dseagull

Many thanks for your comments - as I expected, really! It has been a few years since I tried soldering, so I will get some new equipment and give it a go (Jim, thanks for your kind offer - I will be in touch). Starter park ordered and already on the way.

Having bought our first house in January, I am now at the stage where I can think about a return to modelling, after several stalled projects. It won't be an immediate return - we have a large area of thick jungle to clear in the garden before a shed can be purchased and built, but we are desperate to be in a position to have that done by the end of the summer, pandemic allowing. I have been modelling in 00, and primarily enjoy building over operation, particularly scenery (one of my scratchbuilt buildings ) . Recently I've found myself drawn to this sub forum more and more, thanks to some of the stunning work on show, and over the last couple of days have been wondering if I should dip a toe in the 2mm waters. I don't really have any 00 stock at present, aside from some kitbuilt (Cambrian) wagons all in need of repair after the move, so I wouldn't be losing out on essentially starting again. What does concern me, and would affect any move to finer standards, is my atrocious soldering skills. The last time I soldered a track feed, it took me close to an hour. I have seen Easitrac on the Association website which certainly seems easier, although I know I would have to bite the bullet at some point and learn how to solder properly (unless, he asks more in hope than expectation, such things as chassis and pointwork can safely be assembled with superglue?) What I was planning to 'do' before these thoughts on change of scale/gauge was an immediately pre-WW1 'might have been' LBSCR branchline ('the plan' has a double slip, so it will need some revision if I'm being realistic!) , and as I have been collecting research material on this, I think I would stick with it. So; Would a good starting point be to order the 2mm Association 'Getting started' book and wagon kit and see how i go from there?

Hi As some of you may be aware, I am secretary of a Non League football club. The following was forwarded to me by our league. Apologies if I'm teaching anyone to suck eggs here, but thought it was worth sharing as it will apply to non-sporting organisations/groups as well;

Looking forward to this. Sounds the sort of place (and era!) that is calling out for a colonial war-type name; Atbara Square, or Sevastopol Road, something like that.

Very nice indeed CK. Is the wall a commercial product, or some very nifty DAS sculpting?

Very nice Mikkel. There's a great (considering that it is from around 1880) photo of an LBSC one here; here (Have stopped it embedding because I'm not sure what the copyright status is).

Makes a huge difference. I know this one is a static model, but I wonder if it would be worth replacing the tender wheels? The huge flanges (stop sniggering) jump out a bit!

Many a truth set in jest Cheers all. I think the favourite approach is clear... Now all we need to do is get this house move through so that I can get cracking.

Fnar Fnar. If you had the potential for an extra 2" on the width, would you put it at the front to increase depth, or the rear to er... increase depth(!) and potentially turn the part relief buildings into bigger ones?

Due to the General Election, the date of the 3rd Hailsham Model Railway Show has had to be changed at short notice to Saturday 30th November at the Hailsham Community Hall; https://www.facebook.com/events/342552136441201/ This has resulted in some unavoidable pullouts and as a result, the organisers are seeking additional layouts and trade at the event. I should add I am not one of the organisers, but Hailsham Town FC are doing some advertising of the event for Philip Ford and his crew. If anyone fancies a short notice day out in Sussex, please contact healthylivingclubcommittee@btinternet.com

That's ingenious, have used DAS to cover before, but never thought about rolling it out between guides to ensure a consistent thickness. Some lovely modelling here

Question which I didn't know where else to put! How many wagons (of the same diagram) would a works turn out in a year? Bit of background; My new layout will be set in the late winter/early spring of 1914. So far, I have built three Cambrian LBSC opens. The diagram they were based on was introduced in 1912, being built until 1926, with wagon numbers starting (according to the instructions) at 3449 and finishing at 6000. I wanted to avoid sequential numbering, so these first three are 3461, 3486 and 3502 respectively. How high could I realistically go?

Good point Eric! - Obviously rotated the wrong way when copied across from a previous file. With a slight adjustment, a signal box fits as well near the level crossing.

Thanks - I have slightly adjusted the road layout as suggested to have more of the church modelled, but wanted to keep the same orientation as now. Introducing a bend into the road is a great shout, and certainly lets me fit more of the church in.

Thanks Phil, I see the Cuckmere buses regularly (in fact one of the Hailsham Town Buses goes past my front door a few times a week), however at 34, I think an OAP pass might be pushing it Funny you should mention churches... Nearholmer's sketch and valued information about the likelihood of more than one entrance to the yard got me thinking. I also had been pondering adding a water crane, something which would most probably have been needed given the gradients, and a tower would be a nice focal point at the front of the layout. So; Amendments from previous plans Station building replaced from dimensions of L-Cut LC4 to Peco Wooden Station building Water Tower added. Platform water crane represented by purple circle. House removed from main road and added to lane (part relief but with space for a bit of a cottage garden) End of school replaced by end of Church. It is noticeable from Google Streetview that the end of church is close to the road, and old postcards appear to confirm that this has been the case for many years. The actual entrance to the church would be just offscene down the small lane next to post office Placeholder cattle dock removed and replaced with more realistically sized drawing. Lighter grey represents a ramp up to the pens. I really quite fancy a row of blackthorn in full 'Blackthorn Winter (second photo down)' blossom, so have added these at the top of the plan. I think, almost entirely thanks to the very kind assistance I have received, we are finally getting somewhere. Certainly a lot happier with the plan from the original earlier in the week but still very much welcoming comment!

Tonight's proposal... The goods yard is now single ended, accessible for trains from the Seaford direction (thanks Simon!). Anything which needs to come in from the other direction would work into Seaford (or Newhaven) and then out again on the next train. I was struggling to fit the pointwork for a second siding (for the cattle dock) in, and then chanced upon Pentreath, on the LNWR's Red Wharf Bay branch in Anglesey. This old OS Map shows a very similar arrangement - single line, with a headshunt including a three way turnout. To give an idea of the platform length, that's a 4MT 2-6-4T tank with three Ratio Midland length coaches. Not entirely convinced by the right hand side scenically yet, I think it needs 'something' to balance the structures on the left, and the river has gone, but the station yard is bigger, allowing for carts to turn, and the dock has been retained which is a big bonus.

Thanks Nick, those are useful. I think with any layout based on something which may have been planned but didn't happen (and I must agree, probably for the best given the view!), there has to be compromise and suspension of disbelief. My version of Litlington would perhaps be a little bigger/more important than reality, but I'm prepared to live with that. I'll have another look at the track plan this evening - the dock opposite the platform is by no means a must have. I did want to get as much of a feeling of space as I could within the limitations - I am a big fan of layouts like Sherton Abbas (Wenlock of this parish), Geoff Forster's Llangunllo and the aforementioned Catcott Burtle, and whilst I have no intention of simply copying someone else, if I could get something close to the atmosphere of any of those three I would be delighted. Thanks to all for the support and comments so far, it really is most encouraging.

V2 plan; Added an extra inch to the depth.

Here's a Goods lockup I scratchbuilt for a previous incarnation (which didn't get very far). Something like this more suitable?

Thanks, that is very useful. The geography/geology would certainly be challenging. The original source (accepting that my edited map was way out!) for the Seaford-Willingdon (Should have been Wilmington, am getting my W's muddled!) line was http://www.semgonline.com/RlyMag/FromLewesToNewhavenAndSeaford.pdf (Last sentence on Page 4) I still like the idea of running through trains loaded with shingle - the narrow gauge line which gave me the idea only ran from the beach to the main road at Exceat (see https://maps.nls.uk/view/95752663#zoom=5&lat=6717&lon=3118&layers=BT ) but perhaps I should cut my ambitions back to a 'twig' to Alfriston? (where the money run out when someone looked at a map and realised how much effort for little return an extension to Seaford would be) - Originally, the 'grand plan' was to adapt the Iain Rice plan for 'Clun' (Finescale in Small Spaces) for Alfriston as the next layout in the series, but short of a lottery win I can't see us having the space for two for many years!

Thanks all for the interesting and useful comments. A few things; Firstly, the goods shed, if built, would be a wooden one - using the Metcalfe one on the plan was just a placeholder to ensure there was enough space. Same for the signal box, which wouldn't be a Wills farmhouse! With regard to the geography, the planned route is actually available to view at The Keep, the local archives office - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/eec9d0c1-7734-4afd-98fb-9cea8bc9603d . Perhaps I should get myself down there to see exactly where the line was intended to go! I do like the idea of a 'Dyke-esq' station building. Certainly don't want anything too big. Another possibility is building the layout as a former independent/light railway which has recently been taken over/absorbed? My reasons for the 1912-14 time period were relating to availability of stock. I have spent a few happy evenings of late building a couple of Cambrian LBSC opens (one with sheet rail, one without), as well as a SECR Van (which is about 5 years too late unfortunately!). Motive power wise, this would allow for the E4, Terrier, H1/H2 and E1, which are either available or planned within the next couple of years. It would also (hence adding the word 'early' to 1914) allow for a couple of 'one day' locos in a Gladstone or the very elegant G Class single (last one withdrawn May 1914), both of which are available as kits for when I have the money/time/ability (delete as applicable) to make a decent stab at them. Coaches are a little more challenging, but the Ratio Midland coaches can be adapted and I also have some old Railway Modellers with instructions on converting Triang Clerestory stock. If I went down the 'adopted light' route then the repainted Ratio 4 wheelers are a cliché which I am willing to put up with, at least short term (I also have two of these, with three links and aftermarket buffers built a few years back and painted in what can best be described as 'Municipal lamppost green' from a previous layout). I intend to go down the 'cameo' route, so am limited on size. Width could perhaps be increased a little, however, as the Screwfix brackets I have my eye on come out 500mm , but I am conscious I will need to be able to safely maneuver the layout up and down stairs, as well as perhaps in and out of the car should things go as well as I hope. I did originally consider it as a P4 test piece, but I'm not sure a single slip is within the capabilities of someone who took the best part of an hour to solder two feeds to track not that long ago!

After approximately five years in the dreaming, armchair modelling and false starts, I am now finally in a position where I can begin work on a new layout. Baby Hannah has been evicted (to share with her sister ), leaving a cot sized gap against the wall. I plan to install brackets for storage, and build a portable layout which can be brought downstairs to work on, so we are looking at a foamboard baseboard, inspired by Chris Nevard's superb Catcott Burtle . This is already in stock - Hobbycraft selling 4 A1 size sheets for a tenner certainly helped! The layout is set in the 1912-Spring 1914 period, on a twice proposed but never built scheme in the beautiful Cuckmere Valley in East Sussex. In real life, the branch from Lewes to Seaford was mooted to be extended, joining what is now the East Coastway (Eastbourne-London) line at Willingdon, near Polegate, however this would never take place. There was though a Narrow Gauge line relating to shingle extraction , albeit later than my planned period. In my reality, this was standard gauge, with the resulting shingle used for, amongst other things, ballast across the LBSC network (again, a slight alteration of reality - that came from the Crumbles in nearby Eastbourne). Looking at a screenshot from Google Maps (with my edits), I would suggest a line from Seaford through the valley seems to fit what would be the easiest route with the line following the contours of the land, and also allowing for a station at the only real population centre of note (Alfriston). Litlington, with its White Horse carved into the hillside, would have probably not have merited a station in reality, although if the Tea Gardens, which still serve today, were opened earlier than the 1920's then perhaps it could have become a tourist destination for intrepid Edwardians. In the below plan, to the left is the line to Seaford, with the 'shingle siding' diverging somewhere beyond the level crossing, whilst to the right, the line heads through to Alfriston before joining the main line. From the left, the simple track plan crosses over the River Cuckmere before running into the station. The single goods siding in the station yard is joined by one opposite, which serves a Cattle (or perhaps more likely in this part of the world, Sheep!) dock, whilst the runaround for the Goods Yard is completed offstage. The road crosses the river and buildings on the level, before slightly rising up, over the Downs towards Seaford, with a small lane crossing over the railway and then rising up to meet it. The village itself is mostly strung out along the road. Aside from the shingle trains which pass through the station on their way to Eastbourne and the north (or running round for Seaford and onwards to Newhaven/Brighton), goods traffic would mostly be agricultural goods out, with inbound coal for the village, handled by a daily pick-up goods. Passenger services would be locals from Seaford-Eastbourne (E4, Terrier), with something bigger for non stopping Eastbourne-Newhaven direct trains. Twice weekly Seaford-Hailsham trains conveying both passengers and animals for the livestock market would also be possible. For buildings, I have taken inspiration from those which are there in reality - the shop is long gone, however a picture survives; Cottage/Shop inspiration; https://www.francisfrith.com/litlington/litlington-the-village-c1960_l480010 Whilst the 1950's built village hall was designed very sympathetically with use of local flint to blend in - Google Maps link which should point to it! , and, in the plan below, becomes a school, inspired by the West Stoke Village Hall in West Sussex, built from similar materials and originally for that purpose. The station building on the plan is the right dimensions for one of the L-Cuts kits (LC-4), but I think will instead be scratchbuilt. Would be interested to hear any thoughts, before I start cutting foamboard! My interests are more scenic than operational, so the limited operational scope of the plan is acknowledged!

Morning all Chilly start but looks like another glorious day in prospect - shame I will spend the best part of it at work! We are, at least, so busy that the days are going quickly! Managed to finish off another Cambrian LBSC open last night, this one with a sheet rail. Have a good day all

Sorry to be the one who does this, but has anyone spotted the new MRJ on their travels? Trying to decide if it is worth braving the parking 'experience' that is Lewes on a weekday to go to Smiffs at lunch. Cheers!

Morning all Chilly start this morning after a very bright and spring like day yesterday, but at least it is sunny. All planned tasks were successfully accomplished yesterday, so off to work shortly to see what Monday brings. Have a good day all