Brinkly

Hi chaps, After a long slog over the past couple of days to complete locos and rolling stock, I am now turning my attention towards a layout. For a couple of weeks I have been toying with the idea of Staverton Station in Devon for my first P4 layout. I certainly haven't turned my back on Horrabridge, far from it; old OS maps have been scanned and yet more photographs ordered to help with the build, but my ideas have started to grow. The 'paper' plan now looks as if it will be 20ft by 4ft, although Rod Cameron very kindly has agreed to help with a Templot plan which will help. But it is still a huge project and too big to be a realistic first project. To start with it would fill the down stairs of the house! So what I am after is a bit of advice as to the original track plan for Staverton. I understand that it looked like the diagram below, but would be interested if anyone knows any different. (Green represents trap point, although this might be a headshunt) Thanks in advance, Regards, Nick.

Excellent news, I will certainly purchase a pair. Regards, Nick

Just wondered! When I taught a unit on circuits last term to a year 5/6 class we had a 6v bulb with 1/2v going through it and it was very dim! But like you said it's personal choice at the end of the day. (Would look good in a dim room though! ) Regards, Nick

Would resistors not dim the light enough? Regards, Nick

Will you keep us up to date on this 'mini project' please Tim as it sounds rather interesting. Didn't one of the RMWeb challenge layouts from a few years ago have ground signals with LEDs? Regards, Nick.

I do love the old BBC English style of speaking! Regards, Nick

Antics in Plymouth is a very useful shop, but they just don't carry the stock that they used to. I remember as a child going in their (only about 15 years ago now) and 3/4 of the ground floor was purely railway related items, now there is about 1/3, the rest being model buses. It is a real shame and I do wonder if the new improved shop at the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh has played a part in it. Regards, Nick

Thats the one Brian, couldn't think of the name! Our parents must have good taste, as my mum is also into Dolls Houses.

Theres a good Dolls House shop in Plymouth Rod come to think of it. Do you want me to find out the number? Nick

We will have to have a good chat about this on Saturday Mr C and Mr F over lunch! (So your not going for the Pendon scribed Brickwork then!) Regards, Nick

Lovely work Mikkel, I do like the inspection team! Thanks for your PM, I will reply soon! Regards, Nick

Hi John, Thanks for bringing the boards on Monday night, really is rather good. One question do you remove the screws once the glue has dried? I can't remember. Regards, Nick

Could you bring this board to DRAG next Monday John/Rod as I would very much like to see it. Regards, Nick

I like the photo looking through the arches, rather good! Whats the plan for brick work, plastic or paper? Regards, Nick

There are times when I wished that I had the sense to model buildings that are still with us! Regards, Nick

If you two actually pull this off I think you would have such a popular layout that it would require a Pendon style museum to have it house in and running on weekends during late spring and the summer due to its popularity! You will need to start TFB (The Friends of Balcombe) to ensure you can meet all your stock requirements! Regards, Nick

Will do! Regards, Nick

I've had a quick look upstairs Rod and I think it is about 2003/4 I'm still looking as we speak! Right found it! Model Rail numbers 53, 55, 57 and 59 a series about cattle wagons written by Steve Banks detailing and improving various models, lots of photographs. Regards, Nick

I'll have a look up in the loft for it Rob, all my old magazines go up there, but I will look this afternoon. I was planning to model the train in the future as it was something different! Regards, Nick

There is an old Model Rail which looked at detailing the Dapol cattle wagon, and there is a photograph around 1956/7 with a Hall running up from Cornwall with a full train of cattle wagons full of Broccoli! Not a single animal to be seen, so I think they were used for fruit and veg, if only during the 'peak' of the season. Regards, Nick

Hi JB, Your layout is truly excellent, such a massive project and the fact that the carriages look losts on the platform is just amazing, just out of interest what is the size of the layout? Regards, Nick

For a short time I had wondered if Dapol had dropped this as an idea, but am really pleased that they haven't. I think they will be really successful for the company and a great re-entry into the 00 market. At the moment I'm after a plain Green, small yellow panel in green and perhaps a BR Blue with small panels and use them on Horrabridge, but also on a possible joint Boscarn Junction project with a fellow DRAGer! Regards, Nick

I take it you have a proposed time frame!

It is just a massive project Rod, I can't remember whether we dicussed this or not, but would you consider a roundy-round with bits coming off, or would that be simply too big? Regards, Nick

Perhaps we could photograph it on a weekend and then upload the info on here and the Scalefour Forum. Nick