marc smith

Sorry Steve, and others.... The item arrived last weekend, and appears fine (but I've not properly tested it!) I was just on ebay, searching for the link, however, it seems to have gone! I've tried looking in my "please leave feedback" and "Items won / purchased" but it's in neither! The only thing I can think of, is that perhaps someone got a faulty one.... or maybe a purchaser decided to put his / her fingers into the device! ....It didn't come with instructions....(but, well, you never know!) It seems that ebay may have withdrawn it... Another thought is that the seller titled it as "Noch / Greenscene" maybe other manufacturers got the hump? To find it initially, I just typed "static grass applicator" into the search box on ebay, and that's when I found it. Maybe try again in a few days.... P.S. Pixie, thanks for the tip re making a coil

Hi Wayne, I built my SPA's with the swivel-action, as per Cambrians' instructions. However, on one or 2 axles, I must have put a tad too much glue.... as they locked solid! Also, getting them in + out of stock boxes, one or 2 of the pivots have broken off! And got lost! So I've used other bit's n bob's to glue them back in..... When running, I can't tell the difference between the solid ones, and the free ones. They're fairly long wagons though, so it may depend on how tight the curves on your track are.... Another problem I've had with the wagons, is the W-iron / axle box assembly, is want to bend itself inwards - perhaps this is dependent on the glue used? The trouble is, that there is then a lot of resistance to the free-running of the axle... It's another job I've filed in my "to sort out" pile Have started some detailing bits to some buildings, and made some decidions re placement of buildings etc. Also, done a bit more landscaping..... Having been very plesed with the Static-grass applicator L&B loaned me, last year, for my O gauge layout (Clarbeston North) I decided to try out an applicator I found on ebay. It's just £12.50 incl P&P!!!! If it works well, I'll be very pleased, if not, my son can have it for his Warhammer modelling. Cheers Marc

Hi Lewis, The foam-board is quite delicate around the edges. You need to protect it, otherwise it would dent + chip. I use small-ish battens, glued underneath, and then glue + nail hardboard to the edges. This seems to do the trick.... Once you glue something to the board, it really sticks very well. I had to move a piece of track (through a silly fault of mine!) and I really struggled to remove it! In fact I couldn't believe how strong the bond was! You can't use superglue, or any solvents on it - or it melts. But PVA (especially) and No More Nails work well. Re solvents, once you've landscaped, painted etc, spilling solvents doesn't seem so critical. They've been using stuff like this in the US for years. I've almost always had problems with ply warping. This board is great though - it is said to never warp, and even though I'm adding a fair bit of wood to the structure, it's still an awful lot lighter than a conventional baseboard! This stuff is easy to cut, for landscape contours, so you don't need chicken-wire or anything like the amount of Mod-Rock - just a thin layer of plaster or DAS. One drawback is that you have to bury wires in it, making them inaccessible (unless you run them underneath) but this could also be a positive, I'm always wary of wiring "snagging" when I transport my layouts...... Wow! Long answer! And to questions you didn't really ask But, yes, provided you protect the edges.... ..it's pretty strong! Cheers Marc

Cheers Alistair, Thanks for your kind words. I just think it's great to see class 37's working in South Wales. The mist on Saturday was highly atmospheric, and the growl of the 37's coming up that incline toward Furnace sidings was fabulous! Can't wait to see the extension to Blaenavon up & running. It's such a great landscape around there! - very "modellogenic" - as confirmed by the photo you uploaded. I'm sure it will inspire a few layouts in future! Cheers again Marc

Richard, Would love to see Orchard Rd and Darrens Torrington in the flesh. ...Now if I could blag a bunking of each while I was down that way, what a happy man I'd be.... ....happier still if my SWMBO didn't notice all my train-stuff Marc

:lol: Oh Stu - trust you! ha ha! ...wait a minute....I might just try that.... Cheers for your idea too Roger. Trouble is, I'd need a volunteer to keep drinking tea... any ideas who might be interested?....... Marc

Hi All, Thanks to Allistair for posting the pics, and all at the P & B for a fab weekend! I hope it’s not too far off-topic, but I thought I’d add a few of my own photos from last weekends gala too? Plus, a couple of photos of the layout progress (not nearly enough!) Firstly, as I said thanks to the P&B team for a great event, which I called “Growlers In The Mist†(groan). Super event, despite the weather. I thought it was a stroke of genius to have the “driver for a fiver†event – it wasn’t one of my favourite class 37’s – but a class 73. The 73 was occasionally swapped, to do a turn of duty anyway, So using it for a driving experience, whilst it would otherwise have been idle was a very shrewd move! I have now become a bit of a fan of 73’s as well! Thanks for putting this one on – please do it again – I’d certainly be in the queue….probably twice On to matters a bit more on-topic. I’ve added battens underneath the foam insulation board – Pretty much as I did with the O gauge layout (Clarbeston North). These battens form a basic framework, to protect the foam-board. I’ve again used hardboard as the basis for the backscene. Hardboard can tend to warp, if it isn’t secured properly. It is glued + nailed to the battens, and I’ll use an off-cut strip to “laminate†each piece of the backscene / ends. This helps keep the hardboard rigid. It seemed to work well on the O gauge layout, and has helped keep the weight of the baseboard down. Plus, each time I use ply – it warps!!! I’ve cut away some of the foreground, to form a road which is slightly lower level than the track. At Cardiff Tidal the road is level with the rails, apart from where the bridge goes over the line. I know my low-level road isn’t in-keeping with the area, but I like to include low foreground, as this helps with eye-level viewing, and subsequent photography. I do like to see photos looking slightly upwards, to stock on the layout. Also, varying the levels within a model can help to make it appear larger. Note that the buildings in the view are just loosely placed, to give an idea of what the buildings will look like, when complete. Cheers Marc P.S. If you haven’t been to the Pontypool & Blaenavon before – You simply must go to their next event. It may be a small railway, but they’ve got big plans, and they’re a really friendly and welcoming bunch!

Hi Richard, Spot on, these are some of the things I also do. Even when you've planned an object to fit into a particular space - it's prudent to check it there, visually, before glueing down! As for getting SWMBO to have a look + make comment.... ....my partner may well just say "Not another railway!" Looking good Rich.... Marc P.S. Can you squeeze it into your backpack when you come down to the Taunton show?

Thanks for posting those pics folks. I was there with Roger too..... ...somewhere in the mist..... ...we must have "mist" one another Actually, I was going to start a thread with my pics on the saturday titled "Growlers In the Mist" Perhaps I'll add them to this thread now....? Cheers Marc NOT wishing to emulate those sort of weather conditions in model form (it would surely set an alarm off somewhere!)

Like the different tones in the water. Looks just like seaweed to me! Fab stuff, nice buildings too! Marc

Hey Wayne, Glad you've dug the layout out again - I keep waiting for you to complete it I know, time just marches on eh? Yes, the fiddle yard will be a sliding sector-plate on the right hand edge of the layout. In the front right-hand side will be a loading shed - ala Celsa (sort of!). The sector-plate will consist of 3 roads (well, that's my present thinking). Running round will be in the style of "Llanastr" - but, I may add a loco-release at the end of the sector-plate, just for added flexibility...... The whole thing will be around 6 feet (or just under - with the possibility of adding said "plug-in" loco-release.At present, the main board is a tad under 3 feet, by around 15 inches deep - at its' deepest, and around 10 inches deep at the narrowest point (right). I know what you mean about lugging baseboards around - and 4 feet doesn't look like much when it's a piece of lining paper! But boy, does it suddenly start gettting heavy when you start adding plaster/ mod-rock / buildings etc! That's why I now use foam insulation board! That O gauge layout of mine (Clarbeston North) is around the same size as Hendre - but probably a third of the weight - and that's a conservative estimate! No probs re the mention mate - our "locals" have all been so informative + suportive Best Marc

Brian, Thanks very much for posting the above pics! They demonstrate exactly what I mean re there being several different types of support. Especially noticeable in the pic of the EWS 08..... Cheers Marc Edit: Here is a link to Brians thread - I think this promises to be a cracking layout... ..especially as Brian has so much info on the subject Br's steelworks layout

Hi folks, Thanks for all the suggestions re the pipework + gantry. And thanks to Brian for that cracking shot! For the type of pipe support in that photo, I think construction would be simple enough. Either brass, or the finest of the knightwing girders would be a possibility.... As I mentioned earlier though, there are several different types of support. Some of which are more akin to electricity pylons. (Yes, I've seen the Hornby ones too, and I agree, I think they're too wide at the base for this layout) It's the more complicated, more substantial type of support I'm interested in. Brian, can I ask you a favour? Do you have any photos of the different types of support, which you could post on this thread? Just so other contributors to the thread can see what I mean? It's not until you start looking closely, that you even notice such details. Now, if I modelled each one differently to its' neighbour, I'm sure it would look wrong! Cheers all, Marc

For anyone interested in the steel coil loads I mentioned, here is a link to one of the types available from Andy at AGL associates and his ebay shop:- Steel Coil Loads

.....I know what you mean.... other plans keep cropping up and distracting me too (like the O gauge layout for instance!)... but it's good to have lots of ideas & schemes in your head - keeps you thinking..... I've been planning this little layout for what seems like ages now! And as I'm building this one, I'm well aware of a very small O gauge scheme, which has been in my head for several years, and keeps getting put aside.... ....and as for house work Cheers Marc

Hi Pix, You may well have heared right! Hope you can cast me some coils! And of course, let others have the opportunity of purchasing your fine wares too! I have some more coils, made for me by a chap with a shop on ebay. "AGL associates" I've painted these up, and keep promising to add pictures Will do so soon as I'm back from hols! Andrew at AGL made the coils to a specific size for me, and does some other stuff which is very useful - including the brake van tail lamp you may have seen on Hendre at a certain recent show! Best Marc

Hi Stu, Yes, I've considered the Airfix signal gantry. But I've not yet seen the Pete Harvey mast. I think I'll probably end up with some sort of "hybrid" Looking closely at the prototypes, they are a real mixed bunch, with several types - some of them very different to their neighbours. I want to get a decent appearance to the gantries - The Knightwing girders may be of use, unfortunately all but the smallest ones are a bit on the large side for this application. There will be quite a few of them, I may end up going for some brass bits too.... I also need to think about protecting the pipework and gantries, as they may get the occasional knock, when track cleaning! I've thought about making some parts "detatchable" - in the hope that this will limit any damage.... Cheers again Marc

Not a huge amount of progress on this little project lately, but I thought I’d post an update and a clearer plan. The track is laid + wired. Though there are a couple of “dummy†pieces of track to be laid. I’ve been ballasting, at a very slow pace – half an hour here & there. Ballasting is never my fave task – even on a very small layout, it always seems to take longer than anticipated. The fiddle yard will be a 3 road sliding sector-plate, and after the one I built for Hendre, I will NOT be using plywood again! Looking at the plan, I’ve been thinking about the possibility of adding a couple of further loco-release sidings beyond the end of the fiddle – just for added flexibility and ease of operation for exhibition. As this layout is Allied Steel & Wire inspired, I will be installing some overhead pipework (see attached photos). I feel this is something that really lends a sense of atmosphere and location to the layout, and could help make or break the model. I’ve yet to decide exactly how to approach the suspension columns / gantry for this, but I will be trying a few materials in the near future. I’m thinking about using the gantry form the Ratio overhead crane – possibly the N gauge version. Together with a mix of Knightwing girders – I need to see how they “sit†together firstly. At the site of ASW Cardiff (now Celsa) close observation reveals several types and design of girder support….. I also have yard lamps ready to install – and I’m sure that will take me ages to install / solder etc. Still, I’m not really in a rush to finish this one! When using this sort of foamboard as a base material, you can either install the wiring so that it passes right through the board as per using MDF, or you can bury the wiring altogether, as I have opted for here. This of course, means that wiring is no longer prone to damage when transporting the layout – but you have to get it right, with no dodgy or “dry†solder joints, otherwise you could end up digging the wiring back up again at a later date! I’ve included a couple of my own pics of the site, just to give a feel for the area and the overgrown, unkempt nature of the site. For more pics, take a look at Brian R’s photos on his thread – he’s got dozens of pics, of this delightfully grubby industrial site. After a bit of a dearth of layouts of this sort of prototype, now that Brian and Wayne are building their layouts too - I hope there won't be too many around in the future Cheers Marc

Hi Richard, Really impressed and pleased with the way this layout is evolving! It's looking better & better. I think the telegraph poles look fine. I'm sure they are / were different heights. Come to think of it, they would have to be, when placed on or near an embankment, or the road near an overbridge etc etc.... I think you've made a great job of painting them - the colour looks very natural. Also, I think the sky looks 100% better. The clouds again look natural and subdued. Nice details too - plenty of carefully observed, carefully placed detail. Keep up the excellent work Marc

As Keefr says, Margan Knuckle yard is a fab place to watch trains, and you can get up-close. 66's a couple of 08's, and the occasional 60 occupy the yard. The yard is next to the steelworks, and also sees traffic for the tanker terminal at Robeston. The steelworks locos are really fab, and watching movements at this yard have really inspired me in starting this layout. Here is a link to my gallery, which contains images taken at Margam Knuckle (hope it works!!!) Smiths Snaps! Marc

Hey Keef, Glad you got the foamboard done. It is difficult to keep focussed, when building a layout, but focussed you must stay, if you want to finish it! I've been thinking about this steelworks layout for a long time now, and building the Crate (Bracty Bridge) and the O gauge min-space really got in the way of this one....... Could you adapt the plan in any way, to include 66's? a 5 foot baseboard sounds plenty to me - but it will depend on your plan of course. As Stubby says - he could get a continent in 6 feet If you could take a pic, or draw out your plan, you must post it. I'm sure you could adapt it in some way.... I spend a fair bit of time at Margam Knuckle, so I know what you mean about it being inspiring. And yes, you would need a fair bit of space to do it justice, or even capture the feel of the place. Perhaps there's room on your plan to do all your shunting with an 08, and just stable a 66? Then you'll be wanting sound too! Let me know what you decide Best Marc P.S. I've already had my invitation to L&B next year, and will hopefully be taking this one along. Also hoping the good Captain K has space for it at the next Taunton members day too.....

Spray-weathered the track, must continue with ballasting soon. I'm busy at Swindon, with Hendre this coming weekend, so perhaps I should take the steelworks layout with me, and do some ballasting in the evenings It's a task I enjoy, for about 20 minutes, then get a bit tired of. I can't imagine ballasting anything but a micro these days Marc P.S. I've got some replacement Oleo buffers for those wagons - I just need to find some time to fit them. Don't know why I bothered fitting the plastic ones really, but somehow I couldn't bear to paint them without any buffers in place

Thanks, I just bought a nice metals-sector 37. A really nice conversion to 37901. A young chap called Alex, a 7mm modeller who I met at DEMU did the conversion. Really nice job he's done too! I'll add a touch of my own weathering - particularly on the bogies, and then post some piccies (gotta get sound in there too). I'll be adding a metals-sector 56 to my collection sometime in the future - cos I gotta have one of them too! Marc

Just thought I'd add a photo of one of the buildings for this little project. It's a Skytrex resin low-relief building, which they market, unpainted, and for O gauge. Skytrex do a good range of O gauge huts, structures + wagon loads, which are really good quality. They now market the goods shed (Hemyock) which I used on my minimum space O gauge "Clarbeston North" layout. They do another, similar low-relief industrial building of about the same size. I think this one works well in 4mm scale, as there are no standard-sized type doors to act as a giveaway. The roller door looks fine in 4mm - and I even think the building may look a tad small in 7mm. I've painted it with my usual mix of Games Workshop acrylic paints, suitably grubbied + weathered, but passing the ASW site the other day - I think I may fade this building a bit more. I'll post some more building pics shortly, as I complete + "plant" them. I've finished wiring the layout - the 3 way was troublesome, as a switch failed after I'd glued it all down! Still, installed an additional one, and it's fine now. Cheers Marc P.S. Other buildings are Wills corrugated iron / asbestos, wills box-section, bits of a Peco diesel depot, and I've recently bought some Walthers which looks great.