TEAMYAKIMA

I'm trying to make contact with John Preston , an American modeller living in the UK. I think he used to model the PRR in HO. I used to have his email address but seem to have deleted it by mistake - can anyone help please?

Did two in the late 1970's plus, in the 1990's, British O and German G and dabbled in P4. I've got too much stock now to move away from Chinese HO - and hopefully Chinese HO layouts will remain a niche market as far as exhibitions are concerned for a while yet at least.

Hello David Many thanks. I am not an expert on Chinese railways, I am just recreating the sights I saw on photographic trips from 1993 to 2015. I have been in this hobby so long that I need to do 'different things' and also all the mainstream stuff has already been done far better than I could ever achieve. From 1979 onwards I've done American HO (unusual in 1979!) , American O, American ON30 & American ON3. When I first did American ON30 in 1982 it was unique, nowadays you can hardly visit a major show without at least one American ON30 logging layout! Already planning the next layout - but will be sticking to Chinese HO.

Have also been working on the flag issue. Am fitting Velcro on the front of the baseboards across the joints between scenic boards 1/2 and 3/4. Have mounted the Velcro on MDF so it sits slightly forward so that the flag will drape nicely over the drape. Here is a mock-up of the flag in flag although in reality it will go across the board joint. Now this is REALLY OCD ............... Spent the afternoon making a storage box for the flags so that they arrive at an exhibition nice and flat ...... this is the mark 4 version!!! OCD or what?

Have spent the day in the garden doing woodwork. Originally all FY boards were painted white. They soon got dirty - spilt coffee etc - then I realised that that the white really shone out at you if you looked under the bridge or looked through the holes in the end backscene. So had to paint a part grey to blend it in... Today went the whole hog ..................... Also re-furbished / remade the FY screens ..................

Hello Derek Many thanks, that seems to tie in very much with the contents of our bag, so that seems to prove that it is a sealed packet as originally bought. So listed on ebay now at the original price of £17.50 with the option of 'best offer' - so if any reading this wants a pack you know where to look! All money raised goes to Twickenham & District MRC.

Yes and No The bag appears to be factory sealed so that you would need to cut it open with a pair of scissors pretty much at the outside edge of the bag. Then once open there is a re-sealable 'strip' about 12mm inside the edge - I hope that makes sense.

Hi Nick My concern is being honest when I list this on ebay - do you think that I am correct in thinking this is a new factory sealed pack? That's my concern , it appears to be a factory sealed pack but because I have no experience of this product I'm not sure. I must be 100% accurate in my description on ebay. Thanks for your help. Paul

My problem is simple................. I sell donated items on ebay on behalf of my club. Someone has donated what appears to be a new/mint sealed pack of CARR'S memory wire catalogue # C1550 I must admit that I have absolutely no idea of the contents of such a pack and so I have no idea at all if all the contents are there, but I repeat that the bag appears factory sealed and so on that basis I guess all the parts must be there. I am confused - for example why is there a battery holder in the bag? Could someone with experience of this product please comment? I have no wish to cheat anyone on ebay but have no idea how to describe this accurately. Thanks

Another test session ................... First trial of the new drape .............. Then experimented with the Chinese flag to add some much needed colour

Have been going back to detailing things. Have returned to the hotel lobby area. Bought some 3D printed sofas for the bar area. But Preiser figures don't sit well on them ... So I filed them down - the right hand one is lowered - REALLY!!

I have been somewhat distracted lately - looking for a new house. But progress continues. Ever wondered what £230 worth of drapes looks like? Well here is the answer ................. Arrived today!

I am experimenting with two options. 1. An old mobile phone (camera) permantly set up - just timing it to see if/when the camera shuts off automatically. 2. This from ebay . https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Car-Rear-Seat-View-Mirror-Baby-Child-Safety-With-Clip-and-Sucker-AQ/263853083594?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D53529%26meid%3D2e50f429a1094fb08809383a4619c3a9%26pid%3D100705%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D263853083594&_trksid=p2045573.c100705.m4780

Not an unreasonable question - I'll ask their opinion.

Hi My roundy roundy exhibition layout has quite a high backscene and most of my operators are quite short ! Operators send trains out of the fiddle yard at one end and then wait for them to appear at the other end. My operators have requested an aide so they can see trains running on the scenic section. I have thought of a camera based system , but quite expensive and most need internet access. So maybe a mirror? I would need to be quite large and adjustable. Any thoughts? Paul

Just a quick 'thanks all' to everyone who has posted - am chasing up all suggested avenues. Paul

Have now phoned a couple of companies and although their websites don't go beyond 20 X 10 they are prepared to quote for larger - so it seems I was worrying unnecessarily .

Hello I live in Hertfordshire Am moving house to find a house big enough to build a 30ft x 10ft shed/outbuilding. All the 'off the peg' firms I've found so far seem to stop at about 20ft long. Any ideas of how to source such a big shed/outbuilding? Paul

Various issues (not least the temperature in my shed!) have meant that I have made little progress on the layout recently. I have prioritised jobs I can do in the (cooler) house. Have ordered new fireproof drape to smarten up the layout The drape is 26ft of GREY! So to jazz things up a bit I've ordered two of these the brighten things up a bit! Also our Digitrax radio 'box' was somewhat cobbled together for Bristol ...... The box will be seen by the public as it will be 7ft up in the air on a wooden pole and I like things that the public can see to look professional (or at least semi-professional!) and so have done a make-over............

You are going to need a BIG layout to justify all this motive power - did I hear the garden mentioned? Paul

Well our open day is over for another year ................ And this week it's more good news ............... This week our multi-gauge running track will be up in the clubroom - every gauge from Z to G is catered for - including 3 rail 'O' And 3 rail 'OO' !!!! So whatever you model - including S gauge - you will be able to run it on our multi-gauge running track Come on down and see us this Friday!

Hi Giles Nice to hear from you. Have phoned McDougall and I think I will get them to make the drape. Quote wasn't quite as bad as I feared! Paul

The problem with that loco is that it is simply a OO model repainted ie 4mm to the foot. All Chinese models (and there are a lot of them!) are HO 3.5mm to the foot. On the other hand most available China Rail models are reasonably modern (last 30 years) and many probably wouldn't suit that loco anyway. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The level crossing scene is virtually finished now. Have added a new 'stop here' sign and a China Rail railway worker