F-UnitMad

Ah, this is for OO gauge ...

Looking at your sketches, I think I know which books you've got..!! Still good drawings though!! The Forest of Dean is a lovely place, only enhanced by the Railway, and my favourite area in the UK that I'd like to model someday too, so you're not mad... or at least, not alone!! The good Captain Kernow of this Parish is a fan of the F.o.D. too. The only problem is as you've found... which bit?!?! - it's all inspirational!!

I must admit that was my one concern when I looked at the picture before of where you were locating this layout... For the traverser for my O scale layout I've used the really cheap drawer runners, cut down in length. I liked the looks of the type you've used, but they were wider than my boards. It's a simple three-track/two position set-up. This was my thread about it on RMweb3. I really ought to start it again on here... http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13349

This looks quite an ambitious project! Good luck!

It is good, isn't it? It's one of those rare UK-resident US-outline layouts that looks like it was built by Americans, if that makes sense? For "trains in the scenery" N scale is hard to beat; my first forays into The Dark Side were in N, and there are occasionally times I wish I'd stuck to it. If ever I can't continue in O scale, I'll go back to N.

Now that just shows how far British N scale has come recently... without your caption I'd have said that was 4mm scale...

Definitely for me B) although really because of a strange attraction to the "Bandit" patch jobs the SOO applied to Ex-MILW engines after they took it over in '85. It is a constant source of amazement to me that some of those Bandits are still running around to this day in such an increasingly decrepit "livery"..!!

Well done- you've really worked on that one- you deserve every penny for it!

It's a current kit. This is the Website... http://www.ukmodernimage.com/index.html Steve did join RMweb himself & commented when I was building his Class 22 kit, which was done as a thread on RMweb3. He doesn't seem to be a current member. The 22 was a trial enough (especially as my first go at a brass kit!) - I think I'd have given up entirely if I'd had this kit. Brian you have worked wonders with it; if your customer is unhappy with the finished loco then show him this thread- it could've looked a hell of a lot worse!!! He should be very grateful to you!!

:blink: If I'd bought a kit, after seven days I might just've got past opening the box.... I don't know whether to be amazed or depressed......

Looking hard at this picture :- http://www.railblue.com/pages/Photo%20Galleries/David%20Mant%20Collection/DMC_D5905_SF_090471.htm I can't be 100% certain, but it seems to me the cab roof slopes up from the windscreen back up to the roof line...? Could this be the answer to the problem with the model..?

Yes, all the weathering is really good, but the Tar Wagon is just superb..!! I bet your N scale stuff feels absolutely tiny nowadays!! Oooh, let's see now... "Ruston Hornsby" perchance...?!?

Oooh, don't remind me..!! Here's another Class 22 build where the Builder has used the cab roof castings... http://www.westernthunder.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=172 As I said in that thread, I'm glad I made my own out of brass sheet... I take it the body shell came already rolled, Brian? I haven't a clue how you can put this one right..!!

Personally I think it's a horrendous ammount... but compared to the all up costs of some kits (JLTRT for instance) it's competitive enough, and R-T-R B) Almost anything can be justified on a short layout like this one ... as for SWMBO, you're on your own, matey!!

Yep, that sounds like a Steve Beattie kit alright... and your following pictures demonstrate that fact too. 10/10 for taking that kit on in the first place!!!

They never turn up to bid on any of my stuff...!!!

It certainly does!! I didn't realise you had such a large area of inset track. To do the points (sorry, switches!) as well is really something!

Sorry, your Captaincyship, Sir; no offence intended!! I didn't mean it as a criticism of this model in particular due to it's deficiencies, more as a general observation that it doesn't take some people long to reduce any new model down to it's component parts... after all this needs doing (to some degree) by those who need to fit DCC, doesn't it?

Same reason they didn't last long in the Forest of Dean - lack of power and brake force that is; I don't think one ever actually crashed, but they failed regularly, especially on Fetter Hill (about 1 in 31 gradient IIRC?)... Funny to see how many of you take an RTR model and reduce it to a 'kit' within 24 hours of opening the box!!!!

Cracking Info there, Brian; thanks for posting!

As I said, I'm not quibbling about the price for what is actually provided, John; 18GBP for so many numbers is really very good- it's just that I only want one set, and I know that no transfer supplier on Earth is going to do a sheet like that!! It had crossed my mind that the rest could be sold on... but I don't think I even know 55 other O scalers, let alone 55 also making Class 14s..!!!

Whilst not quibbling with the asking price, 18GBP for the 7mm set is a tad too much for me when I'm only making one engine, so only want one pair of numbers, not enough for all 56..!!! Sorry!!

I'm surprised to see a Green 'un in Brian's possession in the first place... ...maybe it's just on loan, which would explain the distinct lack of BR Blue on it...

Yes, it's our British perspective on it I'm afraid; we have 1/5th the population of the US, crammed into 1/38th the area... so everything here is on the small side, compared to over the Pond... layouts included. I for one sincerely hope you get your 20ft+ layout, on condition that you share it with us here on RMweb...

Yes, the Sub-heading of "a small Industrial layout" does re-define what a lot of us think of as "small"... I love the painting and weathering on that barge; that has really brought it to life!! B) Well done!