z4driver

Weird, no mention on the NMRA BR website or in the NMRA BR forum or on the NMRA website or on the convention website

It'll all be sorted once we get the marvellous trade agreement with the US

I love the fact that this "Where has everyone gone?" thread has got to 7 pages!!

Only 4 weeks to go

Really good looking models there. Thanks for sharing.

@mdvle Do you have any links to the podcasts?

I hope everyone isn't going. I've only just arrived!

I went for the very first time at their last meeting in January. I was made to feel really welcome and the whole experience of operating with a purpose on a large layout was an eye opener for me. Really enjoyable. So much so that I joined the group and will be back in April

Thanks @mdvle

Hi Andy, thanks for your reply. I haven't looked at your store. Do you have a link? Regarding track, I'm looking at a switching layout so locos will be running at slow speed. From what I've read, mass produced turnouts don't necessarily conform exactly to the NMRA standard so I was looking at something that would give me that reliability. Having used Peco track exclusively for my previous layouts (albeit in N and 009 not HO), I've never been wholly satisfied with the results. I don't necessarily want to go to fine scale standards as although I don't mind changing car wheels I really don't want to be changing loco wheels. I also like the idea of stock rails that can extended out on to the track running away from the switch rather than every switch being a separate entity so giving smoother flow. I suppose what I'm really saying is that I'm prioritising function over form. I am open to all suggestions as I'm really a novice at taking a hard look at the way I select and lay my track. In the past I've defaulted to Peco without really thinking about it. Cheers Lee

Well I've found a sound file for ESU Loksound (http://projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/search?cat=19&q=Genset), now just to work out which decoder and speaker to use

Hi all, after some help. I've just bought an Atlas NRE Genset 2nd hand which I want to add DCC sound to. So far I've only found the Soundtraxx TSU-PNP decoder which has the Genset sound file available. Are there any others out there? Has anyone added sound to a Genset and give me some tips? Cheers Lee

Thanks for that, looks like Code 70 then

Hi all, Starting to plan a HO modern era switching layout that I'll be building when I've got my current 009 layout to a suitable stage. I've been thinking about which track and track code to use. I'm think of trying my hand at hand-building the switches using Peco rail as I'm based in the UK, maybe using Fast Track jigs. I would like to use Code 70 rather than 83 but am a bit concerned about wheel compatibility. I don't want locos and cars bouncing over the ties. I know I can change the wheel sets on freight cars, but what about locos? Would this be a real problem or would most modern HO stuff be OK? Thanks Lee

John Farrington's YouTube channel is a really good watch http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVzesp-vSkPafa5gDiN2XVg

Just goes to show that one man's meat....etc. A real inspiration for me was Bruce Chubb's book 'How to Operate Your Model Railroad' which I found in a library here in the UK about 20 years ago. Being a typical UK modeller with the usual lack of space, inspiration has been what it remained until, after a very long gap of doing no modelling at all, recently. Firstly, I found Lance Mindheim's books which made me realise that I could do some of it in a limited space and, secondly, joining a operating group which has a modular layout which is set up 4 times a year in a large hall. I don't find it hard work, just really satisfying and very social for what can normally be a solitary hobby. Cheers Lee

Thanks for the answers. Finally got an answer to one of my emails saying that stuff was on the way. So got there in the end!

Has anyone had any dealings with Steam Powered Video (https://www.spv.co.uk/) lately? It's just that I ordered something on the 1st January which I still haven't received. I've tried emailing and phoning with no luck.

Thanks for all that info. I'll definitely be taking a good delve into those sites. Currently I'm reading the Lance Mindheim books and also found a few Youtuber's who are into switching layouts so more research to do Lee

Hi all Just getting into US railroads and starting to look at buying freight cars. I'm modelling modern era and was wondering if there is a website and/or a book which gives time periods when particular freight cars were used. I know that roof top walkways and high level brake wheels are not appropriate but looking on ebay and shop websites it's difficult to know whether a particular freight car would be seen on a current railroad. Also which are the good makes of HO cars and which are the ones to avoid? As I'm aiming for a switching layout on a short line rather than a Class 1 railroad, I'd rather have a few good cars than a lot of not so good. Cheers Lee

Hi Nick thanks for all of those. Now applied.

Hi all After many years, I'm getting back in to model railroading. Currently I'm building a very small portable 009 layout as a practice. However, long term (couple of years time) plan is for a HO reasonably present day CSX layout in a shed. I used to have a large (13' 6" x 12' 6") BN N gauge layout but unfortunately circumstances including a move meant I had to sell up. The change to HO is due to old aged eyesight I've been looking at Lance Mindheim's books and various Youtube channels and find the idea of an industrial switching layout operated reasonably realistically fascinating so that's the plan. I've recently rejoined the NMRA BR after a 15 year break although currently a bit confused/disappointed. Two websites, neither of which seem to work, forum a ghost town, no access to the current edition of Roundhouse on-line (which I've paid for as a Bronze member) and no answers to emails so not sure what's going on there. Also I've been trying to find out about Freemo in the Midlands. As I won't be having my own layout for a couple of years and obviously I'm duty bound to start buying stock it would be nice to have somewhere to run it. Also I'm thinking about building a module which would then fit into my own layout when built. I understand that there is an group which meets in Staffordshire, does anyone have a contact for it? Cheers Lee