Brass0four

I agree with Kal. If it's a railway scale it's applicable. There is quite a famous layout - its been in RM and other mags - which features WWII troop movements prior to D Day. It's packed with models and soldiers. I should be able to dig it out. Perhaps someone else might recall it. On reflection there are at least two such layouts, one in the countryside, the other a harbour... Tony.

There are times - many times! - when I wish I'd chosen an area where stone is common for structures. Mine are all red brick and there's no simple way around it. It's either brick paper, some of which is very good (Scalescenes) but lacks 3D texture, or plastic which means complex painting to be effective. Any other options? - pm me! Tony.

(sorry, I clicked (?) too quickly Take your point.

Jaz: Long ago I made some trees using cable. It was excellent as all branch thicknesses apart from twigs were from within the cable, BUT it was very hard on the hands - being pricked to death. Your method looks as though it might be just a touch nasty in that regard - unless you have brick-layers hands - or is it not a problem? Tony.

And it's way past time my MOTM was over! (Moan of the month)

I'll be cat-napping - up all night as usual. 'Upsides a teensy weensy bit of modelling might get done, although her Ladyships digestive system is like early warning modelling radar. Why can't I get the smilies!!! JESTER EMOTICON Sheesh! Tony. nite nite Jaz.

Wonderful! They'll be excellent to put down and move around - give your layout a sense of scale from the word go. I too look forward to the build although I realise we may have to be (can't remember how to spell) patient. Going brain-dead as well as everything else! Tony. Utterly depressed

Hmmmm... Something Freudian with the snakes, maybe? (Duck!)

Luvin it! (Glad I'm not the only one who works nightshifts... )

Well, given the stimulus ,I pondered how to get some greenery into my (non-existent) urban grot - and thought - Ah! - a (non-existent) Municipal Park! It's all in me 'ead!... No wonder I've lost the plot! (no time to seek out a crazy smilie. Feel free to insert an imaginary one yourself ;-) Let the Night Shift commence!

But so worth it. It takes courage to grow, not stay in the past. It's the rocket-like learning curve you two have been on in such a very short time that's so impressive - and so refreshing.

You cannot beat a natural source. Trees being as difficult as they are, I sometimes think each model must be a portrait of an original example. A council of perfection, perhaps - particularly from one who is cluetree-less. Tony

I keep all my train boxes. I don't have enough buildings boxes for that to be an issue, but re-use postage boxes and paper packaging. (All the bubble-wrap gets banged - multiple fusillades made by leaping up and down!) And I do buy storage boxes when on offer - very useful. Otherwise vehicles are littered around the layout, which looks very dodgy as little of it is developed scenically. Glad at least one of you is nuts. I need the company! Seriously. Her Ladyship is very sick, doubly whats-is-name, quite helpless, etc. MS really is a bastard. And I do get into some dark places. (that is when I stop following) Then I need to keep well away from the PC lest the entire freakin' world feels my pain. LOL Tony.

Jaz, A question: do you keep all your boxes, slip-covers, cases, etc., "collector style"? I don't. I bin them and use the clear cases for display cabinet supports, or micro-diorama/ figure covers. But, I only have a few and not a coupla grands worth (or more) so the overall value isn't an issue. Tony

Mmm. Love the northern-hemisphere ninja suit! (you have got rather nice hands, petal) Maybe not so hilarious, given my awareness of your butchery.

Me too!

Now that looks much better to me! Otherwise, do you see it as "the layout of a lifetime"? (not suggesting you'd not do anything else as a break/side-line) 'Cos doing it all to your high standards will take a while. Although I am the slowest modeller on the planet, whilst a rare few - like Jaz - are so scenically prolific that ones jaw is firmly wedded to ones chest. And you model first class structures very swiftly. But, as you've said elsewhere (L8r) there is the joy of a full life in your new wonderful environment. Enjoy smelling the cedars! Tony.

Name names! Congrats on 100 pages. FTR: A V is one of the only threads I still follow these days - inc Sasquatches of course - having disgraced myself embarrassingly on most others! (I blame the meds, being a round-the-clock Carer, hence lack of sleep! I have to have some excuse cos I keep doing it! I read somewhere that doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result is a sure sign on insanity... Guilty! ) Tony.

I just edited mine, it should have been 1:144". Generally I agree with you about long trains on small layouts. Mine is only 12 X 14 but is designed as a "watch the trains go by" four track main-line and is very simple. Supposed to be south of Leeds with only a reasonable marshalling/goods yard on one side and a shed (based on Copley Hill) complex on the other. It's all on transition curves through grotty urban scenery/architecture and that's it. Changing locos on long trains is the main practice with the marshalling yard providing shunting fun as required. The track is mainly done and it works for me. The challenge is all that ruddy architecture: yards of terraces, factories, etc. I've just seen your last post. If anyone can do it you can. You could mock-up the loop with its over/underpass and try it. Shouldn't be too hard, then you'll know. The train lengths you are talking about will make it much more doable. Tony.

It's a wonderful scheme, Sasquatch - jaw dropping! - but I do see Kal's point. My layout has a 1:144" rise and the same length descent. A pacific-hauled ten-coach train, entering the visual section at a scale 60+ mph, is reduced to a calculated 20mph by the time it reaches the apex of a 5' radii curve; part of this is due to carriage-wheel friction. This is with the controller set at the same setting, and I made it so purposely as it maintains a mechanically automatic performance, which - I'm please to say - works better than anticipated. (one of my very few successes!) The downside of any incline is that lightweight locos - the Hornby sound Black 5 is one of my worst, is greatly reduced in hauling power. Diesels are generally OK with most inclines; small steam locos much less so. On the drawing, the left hand-loop with its climb and decent on seems to indicate tightish curves. I used large radius set-track to test the whole idea and was badly put off by the result! Steam-hauled long passenger trains needed be doing something like 200+mph not to stall; A horrible sight with all the coach-ends sticking out at angles while the loco worked at Scalextric speeds! But again, as Kal says, you have the edge expertise-wise that puts me, at least, in the shade. You'll work it out I'm sure. Pity you couldn't view my video Sasquatch. ;-) Tony.

Jaz: This is a very good idea, particularly for newcomers. The one and only downside to a free and fun site is that not being familiar with the participants ,and with the ongoing humour, newbies might be put off which would be a shame. Equally, those of us who'd like to refresh our knowledge of former work - the "old" Goathland is a good example - could do so more easily. Actually, most long threads, would benefit from this approach. The work is very well worth it! Thanks in advance. Tony.

That's because I deleted it. The bin was the best place - the only place! After clangers like that I'm really unfit to post, here or anywhere else. No sweat. ;-)

Oh dear... Sorry, Ron, Chris. Everyone. Inexcusable. Blame the meds! lol.

Jaz: Looking better all the time! And a good job one of you has their nose to the grindstone. He really needs a good talking to! Tony.

Ditto to all the above - and how refreshing that so many genuinely care! Tony.