Phil Mason

Thanks for your kind comments, Robert. Im hoping the layout will appear in Model Rail at some point. Alternatively it'll be 'in the flesh' at York next year. I've also got small exhibition layouts in N gauge and 00 but I like working in 3mm the best. I'm just in the process of creating another dummy loco as a 'failure' to push around the depot with the shunter. The bodies were cast in resin for me from a Plastikard master but 3D printing is taking over nowadays. I've also done an EM2 but, being out of period, it only makes an occasional appearance. The odd AC electric does come sometimes, as they did occasionally at Reddish to use the wheel lathe.

Bluish will be appearing at St John's exhibition in Trent Vale (Stoke) ST4 6SB on Sat/Sun 29/30 July. As well as the iconic class 76 electric locos, the layout will also feature some rather tasty diesel traction, demonstrating the 'state of the art' in 3mm scale. We hope to see some of you there. Phil

Ooops! Hadn't noticed that. Modelling water as well? Ambitious, but well done! As I'm always leaving it to the last minute to catch a train, the lack of direct access disturbs me. Think I'd miss a few trains. I love the stonework, though, and even a small extra bridge over the headshunt would cover some of that up. Yes, it depends on whether one wants an 'operating well' or just emergency access. I find it's one of the most important areas and one rarely written about. Once again, you seem to have got it right first time.

Thanks for your reply but I was wondering how big the well is (in feet or whatever) and if you think it's sufficient? It's interesting about your "what can I leave out?" philosophy and even more fascinating that this doesn't necessarily come naturally but you have to make it happen with mock ups etc. I'm sure your measured approach has paid off but I'm amazed that it's all come together first time. Yes, of course compromise always comes in. I've written about this for my club mag. It starts with materials (plastics etc) and size constraints but goes right through to perspective and viewing angles as well as perception of texture and colour. Wait a minute, there's a name for that. Modelling! Thanks very much for sharing and putting your art in the public domain. It's an inspiration and refreshingly different. PS I'd put the footbridge alongside the road bridge, but I'm probably wrong.

I love track plan. I've never seen anything like it before, it's truly original. Yes, it's a master stroke to shove the 'precious things' to each end and create all that space in the middle. I can see that. But the track plan is inspired, giving, as it does, continuous and end to end running for both passenger and freight, as well as a stabling point. It's both minimalist and sufficient at the same time. How you came up with this straight off I'll never know. I'm convinced that many of us are still suffering from 'plan of the month' syndrome of the 1960s and '70s. These always had far too much track in any given space and often only room for an operator with an eating disorder. So, on that note, how big is the access well in the middle? Is it to be used or merely to access fiddle yard problems? One think I've noticed, are there any plans for a footbridge from the booking office to the platform? I suppose they'd put in a lift nowadays and a huge structure with ramps! Had anyone modelled something like Barnetby? I know you're supposed to be able to see if from space but would it fit in a modern house? Z gauge? T scale? I digress. Wonderful modelling here, all beautifully blended. The selection of what to include is just right. And it's a great choice of prototype backstory giving a reason for proper trains. And it's got blue stuff and it's set in the North...I'm dead jealous and you should be very proud. It all reminds me of Leek Brook Jn (the other side of the Peak District). Or was this taken on your layout?

Thanks for your kind comments TT100 but 100% scratch built? Not quite! One of them is, I suppose but that's a dummy, half of on an airbraked pair. The thee working locos have three different proprietary chassis underneath. They are Arnold, Piko and Berlinerbahnen. Each has advantages and disadvantages. The 47 has yet another one - Tillig and a rather elderly cl50, which might make an appearance, has a Roco power unit but these are rather hard to find. I wish I had your patience and finishing skills, Your weathering just looks the bees. Mine is more accidental - often the result of dodgy painting (but don't tell anyone!). So, no professional modelling skills on show here but the postings are more along the lines of if I can do something that hopefully looks OK, then it might inspire others to jump in. P.

The idea of a loco shed to as a minimum space layout is, maybe, a little hackneyed but hopefully it's if some interest by including a few more novel features.

The track plan is deliberately a bit bonkers so that things have to be shuffled around, rather than just a fan from the fiddle yard.

Some features came from nearby Guide Bridge, such as the lower quadrant signal, unusual being 'under the wires'. the refuelling point borrows from both places.

As many features as possible from Reddish were incorporated, including the foot crossing and the wooden shed - both feature prominently in photos of that location.

The object of the layout was to provide a test bed for pantographs and catenary, something new to me. It started from a 2x1 framework left over from an old fireplace so something like 'Phoenix Jn' was mooted but with Reddish depot serving the Manchester Woodhead line, the idea came to make a little loco shed serving diesels and electrics. Being set in the BR blue era (c1980), it became known as 'Bluish' instead.

I feel I have to pass this link on to you guys. I think it's brilliant. It's so good, I could have written it myself! I've just re-read it and giggled all the way through. I realise I've lived by these principles all my life. it's about photography, but it applies equally well to our hobby, assuming that you you want to buy stuff (even though that's not strictly necessary to enjoy the hobby). https://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/how-to-afford-anything.htm

He he! Leave your money in the bank where it belongs! However, I do recall a time in the '70s when if you didn't buy something when you could you'd not be able to afford it next time you went to the shops. Regarding magazines, I find it better value to join organisations - I get the 'N Gauge Journal' from the society and 'Mixed Traffic' from the 3mm Soc. and our club newsletter available on here somewhere: https://www.macclesfieldmrg.org.uk As an antidote to the beautifully modelled diesels above here is my rather rougher experiment in the 'art of the possible' in 3mm. Scratch built on salvaged bogies, decals drawn on PowerPoint and printed on decal paper. It almost looks acceptable at normal viewing distance and it's provided hours of fun for £4. Yes, there are lots of ways to enjoy this hobby and it will survive. But the comments are all interesting and the possible effects on exhibitions and clubs worrying.

Just an observation, I 'won' in two EBay auctions recently. I NEVER win EBay auctions because, being a Yorkshireman, I always bid too low. Does this mean second hand prices are falling? I had just put it down to nice weather and people doing other things at this time of year. I think I must be very untypical. I consider myself reasonably well off but I hardly ever buy magazines, most of my stuff is secondhand and my main enjoyment is building stuff that is different from the norm or in altering a commercial product in some way. My hero remains Peter Denny who built almost everything himself, starting in post-war austerity. His book 'Buckingham Great Central' is the best investment I ever made, as it explains many of his methods. I don't think I'm 'elitist', rather I'm 'have a go ist' because the layouts I find most interesting at shows are the ones that show the greatest amount of hand building or ingenuity regardless of what people might call 'quality'. Detail is bothering me less nowadays as I need stronger glasses to see it. Just one comment regarding trade attendance at shows - a thought is in that word 'show'. It'll always be difficult to gauge the value of people who walk past but then make an on-line order some days later (though I'm aware of surveys and questionnaires etc).

We seem to have digressed somewhat! To return to the original subject, I model in 2mm, 3mm and 4mm scales. I also call them N gauge, TT and 'Double Oh' (or 1:150, 1:100 and 1:something ridiculous). Do I need another scale? Absolutely not! If I was new to modelling, would I take up this new scale? Not at the moment. It'll take a long time to build to build up the catalogues from the ancillary or cottage manufacturers to support the scale. It'll take even longer to build up an affordable second hand market that many modellers rely on as a the basis of conversions or scratch building to fill the holes. Will it be possible to build a layout in this scale? Certainly, but one would need a degree of inventiveness and resourcefulness to do so. It'll be difficult for quite some time and require many compromises in terms of track, signals and scenic items as well as rolling stock. It will happen because we are a resourceful lot and we like a challenge but if you want to model a particular place and time your layout could be built and up and running in any other scale before this one. The emphasis on true scale and gauge is an irrelevance. This can be achieved relatively easily in any of the mainstream scales. Unfortunately we are all in a grown up hobby with toy roots and legacy from the '50s and '60s so we are stuck with this plethora of heritage scales and gauges. My view is that neither Peco's announcement, nor Heljan's, is likely to attract younger participants or newcomers to the hobby. EM gauge RTR class 68 anyone? (Though I guess it's just a case of drop in wheel sets anyway). I'm off to do some modelling...

Sorry to disappoint. No sliding parts. I couldn't decide whether to make the runners 1:100, 1:101.785352 recurring or 1:120. he he! Time for bed, love to all. P.

Really? You're having a laugh! I admit it. I'm a complete heathen. I use 1:150 for N, sometimes 2mm for N, 1:100 for three mill. It makes no difference. It's plastic toy trains, not the international space station! Nobody will die (or even notice) if I get it wrong. My compromises are nowhere near that used by Peco for years for their H0/00 track. And, of course 2.5 is 2.54 rounded to two significant figures. I'm a (mediocre) modeller, not an engineer. I can only work to two significant figures.

But there won't be any RTR in 2.5mm scale or not of significance. It's pie in the sky. It makes no sense for all the above reasons. (See various comments re H0 and 'proper' N gauge). I must admit I haven't read Modeller or any other commercial mag for 20 years or so. To me, they are full of the same stuff we've all seen before. Indeed, Peco don't seem to have moved on much with their proposed 2.5mm stuff. It's as though they lifted a 'Modeller' off their shelves from 50 years ago. Seven plank wagon? What planet are they on? I have never even seen a real 7 plank wagon. But maybe you're right. I don't get much enjoyment personally from owning stuff or counting Chinese rivets. I'm out of touch. Back to my plastic botching...

3mm PIA/KIB under construction. Oops, it's on 1:120 running gear. And on H0m track. Oh dear, I've made a compromise. Help! Get me out of here...

"If you're in 00 and feeling cramped TT:120 could be just the ticket..." Except it'd make far more sense to go 3mm for all the reasons outlined above.

I'm simply gobsmacked by most of the comments on here. I don't want to get personal but my thoughts are: British 1:120 is only going to be a tiny niche, rather like British H0. There won't be an extensive range soon. Wish lists are just that. The new track is really for the overseas markets where 1:120 is established (and, of course, people modelling continental prototypes in UK). It might be of some use for 3mm modellers but not 60 year old Triang (which, however, can often use H0m track). There won't be big queues to spend £500 a loco, no matter what the perceived 'quality'. All modellers are adept at the 'art of compromise'. At the end of the day, we're talking about plastic toy trains. They are not made of metal with fires or diesel engines inside and there's no little man made of flesh and blood driving them. It's really about painting a picture and letting the imagination take over at some point. Where that point is depends on your personal views but it's always there. if you want a scale between N and 00, the obvious choice is 3mm (that's the 'same' as 1:100 - it's a compromise!). It can run on 13.5, 14.2 or 12mm (if you can cope with the compromise) and there exists a huge range of kits, parts and 'near ready to run' through the 3mm Society and elsewhere. 2.5mm is too close to N as shown in the pictures above. For years, 00 modellers have used track which isn't even British H0. The sleeper spacing is correct for 3mm (not 3.5 or 4mm). 70 years after it was invented, EM seems to be gaining in popularity. We had golden opportunities to ditch both British N scale and 00 when production shifted to China. Unfortunately they weren't taken. There will always be people for whom the mainstream compromises are not acceptable. There are any number of specialist groups and societies catering for these modellers. 2mm scale is a prime example. In case anybody is wondering, I model (and have small exhibition layouts) in 00, 3mm (12mm) and N. I wish I didn't. If I had my time again I'd use EM, 3mm (13.5) and 2mm. I have no desire to model 1:120 but I might if I was to model a continental scene. It's a nice scale. Lastly, railway modellers are a funny lot. If we were all proper modellers, that is scratch builders, scale would be irrelevant. If we were all just collectors, then scale would irrelevant. As it is, what we call 'modelling' is a mixture (compromise?) where we buy stuff to plant, play with stuff like toys, do a bit of constructional stuff ourselves and we expect all the items from different trade sources to be fully compatible, work perfectly and be as accurate as possible. There must be nothing else like it! But what makes this hobby great and interesting is that there are no rules. You make your own. You can do what you want: pick and chose from the trade, model prototype locations or go freelance, spend years building one model or quickly move on to another project. What truly elevates it above all other hobbies is the sheer diversity of skills that can be developed: historical research, art, photography, woodwork, metalwork, electronics and electrical engineering and, perhaps more importantly, personal skills like dedication, team work and problem solving. Anybody still with me? Enjoy your modelling and build some great layouts whatever scale or gauge you chose, though I'd be surprised if many are British 1:120. Phil

I'm convinced this is all a dream or an April fool. If it's the latter, the joke is on Peco. Sure, there'll be a market for 1:120 track (assuming it's better than their H0 track which, ironically, has correct sleeper spacing for 3mm scale!), but British RTR 2.5mm scale? It's a blind alley. There's no market at present. Is there a future market? Possibly, but surely not with 7 plank wagons. The proposed range looks like something out of Modeller from the 1960s when it was almost modern image. Sure, nobody is asking me but I'd have suggested an MEA wagon or HBA to go with the 66 And, maybe, a colour light signal. Model railways are often about nostalgia. Soon everybody will be dead who remembers 7 plank wagons. Or signal boxes for that matter. Hornby Dublo, Triang TT and 00 were all modern image in their hay day. They didn't make models of Victorian era prototypes. Sorry, Peco, you've dropped a clanger with this one. British outline H0 might have been better. I think there's an H0 66 out there...And lots of track (even though it has too many sleepers). (that'll get 'em going!) Phil

Culthwaite is a portmanteau of CULgaith and ArmaTHWAITE. I just thought, Port Manteau could be a good name for the 7mm... Phil

Seven layouts for £1.50? That has to be the bargain of the century! Let's hope for some hefty donations on the door for the air ambulance and our school hosts. See you all there, Phil Can't wait for the bacon butties...

I've got one of these and it's basically useless. The decoder constantly trips out on any type of track imperfection. I can run the old split chassis version over dead frogs no problem. And the sound is poor when it does work. I'm guessing the only way to make this a 'useful engine' is fitting stay alive. Why don't Bachmann add this to the chip? It'd cost them about another 50p on a £170 plus loco. Phil Mason