Ian Holmes

To all those who have expressed an interest in submitting articles for the Winter edition (including Christmas section) of The Dispatch. Could you please get those articles in to me? The run up to Christmas is very busy, even more so this year with three train shows in four weeks. The deadline for articles is December 1st.

What do you know? I have even started blogging some thoughts the way I do https://tttalkabout.blogspot.com Ian

As a addicted Micro layout builder it will not be a surprise to you who know me to find out that I shall certainly plan something. Something small. Something Micro. Initial ideas point me in the direction of shrinking down one of the classics by the appropriate percentage to fit on a window sill. Perhaps Roy C Links “The Art of Compromise” or Rodney Hall’s Llanastr. Both of course need stock that hasn’t been released (or even announced) yet. But these are all the issues that we’re all going through right now. You would have thunk Hornby might have announced a DMU… Ah well…

There's little else I can say to add to that which has been said already. The man facilitated a change in the way we design and present our layouts. He introduced phrases like "proscenium arch" and "view block" to our vocabularies. For a while I thought it was all a British thing. Then while exhibiting on of my layouts in Minnesota I was asked if I was he. I was extremely embarrassed. But I am an Ian, and my layout showed all his design and presentation theories. Once I got over the embarrassment, it felt good to know that his ideas were being absorbed all over the world. He will be sorely missed. Ian

That was basically the avenue I was considering. The addition of the tracing paper was an extra step I’d not considered. Thanks.

Has anyone had any experience making a backscene depicting foggy conditions? I was mulling over the idea for my APA box layout. Muted colours fading into the distance might be a way to give extra depth to a scene. Any thoughts or ideas anyone? Thanks Ian

My opinion or editorial opinion? 😉 😆 I think a layout in the smaller scales has to be clever in it’s use of the space. For example, in the July 1973 Railway Modeller, John Allison built a Z scale layout on a carpenters folding ruler. Ian

Such a difficult question. I usually tell people to write what they feel. It could be short, it could be long. If you’re clever with words and you re-wrote the poem “the Night before Christmas” to include a train set. I wouldn’t mind. I’d love it in fact. I never word count articles. I and my proof readers may tidy them up and correct mistakes. But everything you read in The Dispatch is pretty much as it was sent to me. Take a look at back issues of The Dispatch. We have short articles, long articles, technical and simple ones. The variety is one of the attractions. Ian

Thanks for your kind words about The latest issue of The Dispatch. Your Christmas tree scene micro looks just the part. It’s a different take on the subject to mine, that I put in last Christmases issue of The Dispatch. I use the linear motored Teeny Trains product, now discontinued. Your deadline, should you accept it. Is December 1st. Plenty of time. 😉 Ian

I feel like I am late to the party on discovering these lovely little micro's. If you'd be interested in sharing them with the readers of the Micro Model Railway Dispatch drop me a line MMRDeditor@gmail.com. Super detail and atmosphere. Just what I like. Ian

ISSUE 6 Autumn is now available to download. https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com

I’ve built track in EM, P4 and now 16mm, so I thought I was well equipped to deal with the task in P:48. What you have is a load of impenetrable websites with nothing in stock and no timeline for getting things ordered. I thought it would be the easiest thing in the world to get a point kit. Like are sold inn the UK . Nope. Didn’t have all the parts and couldn’t tell me when they would be getting everything together. Don’t get me wrong P:48 work is great, but its rather difficult to break into.

There is. But in my experience as someone trying to find a way into 2 rail O scale in the USA . It’s a pain. It’s frustrating. I guess these guys model and produce parts in P48 with the best of intentions but no-one seems to have a business plan, some create an online persona that you’d be better off using someone else’s stuff. Don’t expect an organized society like the EMGS, Scalefour Society, or even the Gauge O guild. If there was a properly organized group over here to push that aspect of the hobby perhaps things would improve. But not until then. Perhaps not even then.

More clever work. Well done. Ian

I would also love to see this featured in the Micro Model Railway Dispatch. Would you be interested in writing an article and sharing photographs with the readers? Ian

That is an absolutely delightful layout. It really takes me back to my childhood. Nostalgia by the bucket load. You can be very, very proud of your achievement. Ian

Jerry, If you feel like writing a short piece on this little ‘un for The Micro Model Railway Dispatch any time. Just drop me a line Ian

Inspiration is a very particular (and peculiar), thing. One person can see a photograph and and be so inspired by bit they can produce a layout from it. The same photo might leave another person cold. It’s all about looking. Read Books and magazines, trawl the internet for images. That’s how I work. Ian

Great work! I’m really enjoying this thread

Some time earlier this week, the amount of downloads for the latest issue of The Dispatch passed 2,000. I think that's a bit of a milestone. Thanks to all who read it Ian

What do they say? "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"? Nice touch.

The Summer issue of The Dispatch is now ready to download! Head over to https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com Hope you enjoy it Ian

Looking good. That stone wall frames everything quite nicely

Pretty sure the layout was in November 1978. If I recall correctly '78 was also the year of Roy C Link's seminal "The Art of Compromise" Article. Ian

Ah yes, Allied Marine, one of my favourite layouts from way back when. Ian