch/filisur/webcam/m190821083147382 I have never seen a flatcar like that, anyone know anything about it? So - if in you digital wander round Switzerland you spot something interesting, you can use this thread to share it.

Was discussing this project with a pal this morning who is interested - has a working standard for the modules been thrashed out yet or still in debate?

Looks great, good steady running. Given my sudden and unexpected interest in traversers, here is a nice twist for you - as you are using analogue, you don't have to worry about accidentally driving a DCC train off the end of it by selecting the wrong code!

Paul, 330 works but the G4/5 don't like it and I have issues with the driver trailers running first at that radius, seem more stable at 350. But you are right, the point is 353 - not sure how I read it that it was 220. Played on Any Rail and it just wont work as I end up with a reverse curve through the point and still only have 3 sidings and they are now all less than 110. Traverser I think will give me 5 or 6 roads of 110 each.

Mike - many thanks - I had not realised it was a 3 way from the icon in the Any Rail track library. Had a good look at the spec but unfortunately it would not work in this instance as the Bemo HOm would not negotiate the 22 R it offers. In the hidden section I run 35 R as a minimum having found that is the realistic tightest they are happy with.

The curved points help but their geometry would still only give me two siding of 110 usable length (loco, baggage plus 4 coaches). Been through the TT track libraries but cannot see a 3 way point from anyone. Not confident enough in my own ability to scratch build my first complex point for an exhibition layout! I am going to leave a point at one end as you suggest and may run it into the traverser depending how things go or have a headshunt which would be long enough for a railcar.

You know when you think it is all going so well................ So - I was about to start the terrain forming and decided to have a sustained running session before I cover the track etc with cling film and it was going great, one broken wire to a servo which had been stressed on an edge need to be fixed which was fine - but then - a realisation running a proper selection of stock rather than just locos that modern trains are far longer than the average 1913 and in reality only one of the fiddle yard siding was long enough . Given that the geometry of the points means the fiddle yard already took up the entire length of the layout but under the scenery left me with some head scratching. The best solution which I can make fit, after a fashion, is a 1.2m long traverser which has to be a separate unit and will bridge a join in the baseboards as they are only 800mm wide. So - task list - remove fiddle yard track and wiring, take out fiddle yard baseboard on centre module and half off it on left hand module, manufacture and fit new demountable traverser as a new module that can be lifted out and turned through 90 degrees to slip under the scenery on the centre module for transport. Best go and get cracking on then. Terrain will have to wait for a bit.

Thanks - the Mallets, Rhatia and Heidi are all basically the same configuration with the cut out section for the chip below the cab floor, its a straight swap for a solder in integrated 6 pin micro chip ( like this - https://www.petersspares.com/zimo-mx617n-mini-dcc-6-pin-direct-decoder-new-enhanced-specification-13x9x25mm-15a-peak-6-func.ir ) as the chip fits the space you have just cleared. Needs some neat careful soldering. They are not sound, the only sound loco I have is is the snow blower but I have ordered the new Bemo Maloja with factory sound. Just hoping the exchange rate does not sink too much further before it arrives!

Some super reference photos for you here - http://rhbstations.co.za/

The camera is not kind at this scale! Message me if you would like check it out. https://www.google.com/maps/@46.6503198,9.7232785,2a,75y,97.72h,90.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJ6fhojV0TDIpXl3_jBoaCA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@46.6502015,9.723627,2a,46y,278.99h,93.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxx_5XyVQ-BuuowIecZwffQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 Should have made the chimney taller.

A simple question but one which I cannot find an answer too and wonder if you know - why are these mats predominantly green?