tom shaw

I'd be up for some Harton decals, I've tried applying by hand but it's very ropey. Great pics, can't wait for more progress Regards, Tom

Rob, if you like old maps (as I do), try https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/ search for Sunderland (or any other town you want) and pick a map. There are maps from different dates but the 1955 one is at a scale of 1:1250 so quite detailed. If you want a print then print screen, paste into the paint program, crop to suit and save as a jpeg. You can then print out, although it does have a watermark it's not too bad. You can join for £9.99 a month and I think the watermark is removed. You can certainly make out track layouts and even size buildings etc. Regards, Tom

This gets better and better Ian. I like the splash of light blue in the otherwise (intentionally) drab surroundings and don't forget the matching handrails SRS-4 for the stairs. I'm hopefully at the York show on Saturday after lunch. Tom

Lovely pictures of some nice models. The whole scene is very convincing and atmospheric. Is the brick paper Scalescenes brown garden walling ? If it is I shall immediately invest in some. Regards, Tom

Ian, for the ladder have a look at the Plastruct STAS-4 with matching handrails which can be easily cut to length. I used a couple on my model of Green Lane signal box with a scratch built landing in the middle. They're HO so a bit under-scale but not too bad and quite easy to build. Regards, Tom

Ian, is that a pigeon cree in post 63 Tom

Superb Ian. I love a WD, I can just hear it clanking and wheezing. Tom

Thanks Waggy, Your post has finally persuaded me to put fingers to keyboard and admit my failures. I got the layout working about a year ago but hit some trouble with the wheel back to back measurements on some of my stock, some being too narrow and others too wide. While these work with Peco track and points they do not work on handbuilt points to OO-SF standards. Unfortunately the stock I used to check things while building all worked well, it was only when I started unboxing the rest I found the problem. Having read up on the various standards over the years I originally fancied going EM but in the end didn't fancy changing/modifying all the wheels and thought OO-SF worked with stock straight out the box (not in every case obviously). My 9F has nearly 1.5mm difference between the drivers and these are quite hard to alter without getting a wobble, they have to be completely stripped down and that was something I didn't want to do with all locos. I also found that using a track rubber to clean the track actually moved the rail and crossings etc. in the chairs and this affected the gauge, although this was not obvious at the time. This caused rolling stock that had previously worked ok to suddenly not work. Being easily discouraged I was discouraged and couldn't face the layout for many months. In retrospect I also think the trackplan was too ambitious for a first attempt at 00-SF and I should have built soldered points. My thoughts eventually turned to a new layout but this time using Peco points and the new bullhead track. I have experimented with improving the Peco points with new filed rails for the switch rails and they look much better than the hinged ones. Consequently I dismantled this layout and I am building a new layout using the baseboards and fiddle yard from the this one, funny how it takes such a long time to build something but only 5 minutes to dismantle. I have also started a small shed layout using the shed building and the coaler I built for this one. Thanks to all for the kind comments and help with this layout, I intend to start a new thread soon about the new layout and hope you will all drop by. Best regards, Tom

Like the signal box. I seem to remember seeing a photo of Billingham signal box with a Guiness ad, I'll try to dig out and pm you. I think any big blank wall viewable by the public was prone to being used for ads back in the day. Regards, Tom

Hi Ian, sorry for not replying sooner but I've had the worst bout of flu ever, even had a week off work. I don't think I'll be going to Birtley as it's too close to the Perth Green show, which I always try to get to as it's near where I was born. I'm taking a lot of inspiration from this layout Ian, keep up the good work. Tom

Really great stuff Ian. Your version of the light blue used on huts agrees with my memory, NYMR have it far too light and wishy washy (or perhaps it was a local thing). Your new room looks very nice, I look forward to lots of modelling from you. My places of worship downtown were the Voyager, then to the Tavern, then to the Royal Curry House (other pubs, nightclubs and restaurants were available). Regards, Tom

Great work Ian, this sand dancer is certainly not offended. Regards, Tom

Liam, photo below of a previous aborted layout which used Peco points and thin sleepered C&L track. 20 thou plasticard below the track to match heights. Hope this gives you some idea of how the combination looks. There seemed to be a slight difference in gauge but small adjustments were made to the points to line up. Tom

Tim, "The stock will be P4 running on HO Peco or OO SMP track" - that should raise a few comments ! I assume you mean rail not track. I use DG couplings and tortoise point motors and can recommend both. I saw a good idea somewhere about using the steel wire to form the loop and dropper in one and I use this method with success. There can be problems with two loops meeting and both rising but building in a slight angle to each loop cures this. As I don't turn my stock I only fit a loop to one end of each wagon although engines and brake vans need them at both ends. Good luck and I will follow with interest. Regards, Tom

Nothing more south of the river than Wrights Biscuits ! Excellent work Ian, can you regale how you did it ? Tom

Lovely job on the class 24's (and everything else). I have a note about seeing 5103 in green and 5102 in blue on the iron ore run, I'm guessing it was early 1970. I always thought it would be good to model that but it's just out of my period. I'm enjoying seeing your efforts and am following. Regards, Tom

Great layout Paddy, I'm following for more info. I'm intrigued by your ballasting method using grout, any more details ? Regards Tom

Belated birthday greetings Brian, I like the look of the austerity. Just came across this site for laser cut card kits and thought of your headgear. https://www.modelux-models.co.uk/mining-home Regards, Tom

Superb, I could be sitting on the embankment at Boldon Colliery station and watching it go past. Regards, Tom

Brian, mount the point motor remotely and drive the point via the wire-in-tube, then you won't have different methods of control. Tom

I will be using plastic angle for my other headgear based on something like this: This is Woodhorn Colliery near Ashington, it's a museum now (just the surface buildings) and very modellable. The headgear at the rear is for the upcast shaft and is sheeted-in using corrugated iron so you wouldn't have to detail the cage guides etc. I could imagine this on top of a steel and brick panelled heapstead. Regards, Tom

Brian, colliery looks great. Don't know if you've come across this layout but it provides wonderful inspiration. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/76110-moving-coal-a-colliery-layout-in-0-gauge/ An old picture of Easington heapstead. The left half looks similar to yours, no doubt by design. I followed the advice in the second Modelling Aspects book and bought the Wrightscale headframe kit. Lots of folding and soldering but one would look good sticking out of the top of your heapstead. Sheave hoist yet to add. Finally a washery / loading building, the left hand end would be up against a backscene and empties are pushed under onto a cassette and replaced with fulls to be drawn back out. Just an idea ! Looking forward to seeing your progress. Regards, Tom

Love a colliery Brian, I also have those two "modelling aspects" books but they're a bit light on north-eastern pits. These two books feature 6 pits each and are a very interesting read giving a history of each with some good photos, both above and below ground. That's Easington on the front of vol 2 and it has a moving account of the 1951 disaster. Vol 1 features Wearmouth which brings back memories (mostly good). Do you have a particular colliery in mind or will it be a generic one. The retirement layout I am planning will feature a colliery and BR/NCB transfer yard (only 8 years and 4 months to go). Regards, Tom

Thanks for that Brian, this was my local line. Born and raised in Brockley Whins but the station was called Boldon Colliery then, many hours spotting there. The over bridge is still there but the GT Andrews station building was demolished in the 70's. When the Vigo line closed the class 24 hauled ore trains got to Consett from Tyne Dock via the junction at Boldon Colliery. Seaburn station for the football at Roker Park. Spotting trips to Gateshead, Hartlepool, Stockton, Darlington etc. Some good memories but hardly any track now. Regards, Tom

Thanks Ian, I never knew that. Tom