Jaggzuk

Best layout I have seen for a while on ebay, nice ballasting too.  

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MODEL-RAILWAY-LAYOUT-/271287710588?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item3f2a01f37c

For models of British railways, I suggest you buy one pack each of the #146, #18 and #20, I think you will be pleasantly surprised how much of your stock you will cover.

Thanks for the advice on what to buy.

What is the best glue for the Draft Gear box on plastic wagon kits, does plastic melt glue work (eg Mekpak). or is it best to use a taped screw fitting?

Thanks guys for the really helpful answers to my questions.  I am pretty much sold now on the Kadee way forward.  So will now look at getting the appropriate packs of couplings and start the conversion process, I might first get one the of sample pack they do to see what all the different type are.

I guess I have one outstanding question on robustness which is still making me a bit hesitant.  How resilient are the couplings to being hit a bit too hard when being coupled, i.e. if ‘little hands’ are at the controls and the shunting move is a bit too fast/hard?

Paul

Hi I have found this topic to have been really useful and informative with regards to the conversion and fitting of Kadee couplers; but as I have a more general question on Kadee Couplings rather than on the height standards, have posted it on this topic - link

Paul

Now, it might appear to be a bit of an odd question considering that I have no actual layout as of yet; all at the planning stage, but a recent experience at home has sort of got me thinking.  

I recently bought some old OO stock for my 2 1/2 year old son to play with, rather than my expensive stuff.  Well as it turns out, as he has very good fine motor skills, he can shunt and drive his models round a very simple loop I built him with great control and care.

He also loves nothing better than to couple up long trains on the floorboard floor and pull them along and here lies the problem, tension hook couplings.  When he wants to separate the trucks and coaches the hooks make life really difficult.

I have a lot of stock pilled rolling stock, mixed old, new and kit.  I started life thinking that 3 link couplings would be the way to go for realism reasons, so most of my made kits have them.  A few RTR were converted to 3 link, but now that idea has fallen by the wayside due to new little fingers.

Having read a fair bit on Kadee I sort of think that they will be the best for me and my son on the layout I am planning.  So what is the view of other users on this and in particular these points:

            Conversion ease - loco, wagon coaches, not looking for a big answer, just is it worth the effort?

            Usability - me and my son

            Robustness – in case of hard shunting and stock being separated by being picked up vertically.

            Cost

            What to do with the 3 link, leave the hook in place?

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks for posting that. I haven't heard of Scarm until coming here. I have just moved house & have 3 possible locations for a layout. Now I can mess around & see what will work out best. Haven't made a layout for ten years. Things have moved on a bit.....

Shall look forward to seeing things progress.  Any questions on SCARM do ask.

Hi Jon_1066

That's great looking layout. I really like the way you have used SCARM to set the layout in the room, works well in 3D.  Great locos too! What are the layout dims?

Having grown up near to Kings Lynn, I remember my first childhood trip to Cambridge and was amazed at how long the main platform was and the big four way diamond crossing in the middle too.  So your idea of half of the station is a great interpretation.  I think this is a great view, before rationalisation - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cambridge_Station_panoramic_view_northward_in_early_Diesel_days_geograph-2397822-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

All the best with the wood cutting and building.

Paul

I am currently planning a layout, which is one of the great armchair past-times we all go through; and in some cases, it feels like that is all we do.  Well, I guess that is part of the railway modelling fun, dreaming, researching, planning, sketching, tweaking and sometimes screwing up  and consigning to the bin.

Some of us like to doodle, some like to sketch and others spend time to play with computers and use model railway planning software.  Well I have found the latter to be both good fun and helpful.  Especially when it comes to what you can realistically fit in to the space you have; pencil and paper plans so often are impossibilities when it comes to realistic radii and point-work.

So why for this post, well I recently came across a newish piece of software that I think is really good for design and planning a layout; in any scale.  It is called SCARM, Simple Computer Aided Railway Modeller.

It comes with a whole host of track libraries covering most gauges and manufactures of track including flexi-track.  It also includes some basic landscape objects such as signals and trees. You can also build your own structures and buildings using simple object shapes.

Building a track layout is pretty straight forward as each unit snaps together and there is good control with flexi-track pieces to create bespoke curves.   You can then introduce levels and gradients to create realistic multi-levelled layouts.  With the addition of bridges, tunnels, basic scenery and land forms as well as outline building shapes, a dream layout soon comes alive. 

But the best tool the software offers to help to visual the planned layout is the 3D feature.  The rendering is fast and the angle of view is fully controllable; pan, tilt and zoom.  It really helps to see what the layout will look like especially when levels and gradients are involved.  3D snapshots can be taken of any view allowing the image to be posted online; a great way to show off your layout plan

So, to the main aim of this topic, I hope it can be a single point of conversation (within RMWeb) on the use of SCARM, both to share layout plans and to ask user questions.  The author of the program also has a Blog for SCARM with regular updates and there is a website where it can be downloaded from. He is also a member of RMWeb. Link to the software: http://www.scarm.info/index_en.html and link to the Blog: http://www.scarm.info/blog/.

As well as my layout plan, seen below, I have also created some basic UK rolling stock objects that can be used to help with visualisation as well as sizing of things like platform lengths, sidings etc.  These are available from the SCARM Blog website along with lots of other useful things to get you started.  Also. see my SCARM gallery http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/album/2706-scarm/.

Example plan, a view of my North Marsh Road - i have used track colours to help to denote differing levels of the track.

An example 3D snapshot, a view from the platform ends looking toward the main junction.

Paul

All these photo's are fantastic and its these kind of images that have got me back into the hobby after a 20 year break. Thought I'd have a go but bit limited at the moment as I've only just started on my layout and I'm nowhere near as good as you guys.

 

Paul

Only just started?  Wow can't wait till you really get going on your layout.  Great photo!. 

You have the photo angle just right, nice and low.  Way too often I see layout photos taken from such a high angle that only a bird would see that sort of view.  Yours is such a great shot, that you are almost lead to thinking that you were at a Depot open day when you took it.

Paul

Again my thanks to you Paul, we are exhibiting in 2011 - Basingstoke and Wilton (Salisbury)!! not a stones throw from where you are then It would still be good to meet if you could make it.

 

Mmm I think that is a pretty big throw for me from... "North Yorkshire"

Paul

And I though the 3 night shots were very good until you posted the one in post 372 of the Class 47, just fantastic!!

Are you exhibiting during 2011, as I would love to see this layout in operation?

Paul

Hi Kevin

Not replied for a while (a newborn sort of changes your focus) but these shots are totally awesome! Just the right amount of ambient light to make them look and feel very real indeed.

Oh yes, enjoyed seeing your recent mag article too.

Happy New year to you

Paul

 

Another photo, Class 31 on Fertiliser (well it is Hampshire)

 

and also re the shot of the Procor Fertiliser wagons in post 129

Hi Kevin

Can you let me know who your Procor Fertiliser wagons are made by, are they RTR ones? It is just that I can not find this UKF/Procor branded one on sale, well at least with Procor on which is the one I am after.

Any help much appreciated

Paul

Three great photos there Kevin and the atmosphere in the last one is superb, it is almost as if there is a bit of late night dampness in the air with the signals reflecting of the platform and the shed side, very good.

Apart for the major trip hazard across the platform, you would almost be forgiven in to thinking this was 12" to the foot scale.

Hi Kevin, Thanks for the weathering guide, really good I hope to have a go on some of my VAA and VEA stock soon.

Seeing the first time weathering results from D9JEF, my confidence has really been boosted in to having a go, so thanks for the photos D9JEF.

Paul

Something a little different - a Quoits pitch for Greyscroft Mine...

 

To be continued...

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Hi Worsdell

Just come across your thread and the Quoits pitch model, how cool is that!! You even made some Quoits!!

Being a Quoits player in the Lower Dales league in the Wensleydale area I think this is such a great thing to add to the back of our pub. Will you take of the covers off in the summer and have some figures playing and drinking beer?

Are you a player?

Regards Jaggzuk aka Paul

 

Class 60 on Depot with MOD van train.

 

Hi Kevin

Not posted for a while, but great to catch up with your work and seeing some great photos.

I really like some of the dusk/nighttime shots like the Class 60 on Depot, it is very atmospheric. So I was wondering if you explain how you archive them; what sort of background lighting do you use apart from the lights on the layout itself and do you do any 'photoshopping' of the image to get the dusk/nighttime feel.

I would love to know as they have inspired me I to try these types of shots on my 2010 layout North Marsh Road (once it is built that is)

Thanks

Paul

Hi guys, I am genuinely stunned by the level of interest that Leaford has generated, for which I thank you all very much, - To Paul (JAGGZUK) the support vehicles for the Dapol Crane are a Hornby OBA converted to a Match Truck, the conversion is to partially remove the sides and ends (as photo below) then use the removed off cuts to form the jib support in the centre of the wagon, my scrap bin was then raided to find enough off-cuts to form the tool chests underneath the solebar, and then painted appropriately, not very prototypical but I hope that you like it.

 

The other support vehicle is based on an article in a Model Rail Mag (I think?) and it uses a Parkside Dundas Tube Wagon with the doors removed ????? ladders and handrails added ????? and tool cupboards added below the solebar, then loaded with suitable equipment - a generator set ????? gas cutting bottles ????? etc, photo below.

Thanks for the conversion details and extra photo, I might have a bash at something when I get round to respraying my crane from black to yellow.

Don't be surprised at the level of interest, your layout just oozes atmosphere and your stock looks great I do like the variety of daytime, evening and night shots.

Paul

Hi Kevin

Love the recent set of photos in including the ones of the steel blooms and the crane. Can I ask what wagons you have used to form the support wagons for the crane? I have made the Dapol crane but as of yet not worked out how to create appropriate support wagon for 1980s era version.

Thanks.

Paul

Hi Trevor

Wow how come I missed this one on RMWeb3????

What a lovely little layout, and I just love the unclutteredness of it It really shows what can be done with a few buildings and some carefully placed items like cars, people and other scenic accessories. It just oozes character of the 70s.

This has to be one of the best first post to a new thread I have seen and some great well taken photographs!!

What are your plans with the layout now?

Regards

Paul

Hi guys, I hope that I am not out staying my welcome, some more photos:

Not sure how you think posting great photos means your are outstaying your welcome , far from it keep them coming.

Just out of a matter of interest do you have any history photos of Leaford under construction? And I am sure I could work it out from the various shots you have so far posted, but do you have a layout plan?

Paul

 

The VEA vans are Parkside Dundas Kits and as far as I am aware they are still available.

 

Hi Kevin

Thanks for the reply on the VEA wagons, and yes having check out Parkside website, the VEA wagon is still being produced.

I then thought to myself, "Mmmm" of all those Parkside kits have have made over the years (no layout at the moment, just lots of kits being made and then safely stashed away ready for they day I get round to building one) I wonder if I have made one of these? After a quick search, sure enough I have!!.

So thanks for the pointer anyway.

I guess now I have one made, I have another question, if that is ok, where did you get the Railfreight transfers from?

Paul

Hi Hampshire Hog

Some great looking shots there in you first post!! Can I what manufacture the Railfreight VEA wagons are and do you know if they are still in production - I am after a load of these for my "one day I will get round to building a layout"

Cheers

Paul

Hi Flood

Just found your thread (and Blog), great looking layout. I have added the blog to my favorites as I will want to follow this one.

I have to say that I like your mix and use of of thread and blog. I think it is a great way of using the RMWeb4 functionality. It certainly enables there to be both a place for discussion and chat and another place for the uncluttered and easy viewing of layout progress.

Keep the updates coming.

Regards.

Paul