009 micro modeller

I once had a similar issue on a diorama looking along a street. I couldn't make the street on the backscene match the model or taper correctly into the distance so I used a mirror. However, I don't usually use these and probably wouldn't in future as I didn't like the way the backdrop then became an exact reflection of the scene. One option for me might have been to have no backscene, but on your model I really like the sense of height contrasting with the low level railway line, something helped by the backscene and the car park.

I always feel that the regional divide argument is a bit of a red herring in public transport terms ('getting London's cast offs' etc). The reason that a lot of money is spent on public transport in London and surrounding area is perhaps because, for some people, it is the only option - they can't drive to work in Central London, so they must take the train. Obviously there are some other parts of the country where it's getting the same way and I do understand why people get annoyed about the supposed focus on the south, but I can't think of any other city (possibly Manchester?) in the UK where public transport ends up being the only option. I did go from Leeds to York on TPE a few months ago - very overcrowded but it felt like this was because of an assumption that the train would not be full and thus capacity not provided (something that might have been possible given the single class 185 and long platforms at all stations called at).

I think it's looking great. I do agree about the car park backdrop though but I'm not sure what else you could do with it.

Some of the Bernina railcars also look like a possibility. I'm wondering if 10.5mm gauge might be best considering the 950mm gauge (10.9mm in H0). Do you happen to know if the prototypes for the Bemo vehicles are from the same manufacturer as the San Marino stock?

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San-Marino,_motorvagono_de_la_eksa_fervojo,_2.jpeg Just been reading about the former railway in San Marino, now being partially restored. Does anyone know who made the stock and if there is anything already available that could be adapted to represent it?

Did anything more come of this?

Has anyone ever done a model of Sierra Leone Government Railways? It seems a good idea in 009 with a few kits available. Are there many photos/trackplans etc of the network? I have seen some very nice models of the stock but usually based on the vehicles that subsequently surfaced on UK preserved lines (and used as such on freelance models). It has some appeal to me as a possible future project - the ability to model it in 009 and not starting completely from scratch being an advantage.

Isn't it quoted as 2.06mm if I remember correctly?

OK. I was mainly interested because of the remote possibility of 12/15" gauge in 4mm but this may not be the best starting point and that's off topic. In 1:300 it's closer to standard than 3'6" but then some of the models do seem to be standard gauge prototypes.

Interesting to know that Bandai is actually 4.8 in 1:300 scale. Does anyone have one? Are they battery powered?

Good to see it at Doncaster and see the loco running.

Interestingly there is a gauge called 'Zz' (Z scale on 4.5mm) which I understand is for modelling Japanese 3'6" gauge. If there are different scales for 3'6" and standard anyway then why didn't they just pick a larger one for the former to make the gauge closer to scale?

I like the improvements to the 0-4-0. What exactly did you change about it?

I like the loco. Watching with interest as a couple of my ideas might involve continuous run.

Not sure if I will have time to build and exhibit anything this year although I have done since 2011. I think the relatively conventional and open brief lends itself to adapting an idea you've already thought of so I have a few thoughts for what I could do in the space.

Closest thing I can think of at the moment is the NYMR extension over Network Rail track to Whitby. I found out the other day that this now includes all their services (pretty much), and apparently ticket selling at Whitby is now in the hands of the NYMR even for Northern Rail tickets, although I'm not sure how this works out of season when the NYMR isn't running. I assume that tickets are checked on board the heritage trains to prevent people using them on cheaper National Rail tickets. Getting slightly off topic but I would be interested if anyone does know: I remember reading somewhere that the locos/stock run with a safety case which only covers the end of the Esk Valley line, not NR generally as for railtours. Is it the same for the train crew or do they have to be trained to the same level as crews on mainline railtours (and not volunteers)? A point here as well is that even on the section served the NYMR is not really providing the same service. The trains run non stop between Whitby and Grosmont (as I understand) and not all year. They do serve Whitby more frequently than Northern (only 4 trains per day I think) though. Edit: Didn't Southern develop a computer program recently to randomise the excuse they use for poor service?

Re what to do with the displaced stock, is the reintroduction of the South Wales sleeper trains ever likely to be viable?

Another problem which didn't matter for the railmotor but would for most steam workings is the removal of run round loops from the sort of branch lines where this could otherwise be possible. I'm not sure if push-pull for steam railtours etc would be allowed.

I did think the third rail might relate to the tunnel restrictions à la Drayton Park to Moorgate. I think there have definitely been changes with the electric cables as the equipment used on the narrow gauge railway through the tunnel to maintain the cables moved fairly recently to preservation at Apedale. Incidentally I could never understand why Woodhead didn't just go over to diesel working if funds for AC re-electrification were not available. Does it relate to ventilation in the new tunnel?

There's always this rather odd rebuild of an industrial diesel at Paradise Wildlife Park, Herts: https://i2.wp.com/pinkscharming.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Play-park-train-at-Paradise-Wildlife-Park.jpg?w=476&h=357&crop&ssl=1 Not sure who made the loco. Used to be based on Thomas but presumably licensing issues put paid to that as elsewhere.

I like this idea. I once considered something similar (not for this challenge, just a random idea). The problem I kept coming up with was how to make it look like a model of a plinthed loco rather than just a model loco on a plinth as often seen in display cabinets at exhibitions. I think you would need to replicate the features of these sort of things - e.g. flowers planted around the plinth and some mechanical parts removed from the loco. Often these will have been taken off a loco that is plinthed and may be beyond restoration to working order (or could get vandalised) and used for restoring a sister loco as they don't particularly effect the plinthed loco's appearance. Another thing some have is a garish paint job and because the loco is outside they are often painted thickly or with masonry paint. I like the car park idea as there is then a context to it so that, as I say, it becomes a model of a plinthed loco rather than a model loco on a plinth. Good luck if you decide to do anything more with this. Assuming the loco will have a bit of track to stand on you'll actually have 3 railway items . Alternatively if you want to do something a bit more 'out there' there is a loco plinthed on a roundabout in Germany. Can't find the photo online at the moment but it is mounted pretty much vertically along with a mine tub, on a slightly curved metal sculpture/plinth arrangement.

A few more photos. Eventually the chute from the backscene to the hopper will have a corrugated iron roof to disguise the hole at the back and I will paint over the bit of sky showing at the side of the rock. The buildings are just posed at the moment to show what it will look like but the rock face is stuck on already. In emulation of Hudson and Decauville track I have not used 009 track this time but N with alternate sleepers removed.

Hope you manage to sort out the water. Could the cracks represent ice instead? I once had a similar problem caused by putting too much 'water' in each layer so it shrank to the contours of the pond but not sure in this case.

Very nice - reminds me of the Watford branch crossing the Grand Union Canal. I like the ideas for dealing with the excess coach length and it may be too late but is having the bridge slightly diagonal to give more length a possibility?

I particularly like the framing created by the cutting shape and the sense of dereliction from the remains of the second track. Can't wait to see more of this.