Re6/6

Hi JB. Do you mean more of the layout above? If so I will post some more pics in the 'Gallery'.

Indeed! We'll probably be using all 'MiniNature' and Anita Decor grass fibres from International Models ( here ) used with the excellent Noch Grassmaster. They produce much more gentle colours that the usual Noch and Heki 'nuclear' green!

Here are a couple of snaps of a typical FREMO set-up. 'Hölle' in P87 was seen at Utrecht last year, with a known reprobate playing trains! This bit is only about a 20th of the whole project! There are interchangable sections which are cleverly 'scenically blended' This one was the best that I've ever seen with such good scenic continuity. Some that I've seen in the past have looked like a patchwork quilt! We would devise our own profile for baseboard end plates, rather than using the 'laid down' profile. Basically it will allow us to lengthen/shorten the layout by making interchangable generic scenic boards.

Raphael, is an idea of a FREMO set up. On the continent some of them are simply huge. They would make Balcombe/Lewes look small! We have no illusions that it's going to be a demanding project. We are planning to try 'quick' baseboard construction, using the 'new' ply framed 50mm insulation board method so effectively used on the likes of 'Pempoul'. Being fed up of building 'planks' this will be the antidote!...hopefully.

The basic idea is that it'll be able to be publicly viewed from all angles. It will be of a modular 'Fremo' style, so that parts and combinations can be joined and exhibited as required. I've seen this style of layout very well exhibited in Holland, Germany and elsewhere in Europe.

Phew, that's a relief Jim! So we're not bonkers after all!

Cleethorpes - Exmouth S&D excursion! Bottom pic...Treasurer Dave seems disinterested!

Brilliant stuff Pete, I've only just come across this. You've captured the essence of the 2BIL very well indeed. Most of the Kirk offerings that I've seen all seem to be a little wrong/heavy around the roof area. Could never really decide what was wrong! What parts have you used from NNK? I was lucky to get the very last kit from Branchlines, so I'll be following this with great interest.

Lovely stuff Ken. What colour do you heat the brass for annealing? Does it work the same with nickle silver? Thanks John

CK's pics of the final brakevan tour are here

Indeed it is Andrew! Believe it or not it was neccessary to keep the 'lower' rail well down until the PVA took! The inner side had a strong tendency to lift when the track is laid onto the s/elevation. Nonetheless it all worked out well in the end! I think that it's proved that the extra effort of fitting the s/e was well worth it.

You can see the 'run out' of the Tillig superelevation strip. It starts at a point halfway along the transition curve and works very well in high speed 'push along' mode! If you are going to try this, when gluing the track to the strip with PVA glue (plenty needed), a lot of weight will be needed during the drying time, as the inner edge has a tendancy to lift if you don't! Meanwhile a few more snaps of progress. More edging fitted and painting.

The colour is much more red-oxide than the 'fuschia pink' in the pics. My camera is not very good on some colours! It looks a lot less 'red' in the flesh!

Love the TTU! What an inspired and useful idea!

Looks like that it's been there from the early days, judging by the brickwork looking unaltered. The first pic suggests that the original finished near the lamp hut.

Brilliant stuff Dave! I'll be looking for two. Inspired choice! A plea from us wide gaugers. Seeing as it's at the design stage please could you make the small allowance for EM/P4ing between the frames?

...You're not alone......first a Hurst conversion for the Cl153 halfway done..then Hornby announce one...then paid arm and a leg for a Kemilway BR 2-6-2T, and then Bachmann..............

A fascinating tale David. What a miracle that nobody was killed or injured.

That frame looks pretty good. Is it a J S-W etch? I'm intreagued about the Shawplan 'laser cut glazing'. Tell me more!

The viaduct that will become the shortened version of the 'Ouse Valley Viaduct'. We'll be adding the ballustrading and cut the voids from the supports. (if we can!)

Hi Tom! It's a mixture of Swiss made FAMA and Austrian made Roco Alpinline in 0m. Metre gauge in a scale of 1:43. This stuff has a long and tortuous history, starting off as FAMA in the early 70s, then it became UTZ and then Golden Trains, and finally it was bought out by Roco in the 90s, but they discontinued it after a few years. It's now available from another Swiss company (still called Alpinline, I think), but at a horrendous price! It became two to three times more expensive. What you see will be some of the stock for a new layout, featuring rack track etc;.