Barry Ten

Picking up on the earlier observation by Giles concerning improved running with graphite applied to the track, I also found that my Alice greatly benefited from this. It would run very smoothly (on DC) until asked to stop and change direction, at which point it was prone to sticking. The graphite more or less eliminated this at a stroke. It's become my go-to treatment for getting reliable running in N and 009. A single graphite stick will last a very long time as you only need tiny amounts to make a difference.

Cardiff rates highly in Simon Jenkins' very nice book on railway architecture, at least. And now I know the origin of Culverhouse Cross (famous or infamous) roundabout/shopping development on the way out of Cardiff. I also lived in Truro, but never entered the railway station.

Wonderful, inspiring work as ever, Mikkel. Makes my own paltry efforts this week (a Wills station kit) look rather underwhelming!

I dug out a photo from when the 56XX came to the Pontypool & Blaenavon in 2008. The play of light on the hill is very reminiscent of your backscene. I think the gradient here gets up to 1 in 24 so the locos have to work hard, but in this case there was a diesel on the other end.

Reminiscent of when a 56XX visited the Pontypool and Blaenavon a few years back.

luxury.

That looks splendid, Kelvin. I look forward to seeing some different views. Impressive work in 5 weeks, too.

Many thanks, Mat - and yes, when the layout's done, it would be a delight to bring it to Bala. The book might be Thomas M Disch's 1969 Prisoner novelisation (entitled just "The Prisoner") but while I've read some Disch, that isn't one I've seen. I've not found a detailed synopsis but I believe it's set after the series, so could well be the one you mention. I hate those god-awful road-train things so good riddance to Ninky Nonk!

Many thanks, Tony. Pressure of work has precluded a visit this year, despite the best of intentions, but hopefully that will ease in the coming months.

And here's the beast in action: Sorry I can't muster 30 coaches, but within the constraints of my layout, it's clearly got more than enough grunt. One of the small jobs I've yet to do is sort out a slight slope to the running plate (it's higher at the cab end than the smokebox end) but it's not too evident here, I think. And at some point it'll get a decoder.

The LaisDCC ones are quite small.

Laisdcc decoders are my current choice for inexpensive ones that do the job required. I've been using them in a number of hard-wired conversions of old Bachmann locos and they give great control straight after installation. I've just bought another six for future jobs.

They're on my "don't order from them again" list I'm afraid. No problems with Jura.

It's just plonked there at the moment but as mentioned, it'll probably be relocated to the other side of the layout, where there'll be another platform (which can be a bit wider). I've in mind a small cottage-like building a bit like the current gift-shop.

I've added a bit more to the surroundings of the station, with a rendered wall with an archway through it, topped off with some tiles. It's just two bits of Wills sheet sandwiching some foam core. Those cast balustrades have been in my scrap box for donkey's years, but they'll work perfectly in this context... although I'll need a few more! I also made a start on a bit of improv/ scratchbuilding of a generic clocktower, based on a Faller kit I made ages ago but which never found a home ( although it might have been ok on my French layout). I've added a rectangular base to the tower, embellished with bits of plastic card to suggest a unity with the Faller bit... It's not there yet but I hope it will start looking "of a piece" once painted, using the typical Portmeirion colours. If I do end up using it, it might not be in this corner. Finally, I'm happy with this Wills station but I think it'll work better on the other side of the module, the Minffordd side to pick up on Mat's post above. The station on this side needs to be more "Clough". Be seeing you.

Thanks Mat, sorry I didn't see your comment before now - much appreciated! I think "Rover" has to make an appearance, either as an actual one, or a cameo with film crew, actors etc. A helium tanker is a fine idea!

I think a good, big, general model show will be very welcome and long overdue, so I hope it does well. It's on the same weekend as the Taunton RMweb do, though, which creates at least a partial clash for me.

I think he meant April '24, not 24th of April. I heard a possibility of Pete Waterman's layouts all appearing, in joined up form, provided they can address the H&S issues of not having access walkways at regular intervals.

Excitingly, that's my checked shirt and pair of hands on the rail at the back. Dave and I were looking at the large 7mm Midland layout back-to-back with the LNER one depicted above. While the modelling on the Midland one was exquisite, it suffered a bit (in my view) from having no lighting, and not much moving on it while we were watching, with the one passenger train we saw suffering a series of derailments as it entered the scene. The LNER one was better lit and seemed to run very well. Perhaps we just caught the Midland one at a bad time. The highlight of the show for us both was the GWR/LSWR 7mm one that was fully scenicked all the way around. Sorry that I didn't note the names of any of these. I certainly felt there were enough nice layouts to justify the admission fee. Yes, some dross as well (at least one layout with an incredibly tatty backscene that was in sore need of repair or replacement) but I find the key is not to attempt to see everything, but identify a few really good layouts and just soak them in. We also spent a lot of time at Copenhagen Fields and South Pelaw because, even having seen them before, they can stand to be looked at again.

I'd never heard of Fuchs until another conversation earlier this afternoon, with someone who's just had eye treatment. Hope all is resolved satisfactorily, MJI.

6B - it's in that little video I posted yesterday.

That's the one I used. I can vouch that it works.

After experimenting with powdered graphite and various grades of B pencils, both of which worked to a degree, I bought a pure graphite pencil from ebay. The way I use it is to scrape it across the rails at a few strategic points, leaving a fine flaky residue which then gets worked around the track by trains. I also scrape it across the flanges of locos, which has a similar effect. I've used it on Code 40 N and 009 track.