Matloughe

Virtual vs Real Modelling A thought crossed my mind this past week, about the advantages of physical railway modelling versus some fantastic screenshots I have seen from Train Simulator from other people. It made me think about how it can be used as a digital medium for those skilled enough to work through it to achieve results - in fact for Train Sim Classic there are some maps which have been designed to be attempts at a model railway track plan and using the in sim models as scenery so you the user would be effectively a person within the model world - theres a different concept, instead of driving from London to Brighton you're in charge of the entire Brighton Mainline as a model. I have downloaded a map made from a Model Rail plan from 2014, and it has scenery confined to effectively an 8x4 board and I am tempted to have a go at making a model within those constraints. But regardless, while I was tinkering I found an old map I had made on my own Train Sim Classic of Rusper Road as a scale 'mock-up' I thought it might be interesting to post some screenshots of my original draft of the model and see how close the real thing measures up in looks. I should stress some of these photos are from various stages in the layout's life cycle - I went for the best 'fit' to the virtual mock-up. I will also always post the mock-up first as cannonically its the eldest version of Rusper Road. 1) Layout Overview from Footbridge. 2) Terrier 'Pack' at Rusper Road 3) View from the station entrance 4) Layout overview towards footbridge. 5) Goods Shed 6) Platform towards Footbridge. Some interesting vantage shots; what impresses me is how close the mock-up on Train Sim Classic is towards the actual model I have created. Some things I have noted - the wide gap on the model between the tracks caused by using Set-Track has permitted the coaling stage which would be impossible in its location with scale track distances. The virtual model suffers by being constrained by minimum radius which are far more generous than the model - which is good and it does look more realistic but does result in a stretched out virtual model - but it is constrained by the same constraints of headshunt length, run-around loop maximum size etc. The virtual model is connected to a balloon loop so I can set a train to leave the station, it'll run around the loop and return - its interesting to watch. I am tempted to built onto the virtual model another station plan I am proposing to use for the next project and run them end-to-end as per my plans to link two station boards together - I'll have a ponder on this one. Not much actual modelling, I'll post when I have more. I thought this find would be interesting comparing the prototype to the actual result. Stay Safe, Happy Modelling. Kind Regards, Gary

You're all too kind - I always feel my work is somewhat slapped together as I am impatient and want to get things finished. The platform was weighted down for about three hours before I removed the weights and allowed the glue to cure off overnight - the next morning I was able to lift the layout by picking up the platform. At least I know its not going anywhere! A new arrival has appeared at Rusper Road; its not LB&SCR, its not in the correct time period - being built in 1917 but I've wanted one since the project was announced - this is of course a Kerr Stuart Victory by Planet Industrials - I found late on last Wednesday they had a special offer selling them for £99 instead of the usual £150! I couldn't say no as they would never be this price again, so having done the maths I took advantage of PayPal's Buy in 3 offer. I got a notification on Saturday that a parcel had been shipped and on Monday afternoon I had in my hands a pristine Planet Industrials white box with Wasp stripes on and a fantastic line drawing of the loco inside. I wasted no time getting the locomotive on the layout and took several photos it has an impressive heft about it and run surefootedly out of the box down to 10% on the Gaugemaster COMBI controller I have considering I haven't cleaned any track. The size comparision compared to my usual fare of Terriers is impressive the roof of the Terriers not even being as tall as the top of the boiler of the Victory. The platform has had a coat of mixed-grey applied, and then a thin free hand white painted line to mark the edge of the platform. Its remarkable that finishing off these few details the layout suddenly seems far more 'complete' than I thought it was - its now only minor detailing which is missing. People, clutter, station fence and signage. I am probably going to have a break from modelling over the christmas break - with postage alterations and the need to watch the pennies I am not planning any big purchases. I might do an operating session if I get a chance - I did practise with how the freight system works and it needs some adjustments with freight lengths and dice throws generating traffic. I hope others get some modelling done over the Christmas Break. Stay Safe, mines a BLT. Kind Regards, Gary

Good Evening All, I hope you're all well; I am pretty good its been a fairly productive weekend - I've taken a number of photos of progress so i'll let them speak for themselves: LB&SCR E2, number 100 paints a lonely figure as it shunts a lone Thomas Meakins wagon into the siding at Rusper Road. The backscene has been fitted to both the back end end board to give an impression of the rest of the world and the station in a fairly rural location - it was a right faff to fit it as I had to cut several millimeters off then offer it up, decide where it needed trimming more, trim it again and then offer it up until it matched quite nicely. By that time it was 1am and I stuck it down with Pritt Stick and left it to dry overnight. Close up shots are far less favourable than the naked eye which from a normal distance it blends together quite nicely: With a near identical comparision shot from April 2023 8 months ago showing where we where and where we are currently. The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice the new platform structure in place I painted the side walls of these today in my own brick blend of paint similar to the warehouse to hint at construction around the same time period. This is the L-Cut Creative platform, chopped about to fit in the location I had available designed originally around the Scale Model Scenery platform - not that there is anything wrong with the SMS platform - because my track isn't on a cork base the platform height for SMS was too high relative to the rolling stock by about a scale foot. Ideal for flat step free entry but it looks strange. After painting, it was glued to the board with some appropriate weights to hold it down provided by my Partners Gin collection! The L-Cut Platforms had started to go bannana shaped so I wanted to secure them down and weight them down, after three hours I removed the weights and all seems well. Bostik Glue for the win again! The clearances were checked with a Terrier, the E2 and E4 and all clear the platforms which are much nearer to the track now - the platform surface will need to be painted there are markings for the station building location as I am planning to paint a tile pattern to be viewed in the waiting area of the shelter and I've selected a tile to be drilled out for the base of the Water Column. I just wanted to say thank you for the comments, kind and constructive alike @TechnicArrow I am certainly tempted to have a go at the brick motar - I have some leftover warehouse I could paint up for a test piece and the warehouse itself is still able to be removed from its location to be worked on. @choo1choo I'd certainly be interested to see your model and progress - I am starting to plan a replacement for Rusper Road in the future - this has been a great learning experience but it is limited in space and operations; if I were starting again I'd go for wider boards - they weren't available as a kit when I started Rusper Road but another 10cm in depth would be a godsend I do sometimes forget, especially with close up work it is only 80cm long by 20cm deep. @Artless Bodger Thank you, the layout was just supposed to be what I had to hand and its certainly been that and more I have enjoyed working on it however and I would potentially use sectional track again - with power feeds feeding adjacent sections of track and arranging the feeds so each piece of track is fed from each end I have had zero issues aside from dirty track. I would potentially go with Peco track next time as I know the dead frogs are less obtrusive. Well I am off to bed, its been a busy weekend of chores, modelling and family life but I've enjoyed it - I'll leave you with my new favourite photo. A recreation of one I took after the scenery was being worked on: LBSCR A1 "Brighton" simmering in the loop, re-creating a similar picture to Leadenhall a while back. Kind Regards, Gary

Why would I laugh? Mine are insulfrogs too and what makes them even worse...? (whispers) They're Hornby Settrack 😆 Surprisingly I've had very few issues with them, good to hear its an excellent runner - I am looking forwards to it arriving hopefully before Christmas. Kind Regards, Gary

Good Morning, Some progess has been made, i've been dabbling with a backscene. This is the cropped view, it looks fairly good for a mock-up; I found this free online so all tht was needed was to print it out. I am considering on balance however just having a backscene with just trees and forgetting about the dilapidated barn/farm structure. More dabbling to be had. I fitted four sets of Kadee couplings, one to the E4 shown above and three to different wagons to be used on the layout. I've also remedied the issue i've been having with the goods shed/warehouse. Using a Kingsway Models free to download Garage interior pack I have added this interior to hide the blue backscene paint. To my eyes it looks like black & white painted bricks, I've added a door to suggest an office and some notice boards (all included on the A4 sheet) it looks quite effective considering the constraints of the location. By the time a wagon has been shunted into the siding and you're looking from a more normal operating angle it looks good. lets have a throwback to how this area looked exactly nine months ago: If I remember rightly there is a mere 27mm from the edge of the sleeper to the rear wall of the layout - the building is 3mm thick MDF and the platform I think was 22mm wide leaving a gap of just 2mm between the front edge of the platform and the sleepers - thankfully it all fits! But even now still causes some consternation. I did cave last night and bought a new locomotive for the layout - not LB&SCR in the slightest, but a Planet Industrial Kerr Stuart Victory class. I've wanted one since they came out and they were heavily discounted until the end of today (7th December) so I popped onto Light Railway Stores and bought one last night - its more or less the right time period of 1917 just a bit of a flight of fancy. I hope everyone is well, and is safe. Keep Modelling - mines a BLT! Kind Regards, Gary

I'd just like to say thank you to those who have posted. I've had a week or so away from modelling to 'reset my compass' so to speak; I haven't done anything aside from pre-order the Harvey's Brewery wagon from Hattons at £11(ish) and I've set up a dedicated location to pay into each month out of my wages to pay for the LBSCR E1 I am wanting to aquire rather than buy it on the credit card and go from there. I'll have to go and re-assess the other pre-orders as/when I feel like it I have 2x P Class and the Metropolitan E class and decide which ones are 'must haves' and which ones are nice to have. @BlueLightning - I am definately interested in that Brake van; keep me apprised of the details - I will hold off hacking the Triang one I have to pieces for the moment. I am considering making an operating session video; I have one of those small octopus tripods that can hold a mobile phone steady. We will see what the festive season brings perhaps. Ideally I'd need a few more items of freight stock converted to Kadees beforehand - and possibly the coaching stock converted from Kadee to another form of magnetic close coupling to avoid coaches becoming uncoupled when not wanted. Any ideas on the next Oak Hill livestream? @burgundy Thats is very kind of you to say, when I have it a little more finished I would be delighted to write a small article for the Digest about Rusper Road. I've got the platform I need to finish off and then its looking at smaller scenic details; some people to populate the layout and some clutter like cases on the freight platform etc. I have asked for Membership of the Brighton Circle from the jolly man from the North Pole. @Oldddudders I'm not trying to be modest; I genuinely question at times if what I post on here is just drivel to be ignored - this thread is an interesting diversion because it does show how using Settrack/RTR items and few skills can come together nicely, it shows both iterations of the layout on the bannana shelf, and the proper boards after I evicted the N Gauge layout from them. It shows failure of me trying to build new skills with the AM Rail Signalbox kit which was a disaster! What has genuinely surprised me is that in the year since I had this idea - because it all kicked off with Dapol's Brighton for Christmas last year. This project keeps coming back to life, the Signalbox disheartened me and I thought of giving up. The shelf it was on bowed more than a ripe bannana - so it was made smaller and transplanted and even then I didn't wire it up extensively then wanted to add point motors and section switches - which was a major job too as the track was in place, then Kadee Coupling issues. All of these were overcome; I'm certainly not going to let a keyboard warrior dishearten me from carrying on. @benb Thank you, I haven't thought about it no - I do read the Despatch when a new one comes out - maybe when its a little more finished I'll put pen to paper and email him. @bazzer42 Thanks, It's all okay - I just thought it would be a good thing to share that these nasty individuals are out there and they shouldn't be listened to. As others have said perhaps they were jealous of what I've made, maybe they just don't like it - the main thing is it is their issue, not mine. I will be carrying on - I believe some thing is coming my way for the festive season - I haven't asked anything because money is tight but I usually get something. @sb67@Little Jeeem@The Bandit@Northroader Thank you for your messages, they are very kind - I hope to have something nice to show for my next update. I am planning to ballast the Fiddlestick I use for the layout and practise some basic scenery on it; there is a potential replacement for Rusper Road being quietly planned; something larger but still micro-sized potentially with the ability to work together with Rusper Road. Another item i've seen and am considering is a new Fiddleyard Board with a built-in sector plate flat-packed kit which looks very interesting! I have aquired an unpainted Dapol van that is designed to carry a rather 'explosive' cargo - the LBSCR had four Gunpowder vans in two slightly different batches, there aren't any known photos just a diagram drawing which looks similar to the Dapol van. So I am planning to paint that van up over the holiday period. I need to order some transfers for wagons I've made... and I need to sort out christmas presents for the family!!! Lots to do. Two recent eBay purchases - both kit built; they need Kadees fitting and will enter the 'pool' of wagons for the freight side of things - they already have car cards made up and populated appropriately. A Reminder from a year ago - where this project started; Christmas Day 2022. This photo was the moment I realised I could and should model the LBSCR rather than the Southern Railway. Little and Large; although the H1 is a little too large for Rusper Road - I've made sure on the potential replacement that the station and headshunt can accomodate her. So thats it for now, no new progress - some reminiscing some plans for the future. How about a little question, which locomotive should be Kadee fitted next? Improved Engine Green Terrier, #45 "Merton" A different Terrrier? K&ESR, LSWR, SR Lined Green or Malachite Green are my choices Bachmann Umber E4 # 579 I haven't put the Beattie Wells or the H1 Atlantic as they are of limited use on the layout currently, I also havent put any on that would need me to attack the chassis like the E2 or older Dapol Umber Terrier as I would need to test and figure out coupling heights etc - just quick & dirty NEM Socket plug in an #18 Kadee and off you go! Kind Regards, Gary

Good Morning All, I hope you are all well. Firstly you'll notice a slight change to the topic; I had intended for quite a while to change the name away from 'Budget Brighton BLT on a Shelf' to something more appropriate and I have finally done so. With regards to the Railway; things are coming together - I am about 70% of the way through changing over the station platforms - with structurally only the ramp needing to be finished off: Compared to the photo a few weeks ago of illuminated coaches at the same location: There is indeed a change; the main one is a far more prototypical platform height (I know ironic on a layout that uses set track!) This fact is not lost on me either; I am not going into go into too much detail but I have had messages on various social media platforms I believe from one specific individual saying along the lines that my modelling is an abomination, a curse on the hobby and they should like that I go and do something to make myself expire... I have paraphrased of course and reported the individual to the various platforms - but I'd like to use the opportunity to raise awareness of trolls and to ignore them - please don't listen to them, feed them or tolerate them. The best thing you can do is to ignore them and carry on (after reporting them of course). To this end, because I feel like it and I really want to push the buttons I'd like to offer up a photo of a 'Really Useful Engine' on Rusper Road for giggles. I have to say having run Terriers almost exclusively - the E2 is massive in comparision! the E2 has actually caused some interesting internal thoughts and conversations for myself, (you can see the missing part of the station ramp here too.) about time & era the layout is set in. I have always been fairly fluid in my interests but have decided to try and settle down to a main time period of 1890-1905, and allow items for about a decade of either side of that 1880-1915 to be permitted so this E2 being 1913 is allowed; but my Hornby LBSC Brakevan being based on a 1922 prototype technically isn't allowed. I should state I haven't nailed down everything specifically so you are bound to see RCH 1923 spec PO wagons as that is what is produced by the main manufacturers at the moment. But you might see more bespoke items down the line. Also the Stroudley Watercrane has come out of its bag and is in undercoat currently so will have a home at this end of the platform. Part of what made me want to settle on a time period was this wagon, this is an LBSCR Open A wagon - this is a resin kit from Oak Hill Works curtesy of @BlueLightning of this parish. Cambrian also make versons of this wagon as well - if you'll excuse the close up paintwork this has been painted in the pre-1905 livery and is awaiting its 'LB&SCR' transfers, and numbers this kit was very easy to put together and is a fantastic prototype. Now this has been seen before in plain Freight Grey but I wanted something that would make it pop better and using the Southern Wagons book and the HMRS liveries of the LBSCR book I worked at painting this in the earlier livery - I have several other versions of this to build, I might make one an earlier version with the illiterate mark rather than letters identifying the railway company - and I might also do one or two in the later scheme as well. It looks quite at home here on a train at the station - the platform surface here was just resting and not stuck down so its a bit uneven - I added more supportes underneath after this before glueing it down. You can see however the solebars of the wagons indicating to me its a much more prototypical height. Finally not on my layout - as seen by the enormous quantity of space! Here are the three ladies who make up most of the services at Rusper Road. Left to right we have: Merton, Leadenhall & Brighton. Two Hornby and a Dapol model respectively. All resting here on the Staverton layout at Ilfracombe MRS. Merton is awaiting her Kadee couplers which will be later on this week hopefully. I am hoping Hornby and/or Dapol bring out some new Terriers with different names & numbers. Personal favourite would be #44 Fulham as its where I am from - I do have her in Southern Livery as A1X 2644 so I shouldn't be greedy. I think Dapol especially are missing out on a trick, the Marsh Umber A1 sold out very quickly - I think they could quickly whizz up a Marsh Umber A1x with LBSC on the side tanks which as far as I am aware hasn't ever been done before and it would sell like hotcakes. A preserved A1x of Stepney in IEG would be good, Hornby have done similar with the Brighton Works shunter already. Then maybe something more exotic... Isle of Wight Central Red Terrier? Or a Freshwater Yarmouth & Newport locomotive, Green Kent & East Sussex perhaps. But I'd just like to see what other names might come out of the suppliers, more esoteric ones like #37 Southdown or #58 Wandle being great names. Thats all from me; I'll try not to bother you all until I have some tangible evidence of progress. Kind Regards, Gary

Hello All! I hope you're all doing well - this week was another laid back session at the club. Several of us took the opportunity to run some stock on the layouts and during the tea break we had some serious discussions about a number of club items, such as perhaps starting a new layout - and then the practicalities of where would we fit a new layout in the clubroom; should we assess what we have and decide if we want to keep or dispose of items it was all very interesting. My plan for the night was to try and get some photos of the N Gauge section layout Pointless #2 - this is a scaled down version of an older 00 Gauge plan which was called 'Pointless' This is an overview of most of Pointless #2; its about three feet wide by six long and is very sturdily built. The track plan is essentially a double track circuit figure of eight - but folded in on itself so there are two figures of eight on the layout and your train doesn't always appear where you think it should. One nice feature is there is a station with four tracks passing through - but in reality it is the same loops passing through twice but gives the illusion of a much larger station. The close-up doesnt do it many favours but at a normal viewing distance it is very effective - you can see the Pannier Tank and Terrier are on seperate loops heading in different directions. Central feature on the layout is the impressive viaduct crossing the lake on the highest level, from down here it has an impressive sense of scale - there is also another set of lines descending to pass through the slightly larger arch while there are several boaters on the lake. All three sets of double track lines here are on different levels and gradients - I liked this shot as it reminded me of London Transport Panniers hurrying along on their duties travelling with stores to Lillie Bridge, Neasden or Croxley Tip. You can just stand or sit and watch trains pass by quite happlily. Last photo from Pointless #2 for now, but the LT Pannier L.94 hurries through the station - perhaps getting out of the way of a Metropolitan Line train behind it with the fantastic viaduct behind. On Staverton & Buckfastleigh, several members brought some rolling stock to run: I like this shot, being framed through the arch of the bridge that has been replaced on the Staverton Board - I barely got my camera out of the way before I was almost run over - this Class 37 looks resplendent in its livery: In its Colas Rail Orange, Yellow & Black livery hauling some wagons filled with scrap and ballast here through Buckfastleigh - the model has a real presence and ran fantastically - in fact all apart from my own models ran brilliantly, my own Terrier just decided to derail on its own accord. Another member brought this a fantastic EFE Beattie Wells Tank in Southern Lined Freight livery - this glid silently around the layout with ease pulling some coaches for quite a while - I really enjoy watching the connecting rods move on these models. My own A1x Terrier from Dapol, this loco just didn't like the track on the viaduct and kept derailing - however Brighton (also from Dapol) last week ran without issue over the same track. I haven't investigated but I wonder if there is a difference between them underneath. Here it is at Staverton arriving with some coaches. We have discussed replacing the track on the viaduct because it isn't a perfect curve there are kinks and odd joins as well as a check rail all which might contribute to some issues we have on that module - not just exclusively related to my own model we've had several derailments at that section. It also needs ballasting so would be a good time to try and relay it in a single preformed section as best we can. On the other linking boards I haven't shown for Buckfastleigh and Staverton is a road passing next to the track - I've suggested we look at upgrading that and the level crossing on that module to look similar to the road adjacent to the line at Eggesford with the level crossing at an acute angle off of the main road. The P-way will be busy with fresh ballast! Two of the N Gauge Ilfracombe Boards are now in the clubroom, some scenery work on forming some hillsides was underway with card formers and plaster bandage there are still two more boards to come to the club one forming the climb out of the station and the fourth is the fiddleyard board. When they're all in the layout wiring and scenery will be attended to - the members have built a clever custom jig to take a single board bolted in at table height and flip it over securely so the underside is face up at a reasonable working height. If any of this sounds interesting to you and you might be thinking of coming along and seeing what we're about, we meet on Friday nights at 8pm til 10pm. We have a room above the Undertakers on Wilder Road in Ilfracombe, the post code is EX34 8BL and there is a car park on the opposite side of the road to the club room and currently parking there is free after 6pm (but please check the sign yourself for confirmation). We also have a break for tea/coffee & biscuits/cake mid-way through the night. There is also an extensive library of books as well as space to work on club projects or bring your own project along for some help & advice. Feel free to drop me a message if you like - we can sort something out so its not intimidating walking into a new club alone. Kind Regards, Gary

Three for three - inconciveable! To be fair not much of an update today; I was working on the magnets and all the different combinations I have tried with the ones I have on hand none of them have given me reliable hassle-free uncoupling like the large slab magnets have up until now. So for the moment I am going to stop working on that and do more research to see perhaps if I need larger discs, or perhaps rectangular ones spread over several sleepers - we'll see. I bravely turned the layout over and fixed the wiring in small self-adhesive retaining clips to the underside - to prevent loose wires snagging when I move the layout, it gave me the opportunity to tidy things up and route the wires a little better. Then I did however take my new wagons out and rough shunt them about to test the Kadees: So this is the first time in about six weeks anything has actually moved on the layout - I cleaned the tracks with some paper to take off the surface oxidisation & crud. The platform is missing here for the station while I was testing, I couplied them up, uncloupled them, tested the delayed uncoupling, fly shunted all the combinations I could to test them and they passed with flying colours. While it was all working I also tested the platform with an unusual visitor: My Kernow Beattie Wells tank - not only wrong company, but wrong era entirely!! But I couldn't resist as I love the look of this engine - sadly it runs aground on the Kadee slab magnets so it isn't all that useful to me at the moment. But certainly looks at home on the layout - if I can find a different uncoupling solution I can see this loco being used more for flights of fancy. I do have a confession though, I have a problem... with my Private... Owner Wagons!!! Before packing up for the night I grabbed all the PO Wagons I have in use for the moment and posed them on the layout - we always think of the past as black & white but my research and models have re-iterated that it was all colour before that - this fantastic selection of wagons from various suppliers are a testiment to that. I've also just seen that Birley and Bolsover wagons were seen in my choosen area and time period so I will look at nabbing some of those perhaps. I have two LBSCR Open A's which are built and just need couplings so I am going to build some more of my No.5 couplings over the weekend perhaps and once they're all fitted and running get them painted and ready to get some transfers. I am thinking of painting two in the mid LB&SCR Freight Livery of all-over grey, then I have two more to build so am thinking I will build one with a round top and paint it in early LB&SCR Freight Grey with Black Ironwork and the last one being built as a Square Ended wagon with just LBSC on the side so that I have a whole spectum to choose from. I also have two more Open A's one a kit and one 3D printed in runnable condition as well as a part-build Open D wagon that needs its chassis building. All I need now is an LBSCR Van or two and I am getting there! On the Passenger side I now have 5 Hornby 4-Wheel Coaches formed into Luggage Brake - All Third - All First - All Third - Brake Third, but I can only run two-coach trains at a time. I have my Hattons Brake Third which I think will form the main bulk of the services on its own, as well as my Bachmann Thomas converted 3-Set. I have been working on my Ratio Push-Pull coaches but I don't like what I've done with the roofs so will have to strip them back to plastic and start again. I am tempted to buy from Shapeways the LBSCR D23 Football saloon as something different to run - and I really want a Craven Engine in Stroudley condition like Egemont or Hayling the 2-4-0 tank engines in an Improved Engine Green. Engine-wise I have an E5 waiting to go to the paintshop to be stripped down and overhauled - I have body kits for a D1 & C2x and need to buy chassis for both of them. I also have a D3 whitemetal kit and another D3 Resin print that fits on a Hornby M7 chassis - but I don't think I have the heart to cut up my own M7 so will have to look for a cheap one I can butcher for that job. One the station platform is replaced, I have a Water Crane to fit to it, I am also tempted by some battery powered LED gas lamps for the platform but I don't want it to be too cluttered as it is only 46cm long! I will be attempting to populate it with a handfull of people; mostly staff with a couple of passengers in the shelter or waiting on the platform and maybe a member of staff on the goods platform next to some packing cratest etc. So getting there slowly, still plenty to do! Kind Regards, Gary

Hello Everyone, Corr look at this multiple posts over multiple days and not one of them has a locomotive in sight!!! So tinkering with the magnets, it was clear that they needed to be higher or stronger or both! Please excuse the close up and the stringy glue... and dust! 😳 I decided to double stack the magnets using my preferred stringy glue Bostik - Low Odor so that it doesn't offend anyone in the house with the glue fumes. First I started with a magnet on the left hand side of the sleeper with the hole at the bottom and right-hand side of the sleeper at the top - it did work occasionally; there was a lot more finnese involved trying to stop in the right place and uncouple shuffle correctly to get them released. However compared to a larger slab magnet this is to be expected. On a video online I saw that someone had luck with magnets being in the same sleeper space on opposite sides - but they were using larger disc magnets than I - so I attempted this as well. The interesting affect of this is that it actually drags the coupling of the wagon down to the extent the wagon comes off of its wheels at the opposite end - effectively nose diving because of this magnet. What I might attempt as a final go is another magnet at the top, left of the sleeper with the hole and seeing if that affects the magnetic field and lets them release effectively - more on that later when I get to test! When I bought the Kadee starter pack from the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association, it came with four packets of No. 5 self-assemble Kadees. Until now I have stayed entirely wedded to NEM sockets and No.18 plug-in couplings but having a look at some of my older rolling stock I decided to have a go at building it. It was fairly straight forwards assembling the gear boxes with the spring and Kadee inside. As part of my modelling budget this month I bought some 1mm thick black, plastikard - this has been used quite extensively already and I decided it would be a good packing material to support the gear box of the Kadee. So I cut some rectangles and using my gloopy Bostik glue I layered them up to give a nice level behind the drawbar of the wagon. It was packed to a depth of 4mm below the wagon floor which allowed the Kadee to just sit below the drawbar of the wagon body. After that it was a case of applying some glue to the packing, and then positioning the Kadee so that the palm of the knuckle is in-line or just ahead of the buffers to prevent buffer lock. So with this in mind I adapted these two Private owners I bought from a seller on Facebook Marketplace a while back; they came with two built LBSCR 5-Plank Opens and two unbuilt LBSCR 5-Plank Opens. I've checked against the height gauge and they are spot on perfect! So pat on the back for me! 😄 You can also see that althogh closer than Tension locks, the Kadees aren't ridiciously close so as to cause a problem. I think my next challenge is to make up an authentic pre-grouping era freight train of wagons to take to the club! I am very pleased with myself for the adaptations and impressed with the original builders skill at putting these together - so thank you! If you recognise these wagons, please say hello! Thats all for now - I'm hoping to tinker some more with these Neodymium magnets on my fiddlestick and maybe even clean the track and run some locomotives at some point. I also might attack the platform and get that sorted as well for a change of pace... so there are still more stories to be told here. Kind Regards, Gary

Hello Everyone! So last night I had a sudden burst of energy and decided to pull out the fiddlestick I have and attempt to work on an uncoupling solution. I bought about a month or so ago so Neodymium disc magnets, 3mm in diameter and 2mm high - immidiately after recieving them I realised they were too small in height for what I needed so I put them aside knowing I wouldn't be working on them for a while. Last night I had a brain wave - using some of the offcut sprues for the wooden platform I have been building (which just so happenes to be the correct width to fit between the sleepers of settrack!) I could raise the height of the magnets up and still fit between the sleepers without fouling anything: So I stuck the magnets to the wooden offcuts which I had already fitted between the sleepers - now Kadee couplings (if you don't know) swing to the side to release so I have offset the magnets one to each side to hopefully snag opposing arms and release the couplings: These do protrude above the sleeper level, but not to the same extent as the black magnets that come as standard as seen below: However the test was a failure - the arms of the kadees weren't influced by the magnets at all so its back to the drawing board... now online I have seen people who have attempted this have had three sets of magnets on each side, so there would be a single magnet in the gap between three consecutive sleepers, and then on the opposing side the same set-up. I wonder if this would cause the kadees to be more attracted to the magnets as the magnetic field is bigger. Another option I have is looking for some square or rectangular 3mm wide by 4mm high magnets and fitting them in a similar way but perhaps two of them glued next to eachother between each sleeper. I've also bought for a princely £2.80 some 10 self-adhesive cable tidies so will hopefully secure the rats nest of wiring under the board so it doesn't snag on anything when I move the boards - no doubt when I do this and turn the board over I will loose some scatter and/or ballast so some touch-ups will be needed. I might also fit some more supports to the laser cut platform tonight with a view to making it more complete. Keep modelling! Kind Regards, Gary

Excellent, There isn't any official date or place for the exhibition yet, but traditionally it will be around Easter and most likely in Ilfracombe but full details will be posted when they are finalised. Please make yourself known when you pop along and say hello. Kind Regards, Gary

The back of the platform is going to have fencing applied, money is short so I am having to spread the upgrade over several paypackets despite how insignificant the cost is. I've just measured and the platform valance and building structure actually exceed the minimum specification for distance from rolling stock. So I am sure the Major will be signing off on my branchline 😉 As for platform width I am more than happy with the width I have at 14 feet 6 inches wide. At best I could only add another six inches or so extra in width so it'll do for an upgraded halt in my mind. Kind Regards, Gary

Hello All, I hope all is well; this past week we had the opportunity to do some playing testing on Staverton and Buckfastleigh. Two points on the Buckfastleigh station throat were life-expired and causing issues with smooth running so it was decided to remove them and replace them with newer electrofrog points and wire them up accordingly. Its been an interesting experience as once we removed the old points it seemed like the geometry of the station throat had changed and the new points weren't quite in the same existing location. This meant we had to adjust the position of an underboard point motor to ensure smooth operation and we took the opportunity to adjust a surface point motor at the same time - adjusting the wire operating it and its location slightly. This is an overview of Buckfastleigh station and yard, the points that were replaced are off shot below and form the station loop access and yard access heading down to the single-track line. We have several trains on display here - in the distance the Royal Duchy heads away from the station, in the loop is the LBSCR Victorian set, an LMS Jubilee on shed as well as a DMU on the far line of the yard. We also have a younger members locomotive sitting opposite the Victorian set. Buckfastleigh has two controllers built into its control board, and section switches can be turned between the two of them or switched out for the Staverton controller to take over - the whole layout can be operated in DC or DCC mode. The only diesel on show today is club member David's Bachmann 08, 08375 in BR Blue - it was bustling about moving coaches and wagons in the yard to prepare trains. Darren, the clubs Chairman had one of his Jubilee's on the layout - here it is in the yard at the head of a rake of club-owned GWR Coaches. Its in weathered condition and looks very purposeful here at the head of a train. You can just imagine it simmering away, patiently waiting for its turn out pulling a train. 45697 Achillies is a very nicely detailed model by Bachmann for sure - I hope to see more of it. Also owned by Darren is thsi fantastic train pack from Hornby, 'The Royal Duchy' consisting of BR(W) Castle Class 7036 Taunton Castle and three accompanying Mark I Coaches in Chocolate and Cream. You can see here it has left Buckfastleigh in the direction of what was towards Ashburton but is on our freelance section that has this viaduct, with a village behind and some cuttings as the trains turn 180 degrees round back towards Staverton. I wonder if the driver of the London General B type bus is very lost (in time & location) or if he is simply on a tour and visiting the local establishment - the Black Horse Inn. Taunton Castle negotiating the viaduct and into the cutting leading back around towards Staverton. Meanwhile back at Buckfastleigh the Victorian LBSCR Set headed by LBSCR A1 Terrier #40, Brighton waits for its time to shunt across to the main platform to pick up some passengers. Taunton Castle arrives into Staverton with the Royal Duchy, this overview gives a good view of the size of the layout with our Chairman in the middle overseeing operations. There are two controllers on the Buckfastleigh board and a single controller for Staverton - which has its own mimic panel operated by stud & probe. Theoretically it is possible to have three trains on the move using these controllers under DC - with more operating in DCC mode. Overall the layout is approximately 16' long and 8' wide with a central operating well - whilst in the clubroom we don't have the skirts fitted to hide the legs and other items under the layout. Plans for both Buckfastleigh and Staverton involve a scenic overhaul, with tidying things up such as new fencing, signals which have broken being replaced (I'm hoping for Dapol Moving Signals to be fitted myself!) Looking the other way on Staverton, from the inside outwards we see Taunton Castle again this time in the loop platform waiting for its turn to leave and head back towards Buckfastleigh. M7 #27 is sitting in a siding at Staverton, awaiting its turn in service - this is owned by a club member and has only recently arrived and needs a little more coaxing into life to be a reliable runner. I like the added details such as the disc and vacuum pipes. I tried to create an action shot here of my LBSCR Terrier running across the viaduct but it was going too fast, I was too slow and I now have this blurred 'action' shot I thought i'd share instead 🤣 The last shot of the night, the coaches from 'The Royal Duchy' standing at Staverton station with passengers having boarded for the last journey home. Several of us have commented we need to get more passengers on the platforms for what is essentially a preserved line. Hopefully that has given a flavour of Buckfastleigh and Staverton; its been mostly steam tonight but I think we have some diesels in the frame for next week - including a promised Class 37 and China Clay wagons. I'll post some more in the future, I am hoping to get some photos and an overview of Pointless #2 from the N Gauge section, and excitingly another board from Ilfracombe in N arrived this week so as its being assembled I might try and get some photos of that too! if you're interested in coming along and seeing what we're about, we meet on Friday nights at 8pm til 10pm. We have a room above the Undertakers on Wilder Road in Ilfracombe, the post code is EX34 8BL and there is a car park on the opposite side of the road to the club room and currently parking there is free after 6pm (but please check the sign yourself for confirmation). We also have a break for tea/coffee & biscuits/cake mid-way through the night. There is also an extensive library of books as well as space to work on club projects or bring your own project along for some help & advice. Feel free to drop me a message if you like, we're planning on doing some upgrades as mentioned to Buckfastleigh and Staverton so there is plenty of opportunity to get involved with a project - there is scenery on the layout that we're going to change; signalling renewals as well as replacing the turntable with something different and changing that scene - as well as electrical work for some of the layouts (Ilfracombe in N is going to be wired up soon). We're also going to look in our storage area as we have a 00 model of Barnstaple Town stored away and see if that might be in a condition to be refurbished - I am personally also looking to do some 009 Narrow Gauge one the side so hoping there is some 009 track on the Barnstaple Town layout!! I hope you enjoyed looking, please feel free to get in touch if you would like to know more. Kind Regards, Gary

Hello There! I've finally started the overhaul of the platform this weekend, my parcel from LCUT Creative arrived last week and I have assembled various pieces and then last night decided to attempt the changeover. So my current platform is from Scale Model Scenery - there's nothing wrong with it, but it just isn't what I am looking for style wise. I've made a large amount of use of Lasercut products on this layout so thought that this would be the same. I measured the existing platform height and it comes out at 4' 6" tall, I have a feeling it is meant to be used with cork under the track however my track is laid on the bare boards so I am missing this extra bit of depth under the sleepers. As you can see in this early view, very little of the sole bars of the brake van or wagon are visible - there is also a pronounced hump on the surface where the card hasn't adhered properly. I can fix the hump but even still the platform is too high. So I've bought four straight lengths of laser-cut platforms and two ramps which are a steeper gradient than my existing platform so as a result gives me fractionally longer flat platform length. A job I had to do was to cut the additional length off of the long platforms as they were too long by about 60mm for the space I had available to me. I really like the two course high overlays on the bricks to give more depth to the product but they were a fiddle to add on. Everything was assembled with neat PVA glue. A close-up shot of the detailing, I really struggled with the supporting structure with the kits - it seemed to be too tall and unable to slot between the uprights and not protrude above the platform surface. So I dispensed with them and went back to the Modellers old friend - corrugated brown card. Its a much better effect, the new platform is a scale 3' 6" tall and looks good against these coaches. The basic structure is complete, I need and want to add more supports from corrugated card underneath before I mess about with trimming the platform surface. The side walls are a scale 14' 6" apart and I have some paving slabs and flagstones for the platform edge - the platform is narrower than the previous one so I will need to sort out some scenery in front of the platform above the station name. Even if its just dirt scatter. The platform shelter is just resting on the cross supports but will be moved slightly further towards the far end of the platform. I was also hoping to work on the uncoupling magnets but the platform has taken so much time already that I wont get around to it this weekend. Kind Regards, Gary

Hello All, I've been asked to share the details of the Ilfracombe Model Railway Society - to improve our online presence and hopefully attract some new members. The club is a great group of individuals and between us most of the major modelling scales are represented. We have two Layouts in our N Gauge section, Pointless #2 which is a double-track double figure of eight layout where the track folds back on itself twice - it's surprising how much track is actually on the board and it offers a nice long run with some challenging gradients for stock - featuring several tunnels, a large viaduct as the centre piece over a lake and two smaller bridges as well as a four track, four platform station its great for watching trains run round. We also have under construction a scale model of Ilfracombe also in N Gauge, this is at the stage where its structurally complete and wiring is being finished off leaving scenic details to be applied this long-term project is reaching fruition - I think we're all going to look forwards to seeing double-headed or banked trains head in and out of the station. In 4mm / 00 Gauge we have a large layout operated from the centre, representing both Staverton on one side and Buckfastleigh on the other side from the South Devon Railway. This layout has had some pointwork replaced to improve running reliability and we will be touching up and adjusting the scenery as well - operating as a preserved railway this layout is always kept ready to operate and features some dramatic scenery joining the two scenes with a large stone viaduct at one end and a developing town at the other with the railway passing through. Capable of being operated in DC or DCC mode - as well as due to some clever wiring DC & DCC simultaneously there is something for everyone on here and its hosting rolling stock from the 1890's through modern day. Moving up to 7mm / O Gauge, the layout Ashmoor Vale a branchline to a busy Market Town and Quayside capable of running in DC or DCC mode this is located on the Devon / Somerset border and has a mix of Great Western & Southern stock and buildings. A lot of the buildings on the layout are scratchbuilt or kitbuilt. Other members of the club have their own layouts and projects in most scales & gauges from 009, 0-16.5/On30 up to 16mm scale and beyond! So there is something to interest everyone - even if you just want to come and have a chat with other like-minded individuals. I myself have only been a member for six months or so but have made some good friends and feel like I have contributed something towards the club working on the layouts. We meet on Friday nights at 8pm til 10pm. We have a room above the Undertakers on Wilder Road in Ilfracombe, the post code is EX34 8BL and there is a car park on the opposite side of the road to the club room and currently parking there is free after 6pm (but please check the sign yourself for confirmation). We also have a break for tea/coffee & biscuits/cake mid-way through the night. There is also an extensive library of books as well as space to work on club projects or bring your own project along for some help & advice. We are currently planning for our annual exhibition to be held around Easter as well so its an exciting time to come along and be apart of a club and make new friends as well as have fun. I am hoping to make some more posts on this thread with updates on our layouts etc and other news as things progress. Feel free to post on here or private message me if you would like some more information or to arrange to pop along and see what we're about. Kind Regards, Gary

What chassis is your E2 sitting on? Ironically I am taking my own E2 out for a walk with a Terrier at the club tonight and am interested about a potential upgrade. Kind Regards, Gary

Yes you're right. I believe there is a drawing of the opening of the line to Shoreham in the 1840's/1850's and where Brighton MPD would have been later built is a large chalk mound and the line disappearing away towards the West Coastway. I think it also shows the roof of the first Brighton station as well. I have found a similar picture online here. I'm sure some artistic license has been had with the rolling stock liveries and potential locomotives themselves. I support the chalk option, maybe with some outcroppings of small scrub that has taken hold. It'll contrast against Improved Engine Green & Umber brilliantly, and will set the scene location nicely. Kind Regards, Gary

With tonight's storm closing in I have decided to continue my Push-Pull refurbish and have managed to paint the composite as well to match the driving trailer third. I'm still not sure about the ducket / destination board if I should paint it body colour white or if I should paint it blue white writing. Won't be long until they're back on the rails soon. Kind Regards, Gary

Hello All! Its been a while since I've posted here; to be honest I've been working on the Micro Layout and collecting far more stock than I need. As Winter is drawing in however, I am have a desire to finish some projects that have been laying around gathering dust. Firstly in 1911, the LBSCR produced a batch of Gangway Push-Pull units consisting of a Driving Trailer Third and attached Composite. I had decided (way back in 2014) to use the Ratio Midland Coaches to produce a similar looking unit using a Brake Third, and a First coach. I recently found both of these coaches in their bare unpainted state and decided to begin to refurbish and complete them to produce a faux-LBSCR Push-Pull unit for my own enjoyment: I've got some Styrene sheet on order to form some internal partitions and will order some seating to form the side corridor coach layout this set has. A question I have to ask is - what livery would be appropriate? My Layout has a broad timescale from 1890 up to 1922 with the eclectic selection of stock I have (I do really need to narrow it down). It looks like the year before the real life units were produced the livery changed from Umber and White to plain Umber - and indeed there are photos of AC Stock in early and late 1911 being delivered in this livery. Would it make sense to keep this in a plain Umber or should I just go off on a tangent entirely and paint the upper panels in the off-white I have in stock. The large square projection on the side of the carriage I was thinking of painting into a colour - to represent destination boards for the side of the train, perhaps Rusper + Horsham on the board for my Microlayout. I do like the idea of painting it Blue with white writing to represent Blue Enamel but thats probably more off on a tangent than a fictional Push-Pull unit in a real-life colour scheme!! Other items of rolling stock I have been looking at include a Triang Brake van: Which is very close to a Billinton 10ton van structurally - I picked this rather sorry looking example up for £1.50 and free postage from an online marketplace, it is the correct length and roof outline to match the drawing I have here. The camera lense does make it look too large but to the naked eye its spot-on. Its just 1.5mm too tall - I was hoping a Dapol wagon underframe might cure this as well as some structural modifications to the brake van chassis. So this might be a nice future project to work on. In a similar vein the Kernow LSWR Brake van is essentially the same as the LBSC version shown here - they were built IRL to very similar designs - I am hoping when I am brave enough a quick repaint and some new transfers and it will look great! Its already fitted with Kadees since this photo was taken so operationally works on my micro layout - it just needs some cosmetic work and is much shorter than the Hornby LBSCR Brake van in use up until this point. Thats it so far, I've enjoyed looking for models that are similar enough to use as LBSC prototypes to fill gaps in my collection. I also look forwards to completing the refurbishment tasks on them and improving my skills. Kind Regards, Gary

I have a similar little & large photo, but I must say the Double Umber of yours looks fantastc! I always enjoy an update from you. Kind Regards, Gary

I very much enjoyed looking at the photos you popped up on your thread, i'm still very much considering a version using SR 3rd Rail as an excuse to run my EPB, HAL & BIL on. In the interests of doing something different and with the theme of nights drawing in - I decided to take a late-night shot of the layout: The Branch-line set carriages burning brightly, waiting for the off of the last train of the day in October. I have to admit I've struggled with any sort of modelling recently; I've just not been in the mood - I walk past the layout every day and barely pay any attention to it - the station platforms are bugging me. The supplier who agreed to make a custom set for me has vanished into the ether with my deposit for their work and its just dejected me. What I think I might do, is buy some lasercut pieces from LCut Creative and make my own platform that way; it will also allow me to put the drain on the platform so I can fit my water column - rather than my current idea of refurbing my existing badly made platform. 😄 Badly made on my part, not the designers I should hasten to add. The only other modelling I have done is some work in O-16.5 Narrow Gauge; I had obtained a few kits here and there over time as something interested me and while I was feeling bored I completed the locomotive: Its a Resin body kit based on a Kerr Stuart Tattoo from Bingley works and it fits on a Hornby Smokey Joe chassis without many alterations. What I find both interesting about Pre-Grouping and frustrating and tedious at the same time is you have clearly defined items to look at, like wagons, rolling stock, colour schemes etc. But equally you have to discount a lot of interesting items as they aren't within your time period or don't fit etc. So this attempt at 7mm Narrow Gauge was entirely meant to be a bit of fun. Also incidentally I had to remove the signal cabin to get this photo you can just see its footprint in the shot above. What interested me is after I fitted things like the Westinghouse Pump I started working on the paintwork etc, and the locomotive quickly morphed into this: Now if you'll excuse any imperfections in the paint application (This is my first ever attempt at painting a locomotive) I think you'll find the livery application here is sightly... LBSC Marsh Umber in its leanings! The cab is fully painted including the controls, there is a small amount of real coal in the coal bunker as well fixed with PVA - the same trick on the coalling stage here aon Rusper Road. If I delve back into the archives we have: Perhaps the sub-concious inspiration for the colour scheme... Have fun everyone, stay safe & keep Modelling. Kind Regards, Gary

I've only just caught up with this thread and it's been a real treat to watch the videos. I've been suffering with a lack of mojo myself; and its only just started returning when I did something completely different modelling-wise. (A fresh, narrow gauge project - but has resulted in a locomotive in clearly Marsh Umber livery!!!) Speaking of Marsh Umber - the model of Gipsyhill #643 in LB&SCR Umber is exquisite; its a pity that livery isn't released more often as it is transitional between A1 & A1x as well as LB&SCR and LBSC on the side tanks - I know I'd buy one of each if I had the money! I really enjoyed the operations and am glad its given you some new-found modelling mojo. I'm currently looking at my Ratio MR Brake Third I had crudely cut into a Push-Pull coach and thinking perhaps it needs some umber and some details for a quick winter project. Keep on modelling, we love seeing your progress - and services to your station. Incidentally for freight stock have you looked at 5&9 Models? I grabbed an Open D whitemetal kit from them and a few other bits like a Stroudley Platform Watercrane - it might be an idea for freight stock. Kind Regards, Gary

Some fantastic photos here, definitely inspiring. I'm glad you're feeling better now. Kind Regards, Gary

Apologies for being quiet, I haven't even looked at the model railway aside from one photo I took while the layout was bathed in glorious sunshine: I've had a repeat bout of COVID recently and I was feeling rather sorry for myself. I've had pneumonia several times before (including double pneumonia once!) so if I do catch a cold or virus I need to be shot of it quickly or it goes to my chest. COVID just isn't great - but I am much better now. While I was peak poorly I came to get myself a drink in the kitchen and the sunlight was just at the right angle and illuminated Leadenhall nicely. I told myself I wasn't going to buy more, but from a variety of locations I have managed to build up enough for a 5-car set of Hornby LBSCR Stroudley coaches. Sadly I can only fit two as a maximum in my run-around loop but in future larger layouts can run the full set of Luggage Brake - Full Third - Full First - Full Third - Brake Third. Aside from the Luggage Brake all of the coaches are lit, and none of them were more than £25! Over the course of the last couple of months its not been to bad - today I converted this three set to Kadees and tweaked the arms. It looks like there is some light bleed on the Full-Third here - you can see it in the next picture as well: This is an angle that hasn't been seen before! You can make out the light bleed on the Full-Third on the left - and the massive Kadee uncoupler magnet. I've just bought some Neodymium disc magnets, 3mm in Diameter and 2mm high. Initial tests are promising, I am hoping to remove the big Kadee uncoupler and replace it with a set of discs between the sleepers & rails to actuate the Kadees which will improve the looks and running - as some stock tries to jump the rails here. Not for here, but for a future project - I wanted to see how a Myres station building scaled on the layout and it turns out that its quite large!!! Looking at about 55-60cm in length with the extra elevation left of the decorated Station Masters house portion shown on the left side of the paper here. I picked Rotherfield just as a generic for size options rather than anything specific. So here we have #40 "Brighton" with the new Stroudley coaches looking quite resplendant. The platform is bugging me, I have asked for a custom one to be created for me but the designer has fallen silent so I am just considering refurbishing what I have here - buying the matching bright paper sheets and surface of the platform to improve it immensely - and I'll feel much better then. Have a great weekend. Keep on Modelling! Kind Regards, Gary