Drew-1986

So the silence speaks volumes

Still very keen to see this project progress. Keeping everything crossed. Feel that if this project goes ahead, the RevolutioN Class 89 will gain further traction, and vice versa

Sorry, hadn’t realise Cavalex had come out and said they were still looking at it. Thanks Really feel if that project got off the ground, the Class 89 project would gain further traction and vice versa

I’m sure it hasn’t been mentioned but surely a modern Class 91/MK4/DVT would be high on the wish list for many modern image N gauge modellers. From a business perspective, DMUs like 175 or 185 would allow RevolutioN to work alongside another manufacturer to offer both N and 00 gauge. From my own selfish wishlist, would love to see an APT-P done

Any updates on this?

@WIMorrison thanks for that information, that’s a big help

That’s what I thought, just thought I’d ask, before spending any further time on this. Would I also be correct to assume it’ll require either ESU 50097 L Net Adapter or Piko 55044 SmartControl Loconet Converter before I even add either ESU or third party automation systems?

I am doing to pre layout build research and I am interested in dcc automation. I currently own a Piko SmartControl, which I know is based off the ESU CabControl. Would I be most sensible to be looking at ESU products for automation as they are mostly likely to be compatible with my current dcc control unit? Further information on this would be greatly appreciated

So I managed to find a very basic track design app for iPad, its terrible to be honest, but best I can do at the moment. I had to use Fleishmann track but this at least gives a basic feel to the plan. With a more in-depth layout design app, I would look to soften the curves at each end to possibly have them feature in the scene The area I have highlighted from Google Earth is 600m which I plan to condense down to 400m and then translate to my layout

I had thought that if I needed more depth in the scene, I could build a shelf over the fiddle yard, as looking from left to right on this screen shot, the right is the increasing hillside. Hope that makes sense

So having spent a little time mulling things over the choice of Slochd Summit, it has thrown some fresh questions into my mind. The 2 points of the passing loop are roughly 700m apart, based of Google Earth. Now its obvious that this location was going to have to have some compression but how and where is the question First thought I have is that the south rock cutting is the beginning of the scene of the left side of the layout, if it were to have part of the return loop to fiddle yard even better. That choice then has a knock on to the north end. My initial thought is that I don’t model the north point, having 2 lines exiting off scene on the right to return to the fiddle yard. However, to make it seem like the other point exists, I would have the signal just before the scene exit. Hope this makes sense. I definitely think I am gonna to have to increase the length of the boards, probably to about 3m, along with increasing the width. This would hopefully prevent the location being too compressed and losing the feel. Look forward to hearing your thoughts

@RobinofLoxley @Harlequin Thank you for taking the time to come up with your designs. I think now that certain limitations have been brought to my attention, my ‘brief’ requires a certain amount of adjustment. As things are, the limited space I have for scenics, having a station or a siding, potentially feels like they would become the focal point rather than the backdrop or the moving trains. I should mention some of the stock I actually have at present, which may or may not have an effect on they ideas brought forward, off the top of my head I’m sure I have 3 Class 47s, Class 156 and a HST, and a variety of MK2 and MK3 coaching stock, certainly stock that would have been seen on the Highland Mainline Looking at my original brief, if I was to model Slochd Summit, it would meet 4 of the 5 requirements, but replacing the siding for interest instead for a passing loop. Part of me would like to keep this fairly simple for the sake of interest and time. If I can make good progress with this early, it will encourage me to keep at it as my work takes me away for varied amounts of time I think I am very much going to look at definitely increasing the width of my base boards, and potentially the length too @RobinofLoxley having looked at Forsinard, I definitely think that’s more like what I can to achieve where the scenery is almost the most important part of the model. With regards to an amount of operational stuff to justify automation, I see this as almost as much of a chance to learn about automation, and to find out its strengths and weaknesses for future projects

So I spent a little time last night having a look at some of the locations mentioned. I couldn’t find much about Kincraig unfortunately, Dunkeld, although it had everything I might be looking for, its location and the station would end up being the majority of the layout, didn’t feel like the vibe I was looking for. @DCB so I then started looking at some of the passing loops, even going down as far as Edendon Signal Box and Dalnacardoch. I then took a chance to see if I could find any YouTube material when I found this - When I watched this I couldn’t help but agree about how well this would work with automation. I appreciate that this is very compressed, but isn’t all modelling. So I took a quick look on Google Earth too: That’s roughly 300 meters I’ve drawn on there. Using the rock cutting on the south side to disguise the fiddle yard entrance on 1 side and the gradient and large trees for the other. View point would be from the side of the dual carriage way. I’ve estimated it would give me about 45m of viewing from there, if I increased the width could take it up to 65 meters. Look forward to hearing your thoughts gents I should probably also say that I like the fact the potential this location could be modelled and a many number of time periods could be model, from 80s to right now

Kris, thanks for taking the time to do that. It certainly had crossed my mind that it would be too tight for that, and widening what I have maybe be a requirement. I’d very much like to avoid 1st radius curves

Couldn’t agree more about plans in your mind that becoming too difficult to replicate. Fallen into this trap many times I will definitely take a look at Kincraig to see if it something I could work with

I would also say it sounds like also planning for many isolation blocks too The boards I purchased initially for my 00 gauge layout are 2 x 1.2mx0.6m. I am not against adding some width if required. Just trying to work out an rough idea at the moment, based on what I have

I will add to my plans more research info on automation and be very wary of making sure I add what’s required in the build phase even if it’s planned for a latter date

Keith, Thank you very much for your reply. It has certainly thrown up some thoughts for me going forward. I certainly hadn’t thought about the impact the space taken up the fiddle yard would have an adverse effect on the size of the viewing area. The only other way I can setup my boards would result in a 1.2m x 1.2m square. I think the fact I have a good amount of time to discuss with others, who have more experience in layout design, may lead me to a design that I eventually I’m content with. I see this layout as a chance to further my skills over many different aspects of the hobby, and hopefully gives me some enjoyment too. Merry Christmas too you also Keith

I’m in dire need of some inspiration. Progress with an 00 gauge end to end layout has very much stalled, as I no longer have the space required to finish it (also partly being over ambitious), and I have neither the motivation or interest to try and progress it further. I want to start a new project in 2022 in N gauge. My intention was always to transition into N gauge so I’ve decided to move earlier than I expected. It has become apparent during my 00 gauge build, that at this moment, end to end doesn’t interest me quite as much as a continuous run would. I want to see trains run, and I really like the idea of looking into computer automation. I have a small selection of N gauge stock, mostly of stock that would’ve ran in Scotland during the mid 1980s to early 1990s. So the plan is to remove the 00, and start afresh. The boards I currently have are 2400mm x 600mm, so currently here are a few of my thoughts: Continuous run with a 6 or 8 lane fiddle yard A fictitious Highland mainline location, maybe the railways never suffered and the Highland line became double track A small siding for operational interest, maybe a ballast/PW or timber siding A more rural plan, could be persuaded to be otherwise, but plan would need to be very interesting Ability to have computer automation I am currently working abroad and will return in mid to late January, so between now and then I would like to try and formulate a layout plan that I am excited about. Unfortunately, I only have an iPad with me, so any access to track planning software is unlikely, and I simply don’t have the talent to draw 1 either. Very keen to discuss this further with many of the unique voices on this forum. I look forward to further questions

Well took the stab in the dark and ordered the buffered chassis for the HST, went to work on my unpowered loco over the last couple of nights, and here’s the result A renumbering and some weathering and it’ll look the business. Any recommendations for a detailing kit for the buffer would be greatly appreciated

Thanks for the reply Steven. Yes, I was meaning the HST power cars used as DVTs in late 80s early 90s. Unfortunately, the Grand Central models have modern headlight clusters and the Virgin ones are hard to come by, this was my cheaper alternative

Very quite interested in modifying a Dapol Class 43 unpowered loco into a DVT. I see that the chassis from the Grand Central buffered class 43 Is readily available, was just curious if anyone had tried this and was happy with the results?

Richard, Great content as always. After your trip to Hattons and seeing their new Class 66, have your thoughts on DCC sound change at all seeing potentially where the market might be going?

You wouldn’t happen to know which exact issue?

Thanks for the reply