PaulWarb

Hi Many bought trees are very unrealistic. They are often all the same size, they can look very plastic and unnatural. It has already been commented that they can also be too small - or at least look the wrong shape for their size. My greatest concern I think is that they just don't look like real trees. A few suggestions ... a) Go for a walk!!! Enjoy looking at some trees - notice the different shapes associated with different species. Look at the variety sometimes in quite a small area. Note that green is not one shade!! Look at all the different colours - even in the summer - green has many different shades - yes - dark and lighter but also yellowish greens, bluish greens etc. Notice how often with a real tree you can see daylight through the tree - in other words its not all solid foliage - have a look and see how many bought trees model this. b) Do a Google image search for specific species e.g. oak, ash, scots pine - so that you can base a model on what the real thing looks like. c) Decide what time of the year you want to model. Deciduous trees in the winter don't have any leaves!! d) Think about the area you are modelling - does it have largely one type of tree e.g. largely evergreens - or a mix e) Have a look at some layouts that have a reputation for fantastic trees / plants. Have a look for example at the County Gate website. Look at the modelling methods then scenery then modelling trees and plants sections http://www.009.cd2.com/ f) Have a go at making your own trees - it's really not that hard and you will get better at making them - there's lots of advice out there including some useful videos on Youtube. Again look at County Gate website for some ideas. There are lots of natural materials like sea moss that make great shrubs and trees - particularly when stuck to real pieces of natural root or small twigs and branches. There is a huge range of flocks and leaf materials available that will give you the different shades of green I mentioned. f) Try typing sea moss model railways into Google and do an image search - that will I think raise the bar a bit for what you might want to achieve!! Finally have a look at this shot from one of my older layouts. I'm sure I can improve on this and I have seen better trees on other layouts but I don't think it's too bad - and I think for me anyway it looks much better than the majority of bought trees. Have fun making them too - you don't get this with bought ones!! Having said all of this there are some good commercial trees available - they can be quite expensive though.

Hi I believe a supplier called Ten Commandments used to provide orange cable with their trunking kit but I understand this is no longer available (it's what I used on my last layout). How about using some 7/0.2mm orange covered wire?

My layout may at first look slightly unusual - the walls, rock etc is a reddish brown colour ... The layout is loosely based on the Chester area where the main rock type is red sandstone. This was used extensively as a building stone (including the city walls and the cathedral) and gives the city a distinct appearance. Cutting at Northgate locks - showing sandstone walls It seems to me that ... a) if a layout is based on a particular area then it has to reflect the local geology and b) if this is done well it can make a layout quite distinctive and different from other layouts (not all rock is brown or grey) It would be good to see some photos of the layouts others have mentioned - particularly any that reflect local geology.

Hi I agree - no photos around. Try typing arriva mk2 coach electra graphics into Google and do an image search - you should find two photos come up fairly quickly associated with a company called Electra Train Graphics - are they of any use?

Hi Sorry for the confusion!! Have a look back at the beginning of this thread and all will be revealed. Basically - I liked the name!!

Hi Phil Thanks - I am looking forward to finishing painting this area and making it look much more realistic. I'm also hoping to take some better photos with a flash diffuser.

Well at last another post. Maybe I flatter myself that many looked at the earlier posts about Chesterfield - but - if you did (thanks) here is an update. You may have thought I had left the planet but no I'm still here!! Firstly I am in the process of developing a new website - the link that probably didn't work for a while at the begining of this thread should work now and take you to the new site. The layout has developed considerably since the last posts. Below are a few photos with some comments. For those who might be interested I guess the main developments are as follows ... Changed from Cobalt point motors to servos and using megapoints controllers. Control panel almost finished So - related to this - all point motors working with green / red direction indication LEDs on the panel. The other switches on the panel are for signals. Some signals in place using CR Signals and Heathcote infra red controls (with override switches on the control panel) Ballasting and all of the track painted Quite a lot of scenic work carried out - on the cutting, a row of terraced houses and the canal lock area. Backscene added - although this needs further work. And one most important development - I can run trains now over most of the layout! Well there you go. Tons more to do but as said a bit of an update. I plan to take more photos soon and provide somewhat more frequent updates (yes - I know heard that before - I will try harder!!). As more photos are added it will give you a better idea of the progress that has been made. Small part of the station area with a Hornby Network Rail Measurment Train Small part of canal basin - locks and bridge loosely based on Northate Locks near Chester. There is a very high lock gate! The terraced houses are from the Bachmann Scenecraft range - although they have been changed somewhat including a few repainted front doors and front gardens added - I hope to add some close ups soon - including a chap cutting the hedge (you can see clippings at the moment but no cutting going on (maybe gone in for a cup of tea!!).

Hi It means having the sounds on an existing decoder changed to a different set. For example, you may have a Class 66 and for whatever reason be unhappy with the sounds - you might find the horns too weak or want particular sounds that were not put on the decoder. There are a number of companies that will 'reblow' a decoder for you and add a fresh set of sounds. You may find a stand / company at some of the larger model railway ehxibitions that will do it there and then for you. Hope this helps.

Do you mind me asking how old you are - I'll explain in my next message!!

Hi Thanks for all the information - such expertise out there!! It will help me to build up a rake for my two class 59's. Thanks again

Hello I know a certain amount about these coaches but cannot fully identify them and sure - rather than speculating could anyone tell me what type of coaches these are - in both photos? Do you think that the blue and red coaches have been repainted - I don't recognise the livery. The coaches were on the Chester Explorer - pulled by two Class 59's. Thanks

Hi I have regularly bought Vallejo acrylics for my Iwata airbrush online - used two suppliers - ebay names ... flying_tigercat and coulsdon_models both very reliable - sent paints very quickly. Sorry can't help with the 'whites' question - maybe contact one of the above suppliers. Hope this helps

Hi Thoroughly enjoyed my time - I went with several tasks - things to purchase, advice to obtain and managed to cover all so very happy. Personally I would have liked more modern image UK layouts but I spent a lot of time at Coppell and Euxton - very entertaining and had a few useful chats. I also really enjoyed Gweek North Quay - thought it looked very realistic - excellent attention to detail. Thanks to the organisers and exhibitors for all their hard work and for another great show.

Hi I'm no expert but I think it should work if you go to Options (far right icon top row) and tick Paste as plain text. Then go to the Twitter icon t and select notice or twitter - paste the text in the large box and hit OK. I hope this works - if not I'm sure someone else will correct this and tell me I have got it wrong!!!

Hi All amazingly romantic! Beautiful photo - I will add my congratulations to all the others. Love the ring too!! I hope you both have a long and happy life together.

Hi I tuck tissue paper behind the bogey - as shown on this 57 .... some patience with this will protect the motor etc that you don't want painted. I have found this works very well for me. Here is the 57 after its treatment - sorry don't have a side view. By the way - airbrushing should be part of the weathering process. It would help if you find some photos of real locos and study them carefully - some of the detailed effects can be achieved by using fine brushes and adding this to the airbrushing. This 37 had a mix of the two. Click on the photos to see larger images! Hope this helps.

Hi Nick Thanks for your reply. I wanted platforms that would take some longer trains - Voyagers etc. Also - as at Chester - sections that would be for more local DMUs. It's not going to be a perfect copy of Chester but there will be some obvious similarities. There are largish curves at one end at Chester - also a bit like Shrewsbury.

Thank you - yes I agree - I thought of that - but liked the name!! It's impossible in the space I have to model these real life locations exactly so I am really taking inspiration from these areas - there will be various ingredients that will have to be adapted and modified in a layout this size.

Well at last some significant progress with Chesterfield. The following photos show all the usual paraphernalia (sorry about that) when constructing a layout but also show progress to date. There is now one complete loop of track and another almost finished - you may spot the gap. Wiring is at an advanced stage with most of the track shown now electrified with four power districts. Great excitement just before Christmas day as a Class 57 was the first loco to complete the loop!! The Voyager aIso travelled successfully round the layout taking the curves well without problems. I hope to take a video soon showing a loco completing the circuit. The track is raised as there is one section where there will be a small canal basin as at Northgate Locks near Chester. The lower level will also be reflected in a smaller drop in front of the station and on the inside of the curves at the right end of the layout. I wanted to have more variation in height on this layout too compared with Beeches TMD. I hope to finish laying the track soon, including a fiddle yard area (I'm planning to try part of this under the scenery. I have started to add the point motors /servos - the first one worked well.

Some members may remember Beeches TMD - it was featured in BRM and Traction magazine a few years ago. Although the layout’s website no longer exists a few videos remain on Youtube. It was sold a couple of years ago and the proceeds are helping to finance a new layout. Beeches TMD was a learning curve, it’s scenic aspects were I think one of its strengths. A number of folk have asked me to make buddleias for them after seeing the plants cropping up in the layout! I am now nearing retirement. A while ago we had had our garage converted into a new room. For a while it was a mix of a study and general purpose room while teenage children were still at home. Now though it has become the home to a new layout that I have called Chesterfield. It takes its inspiration from the area around Chester station and Macclesfield. That sounds a bit odd but I am not specifically modelling either of the areas. I hope to combine interesting scenic aspects of both areas that appeal to me. The era is late 1990’s to the present so it is a modern image layout, DCC and all the locomotives have sound decoders. One of the main differences is that this will be a layout with a complete loop not an end to end. It will also be refreshing to be able to run longer trains as the layout is much larger. A new website is beginning to take shape ........ https://chesterfielddcc.vpweb.com/ I hope to keep this updated and to periodically also add to this thread. Sorry if progress seems slow - I hope it will speed up once I have retired!! For the moment here is one recent photo showing a very small part of the layout. The plan is only a broad idea that I am working too – I like to lay the track out and tweak it a bit while I am going along. If something doesn’t look as if it’s going to work very well, then changes will be made.

Hi Just saw your thread. Looking good!! I'm not familar with the wagon so can't comment but you are brave taking on this project and it looks as if you are building the wagon very carefully. Some of you may be thinking what a right mess I've made Not at all!! I was impressed with the strengthening of the sides. Much will depend now on the detail and the finishing - how you clean it up - get rid of excess glue etc and how you paint and weather the wagon. Look forward to seeing how this progresses and more photos. What sort of layout do you have? Regards Paul

Hi Not quite sure what you are after but are these of any value? http://www.brucehunt.co.uk/Signalling%20at%20Saltash%20Station.html http://www.flickr.com/photos/34872266@N02/5249651415/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/21403537@N00/2349911017/

Now dales to me means Derbyshire!!! I'm in Stockport - nice and sunny here at the moment - but then you might expect that further south towards the tropics!!!! I can't wait for spring and a chance to get out and enjoy the dales again. I haven't added much to my Beeches TMD thread for a while but on this page you can see my most recent purchase. I wish you could hear it - as it has an Olivia's trains sound decoder in it!!! http://beechestmd.we...ollingstock.htm

Wow - this has certainly provoked a reaction!!! I do not have much to add to what has already been said. I remember getting one of my class 37s fitted with a sound decoder - my first - spine tingling moment when I heard the sounds - no turning back for me!!! I have always tried to make my layout as reasitic as possible so just as of course there is sound on a real railway, so for me there needs to be sound on a model railway. It seems as fundamental as others have said about the paint on a loco or dirt on the track. I understand the problems at exhibitions - I think some of the best exhibitions I have been to have put layouts with sound in side / smaller rooms - that solves the problem a bit. Do you have friend who could run one of their locos with sound on your layout? Be interesting to hear which way you go. Some useful video clips on this website - you might like to watch (hear them!!!) Go to Other layouts video page or Videos http://www.freewebs.com/beechestmd/

Hi Just came across this thread - wow what a layout - fantastic modelling. I also have an interest in the north Wales area - although my layout is much smaller all the rolling stock operates (or has operated) along the n. Wales coast. Beeches TMD I tried a link on the Wells Green website to a fotopic gallery of photos of Llanbourne - link was broken though. Do you have a website? Regards Paul