Binky

If someone wants to sit at home surrounded by toilet roll and pasta then that's frustrating enough but I hope we don't see overflowing food recycling bins again in a few weeks time when all the hoarded uneaten food starts to go off.

I think I'm going to get even more angry at panic buyers this time around, if they didn't learn from the first time then it shows just how selfish/stupid they are.

Butchers shops with dead animals in the window are gross, but the shops with fruit and veg in the window are grocer!

Apologies for the strange question, I've noticed the ZZA snowploughs have a door on each side and a window on the back.

Now I know the American Russell built snowploughs (or plows) had moveable wings on the side and a forward facing operators cabin but the ZZAs don't have this feature and the only window on them faces backwards towards the loco, so what is the purpose of the compartment and what's inside them?

Thanks

When Mary had a little lamb the midwife was surprised.

But when Old MacDonald had a farm she couldn't believe her eyes!

I've dabbled in Gn15 although it had quite a following at one point, and quite a few kits are/were available using OO gauge chassies so I wouldn't say it's the most difficult scale to get started in.

I doubt the TV producers or the big manufacturers are concerned about the difference between "modellers", RTR box openers and collectors (a whole subject on it's own!). The TV producers (if they bothered estimating at all) probably included all of the above for the purpose of presenting railway modelling as a large hobby, And manufacturers will mostly be interested in how many people buy their product, not necessarily what level of the hobby they are used for once purchased. Most casual watchers of the programme would probably call anything involving small trains as "railway modelling" anyway and in my opinion all levels of the hobby are part of a big community, sales of RTR and to collectors still bring money into the industry to keep manufacturers afloat and help to promote the hobby at "entry" level.

As for numbers I'd agree that magazine circulation and social media account interactions are a good way of getting an idea of how many modellers there are. Or perhaps if we knew what annual sales of model railway products were and how much an average modeller spent we could do some maths.

I'm curious as to wether it really is the "biggest indoor hobby in the UK" but I guess the definition of "hobby" is another can of worms. There are probably more households with board games than a model railway but many will only be played occasionally and the owners may not consider it a hobby as such. Computer gaming would also have a claim to the title.

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. I managed to find another HD wagon which was cheap and suitable for spares (good wheels, poor body) so I can bring this van back to life.

I see the pope is selling some of his old robes on ebay.

I was thinking of putting in a bid...

But it's Papal only!

42 minutes ago, Ray Von said:

Interesting you should say that, I was toying with the idea of adding a low relief loading bay into the backdrop (narrow platform and roll up shutter) - maybe Red Star Parcels... 

Nice idea, a Red Star sign and a few trolleys on the platform are all you'd need to give the impression that parcels are being handled there.

The third option looks good to me. A track either side of the platform gives slightly more scope for passenger and perhaps parcels operation.

Looking at that end of your layout I'm thinking a station arrangement like Appleford could work well. The station has very few facilities (only 2 shelters) and access is from steps down from a road bridge which would provide a scenic break.

http://www.hondawanderer.com/165103_Appleford_2009.htm

..and a view from the bridge.

9 hours ago, RedgateModels said:

John is very good with this, buy the kit in any of the available options, email John and he should send you the kit in the texture you require

Good to know, thanks!

Looking at the railway buildings recently I notied that not all of the kits are available in all the brickwork colour options. It would be nice to see these offered so that people building a station area or similar can get everything in matching brickwork.

15 hours ago, sb67 said:

I'm enjoying this thread and I've started to plan my next layout, which I would like to run a small parcels train. Does anyone know of any small depots from the 70's 80's I could have a look at for some inspiration? 

 

Many thanks.

My layout is going to be inspired by Wolverhampton Low Level which was closed to passengers then shortened and used part of the original platforms for parcels in the 1970s, the disused stations website has some good photos. A bay platform such as that at Oxford would be good for modelling parcels handling in a small space too.

I'm hoping to start a business making money from used chewing gum.

But I need some help getting it off the ground!

1 hour ago, johnw1 said:

If you really want to be adventures you could try one of these

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5890749766/

 

 

I do like those 6 wheelers, I believe they are only available as a brass kit?

On 06/09/2020 at 13:41, Oldddudders said:

Although probably not really on the OP's radar, I recall a quite interesting working at East Croydon. An MLV - Motor Luggage Van - would come empty from Victoria Eastern, where it had no doubt just arrived off an afternoon boat train, and would enter the Down Sidings, picking up a couple of loaded vans and returning to Victoria via Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill and Herne Hill. The MLV was used because it had a limited capability off the juice rail, as the sidings were not electrified.

 

The vans were mainly used for Post Office traffic, I think, which would have been loaded there. The fact that the local hostelry, backing on to the loading bay by the sidings, was called the Porter and Sorter, did give a clue as to its customary clientele.  

Still a very interesting bit of info. I can see myself being tempted into buying an MLV too!

Nothing wrong with consenting adults having a quick laugh at something like this but I'd have to question the maturity of someone who finds it funny long enough to actually order the figures and put them on a model railway.

I agree that they're just a bit naff, people should stick to the overused "man reading newspaper on the toilet" or naming lineside industries "Norfolk & Goode" if they really want to get a chuckle out of people viewing the layout.

6 minutes ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

The plate is fixed to the wall then the slider is set to the height that the nearest rail should be.

I seem to remember the plates actually have something like "Height of nearest rail" written on them.

Maybe it's used for weather forecasting?

Forecasting stone - Berneray by Andrew Walsh, on Flickr

Forecasting stone - Berneray by Andrew Walsh, on Flickr

5 hours ago, rob D2 said:

Going back to your original idea of Aylesbury , there was a whole thread on aylesbury freight in 70s and 80s.

 

The vans were loaded in sidings behind the station , or slightly further down near the futuristic new office building, they were kept sometimes north of the station near the old goods shed.Used a mix of stock from BGs through SPVs to some of the older designs 

 

 

Some great info, Rob. Thanks. I'll have to find that thread.

It's good to see the 70s cars in that shot. Interesting to see the white door insides on the PMV too. I'd never given much thought to what colour they were inside but I guess this was done to maximise light.

19 minutes ago, Chrisr40 said:

I have to admit that I enjoy bargain hunting as much as building and operating. I am a buyer for a living and it's difficult to switch off the instincts. I grow my own seafoam for trees too which saves money.

A little off topic but I'm a bargain hunter too, and part of the fun of modelling for me is repairing/altering/restoring things, just like preservation and restoration in the real world.

I once had someone in the radio control model truck community get very angry at me when I asked if anyone had a used cab for sale as a project, because in his mind I was "cheap" for not buying a new one when cutting up and repurposing a used one would be just as good and more satisfying.

I'm looking for some more realistic wheels for this Hornby Dublo SR Utility van. Solid wheels with non-pinpoint axles to fit the HD chassis.

Does anyone have a set they are happy to part with before I have to buy a pack of 8 sets off ebay?

Thanks

12 hours ago, Chrisr40 said:

Maybe a better idea would be a how to buy 2nd hand without getting caught out. If you are expecting to start the hobby and buy everything new then even basic things are going to be relatively pricey/soon add up. With a bit of knowledge shared by those already in the hobby you could make wise rather than impulse purchases at toy fairs etc and get a good start. Keeping an eye on sales and bargain bins on line is also recomended. 

I think Budget Model Railways has covered this a bit on youtube. Newcomers would certainly benefit from a guide of what to look out for/avoid, where money can be saved and what things are worth spending money on. Something in text format would be good so it can be printed off or saved on a smartphone for reference.