DavidMcKenzie

Does anyone know if there is Swiss rolling stock the works on code 40 rails? I've been impressed with the look of it on the current layout I am building, but have seen that none of the Swiss stock I've got my hands on so far runs on it. Even brand new Fleischmann locos and coaches have flanges which are too deep. And if nothing works with code 40, does anyone have experience with code 55 at least? And a second question (I'm sure it won't be the last ). Does anyone know if the colour scheme on the left would of been seen (at all, even if not regularly) in the bern-thun-spiez-interlarken kind of region in the late 90s? I'm on the search for a location with SBB/BLS mix on a route which would allow ICE1 to not look out of place as a basis for a twin track simple layout (Ideally with a green backdrop rather than either city or the grey of higher in the mountains). I've found a few good videos and all sorts of livery combinations, but that's an interesting livery that seems to be one I couldn't model if I stick to the region mentioned above. All the best, Dave

So it is, I never noticed that before. There is so much variation in Swiss stock around that time that a lot of things which weren't 100% correct don't stand out so much as they do with the wcml modeling of the same period......but that's a pretty big error on an otherwise really nice little model. I will see if I can fix it when time allows. All the best, Dave

Checking in here now and again has got me hooked. So many interesting formations, I've read the thread again from the beginning and I'm still not 100% sure I understand it all, but never mind. These interlopers will need their own layout ..... All the best, Dave

He certainly does, that's a wonderful loco. Any luck with the backscene? All the best, Dave

You are not the only one. I've not been asked for the balance for my NSE (or silverlink) ones either if it helps. Looking forward to them. What you are planning for your unbranded version Porkie? I was watching the cracking YouTube videos you sent me a link to a while back and it jogged my memory back to the plane white 'make the link' livery (link to a photo below). Wish I had remembered this livery during the pre order stage, would be a very unique model without too much effort (assuming someone was willing to provide the transfers). https://www.flickr.com/photos/dwbphotos/27142076509/in/photolist-HmseJn-2mSDb6W-2mQ2sEG-2mSptba-CBiSE5-2mSHKgg-2mSyv4n-2mX98uL-2mSpyvJ-R8tn5t-2mSJCDr-2mSJmPR-2mSHKrb-2mSueLA-2mSGXG8-2mSGZP3-2mSYa7T-2mSJAer-2mSCV39-2mSqZVz-2mSwStG-2keSXTm-2mFTKSs-2ke4jjX-2mSwsho-2mFQqLA-2mFTKUw-QJNiZu-2kyaBBH-2kdPsCV-2mQnhq5-2mFUmCr-2ke4KdL-PGZjHV-2mSJAK1-2kxxnSR-2mSH8je-2mSuf3x-2mSKRtZ-2mSxhwr-2mSyh1b-2mSvehR-2mSyFwc-2mStLKu-2mSyaNz-2mSJnZS-2mSHNKR-2mSGvxV-2mSqaJz-2mSty6o

Hi Simon, I hope you are keeping well. Interesting stuff as always. Probably sensible to try with acrylics before starting on the nice revolution ones, but that is a nice effect to keep in mind if you ever wanted to do a very aged wagon and just leave a hint of the printing behind. All the best, Dave

Looking good Graham, that's a very neat class 58. How did you do some of the detailing around the cab front. It is superb. The layouts coming along nicely as well. Shame about the Backscene, but fingers crossed a little thinners will help fix it. All the best, Dave

Always impressed when someone has modelled carparks (or roads generally for that matter) and done it well to make it look like a believable backdrop. Not easy to do. Cracking stuff as always. All the best, Dave

Thanks Duncan, I was especially happy with the shot below, it was only an accident that I even noticed it. My little 10 week old daughter woke and wanted her dummy, I only noticed the view when leaning down to check on her, so I have her to thank for that one. A photo prior to cropping (below) shows how much there is still to finish (signals, speed signs, weathering platforms, station walls, foreground, OHLE etc. etc.). But you are right, this was intended as a glorified photo plank and it's slowly taking shape. Once this board is finished I would like to make a reasonably large multi use fiddle yard that will fill a corner of the cellar and allow the scenic sections to be interchangeable (and stock to remain built up in rakes and covered). After all that (could be a few years yet ) I still like the idea you sketched a while back and the challenge of a multi level layout. With some 3rd rail stock coming, this might be an additional challenge in the mix. All the best, Dave

Thanks for the advice guys. All fixed . I must admit to feeling a bit sheepish when I realized there are such detailed assembly drawings included. I acted like a kid at Christmas when they arrived and got them out the box and lined them up into a rake, then directly to the workbench for weathering......I didn't think to look under the plastic packaging for the instructions . Thanks again and all the best, Dave

The cargowagons got a out on the layout behind a 92. I got carried away with taking photos, but they are cracking wagons. Looking forward to getting my hands on the next revolution models now (hoping this will probably be the NSE and Silverlink 321s which made the southern section of the WCML an option to model). Exiting the tunnel at the southern end of the layout and heading north to the station itself. The zommed in shots hide some aspects of the layout which still need work, before the missing OHLE and wires can go up. All the best, Dave

I was a little late with these, but glad I managed to pick up a rakes worth before they are completely gone. Many thanks to the guys at revolution. Another cracking wagon. Has anyone else managed to be heavy handed like me and knock the connector back inside the wagon? I can hear it ratteling around inside but can't think of a trick to get it out again. It is my own fault and by no means a complaint, just thought maybe someone has already solved this 'heavy handed' issue.

Another top video Duncan. Did you record that one differently? The depth of field looks greatly improved (in my opinion at least) compared to the previous two. All the best, Dave

Looks very good. I forgot about the snow, of course that'll cover it all a lot. How deep will you make it? The rusty rails laid between the rails is a nice little additional detail. All the best, Dave

Great to see the full length rakes running at prototypical speeds through the outstanding scenery. Thanks for making the videos, great to see the layout in action. All the best, Dave

I don't know if it helps or hinders, but I did the track below with a rust base and picked all the details like the rail clips and then dulled it all down with a very dark grey wash which not only made the colours less bold, but also emphasized the 3d detail of the rails. Not perfect by any means, but I was happy with the end result and it gives something to run on which looks realistic enough to not distract from the trains themselves. All the best, Dave

The end results looking very good for something you struggled with. Most of us would be more than happy with that on a good day. Great modeling as always. All the best, Dave

Looks good Simon, the overcast sky is very fitting and white/light grey tones always helps to makes the layout in the foreground stand out. I agree with RBE that small low level distant buildings/rooftops without much detail would give more depth to the layout and help transition the gap between the amazing detailing in the foreground and the sky in the background. All the best, Dave

Looking good Duncan, weathered enough to dull down the brand new look. I like how a lot of the detailing on the wagon is still visible, but a bit less 'in your face' as the brand new look, which I guess would of only been prototypical for the first few hours of the wagons life. Looking forward to seeing the 37 and 58 out on the layout. Will they be part of your upcoming running day? All the best, Dave

Thanks for the kind messages guys, as soon as I read your comments the penny dropped and of course the difference in colour around the data panels is from cleaning . Small but significant step this week, the station roof has been 'planted'. The horrible gap to the platforms was then filled Plenty of tidying up and blending in to do around the joint, but at least there is no longer a gap and it's all connected. All the best, Dave

Thanks Phil, I hope you are well. Slow and steady progress here, made a start on weathering a set of IZA wagons. To start with I thought I had just ruined a lovely set of wagons, but with patients and building up a number of layers of grim, they are starting to look ok. They seemed to vary in appearance a lot over their lifetime, I found reference photos from the mid 90s when they were grubby, but not yet covered in graffiti, patched up, or had the information panels re-painted. Still plenty to do picking out little details and weathering the blue ends + buffer beams, but looking forward to getting them out on the layout behind a 90 or 92. All the best, Dave

That's a model to be proud of! Outstanding stuff. Looks at home out running on the layout. All the best, Dave

Small update on the southern end tunnel mouths. The tunnel mouths themselves were finished This always feels wrong with the glue scattered all over the trees, but the base greenery went down and it always comes right when it's dry and the glue fixes everything in place Then finally some detailing and mixing some different colours and textures in It's the kind of thing that will hardly notice once trains are running in the foreground, but will hopefully give a plausible backdrop that does not distract the eye too much. All the best, Dave

That's starting to look good Graham, it's already starting to take shape and you can see how the trains will stand out as the feature at the top of the embankment. All the best, Dave

Sounds like there might be cheaper options, but as a complete amateur who is terrible with wiring the recommendation is based on ease of use (and ease/speed of reuse when I make the intervertebral mistake). You can get them in lots of different sizes and I have even seen a picture of a big bank of them (although have no personal experience of something that big), I don't know that there is a limit. there are a few pictures below but they come in lots of different sizes and I have used from the 2 upto the 10pin one. As said by DaveXOC above, more than one wire fits in each hole so a 10pin connector could hold upto ~30 wires if needed. They are electrically connected internally so it's not only the the wires which go into the same hole which are connected. All the wires into the block are connected. All the best, Dave