Ian Holmes

Today a progress report on my O scale Plymouth Industrial Park Micro https://iansmicrolayouts.blogspot.com/2024/01/plymouth-industrial-park-progress-report.html

Today some general model railway nostalgia prompted by James Hiltons recent blog post https://iansmicrolayouts.blogspot.com/2024/01/memories.html

Ian

The view block structure gets close to being finished https://iansmicrolayouts.blogspot.com/2024/01/a-dirty-wash.html

Ian

A short video about building one of the structures for the layout 

Ian

A retrospective blog post about all my micro layout work this year.

http://iansmicrolayouts.blogspot.com/2023/12/my-model-railway-year-in-review.html

I found this fun to put together, perhaps others will do the same. 

Ian

A new micro layout project breaks cover from my twisted brain 

Ian

I'll just put this here  

My Brother-in-law, (who is not a railway modeller) received a Christmas present this year, that I immediately saw the potential of.

What was it?

You'll have to read the blog to find out

http://iansmicrolayouts.blogspot.com/2023/12/its-bit-late-for-christmas-presents-now.html

Ian

15 hours ago, F-UnitMad said:

Dash it, missed that - I hadn't read that far down yet!! 🤦‍♂️

Must be the biggest issue of The Dispatch yet!! 🥳👍

Second biggest? :D 

Ian

Ben:

I hope you're sending an article about this layout into The Dispatch...

Ian

The Winter issue of The Dispatch is ready to download. 63 pages of Micro Layout Goodness.

https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com

Enjoy

Merry Christmas!

Ian

A couple of four square feet (and less) micro layouts have featured in the pages of the Micro Model Railway Dispatch. Issues 3 and 4 I think. Download them for free at www.micromodelrailwaydispatch.com

Ian

On 09/11/2023 at 03:44, Ben B said:

 

Hi

 

What's the deadline for that please? I might have something suitable. Also just need to finish my entry for the Pizza Layout competition, am I right in remembering it's the end of the month for that?

@Ben B the deadline for both is December 1st.  

Ian

As you know, I like to feature Christmassy/Wintry micro's in the winter issue of The Dispatch. If anyone has anything under four square feet with a seasonal feel. I'd love to share it with the rest of the micro layout world.

Ian

Because of planned future developments, the blog title has been changed to Small Trains Large Scales it's at  https://smalltrainslargescales.blogspot.com

Ian

4 hours ago, Keith Addenbrooke said:

Excellent - thanks for sharing the video here (I’d not come across the blog).  Very much the kind of layout Carl Arendt encouraged for micros: has a clear purpose, takes a slice of railroad action and makes it fit well in to (just over) 4 sq. ft.

 

There was a guest display of 16mm modelling at our local 009 Society group meet last Saturday and I was very impressed with the potential and the modelling standard, as shown here.  Could I ask: are your rails powered or is it a dead rail / battery locomotive?
 

(Also the first time I think I’ve seen / heard yourself in person: not a hint of a Mid-Western accent being picked up as far as I could tell!)

 

An enjoyable start to my day, thank you.  Keith.

Hello Keith:

Thanks for the kind words. I think 16mm scale/32mm gauge (SM32) has great potential for small 2' gauge industrial lines. You don't really need watchmakers skills to create little details. 

My Locos are from Chris Rennie at LocoRemote so they are all WiFi controlled, power coming from 3.7V 600 mAh Lipo batteries. As I said in the video Chris' kits are well designed and easy to assemble and an easy way into 16mm.

Yes, I work had to keep my English accent, it gets me good service in restaurants.... 😄

Ian

Nice work. I like the way you've worked these structures into the box file constraints. Well done.

Ian

For the non-subscribers, the Autumn issue of The Micro Model Railway Dispatch is available to download at https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com

I hope you enjoy it

Ian

I live in a small town in the Midwest USA. One of the local industries produces the white foam sheets for the construction industry. The other day there was a batch waiting to be go out. Each sheet is 1220mm square and 250mm thick. How much scenery could you produce with this lot…

Ian

A general announcement from The Dispatch editors desk:

Due to my vacation in the UK at the time of the release of the Autumn issue of The Micro Model Railway Dispatch. The release will be delayed by a couple of weeks. Putting it at the end of September/beginning of October. 

Thank you

Ian

1 hour ago, F-UnitMad said:

Yes, take more photos & write up an article about it for The Dispatch - https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com/

 

The brainchild of @Ian Holmes of this Parish, & a worthy successor to the late Carl Arendt's Micro layouts Scrapbook.

 

😁😁👍👍

A great looking layout @kintbury jon I agree totally with what @F-UnitMad says.  Message me if you have any questions.

Ian

4 hours ago, ruggedpeak said:

Will watch this with great interest.

 

I am currently experimenting with Mosslanda shelves for a OO gauge modular system, having moved from a house with a garden layout to a city centre flat. With edges on both sides of the shelf rolling stock won't fall off the sides if it derails. Given a 7 year old may be involved in some of the operating this may be important!

 

The Mosslanda is available in 2 lengths and I think has good potential as a baseboard for micros. My plan is double track in OO (minimal scope for scenery unlike N or possibly TT:120) with various permutations of crossover, points and sidings on each shelf, all sharing a universal connection like the modular baseboard concept to give a variety of operational options. Still working on the technical details of joining them togehter and the electrics. Follows the principle of an earlier micro layout that was a terminus station that had an additional board that could extend the scenic section where there was room.

You should be checking out James Hilton's blog https://paxton-road.blogspot.com. he's already got a start on his layout

Ian