D-A-T

My favourite Chris Matthewman layout was (I think) called Wickham. It was in an early MRJ. It had everything, station, loco shed, goods yard and private industry siding. It ticked all my boxes, still does, apart from it was LMS! 🤣

This is in no way, shape or form intended to be a malicious, nasty or hurtful comment but what an underestimation of the amount of interest such a collection of layouts and builders the team at MRJ made! I seem to recall they publicised it as a once in a lifetime event, or words to that effect. They weren’t wrong.

While principally inspired by Iain Rice and, like many others the Rev Denny and Frank Dyer, actual inspirational layouts are many and varied. Small circular layouts have tended to be high on my inspiration list. One, I can’t remember the name of, was by Ian Futers and exhibited at the York show in the very late 70s/early 80s. Another, which I never saw in real life regretfully, was Eastfleet by a member of the Wakefield RMS. It was a small east coast railway set on a harbour. It was in the Model Railways magazine in the 80s which I have kept. More upto date is Ballyconnell Road. A variation of this is firmly on my ‘to do’ list in EM gauge. Small ‘roundy roundy’ layouts do seem to be somewhat maligned but I liked them because, from certain viewpoints, the train disappears into the distance as you can’t see round corners.

I think that little Sacre 2-4-0 is my favourite loco on Buckingham. Merry Christmas All 🥳

I was just about to post the very same thing!

C J Freezer was my first inspiration but it was Iain Rice in Model Railways with his Tregarrick (Sp?) articles that really ignited my enthusiasm. As a child/teenager the ‘back story’ brought the layout to life. The fact it was being built to finescale standards but was fictitious opened my mind to possibilities that still echo to today as I much prefer a bucolic, ramshackled layout to a mainline one.

Exactly! Got it in one. I like my models to be as representative as they can be and if they are missing a few rivets so what? As long as they don’t detracted from the overall picture of the model. What I do take issue with, as Tony says, are those who criticise for criticisms sake or, worse still, to make them selves either appear or feel superior.

I would redraw it using a track design program or similar to check on the clearances and turnout lengths/positions as, much as I admire Iain’s work, it can suffer from ‘optimistic pencil’ syndrome. I am currently wrestling with his Harestone plan and to achieve his aim of a platform of just under 5 feet requires a layout of approximately 7’6” not the 6’6” as drawn.

Forgive my ignorance of all things 2mm scale and motors in tenders. But is there not a torque reaction of the revolving shaft from tender to locomotive trying to rotate the locomotive? Or is the weight of the locomotive sufficient to alleviate this?

I find that rather sad. This is a hobby for enjoyment and relaxation not personal attacks and abuse. The hobby is a big church and embraces many differences; from coarse scale to finescale, from T gauge to Gauge 3(?) and much more besides. All are (should be) welcome and encouraged not abused. I am very much a ‘lone Wolf’ modeller in Doncaster but enjoy a bit of banter at exhibitions with nodding acquaintances and the layout operators about scale, gauge, period, chosen company etc. But in the words of a bygone entertainer it’s all said ‘in the best possible taste’ with a twinkle in the eye. I would be dismayed if anyone took it seriously and I’m sure they don’t. PS The only people who should be gently admonished are ‘rivet counters’. They deserve all they get! 🤣

I wasn’t aware St Merryn had been vandalised. That is very sad and makes me angry. St Merryn was in my Top 3 current exhibition layouts. I do hope it can be repaired.

I always thought ‘finescale’ was an attitude of mind. To attempt to recreate a certain something as accurately as possible given practical constraints.

Oldie but goodie 🤣

It does look vivid. But no doubt it is less so in real life, especially after some subtle weathering? Or the photo ‘exaggerates’ the colour?

Continuing the thread drift I wonder (worry) at children no longer being exposed to Woodwork, Metalwork etc in schools. I did my O level Metalwork in 1981, 1 of only 6 in a big Comprehensive, as most others did the new, trendy CDT. I do wonder if H&S has a lot to do with it? 15 and 16 year olds in a workshop with lathes, milling machines, forge, foundry and brazing hearth. I loved it but I’ve a feeling the risk would be too much today in our litigious society?

Being a returnee to the hobby after many years away I can vouch for the good days and the bad days regarding making things. It took me a while to learn to walk away from my continuing kit building journey as I had the ‘I won’t be beaten’ by a piece of metal mindset. Now I do, whether it’s an hour, a day or longer. This is strange as model railways is very much my winter, stay in the warm, secondary hobby. My main hobby (passion!) is sailing and there you are positively encouraged to take a break (if not life or property threatening) if things aren’t going well. A different mindset. PS If you thought model railways was expensive just have a look around a Chandlery! 🤣

My thoughts exactly. As it stands it isn’t very prototypical, which is a surprise. As an aside, there is a big O gauge exhibition layout (which I’ve only seen on YouTube videos) with minimalistic scenery and green painted woodwork to the baseboards, which I keep thinking of doing an EM version of using modular baseboards and taking the Minories plans above as a starting point.

Agree! When I saw my first TMD layout I thought that’s clever if you really only want locos. Then I saw my next, and my next, and my next….. Now they are beyond clichéd. They are now one of my barometers when I am deciding to visit an exhibition or not. Don’t get me wrong, each to their own etc but they are now just too numerous. As a comparison it’s like liking a Brass Band as opposed to an Orchestra. The Orchestra has so much more depth to it, strings, percussion etc, than a Brass Band. I will now duck! 🤣

I like to think of myself as a modeller but have to confess I find it hard to resist buying the trade’s offerings of locomotives in Pre-Grouping liveries. Even of the companies that did not Group into my two favourite companies. As an aside my modelling trajectory seems to be on an backwards course. I have moved from British Railways to Grouping and keep casting an eye onto Pre-Grouping.

@meatloaf Lacathedrale I was thinking along these lines. Drawn at 72 inches x 12 inches. I think this could be ‘jiggled’ a bit to gain a few more inches by reducing the fiddleyard from 36 inches to 33 or 34 inches and adding the gained inches to the platform lengths.

@meatloaf If you need to save a few inches, and don’t mind “straightening” the approach trackwork, then replace the two inner turnouts with a single slip. It will save 6 to 8 inches which can be added to the platform lengths.

Thanks for the idea…..

The Schrödinger's cat area of collecting?

Tony. Is it because some (many?) modellers feel that modifications will ‘devalue’ their model and have an eye to a possible resale? Or that they don’t wish to step away from the mainstream? I am slowly but surely improving my kit building skills but I don’t look gift horses in the mouth. I recently purchased a very well built white metal Wills J69. It had extra detail, Romford wheels and a Portescap motor. Total cost including postage? Less than £110. Virtually no one else made a bid. Another case of not wanting to move away from the mainstream? I thought it was a bargain. I guesstimated it would cost about £230+ just to buy the kit, wheels, motor etc.