AndyB

All the best for your move.

Thanks for taking time.e away from packing to showcase your modelling.

Looking forward to seeing what new models you'll create in your new home.

Andy

Hi Keith. 

First and foremost I hope all goes well with you and your's. Must be a busy time preparing for the move and it's good you're finding a bit of time to imagine what model-railway opportunities may present themselves in your new home.

I like very much the slice of Ontario video. The builder had obviously thought about camera angles and settled on 3 or 4 places to capture the action.

FWIW I think the space you might have would lend itself well to a section of line running through countryside, perhaps with an overgrown siding serving something like a rustic saw mill. There'd be possibilities for all sorts of cameos.

If you do manage to get a cassette each end it would mean having to do a lot of cassette switching each time a train runs through the scene. I'd council against this and maybe stick to a fiddle stick at just one end.

Also remember the rule of thirds; a cruel mistress when space is limited. But one loco and a couple of wagons is going look a lot more realistic than a 5 coach express train.

On my own layout I'm thinking carefully about viewing points and angles then dividing those spaces into thirds and placing objects of interest at the intersection lines. This might help you map out your available space to create a visually appealing scene, too?

All the best. Andy

1 hour ago, Phil Parker said:

 

That Dockside layout on the cover is excellent... 😁

Ah yes. A small dockside layout. 

Keith could have his 🍰 ...and you'd eat it.  🤣

"...I could see if a Minories-type  terminus / FY might be possible,..."

Other track plans are available. 🤣

You might like to take a look at this book. A lot lof interesting micro plans, UK and US outline.

As for the switching layout this one came to mind...from the 1977 MRC exhibition.

I'm certain there's a layout out there for you. And, as you say, a new home nay inspire you. 

My personal take home from this is to count my blessings. I'm fortunate to have room to build and leave set up a space for my own layout. 

@Keith Addenbrooke I think you get a lot of pleasure from assembling building kits. And this might feed into a working diorama approach. I particularly liked the large station building g you shared with us. Nice bit of work that. 

You've previously focused on the roundy-roundy style of layout. But thinking about what Mikkel has mentioned I'm wondering if a small (hinged halfway) FY to terminus layout might work...with removable buildings for compactness.  Two  3' x 12"?

Or a US-themed shunting plank with a hidden FY siding inside a low relief warehouse. 

Not forgetting that a small, nicely modelled layout trumps a large mediocre layout every time.

Hi @Keith Addenbrooke always interesting to read you latest post.

Out of interest I'm wondering how big your new garden might be?

It's a shame you're losing your outside workshop.

But I'm wondering if there might be room for a very small shed which could accomodate a terminus down one side of it. And an out and back track outside the shed? Some folk punch a hole through their shed walls to allow trains to go in and out. 

6' x 4' sheds are around £250; comparable to a couple of locos? Maybe there are 2nd hand ones going begging.

All the best. Andy

Hi Keith.

Thanks for the name check. Although I'd be the first to say that over-planning is simply asking for life to come and bite you in the derriere. 

@ian is quite right in saying that the challenges are getting started and then persisting with it.  

Ian's idea of a series of modules .ight allow you to work on a small project, complete it, and move on.

Obviously space is, and will be, an issue for you. I'm wondering if you've considered using one of the Mens' Sheds in your area? Perhaps sonething could be constructed and maybe even stored there? 

Cheers for now. Andy

Hi Keith.

As ever a lot of good points to digest.

I think if you were to focus on narrow gauge you'd have the chance to do something really nice. Even if the space is more restricted. 

I've lost count of the minimal space narrow gauge layouts that have given me a "Wow" moment. These layouts seem to tell a story much better than their larger cousins. 

A 4' x 2' narrow gauge affair can  pack a punch. Whereas in standard gauge the same space would be very restricted. Long live the OO9 rabbit warren!!
 

To your thoughts on the pace of life and modelling. I read a thread recently...it may have been part of this blog??... where completing a layout left a huge gap in the person's life. They'd forgotten that each part of the build WAS the hobby and should be savoured. Not raced through to get to the finishing line.

That's the kind of thing we do at work. And hobbies aren't work. 

That's why on my own layout I've happily spent days trying to resolve one particular problem. Technically it was you that resolved it before I went mad. But you probably get my point.

When it comes to the shopping side of it we probably do a lot more of this than is healthy. And oftentimes purchases don't give long-term pleasure; a bit like a sugary snack. Pausing to think it through is more likely to give longer term benefit; a bit like an oat bar. 

And of course you've shown the value of turning some scrap material into a unique wagon load. For pennies! And I'd hazard that's given more pleasure than winning many an ebay auction.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings. Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a new start in 2024!

Andy

Hi Keith. 

That's really good progress. 

What's the next step on those wagons? 

Some weathering maybe to tone the plastic down? 

Not being au fait with the US genre I searched for some images to find out what they would looking after being in service.

And found this grain train and this set of grain elevator photos.

A bit of dry brushing and powders would take them to the next level, I think.Lots of fun to be had there!

Hi Keith.

So there's a lot of thoughts in this piece. 

So Im just teasing out one bit to reflect on.

"... when I get something new I guess I want to feel some of the buzz I did when I first got started..."

For as long as I can remember I've always spent a long time mulling over purchases. I think this started about 50 years ago when I had to choose a "big" Christmas present. Should it be a Class 37 or a Class 08. Money was tight so there was a real responsibility on young shoulders to choose something that would be valued. Of all my model railway acquisitions that loco is still with me. 

And yes, there was a buzz to it. But a lot of the pleasure was in the choosing. 

For me a new acquisition (generally) has to fit in with an overall plan which rakes a bit if research and mulling over; Ive not changed that much!.

For example, did a locomotive work the line I'm building? (Yes, I do stray from time to time).

But overall I'm collecting a single theme around southern region locos.

I guess to an extent that reduces the excitement a bit; I'm buying it because its the right thing to get. But longer term I'll know the finished layout will be internally consistent; and there's a lot of satisfaction in that. Proof is in the pudding. When I saw my last layout completed and on the front cover of RM it was one hell of a buzz. 

It sounds like you could pick a subset of your collection and build a layout or diorama. Perhaps in that creativity that's where you could find longer-lasting enjoyment?  And if you do then pick another set of kits from your collection and do it again.  Seriously, offer it to a magazine to publish. You'll be chuffed to see it in print. 

There was a recent thread in the Modelling Musings section which brought up the subject of mortality and cracking on with building "something" rather than just letting life pass you by.

There's merit in picking a subject and running with it till it's complete. Doesn't really matter if it's not the ultimate fantasy layout; after all fantasies are just that. Few people on here get to start building their layout of a lifetime. Fewer still get to finish it. 

We also have to recognise that there's often hard slog in completing something. Especially when the whole includes tasks you don't like but have to work through.

I Iike the new train. Ausgezeichnet!

Andy

Hi Keith.

So if I've understood you're shifting the location from Europe to Alaska with the possibility of mountainous scenery.

I recall one of the planning constraints is the vertical depth of the baseboards which affects manoeuvrability. 

On the face of it this might preclude mountains. But there are some nice photographic backscenes available, e.g. 

ID Backscenes ID-P260A.

I guess another question is whether you envisage looking at the model from within the operating well, or from one or more of the outside edges, looking inwards. If the latter you could have some fun building up a nice mountainous scene at the centre on a lightweight foam base?

Either way I think a backscene would probably need to be removable. 

Andy

Hi Keith.

How about this US-themed railway. 

It's got it all.

Short passenger trains.

Dramatic scenery.

No driver...

Tight curves and unrealistic speeds - as I'm about to find out! 

I think the heat may have got to me today! 😁

Back in Hampshire tomorrow when I'll give a more sensible contribution.

Andy

Hi Keith.

Another interesting post. Thank you.

In particular for the links to layouts; I found myself watching the Furtigen layout for several minutes and thinking it would be very much your cup of tea.

But of course it's bigger than you have space for! 

The idea of a train circulating in a figure of eight is one we've talked about by DM.

It was at this point my memory kicked in and reminded me of a series of micro layouts you designed a while back entitled "Round and Round They Go!" 

So I'm wondering if you might adapt that circular design for the HO layout? 

Just a thought! 

Cheers for now. Andy

Hi Keith. 

Yep, its the Rabone & Ridley book. A nice mix of British, Continental and North American layout ideas based on prototypes of various genres (mainline, narrow gauge, modern era and steam age.)

Sounds like you need an Indian summer to finish off those baseboards! 

Keith, as ever you've produced a very considered post with nany interesting points.

In quoting Lance Mindheim you've helped me understand why my current roundy-roundy appeals to me more than a layout focused on operational interest. Perhaps watching trains go by takes me back to spotting says on the Great Eastern line! 

I'll be interested to see what prototype inspires you for the HO standard gauge layout. I took a look at "Layout Designs for Operation" this morning which has a number of designs for continental layouts which might be of interest. (aware of the irony looking at a plans book titled "...designs for operation"!!)

Looking at the tag line of your blog: "The ramblings and reflections of a perpetual project planner - and my attempts to build a model railway." I'm wondering if you'd be best cracking on with the smaller narrow gauge layout build whilst you mull over the possibilities of your larger standard gauge layout?

Anyway. As ever your blog is a pleasure to read and, like others, I'll look forward to further installments! 

Hi Keith. 

Thanks for the update. 

FWIW I think downsizing the baseboard will work well for you. To be able to easily get the layout in and out of the house has to be a good thing. 

I'd be interested to know what the scenic treatment will be in the centre? Reason for asking is that you've got your much-desired continuous run. BUT if the train is in sight all the time then this will (IMHO) detract from what might be achieved?

I'm wondering if you could build up and over the 'rear' of the circuit then you'd see trains appear and disappear; maybe a pine forest? Also the amount of scenery would be increased to give an increased sense of distance.

I know that manoeuvrability is important. So you could maybe build up the scenery on removable layers of foam? 

Final thought. The hole in the middle would allow you to drop scenery below the track datum. Could be a lake or river in there? 

Anyway these care just some thoughts...looking forward to hearing how this progresses! Andy

Hi Keith. 

I was going to sketch out the plan o mentioned above for you.

On opening my sketch pad...Voila! There was already a drawing of it. No idea when or why I did that! 

Anyway, here 'ti's. 

The terminus is generic and could be swapped for anything you fancy. And including a lineside industry could be anything you fancy or left out altogether. 

The key thing is that the upper level is a narrowish, removable board. You might even have multiple variants of it to suit your wide-ranging interests. Equally any scenery in the centre might also be removable and themed; and being removable would and manoeuvrability.

Anyway looking forward to seeing your next post when time permits. Andy

Hi Keith. Thanks for the name check.

Obviously very interested to find out where your thinking takes you next.

I'd say "babies and bath water" would be the watchword here. 

For quite a while you've hoped to achieve a continuous run. That was your cardinal point spec.

In PMs you've mentioned that height of the layout could be a problem when you occasionally need to move the layout. 

At this point my mind recalls an ancient CJF OO plan (last plan in one of his 1960s books) where there was an out and back / continuous run plan with a BLT branching off and sitting above the continuous run. The space you're contemplating and his plan were about the same,  if memory serves.

Now. Super4 track was a different from modern track standards. BUT it seems you may be considering narrow gauge, which might mean it would work. 

BUT, your issue was the height of a layout for manoeuvrability. So, my suggestion would be to have the lower continuous / out and back on your existing board. And the elevated BLT part on a removable section. 

Happy to provide a sketch if it's of interest. 

Anyway I'm look forward to reading the next installment and learning where your thinking is taking you.

Andy

Thanks Keith. A very intesting perspective; thank-you for sharing. 

As you know I'm currently working on a new layout and, like you, I currently favour the roundy-roundy approach. Nantford Spinney BLT had about an 18' run FY to station throat. But even with that it would have been nice to settle back and watch the scene for longer without having to intervene.  Hence the new N gauge layout will allow that.

But eventually I may conclude that I can do that in a larger scale (OO9). And in a few years time that may be easier to work with. 

I sympathise with you struggling to see the very fine detail; I'll confess that when track laying I have to run my finger over joints to double check alignment.  

As ever I'll be interested to see where your layout planning takes you. 

Andy 

The other takeaway I get is that you've gained experience over many gauge and scale combinations. 

In particular you've found N gauge too small for your eyesight but seem to gravitate towards narrow gauge in larger scales. 

So I wanted to ask how you've found working with track that I'm guessing is on a par with N gauge? 

My likely direction of travel is eventually to move from N gauge up to 009*, so I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. 

* the recent r-t-r locos are very hard to resist!!

Hi Keith. 

I'm late to your blog but have enjoyed reading it very much; looking forward to further installments.

I think one of rhe most important points you make is:

"Through 2021 and 2022 I had great fun trying new things."

Well, if you achieve nothing else you've done the most important thing. 👍

All the best. Andy

Hi, Black Sheep,

I blogged the point motor construction here.

Really simple - if you look at the bridge you'll see I've added some styrene sheet to deepen the bridge plate, thereby disguising the sticky feet.

Andy

BTW, your billboard poster will go adjacent and //le to the platform in due course.

Erm, BTW, I did notice that the original has 4 windows, not the 3 in the model. Overall, the size of the model looks right in its setting.

Tom, you're quite right that most of the time such lines aren't exactly intenstive.

To add even more interest to this you could schedule some of the Mid-Hants "Gala" weekends into your plans. If you're looking for more modern traction, then the Diesel Galas should fit the bill.

Working just up the road from the Alton end of the line it's quite amazing the locos you get to see en route to pick up a sandwich, even on a mid-week lunchtime!

Andy