Markeg

Hi Jeff, Like the viaduct bases. What are you lining them with. I may have read this previously, but have misplaced it in the brain folder. I have to start building my mainline viaduct soon and have a branchline viaduct to do eventually, which may have a curve, depending on position of mainline viaduct. Regarding Aussie stuff, there is a lot about now and very good quality, which has eaten into the british modelling. At many exhibitions here it is very hard to see a british layout. At my local club, the majority model Australian. Though the models generally cost double because of the smaller market. There are a few of us on here that belong to the British Rly Modellers of Australia and generally they have a meeting once a month. I live at 2 hours away from Melbourne and cannot really make many meetings. I have a meeting here at my place for late September, but distance will deter some. Peter, If you have room for a bag carrier to the UK, could I put my hand up!! Mark

Enjoying also. Excellent modelling. Like those buildings. Keep it coming. I have added a photo of my extension, from 15' (4.5m) to 20'(6m apx). Based in the NE, Newcastle area. I will have to start my own thread I think, so that means more photos and work on the layout. Mark in OZ

looking good Jeff Mark

Excellent work. Great to see another LNER/ECML layout, and such a large one. Will follow your progress. Love the tall lattice post signal and the Coronation set. My summer project. Now I must get back to mine as I am expanding mine from 15' to 20' in my shed. Mark in OZ

Very expensive to post to Australia and New Zealand, but they were only paying £10 for passage to OZ. At least the name plate of Commonwealth of Australia is in the NRM at York as the longest nameplate. I could not fit it in the backpack, so I left it there. Mark in OZ

No doubt SRman, you will enjoy running some new coaches on your layout, with a southern region flavour. The Pull-Push set look excellent. I was tempted, but decided no. I have 5 locos to come over the next 6 months and now have some O gauge track to add to the budget. I have ordered a OO gauge LNER Push-Pull coach from Kirk/Coopercraft. There is another batch on the way in July. Enjoy Mark

Hi Ken, Recover well. 250 kits in recovery period. When do you start? I would tram it up the Great Orme. I can now claim I have succumbed today. I have bought of a friend a box of Peco O gauge bullhead track. He has flat bottom. Now to look at some locos and rolling stock and a few points. I can blame him and you Ken on some excellent modelling. above is a photo of his layout. Mark

Has potential for good running and storage, which if you are like me and need at least 10 sidings for trains. Though the track would have to be streamline, not setrack. Gainsborough MRS is what I was thinking of too. I visited last April (2011) all the way from OZ. Very enjoyable.

Hi Gilbert, The layout is coming along nicely, I'm sure you are looking forward to the overall roofs arriving. The Model Rail subscription arrived on tuesday which your article of planning a layout was in. It was an excellent article and one I'd wish I had read before starting my layout several years ago. I am looking forward to your next article, which must be in the issue on the ECML. keep up the good work Mark in OZ

She has put in 'stirling' service for you for that long. I will attempt to convert mine to a D10 62654 Walter Burgh Gair, but will have to source new chimney, dome, cab and name plate. Then that will do me until we see a D10 arrive, which may be a few years away. I think a general release D11/1 will come after the NRM Butler Henderson model and then possibly a D10. Does anyone know where these are available from? It is great news. Save me buying a PDK kit to build. Mark

Hi David, Looks like some work is being done and you will have a nice 16 road fiddle yard for lots of stock. + one dead Pullman coach. The W1 looks good too, GKing does a excellent job. What is the rest of the layout going to look like? Station, Goods yard, What is planned? I have just bought myself a SEF original W1 to build, but must finish the Garratt, Coronation coaches, some wagons and the new improved control box (wiring). I have 5 of the Bachmann Thompson coaches which I picked up cheaply, I know they are not up to todays standards, but look the part. I will be attempting to convert a Hornby Gresley sleeper crimson & cream to a composite too. Look forward to your progress. Mark.

Thanks Max and David for that. Mark

To Max and Rob, those B1's look brilliant. both weathered and pristine. A question about the smoke box door on Bachmann and Hornby models, which is more correct, because they look a little different? I must get a couple of the books out to check. It won't matter in the end as I will buy the Hornby model. I have the old Bachmann LNER Roedeer, which I bought very cheaply hear £40apx/$60 in Australia and will flog it off once I get my hands on the new Hornby B1 but in BR this time. Mark

Hi Tim, Looks like some good progress is taking place. I enjoyed seeing Copenhagen Fields at the MRC HQ in May last year when I visited the UK. Very impressed and enjoyed my night too. I also visited the Gresley Beat, so saw 2 LNER layouts of Kings Cross area. Look forward to seeing it in the RM, but wont be visiting Utrecht, Houten unfortunately. Mark in OZ

Hi Paul, Good work here and good to see the aussie wine comes in good use too. Mark in OZ

Hi Peter, When you get a door on one of those terrace houses let me know and I will move in. Looking good. I plan to get a bit done on the layout this year too. And yes, its even warmer north of the divide. (Bendigo) Mark

Now that the weather discussion/distraction is out of the way, we can get back to the real issues. See more of the Peterborough North layout. I was looking at the BRM website and some of their video clips and found one on the Hornby A4 Sparrow Hawk with sound and watch it to see it going through it paces on Peterborough North. Here is the link to the website. https://www.model-railways-live.co.uk/TV/ Then you need to select Models and Kits and the scroll down to Hornby Sparrow Hawk. I have one of these but as yet haven't gone DCC, though a fellow club member has lent me a Hornby DCC select unit which I will use until the NCE unit is procured. Excellent work, bring on the A2's. Mark

Cutler2579, I hope you are inside then. Mark

I agree with Gordon, the track looks fantastic, especially when you blow up/enlarge the picture. I have a packet of Brassmaster Fish plates to put on my layout and this just goes to show that the little extra details do make a difference. I must get on to that, but not today as as its 34o celcius outside and it gets hot in the shed. Regarding the door hinge rebates, just wack a bit of white undercoat in them until you are ready to fill them. Stop gap method, I think the real railways use that method over the years. Mark

Hi Merlin, Excellent photos really bring the layout to life. Excellent detail too. Love the Photo of Merlin pulling out of the station past the loading gauge (posted today). I remember seeing it in BRM too, must see if I have that copy as I usually don't buy BRM unless it has something that interests me. Do you have an overall shot of your layout? You have quite a collection of A3's and A4's. I have 6 A4's and one each of Hornby A1 and A3, Bachmann A1 and A2. The D11/2, which kit is it, Little Engines or PDK? I was hoping Hornby were to announce these and the D10's this year, but now I will have to wait for Bachmann's announcement in March. Then if there is no D10-D11 then will have to buy a kit to build and as is the norm, when you finish it, they announce it. This has happened with the Gresely full brake. I'll stop rambling and what motor and gear box did you use? A D10 is top of my list, specifically LNER 5433 and a BR 62654 Walter Burgh Gair one of each definitely. Mark

Hi Ken, Thanks for the reply. Just returned from having tea/dinner/supper -evening meal. Had a quick look through at some of the entries and photos of your work. Some very nice items there. I model mostly LNER in 00 gauge with some BR favorites, but that is getting up to near 30 now. I see you have made a D16 4-4-0. A friend of mine here has built himself a 45' x 20' 0 gauge layout with a few BR locos, DJH A1, BL A3, Black 5, Pannier and I think one other. I will get to question now. I have looked at the Gladiator kit of the D10/11 Director and may one day buy one, specifically D10 62654 Walter Burgh Gair as its has the same surname. How do you get the balance right, is the chassis compensated? But I must admit I think I would build a 00 gauge one first, but I'm hoping Hornby or Bachmann make one, now Bachmann for 2012-3. Then I would buy several to have one in LNER and BR liveries. Went to Gainsborough MRC and saw a couple of nice 0 gauge layouts at Bristol MREx while I was in the UK. My favorite was seeing The Gresley Beat and meeting its owner. Mark

Hi Ken, excellent work. The Duchess will certainly come up well once it is painted. I have a latest Hornby Duchess in red and is a very nice loco, but does not compare with your work. I see you live in lovely Llandudno, my wife and I visited there on the May day festival (2011) and took the Great Orme Tramway to the top. Mark

Looking good there Jeff, especially those 3 Diesels on the right angle. Obviously a crane was used to move them. Another good use of a diesel. Happy new year to you too. MArk

Looks very atmospheric. Great work. Mark in OZ

Hi Jeff & Owen, In regards to the DCC Controller, I have doen some investigating and have decided on NCE. I was thinkng of buying cheaply, but that is throwing money away when the NCE here in Bendigo is around A$200 so will be looking to set up the layout over the Christmas -New year and look to purchase sometime in the new year.