Mark Forrest

Interesting(?) fact; prompted by the photo above, I just calculated that the additional scenic board plus the front extension almost double the original scenic area of the layout.

Cheers Will. I'm following your Pensnett project with interest as it was a location I considered doing when I first started to plan Fryers Lane. "Era neutral" is a good way to describe what I'm doing, possibly better than the "Martini" tag (from the advert: any time, any place, anywhere - showing my age?). As for mid 2000s; my current stock boxes and round-to-it projects cover 1920-30 "between the wars", late '50s steam, post-TOPS '70s and sector era '80s - but I'd never rule out something more modern.

So what next? As I've said, in it's original form, the layout didn't really work at home, which prompted a bit of a rethink. In the meantime I'd got the bug for building rolling stock for a much earlier era so the objectives for v2.0 were: 1) Make better use of the space available at home 2) Scenic changes to make the era that the layout was set in less obvious Phase 1 of this is add short scenic board at the left end of the layout replacing the fiddle yard, this takes the scenic length of the layout to 2.1m; original 1.2m fiddle yard at the right will remain. Phase 2 will be buildings and structures that allow the layout to be back dated and giving me somewhere to run (and impetus to finish) stock from several different eras. Phase 3 is not exactly set in stone, but current thinking is that the layout will move to a semi-permanent location in my workshop/shed, possibly in an L shaped configuration. Potentially there would be another siding, facing the opposite direction to the others, adding a bit of operational awkwardness and (hopefully) interest. Phase 1: Edit to add: I'd failed to mention the increase in the depth of the layout, which is hopefully obvious in the photo above.

New topic covering future developments on Fryers Lane:

I've pondered for a while whether or not to reinstate the missing images in the original Fryers Lane thread, but came to the conclusion that (for now at least) it probably isn't worth the effort. My current plans to rebuild the layout will (eventually) result in a significantly different layout so instead I felt it made more sense to make a fresh start, documenting progress with those changes. First though, a brief reminder of the story so far. Construction of the layout started back in 2013, inspired by the Scalefour Society's Standard Gauge Workbench (build a layout to P4 standards, in a space no longer than 4' 8 1/2"). This was to be home to a growing collection of stock from my 'spotting days in the late '80s/early '90s and allow me to see if P4 standards were achievable for a bodger like me. Up to this point my modelling had been focused on the 1970s in EM gauge. I won't bore you with all the details, but I ended up with a layout that (while ticking a lot of boxes) could only be used fully in an exhibition setting as it had a 1.2m fiddle yard at either end for through running. Speaking of exhibitions, the layout probably peaked too soon; it's first show was Scaleforum followed by ExpoEM North! It did a couple of others, but I never really pushed getting it out on the circuit, in part because I was ready for a break from doing shows after the experience of touring Black Country Blues.

Good idea doing the handrails at this stage; I put off doing them on mine for so long that I managed to lose some of the brake gear in the meantime! Great to hear that The Mill is still around and that you're finding a bit of time for wagons.

Based on this year, I'll be blocking out the Monday for recovering

Not just cake. Some of us are so committed to ensuring the day is a success that we start a day early with chips and cider by the seaside.

Saddened to hear this. A truly inspirational modeller and author. My introduction to finescale modelling came from my late father building a layout based around a series of magazine articles written by Iain. My own views on layout design and presentation owe a lot to the ideas that he has shared in his writing. RIP Iain and thank you.

Very much looking forward to this, now i really do need to get the layout finished...

In the mid 90s, my first proper job was with Exel Logistics, which could trace its parentage back through the National Freight Corp, to the days of BRS. Just like BR, the formal writing warnings there were referred to as a Form One.

I enjoyed my visit on Saturday and spent a good few hours wandering around the vast hall and catching up with friends. Perhaps the answer to the show guide is to provide a download in pdf format that punters can chose to print at home or browse before getting to the show?

08 105 reported as being painted black to blue in 1975. A couple of others thought to have remained in black until '73. (Source: Un-Corporate Identity 1966-1982 supplement published with BRM/Traction many years ago)

To make a slot for a coupling hook, I'd used a small drill bit (around 0.5mm) to first drill a hole at the centre of where the hook needs to go, then further holes directly above and below it. Then use the drill bit as a saw to join up the three holes. Have spare drill bits at hand because they break easily - if they are long enough, keep broken ones to use for the sawing. Alternatively use the tip of a pointed scalpel blade (10A) to open the holes into a slot. I'm sure it's possible to melt them in, but it's not something I've ever felt a need to try.

Increasing the height of a layout is another way to discourage punters leaning on the layout. My layouts have always had a track level of around 4'3" above ground level and I've had very few issues with people leaning on/into the layout. Kids generally need to be lifted up by a parent which adds a bit more control to the situation. As I operate from the front, it's also easier to keep an eye on what's going on.

We headed for the coast with our gravel bikes yesterday, hoping it would be a bit cooler than at home. The ride started in Dolgellau with a nice steady spin along the (very dry and dusty) Mawddach Trail, over Barmouth Bridge and into Barmouth. A short section on the main road up to Dyffryn Ardudwy led us to some quieter lanes before rejoining the main road briefly at Llanfair before a final climb (by which time the temperature was over 30 degrees) up to loop around the hill above Harlech and descend into the town for an ice cream near the castle. The route back was much the same although going through Harlech rather than climbing back up the hill. Despite the section on the main road, I think this was my favourite of our sea-side rides. A decent length ride with a reasonable amount of climbing, stunning scenery and an excellent ice cream outside Harlech Castle.

I imagine that it feeling heavy at the front very much depends on what you're used to. My main bike is a steel framed full suss with a 160mm travel fork and 140mm rear travel. It's many things; but light isn't one of them. Compared to that the hardtail has always felt lighter whereas the gravel bike sometimes feels too light to me, bouncing off rather than plough through rough stuff. The gravel bike though does make a great "all road" bike for lanes and smoother bridleways. I reckon on the hardtail I've trimmed off the best part of 1kg off its weight all up much of that coming from a lighter fork, but the lighter wheels and tyres probably make a bigger difference. It's on Maxxis Aspen up front and a Recon Race on the back both in 29 x 2.4 size. Compared to the trail/ enduro tyres it ran before it zips along very nicely and picks up speed very well - although it did scare me slightly the first time I hit a wet, rocky descent on it!

Yes, great to see Jolanda doing well. I think both Pauline and Loana have commented in interviews that they are focused on Worlds - yes both missed Snowshoe and MSA rounds of the World Cup. Hope that Pidcock does well at Europeans (was a real shame he wasn't at the Commonwealth Games) think it's been hinted at that he'll be at Worlds too. Not only is it Euros then Worlds, it's the final round of the World Cup in Val di Sole a week after World Champs, so a busy month ahead for them.

I'll have to look a bit harder for those hills next time I'm down that way 😀

Not so much the bridleways, more my choice of bike for riding them. Basically, I've been spoilt since upgrading a few bits and fitting faster rolling tyres to my hardtail, I find the gravel bike with its 38mm tyres and rigid fork a bit of a chore off road - not helped by the fact that a recent tendon injury in my arm doesn't cope too well with rougher stuff. The hardtail is now only marginally slower on road and a quicker and more comfortable off road so tends to be my default for anything involving more than short sections of off road.

Something I've been meaning to do for a while is pop out for an after work ride when I'm working away in Herts. Usually the temptation to take a walk from my hotel to a local pub for a couple of pints is just too tempting, but today I put the gravel bike in the car and set off for a 20 mile loop straight after work before heading to my hotel. Not quite as hilly as I'm used to, but good the get out at the end of a long and busy day. A bit of old railway line, a bridleway through a few fields (which, if I'm honest, I'd avoid and stick to the road next time) and lots of quiet lanes with very little traffic.

Fingers crossed she can retain her title World Champs in Les Gets; although I suspect PFP and Lecomte will be hard to beat.

I thought the TV coverage made the Chase look really good, I hardly recognised it 😀 There has been a lot of talk among locals about how the trails built for the games are a bit tame and are a missed opportunity; everybody wants big jumps and rock features as the legacy of the games, rather than a blue graded family trail. From what we saw yesterday the course seemed to be about the right level for the races. While the riders at the sharp end made the technical features look effortless, there were others towards the back of the pack who were clearly finding some of the features challenging. The only slight negative of an otherwise brilliant day out was that there were so few entrants in the races, particularly the women’s race which was down to 8 starters. Sadly the timing of the games in the week between the US and Canadian rounds of the UCI XC World Cup won’t have helped with that. A shame that Wales weren’t represented in either race (or that Scotland and England didn’t include more riders) - I suppose it’s all about budgets though.

Spent today watching the Commonwealth Games XC racing at Cannock Chase. Really good day out and great to see Evie Richards take the win in this afternoon’s race.

Just back from having a bit of a nosey around the Commonwealth Games XC MTB course. The photos just don't do justice to how big that rock drop really is. Should be some interesting racing, they've managed to get a couple of decent climbs into the course, despite the lack of elevation at Cannock.