MoonMonkey

Many thanks for the comments. The points are a functional necessity for the layout, at the end of the board (as there is no fiddle yard (yet)). My thinking is to blend them in and look more like a protoytpe set up if possible. Noted that this crossover in the middle of nowhere would have been highly unlikely in the real world. But taking that and playing with the concept for the benefit of interest on the layout, it sounds like a stop signal in each direction just short of the points would be sensible. The distants aren't going to fit in any prototype way due to space.

For me, 'model railways' or 'railway modelling' or whatever term we use, is an umbrella or catch-all phrase. It covers the generic activity which people pursue in their own unique ways. So, while people may wish to have silos within this catch-all to compartmentalise themselves and others into, there is still merit in having a generic phrase that people understand. Even non-modellers will know generally what one means if they say their hobby is 'model railways'. Does it matter if their view is entirely aligned with our own personal takes on the matter? They'll probably create unfavourable stereotypes in their minds regardless. I would think of my hobby as being model railways or railway modelling. My own spin on this, my sub-category, is to try to create a scene that I could photograph and fool the human eye into wondering if it is actually real, regardless of what materials or products I use - plus the aspect of managing that in a way that my child can still get joy from, without destroying everything as soon as he touches it. The caveat is that if I did it professionally, it wouldn't be a hobby. I guess a hobby is a leisure past time rather than 'work'. But then there could be a hobby that generates an income for me. But I'll stop there on that one! To come to the core of the thread though... is it a luxury? For me, it is simply a voluntary activity that is done on my own terms for pleasure. But is it a luxury to engage in that activity? Personally, I see each little spell of time that I get to indulge in my hobby as a little bit of luxury... a luxury that I can take a little time out for myself rather than chasing everything else in life that I may 'have' to do. A luxury that I have time to do it, and I have the ability to do it. A luxury that, frankly, I can do it if I want to. And thinking about it that way, I appreciate my health, wellbeing and situation a little bit more – which is, these days, a bit of a luxury. The questions are rhetorical by the way, me indulging in some uninformed amateur philosophy about which I am entirely uninformed and ill-equipped to espouse. I’m not looking for answers, by the way!!!!! Right, I think I’ll head to the pub to waffle about something else, I need to get out more!

If I may, I'd like to test my understanding and then ask a few further questions. In the illustration, there is a simple pair of points to allow a mainline train to switch to the other track, should that ever be required, for opposite line working (as I believe it's called). Perhaps to get around a blockage or something. In this case, am I right in thinking that each line would have a stop signal close to the points, and a distant signal preceeding it some distance away? Assuming that is correct, I plan to put the stop signal immediately before the points start. Would that be reasonable? I also suspect the distance between a distant and stop would be greater than the length of a layout? Would a distant signal need to be more than, say, a few feet away? ALSO - as a modification to this... what if the points were also used to allow goods train on on the Up line to reverse (set back?) onto the down line and then onto an access line to a goods yard? Would I need ground signals for this? Thanks!

Well this has been a good find - a very informative thread, thanks to all the contributors to date!

Maybe the rolling stock has just emerged from a warm shed or workshop? That might be able to justify (to some extent) the lack of snow and ice. That said, maybe there's an argument for having a wet surface instead of frost. I think its what you make of it and the overall look v effort - and what's fun and what isn't.

Many thanks, Fat Controller. If I interpret things as having the line heading through the arch, I think I'll go for the 'no engines'/limited clearance approach. Modified rolling stock could, however, make for an interesting conversion in future, although I think the small rural yard off a GWR mainline wouldn't have had that luxury.

Likewise, many thanks Dickon. That looks like a more 'infrastructure' sign that I amagine was commonplace across the network. Do you have dimensions for it, even approximate? And do you know if that pattern of sign was used in the mid-1940s?

Many thanks, JimC. That would be a nice idea on the layout, I haven't seen that before. I guess the same wording could have been applied to a wooden sign in a rural branchline, rather than trying to replicate the cast plaque. If so, that could be a nice way ahead for me. Just out of interest, do you have the dimensions of the sign?

Wow, that looks worse than mine! Remarkable really. Thanks for the insight.

Thanks Mike, i might have to pretend (in my own mind at least) that its worked by horses. That, and applying Rule 1!

Thanks davknigh - I might need to get one then, they look good!

Many thanks ikcdab, thoughts much appreciated. Maybe I'll go for the illusion!

Hello all, it's been a while as I haven't much to ask or mention. Now I'm making a little progress, I would be grateful though for some advice on bridge clearances in goods yards. I have a small rural goods yard alongside a mainline. I'm wondering about using the smaller arch to run a siding through. This is to give the illusion of a bigger yard with more on the other side of the bridge (the model bridge being a scenic break, as the layout ends here, so no actual model track extension). I know that there were occurances of yards extending beyond a bridge from google images, layouts in mags etc. I also found on this website the 'official' cleances for stations, running lines, etc. However, the clearances of the small arch are tight. I therefore wonder if its worth just lumping it with short sidings, or having the line go through the arch. Because its to create an illusion of space and reality, if the clearances for rolling stock are ridiculously small and unrealistic, then there seems little point in doing it. Any thoughts would be gratefully received, and may be of use to others as well. I attach some photos of the 2 options, using an SR van as a visual guide.

Hi Alan (or anyone else who knows about ye olde cameras!), are any of these figures suitable for say a 1945 setting?

Hi Kevin, I've just got back into checking in on RMWeb on a regular basis and I'm really pleased that the great posts are still coming, to provide inspiration and ideas (and motivation when needed!).

Great, many thanks Gopher. I didn't twig that they were Mk1s. I have Bachmann GWR coaches which don't have flush glazing, presumably older.

Hi Gopher, are those Bachmann coaches? Did they come with the glazing that appears to be flush? I have some Bachmann coaches but they definitely aren't flush.

Distributor of free copies of the famous '30s book "2 shades of grey", followed by the less popular sequel "3 wonky wheels"?

Hi Phil, thanks for confirming anyway!

Thanks to Wamwig for pointing out that some of the figures can now be found at: https://finescalefigures.co.uk/shop-all/ plus some ones too. I noticed a lack of options for 'practicing skin tones" though!

Hi Phil, upon reflection, I'm not going to have time to put that kind of scene together, so please disregard my off-the-wall query!

Ha, yes, there was a moment of bemused silence! Well, it has been nearly a year in lockdown!!!

Hi, I notice that 3 photos are required. I have a vague idea of doing a scene looking from within a shed outwards toward a platform (of sorts). Photography would only work from the one angle (inside, looking out). Or maybe two shots but the angle would be very similar. Would 2 similar scenic shots plus one of the construction be acceptable? Or must it be something that can be photographed from 3 separate angles?

I do have the makings of a layout in a conservatory. The conservatory has a radiator and sometimes an extra convection heater for in winter. It has been very hot in summer, and rather chilly in winter at night (like now). I've used a modular approach so I can move it (to clean the windows, for decorating, parties if they ever happened, etc). Construction s of 9mm ply and backboard, with bracing underneath. Rigidity gained from the backboard screwed onto a baton along the back of the baseboard, and another strip of ply screwed along the front baton. The platform is made of a B&Q floorboard so that helps too. Touch wood, the baseboards haven't warped. The only warping is on one of the backboards, at the top . I do think that bit of wood was a bit warped when I bought it though. I've since added bracing along the top, which doubles as a wider rest for the top perspex sheet, and potentially for an LED lighting strip (and maybe a flying spitfire), but all in good time. The base and backboard are all well varnished, or painted and lacquered. This is to protect against errant condensation from the glass. It all seems fine. I have recently added a frame of strip wood over the top, and added a perspex sheet as a top to protect against dust and sunlight. I also have front sheets as well. These are attached to the wooden frame with magnetic strip as for secondary glazing. In time, I'll get some fancy wooden facia to go over the bits where the magnetic strip are, for aesthetic purposes. The overall effect when fully screened up is like a museum. Actually, the initial reason for the front sheets is to protect against my brother's dog's destructive tail, and little fingers of our friend's 3-year-old. But apparently, the perspexx has good UV protective qualities, which is reassuring. I did find with the first scenic work I did that there was some fading due to sunlight, so I'm glad I got the perspex ready for spring and summer. I would say though that the sun fading actually did me bit of a favour by nicely subdueing down the colours, especially of the foliage, so it wasn't an entirely bad outcome. So far, I haven't had any issues. Hopefully it will survive for many more years to come. I've only built a bit of it, however. Photos of the initial catalyst for a layout are below, using old train stuff I found in a loft from when I was young. And then a shot along the set to give an idea, although the front perspex isn't on, and one of the top perspex sheets isn't on. I took them off to work on the track laying.

Hmm, good point about the security aspect. Maybe I won't mention it.