AyJay

9mm is plenty thick enough. With my layout, I used 5mm. Where it needed to be load bearing, I used the box girder technique for strength, two layers with spacers in between. I also used diagonal bracing. Solid and strong.

I read the article in the latest BRM about modelling on a budget and this set me thinking. I have a few Triang Hornby locomotives which will still run and I'd like to know if the prospects are good for putting a DCC decoder chip in a locomotive that has the old style 3-pole motor? I know that the motor will have to be isolated from the metal chassis, a layer of pvc insulation tape should suffice there. Additionally, if I feel tempted to head for any of the 2nd-hand stalls at Ally Pally next month, does anyone have any suggestions for what's worth considering and what needs to be avoided? I'm thinking along the lines of a small tank engine. Thank you

Oh please can I have a ‘test product’ for my birthday 🥳

I guess this is something that we could not have anticipated, not easy to find a work-around, yet in all our minds….. Will the trains (the 12inch to the foot ones) be running? Alexandra Palace is within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, so driving is no longer an option for plenty of us. If GWR is on strike and I can get to Reading, will the Elizabeth line be running? Probably not. Do London Underground come out at the same time? Who knows! I usually have my ticket by now, but am waiting ‘til the week before. I fear it will either be a poorly attended show, or a last moment rush to book tickets. Anyone fancy cycling in🥵

When I had a Windows xp machine, I installed onto it a tool for digitising my vinyl record collection. Worked fine, I could also use it to edit audio files on the computer and listen to them through the audio output. Then I got a Windows 7 machine; worked fine on that too! Then one day, Microsoft decided that It needed to be updated with Windows 10. After that, no audio output. Also, the tracks of an album converted into wma format, insisted on playing on my player in the alphabetical order of the track name. The producers of the app were as bemused as me and messing with the file properties did no good. B****** Microsoft !!! Now I have to keep a Windows XP machine (disconnected from internet) available in case I buy any more vinyl. Absolutely fuming 😖😖😖

Barclay. I think that counts as Money Laundering! 🤣 But then I am guilty of smuggling.

Hi David, and congratulations on taking the plunge with posting. You don't say anything about your skill lever or your layout, so sorry if I have got assumptions wrong. With regards feeding power to the track, you can get away with just a few feeds and relying on the track joiners. However, for much more reliable running, especially on larger/more complex layouts, it will save you a lot of grief to have a feed to every piece of rail; this can be achieved by connecting (e.g. soldering) short droppers to each piece of track as it is laid then connecting them all to a main feed running under the baseboard. Assuming DCC here. Next point, as I discovered recently. You can connect point motors and other auxiliary devices to the track feed as well, if you are operating them by DCC. BUT! I suggest that you put them on a second feed running round the layout that only connects to the track feed at the power supply. The reason for this is twofold (1) Point motors are a resistive load and if you are trying to locate a short-circuit on the track, then you need to disconnect all those loads. This way, you only need to disconnect two easy-to-reach wires. And (2) If you want the option to change from DCC to non-DCC locomotives, then you can switch the trackfeed over to an analogue power supply, but keep your point motors on the DCC controller. Have fun!

Done it! Although in a couple of instances, "Which do you prefer....."? All of them! A few questions that I note for their absence: What got you interested in railway modelling? How long have you been interested in railway modelling? What aspect(s) of the hobby interests you? Where would you rate your skill level?

Yes Paddy, that’s the one I’m looking at. But it’s put in the railroad range and it’s priced as such?

Good evening all, I see that Hornby have got their A1 Peppercorn 'Tornado' up for release this year. I see that it is on their 'Railroad' range pages and I would like to have some idea of what the appearance / detail quality is like? I have never purchased a railroad locomotive before and I just wonder if it will be 'up to scratch' when put with my other loco's? Thank you

That's a fair point John. The problem was caused by 'finger trouble' on my part. To explain.... On my computer, I use an encrypted password vault to generate/keep all my passwords; don't think that bit needs explanation. However, having set up that password for an application, In this case Hotmail, I then need to get it onto my phone. I subsequently discovered that on the phone, there is a way to extract the text from a photograph of the pc screen. But at the time, my only option was to manually type it in. I would copy from the vault and paste into a text file, so that I could read the characters in a large font for ease of reading. But even then, in one font the number 'zero' would look like an uppcase letter 'O'. In another font, the uppercase letter 'I' (eye) looks like a lowercase letter 'l' (el). In yet another, is that a 'g' (gee) or is it a 'q' (queue)? So in short, It got copied wrong. (s1iq4tly embarrassed)

Problem solved. Moderator, please remove this thread.

There's this saying "If it aint broke, don't fix it" Well I fixed it and now its broke! Over the last couple of days, I felt I needed to change all my passwords; the Mcafee security on my laptop waved a red flag, something about personal details, Twitter and the Dark web. It recommended that I change my passwords, which included Hotmail and Outlook. My laptop uses Google Chrome and I am able to access my mail on this, irrespective of whether I click the 'Mail' icon or the 'Outlook' icon. I am able to send/receive mail. However, the problem appears confined to my Apple phone. If I open my mailbox, it shows nothing for the last couple of days and I can neither send, nor receive mail on it. If I go into Settings > Mail > Accounts > Outlook and try to re-enter the new password, it tells me that my password is incorrect ( I have been very careful to ensure that the password I am entering does match what I have previously entered on my laptop). I have also tried entering my previous password, and it does not like that either. Additionally, I have just tried to log into my hotmail account from my work laptop, and it's not co-operating their either, telling me that my Microsoft account password is incorrect? I am reluctant to go down the 'change password' option on my phone, just in case it then messes things up on the laptop. Can anyone proficient in these technologies please tell me what is going wrong and what I need to do to put it right and stop me from pulling my remaining hair out? Thank you

Gimme a train with guns-n-rockets! Or I'll send the boys in.

Thank you Phil, an interesting sideways look at a problem. I’ll check it out when I get a quiet moment.

If normal practise is followed, I expect it will turn into a punch-up or some other drama 😂

Looking further on this subject, I have found this image, which is probably the closest that I am going to get to a floorplan to the original. What is immediately obvious is that the shape and hence floor area of the original and my model, are different. The original is rectangular while mine is 'L' shaped. This was intentional to make a more interesting shaped building. There are also other structural differences. I need to make my bar counter a bit bigger, with panelled sides. I'm undecided about keeping the carpet, but I'm told that there needs to be a lino/floorboard area alongside the outside of the counter. The rear counter where the till sits needs to be deeper and I'll have a go at carving a till out of a scrap of plastic. I'll probably omit the high-level pelmet that glasses hung from, not all bars had them and doing it would be too fiddly. There will need to be pump handles (beer engines?) on the counter, I'll get some matchsticks and sand them round. The bench seating round the walls will have to be folded card. I'm not sure what to do about the round stools and the round tables, have not found any on sale. For drinks glasses, I think I need some very thin (1.5mm) clear plastic rod.

Good afternoon and a Happy Christmas! I want to seek the advice of anyone who has a good mastery of making building interiors. I have a pub on my OO gauge layout, made of card, and I would like an interior that is good enough to pass inspection when viewed from the outside (it is lit) The building is based on the Eastenders 'Queen Vic', I have named it the 'Prince Albert'. As a regular visitor to Pendon, I feel that my modelling standard is woefully lacking and I should do better, but don't know how? I have attached a picture of my 'Prince Albert', (I think the bar needs to be remodelled) and a picture of the real Queen Vic interior. It does not have to be an exact copycat, but I'd like it to be close. I also want it to be populated, including a recognisable cameo scene. e.g. Den giving Angie her 'Christmas present'. I have also attached a picture of the interior of another building, to show where my current standard is. So, can anyone with the know-how please advise me, techniques, materials, sources? Thank you, Alan

As a child, I would drool over the most complex layout plan in the trackplan book and run my finger round all the swirling loops, while imagining this track-feast crammed into my bedroom. Now, as an adult, I don't have anything specific in mind, but I would love to do something busy and urban, a busy suburban junction, track running in all directions, elevated above the crowded houses, factories and shops on brick viaducts. My main interest right now is with making the buildings, so the big 'bucket list project' really has to be modelling the Mechanics Institute in Swindon. A really beautiful Victorian building that has seen better days and the last time I saw it, was in a very sorry and unloved state. Totally impractical though, It's massive and I wouldn't have the space for it.

I have locomotives for each of the Big 4, all bearing the BR totem, but the Kings, Castles, Granges and Halls outnumber anything else. So I guess its GWR first, LMS & LNER equal second and Southern 4th place.

Reminds me of some years back whilst I was still with the Mk1 wife. One Christmas I was given the 'Harry Potter' locomotive by the Mk1 Mother-in-law, to go with the Hogwarts coach that I had previously been given. The coach I gratefully accepted because it was close enough to the Midland maroon to pass casual inspection, but what to do about the locomotive??? It took me a full day to summon up the courage to ask if I could swap it for something else. Fortunately, there was no offence and Hornby were very happy to swap it for a King class locomotive. Moving forwards to the Mk2 wife. I think she was very pleased when I named one of my Pullman cars after her. I had discovered that a real car did bear her name. But no, she does not buy me any railway items, which is probably for the best.

Do you spray on the matt varnish while all the pieces are flat and unassembled; or is there a case for doing it when assembled?

Well I have been looking at the advent calendar each day and finally there is something that interests me, the Flying Scotsman. Except I already have it…. When looking at the hoops that Hornby want us to jump through to enter for these prizes, tag friends, be a Hornby member…. The word that comes to my mind is “Prostitution”. No thanks Hornby.

I’m satisfied that this is close enough. The tandem is two bicycles from Scale Model Scenery, joined together, the drop handlebars are staples. Mr Morris is from Dapol’s Railway Workmen set; I had to cut and change arms. His woolly hat is a blob of 2-part adhesive. The window is dressed with 2 bike frames and numerous handlebars and wheels made from paper clips.

Did anyone in Oxfordshire catch sight of the Ninja-Motorist yesterday evening at going home time? I had just passed Witney and heading south towards Kingston Bagpuise, when I joined the tail of a queue of vehicles going somewhat slugglishly. As a bend came, I saw the reason why. In front of the bus ahead was a saloon car doing about 35-40 with NO LIGHTS ON! This was about 5pm, it was raining and absolutely black. Nobody coming the other way flashed at him/her, which was suprising. Eventually, the car turned left before Standlake, along a road that I have once ridden down, narrow, twisty, unlit. The indicators and brake lights were working, so I doubt it was an electrical failure. Utter madness! Surely everyone realises that you are taking your life in your hands if you drive at night with no lights.