Signalman Rich

Sounds and looks really interesting. The great advantage of modelling early railways is that the stock was generally smaller, which means that it can be ideal for cameo layouts. Just a thought. Are your dimensions in centimetres? I look forward to seeing your progress. Having seen the Gauge 3 layouts at STEAM at Swindon over the last couple of years I am in awe of your intentions. Best wishes Rich

I too have sent in my entry form. As I understand it all entries are accepted as a statement of intent and I do not expect a confirmation. What will count is how we make our ideas into a layout that is viable, attractive and fits the concept of cameo as explained in Iain and Simon's initial notes in MRJ and at the head of this topic. Have fun and enjoy the process! I look forward to seeing the shortlisted layouts and would hope to go to see the winner at Railex 2019. I am currently enjoying myself with my progress and am trying new techniques (for me) with buildings, track and (yet to be started) locos. I am glad that the competition has kick started my modelling again and that there are enjoyable works in progress on RMweb to enjoy. The motto carved in stone over the portal of the prison on my cameo is "Multum in Parvo" or according to Oxford Dictionaries.com " A great deal in a small space." Hopefully that will be true, but if not I am still enjoying the journey. Whether I ever get to spend magical prize money in the Titfield Thunderbolt bookshop is not why I am building. It is the journey that is important to me. I am looking out the window of RMweb, enjoying the scenery, other people's inspirational work, and am not too worried about the destination in Larkhall. Happy modelling everyone! Best wishes Rich

Exciting progress with your baseboards, PPM, 139, not to mention the concrete sleepers and clips! I am realising what a high standard the entries are expected to be. Thanks for the continuing saga and photos, both model and full size. Very helpful in raising the bar. Best wishes Signalman Rich

Looks a really interesting subject for a model. All sorts of brick walling, station furniture, paving, not to mention those buffer stops. I look forward to seeing it develop. Best wishes Signalman Rich

t-b-g post 113 Thank you for pointing out my error in suggesting that lower viewing height is only suitable for general shows. On re-reading my post tonight I can see how one might think that I was suggesting that wheelchair users and young ones are not welcome at specialist shows. To the contrary, the young are the potential lifeblood of the hobby and need to be encouraged and having been made redundant through disability I have every sympathy with disabled modellers and others who come to any show. I apologise for any offence that I have unintentionally caused. Like other writers on this enjoyable thread I do not expect to win any prizes, nor am I entering with that as my goal. As Simon Castens has pointed out in his posts what I am doing is having fun with the whole process. Long may it continue. I look forward to seeing photos of progress both as inspiration and in the hope that I will learn new techniques to improve my modelling. Best wishes Signalman Rich

In the book Iain mentions and illustrates small mini-trestles that he mounts on to the standard exhibition tables for use at exhibition, that are then hidden behind drapes to lift the layout to the eye-level viewing. At home he has the layout on conventional shelving brackets for display. That way one has the best of both worlds. It strikes me that at home many might sit down to operate their layout in which case one might only need a couple of very short mini-trestles to have an eye-level view if the layout sits on a piece of furniture or kitchen table. To get my layout into the attic I have had to make the lighting/proscenium arch detachable as the maximum height of the backscene cannot be more than sixteen inches so that it will fit comfortably through the hatch. One factor that I have noticed with my construction at home with the proscenium arch is this: if you sit with too low a viewing point you can see where the top of the sky at the rear of the layout ends and the real world operator's jumper/ view out the kitchen window / bookcase behind the layout (insert as appropriate) obtrudes into vision and the illusion is lost. Given that our cameo layouts might well be exhibited at specialist shows the tall eye level viewing point is not a problem. However at more general shows an alternative might be to have the layout at a lower height so that children and those in wheelchairs might be able to see. Siting a short row of chairs for the public to sit on in front of the layout would then give an eye-level view. If I operate from the back, as will need to, to access the traverser and three link couplings, (which I could not do from the front as the lighting arch will be in the way), I could do that from a standing position at the back. At a high exhibition level I will need to have a box to stand on so that I can reach over the backscene. Not a problem to make the box but it would require another trip to the car when unloading and loading the layout. Not sure about having a row of chairs in an aisle at exhibition. Health & Safety anyone? Just my thoughts on how I plan on solving potential difficulties. Best wishes Signalman Rich

I bought a sheet of exterior grade 3.6mm ply from B&Q for about £12 and the skilled man cut it precisely on the rail mounted circular saw to my dimensions. (three cuts free and 50p for additional cuts I believe). That way I had really crisp and really accurate cuts for the main baseboard and the side and end pieces plus some strips for the diagonal framing underneath. I had to assemble it of course, and strengthen the corners with 21mm square stripwood. Each of the angled joints had fillets cut to fit in the corners where the diagonals fitted against the outer frame. I also used some of the corrugated card packaging from a book case from IKEA to make up a T section girder and a U shaped piece of card packaging (about 3mm thick ) to which I glued a strip of ply to the top of the U to make a rectangular lightweight box girder. The total baseboard is pretty light in weight, although I have not weighed it yet. I should add that I painted the box girder and T girders with button polish (shellac) to prevent any damage by damp, although as it will always be stored indoors in a dry attic I do not think that will concern me much. Painting the girders would have done just as well. Another L shaped piece of packing card also about 3mm thick and about 36" long I have mounted behind the proscenium arch with the idea that it will support my battery powered LED lighting strips and prevent much uplight shining in my face when I am operating the layout. I realised afterwards that had I used a Forstner bit to drill some circular holes in the frame underneath that not only would it take even more weight away but it would also have provided channels for under baseboard wiring. Ah! the wisdom of hindsight! The laser cut baseboards I have seen often have the circular holes cut out already. I don't think that there is any prohibition in the rules that would prevent bought in baseboards. The ones that I have seen in life and picture look stunning pieces of work. I just like the challenge of making things, so I have gone that way. Hope the above may give food for thought. Best wishes Signalman Rich

Barry Ten - Jack Nelson's dioramas are still in the Bettws y Coed museum as I was there at the beginning of April this year. They do look their age as Mr Nelson wrote his book "LNWR Portrayed" including photos in B &W and it was published by Peco in 1975 - a must for any North West modeller in my opinion. I wish that my models from then looked as good today since they are at least 42 years old. The problem with restoration would be how much of the remarkable work would be lost, given that, as I understand it, Jack Nelson was severely disabled with only one arm that functioned normally. His drawings in the book are exceptional pieces of work. The difference with this competition is that operation is a requirement, and Jack Nelson's dioramas were static. In my opinion they are still inspirational and his use of half relief and painted backscenes, not to mention perspective modelling still provide ideas that could be incorporated in a cameo layout. The LNWR society web site has a link to some photographs of the dioramas, should you not be aware of their existence. Certainly worth a look for that elusive 'atmosphere' that we strive for in our modelling as well as his subtle use of colour. Best wishes Signalman Rich

Thanks for your comment Joseph_Pestell. My space saving dodge is to use a traverser instead of several points. Worth trying as an exercise to save space. I have been inspired by Jim Read and his Maltby layout on RMWeb. Jim has been very helpful with advice and plans for points and a controller and I am in the process of accumulating electronic parts for the controller When I can get my head around adding photos I will start posting. As I am new to RMWeb could you explain what you mean by "a topic is required, as we need more BG layouts on RMWeb," please BG John? Do I have to link my posts to a thread as you have listed at the bottom of your post eg Small Broad and totally pointless? Any help would be appreciated. Best wishes Signalman Rich

Bought the book, started the layout before hearing about the competition. Board and lighting pelmet completed and painted. Some buildings completed and more on the go. Hope to have the track completed by the end of the week. This has provided me with the impetus to complete a working scale layout in a certain timeframe. Competition entries only have to be in by September, not the completed layout, so that does allow more time than one might think. Mine is in 7mm scale, with both broad gauge and standard gauge tracks. I am enjoying my modelling thoroughly. Thanks to Simon and Iain for providing the inspiration! Best wishes Signalman Rich

This is my first post on RM web. Thank you very much for taking the time to scan this excellent resource. I look forward to a lot of nostalgic reading as well as looking through my old copies of MRN, RM and MRC for some suitably exotic wagons for my new micro layout. Best wishes Signalman Rich