Wibble

Truly realistic rambling - big thumbs up there!

Corrected that for you!

A view looking towards the headshunt and boiler house after the application of some vegetation and track detail. The distance is deceiving in this snapshot, with enough space beyond 2164 to switch a pair of class 25s. The structures surrounding the depot have been created to give the illusion that they are built on lower ground, which not only justifies the retaining wall, but also keeps the overall height of the backscene low at this end of the layout for social purposes. Thanks for all your kind comments, and hope you like the update. Cheers, Kier

....and I've just noticed this thread has reached 800 pages. Congratulations and always worth a look in

Tony, Sorry to hear you're having problems with the Seep point motors, there's nothing worse than operating our trainsets and experiencing these sort of problems, and we end up leaving the train room concerned rather than chilled out! I've never used them myself, but to be honest I never liked the look of them, much preferring Peco in my early days of laying pointwork. It's probably a bit late for you to change easily now, but I've been using H&M point motors in well over 30 years, and have never had a failure. I don't use any kind of loop, and try to mount them on top of the baseboard, with an easily removed building for cover..... I'm guessing that would be restrictive on a prototypical based layout like yours, but could be adapted for off scene sections? I give them a blast of 24V from a 20,000 microfarad capacitor, and provided they're set up properly in the first place, they will outlast the layout!

Zero downloads (and I haven't got permission to view it either) suggests something's not right there

I've been following this thread on a regular basis, and consider it a forum within a forum, mostly with interesting and informative comments in the world of model trains. The subject matter is quite diverse, and although I've just been lurking in the background, thought it worth adding to. Recent topics have touched on the methods of construction, and in particular that of steam locos, which tend to have 2 dimensional shapes (apart from the boiler, cladding and associated profiles), whereas diesels feature a host of compond curves and angles which make them so much more difficult to produce in model form. My view is that the 'modern' railway modeller is well catered for in terms of rolling stock, with only a small percentage of kit built stock to contend with, and in most cases the additional requirements are met in the form of plastic kits and the use of modern polymers to achieve a desired result. Go back a couple of generations (from where I'm modelling the 1970s), to the last knockings of the steam era, you will probably find that for decent haulage capabilities and for the variety of stock, then kit built is the best way forward. Whitemetal and brass components form the majority of materials used, and to construct these items, skill is certainly required on the part of the builder. Go back even further to pre-grouping for example, and the range of RTR is even rarer, so for the majority of rolling stock projects, almost everything (apart from the very few) is kit built. Just my observations, but stand to be corrected. In view of my ramblings above, the skills of the kit builder / kit basher have changed over the decades to produce a finished item, and as much as the real railway scene has changed, so have the techniques of the model maker. I've rarely soldered a rolling stock kit together, because I've not had the need to - with the exception of perhaps a couple of shunting locos (which bear a close resemblance to a steam engine with its coupled wheels). With tens of thousands of soldering applications under my belt, it seems not so much a case of competence, but more a case of what we're trying to achieve in relation to the era we model. I admire the skills of the modellers that produce such exquisite and functional items of mid-20th century rolling stock, in a similar way to the modern day kit bashers with their selection of glues, fillers and finishing touches. Just to finish off this post, I've rarely seen a kit-built diesel look anything like it's supposed to, so my era of interest is dictated by what's available and by the materials it is made of....... and I haven't even touched on the subject of photography, DCC, and gauge! Happy modelling chaps and chapesses.

Couldn't resist a 83 degrees opposite view taken a few years later, albeit sad, a good comparison.... and duplicated from page 2 of this thread.

And a cracking layout it is too!! I particularly like the concrete gasworks building, office block, bus depot & the Shenston Automotive buildings

Deap breaths, nice and slow, Mike

Army Warflat 80461 carrying JB Models mark 2 Saladins.

Army Warflat 80489 - a heavily modified wagon built some years ago using Talbot buffers & jacks, carrying JB Models Saracens.

Hired in from the Hornsey fleet, BTH class 15s D8204 & 8228 head south at Shenston Road hauling a rake of Warflats carrying Saracens & Saladins, and about to pass class 16 number D8402 heading north with a mixed freight. Both the Shenston Road & Hornsey Bdy fleets have been recently bolstered with an influx of more type 1 motive power..... watch this space for further details!

Still waiting!

Warship D847 Strongbow is another recent addition to the fleet. This time a Bachmann model adorned with its horizontal scrapes....... The Western Region seemed particularly skilled at customising their locos in this way!

D1057 Western Chieftain at Shenston Road - the latest loco into service, a Dapol Western depicted in a grotty early '70s guise, which didn't receive full yellow ends until 1972.

Thanks for the nice comments chaps always appreciated, and as mentioned by Andy B, the layout will be at Railex (Aylesbury May 2018). This might be a good time to mention that none of us are getting any younger, and with this in mind the layout has primarily been built for use at home. The days of humping 40ft layouts around the country 2 or 3 times a year are now numbered, and as much as I enjoy the exhibiting side of things, it has been decided to limit outings for the entire layout to once every 2 or 3 years. For every outing, there are probably 7 days of preparation, humping, shifting, exhibiting, more humping & shifting, and setting back up at home..... not that I'm complaining, but just one of the reasons for limiting life out on the road. In all probability, it is unlikely that the layout will be shown again in the Home Counties / South East of the country until at least the mid 2020s (that's if we're still here). There are plans afoot to exhibit in other regions, but those are yet to be confirmed. However, the 12ft depot section of the layout (not another depot layout I hear you say) will make more frequent appearances, so this will satisfy the exhibiting / socialising bug, and will be much easier to transport around in a smaller vehicle. Please visit the emgauge70s website for further information and regular updates. All the best, Kier

Another 6-monthly update for you all..... it's been a while since any update, so hope you enjoy. A Sunday line-up of shunters at Hornsey Road Depot. A bit of a Southern theme going on here. A view looking up Bridge Street. A tank train heading north, originating from Ripple Lane (and no doubt a Stratford 47 instead of the usual class 37).

I like the sound of that and also a good opportunity to get rid of the bow and arrow couplings and fit instanters......... oh hang on, how much time have you got?

Interesting slope on the work table - must be handy for something!

A 'Broadway Bump' showing one of the latest snaps, and to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Cheers !!!!

It's all gone a bit quiet again - here's some more hydraulic motive power to get you frothing

As per Wigan Wallgate's post...... I've just spent a large chunk of time going through this thread, and the attention to detail is just amazing. I'm not particularly interested in the 21st century railway myself but what has been achieved on this layout is superb, particularly the scenes surrounding the railway. London buildings are predominantly yellow brick, and initially I thought your red brick buildings were out of place. A quick virtual visit to Uxbrige Road has proved me wrong, so this thread has enlightened me as well as entertained me. Cracking stuff :y

I hoped I'd never fall into that trap, but continual testing with your own and visiting motive power just becomes one big party! Good to put things through their paces though, enjoy the lineside banter, and become more confident that things will stay in the 4ft. Great to see some decent motive power on Walton on the Hill BTW. Keep up the good work Michael, Chris and you others.

Speculation? Maybe this........ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGyIPrFWc1E