gismorail

Must admit, you've lost me there - I can't think of aTV programme I'm less likely to watch (actually GrahamNorton springs immediately to mind, then the baking programmes, then "celebrity space-walking", then.....) Sorry Jeff I meant X Files .........

Regarding the last line in your post; does this mean that to be absolutely spot on to the prototypical subject being modelled we will have to make sure that we lay the track in the up and down direction. I can do that !!!!!! That being the case Peco will have to produce track for branch lines..................with keys in different sides of the chairs ??????

While I was looking at the photos of the main fell it went through my mind ' Good job Jeff did a good sturdy sub structure' so there is method in the madness. I do however fear that it could be taken over for the next X factor scenes

I am mindful about the other scales in the 4mm sector but I still feel that is a 'tiny' market in the UK even smaller on a worldwide market. Another factor to consider is that the majority of the layouts that are built with this type track tend to be terminus to fiddle yard

in every orifice

I knew this thread would go ' viral ' its really is BIG NEWS and the majority seem to be in favour with the announced with is all good. I do however wander as to whether members of the RM Web community realise that companies like C&L SMP/ DCC concepts etc are tiny compared to the Peco operation and although yes they are in competition I would like to bet that Hattons sell more Peco track in a year than all the previously mentioned companies put together many times over. In fact it would be interesting to know the percentages between the types of track being produced. I remember talking to a Peco rep about 20 years ago in my local model shop and he was saying that Hattons was their biggest customer 'worldwide' and I would image that is still true today given the way that they have expanded recently. The other factor to consider is that hand build / kit track is more than likely a UK thing rather than the normal in other countries where most modellers use Peco or the alternatives. It will also be interesting to see what sort of price this bull head track is going to be marketed at when you consider the much high prices that have to be paid for 'scale' track.

Agree with you on this one something like this maybe

Wow this is fantastic news in fact I would put it top of the ' Well I never would have believed it' list. Yes previous comments are quite correct all the ' Peter Perfect Modellers' are going to have a field day but what the hell, it's my railway layout and I will do what I want on it. In fact I would say that at least I do some modelling in stead of moaning about ' compromise' I wonder how long this will take to release !!!!!

for more digestion

for the sake

Sir what a wonderful layout you have created will follow you progress with interest and inspiration

OMG there's just no stopping this guy once he's on a Mojo high.... bit like a Jack Russell with a rat ..... it'll get shaken till it's dead ........ opps MILK SHAKE maybe Andy that Dairy is good was wondering what the sidings where for,,,,, so glad you enjoying the layout now just goes to prove that if you not sure stop and start again .

They can put my name on some that's for sure

to make matters

I'm afraid I have a confession to make. I like Andy do look forward to the weekend picture galley from you excellent layout so it's another................................................................................... WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooopppppppppppppppppppppppppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee from me tooooooooooo :senile: Having been a follower of the build on this layout I would like to ask how you are finding the operation of you Helix's which are of great interest to my current project Chester Northgate which as I start to draw out rough plans for it's construction it becomes more likely that I will have to take this route for the junction end of the layout in the form of two side by side .Although I have to admit that 'self construction' will be beyond my carpentry skills and I will more than likely have to get them professionally made.

Andy you are a master indeed as others have ready commented do enjoy catching up with you daily work progress

Good evening all, well another day spend in the 'man cave' today laying track and constructing a turntable for turning the loco's without having to pick them up every time they need turning. For a Peco turntable at £39.00 I reckon its worth the investment and should save any damage. Have had to use a bit of mixture of track mainly Peco concrete sleeper type that I got second hand years ago and I found a turn out in the box mark ' you might need me sometime' The point and the turntable will be automated by a right hand index finger just because I can't be bothered making up another jumper cable from the main boards , yes lazy sod but at least I know I'm not going to having any engineering nightmares........well I hope not hope it's of interest to all time for time me thinks.

I always enjoy an update from this layout always get loads of inspiration ...fantastic

slip of finger

chav's with prams

it's your manor

You are spot on with you comments about this brilliant scenery work and from all the feed back goes to show that many others think the same. I'm wondering though from experience of passed history whether as hardened RM webbers we should put a 'preservation order' on this corner of Andy's layout

defo in Peckham

Good morning Clive, Its certainly an impressive bit of scratch building the kit was not easy to put together and had me scratching my head for so time although I did find the instructions misleading to be honest. They were cleaver bits of kit and I understand that the loco crews at Chester were very thankful as it was the only labour saving machinery that they had and I'm not sure how many were put into operation on the Cheshire Lines . I never saw it in real life but I understand that the frame was one of the last items to be demolished at the end. Many thanks for sharing your model

Been doing a bit more in the shed this evening and have been sorting out the control panel for the lighting effects. I have put together a transformer unit to supply 12 dc for lights and effect / signal etc plus a 16 volt ac supply for the point motors. Internal shot of the transformer box Lighting effects control panel The hole at the bottom of the panel is for a control toggle for the gate into the brewery which is operated by a servo motor. I have added this a trail for the main layout as I'm thinking of operating all points and signals by servo's , seems to give greater and simple control at a fraction of the cost of slow action point motors and signals plus the added bonus the ' signal bounce' can be added of more visual effect. I have also made a start to the fiddle yard reconstruction , the original fiddle yard was designed for operation from behind the layout but now the layout is in the new shed I want to be able to operate for back or front depending on the circumstances. It's a very simple set up with a turntable for loco turning and a head shunt from the brewery internal siding . Hopefully one of tomorrows jobs will be get the fiddle yard finished and so testing Well that's today's activities updated not had a bad day progress wise so it time for bed and more ideas to think over