Huw Griffiths

Has the floorplan for this year's "Ally Pally" been (more or less) finalised yet? I was just wondering if there are any plans to put this on the show website - some people have been known to try and work out in advance which hall / where in this hall / which layouts, traders etc to concentrate on first. Saying that, any money I spend there is more likely to be with specialist traders - not all of which are noted for attracting enormous scrums - but I'd prefer not to waste too much of the day trying to find my way around.

I'd imagine they might also have been almost as dry as my sense of humour.

Is there any way you could take measurements of the platform underside - perhaps using some wet paint on the ends of the legs and resting the assembly on the baseboard - and work from there?

I wonder if they'll get back in touch with everyone who contacted them last summer. Strange as this might seem, at the weekend, I was wondering if anything came of this enterprise - now I know. As I said to them at the time - and other people mentioned on a number of forum sites - they'll need to solve a number of technical challenges (some of which I'd find very interesting). A number of us also commented (on the phone, or in posts on various websites) that whilst, for a number of reasons, we might not personally have chosen to build a long outdoor track, we still wish them no ill will with their endeavour - indeed, a number of us would still be interested in being involved. "Negativity" this most certainly was not - and still is not (certainly here). I, for one, hope they are able to make this work. I hope they show a reasonable cross section of the technical challenges that need to be dealt with. I also hope they show the people, effort and teamwork involved in solving all the issues that get "kicked up". Ultimately, I hope the programme makers use this chance to show this hobby - and the people who pursue it - in a positive light. After all, they are reliant on the goodwill of a large number of decent people - people whose decency should, only rightly, be repaid in kind. I'm sure the programme makers will be keen to ensure this does, indeed, happen. Huw.

We'll find out in due course - but I'm sure a number of people (you included) will learn a lot in the process. (Perhaps I should add that I've been telling myself something very similar about a much smaller - and much more straightforward - project I've been trying to "psych myself up" to build. On second thoughts … .) Based on what I've seen and heard so far about your project, I'm expecting one major improvement over a number of small scale (OO and N) RTR models of this design. Some of them seem to be "duff" models - this promises to be a model of a Brush Type 4. It will take as long as it takes. Huw.

I can see this being a very long, involved, build - but I am sure the end result will be worth the effort (and the wait). Please keep us posted on this one. I'm sure I'm not alone in looking forward to the progress reports. Huw.

Fair enough. I'm still looking forward to the show.

For some people, this show will also offer the first chance to find out what the "new improved" BRM is likely to be like. Whether we also get a chance to ask the new BRM Editor about his plans for the magazine remains to be seen. Strangely enough, I didn't notice any stuff in that YouTube video about seminars - which I've come to regard as a major selling point of the "Ally Pally" show over the last few years.

Last week, Hannants at Colindale had a large pile of copies. The guy running the shop seemed surprised they'd even received any copies, pointing out that they don't sell model trains.

I was actually referring to the "lags' entrances", for Serco or Group 3 to do their "discreet door to door deliveries". Although they wouldn't be visible from outside the buildings, it appears to be normal practice for magistrates' courtrooms to have 2 areas used as "docks": A glass fronted, "secure dock" - for defendants who've been remanded in custody, who've been warned by the magistrates to expect a custodial sentence, or who are regarded as a "flight risk" or a threat to anyone in the court. The secure dock generally has a separate corridor (and possibly stairs) leading to the holding cells and the "secure entrance". (I'm not sure what the official name is - but I think this will suffice.) An "open dock" - essentially an area where defendants are told to stand. Sometimes there might be waist-height partitions around this area - sometimes it's just an otherwise unremarkable area of the courtroom floor. These days, it seems to be normal practice for the vast majority of defendants to be told to stand in the "open dock" when they're being dealt with. In fact, even in a number of courtrooms equipped with partitioned open docks, magistrates don't always require defendants to use either of the "docks" - instead expecting them to stand next to their solicitor, somewhere at the defence bench. Anyway, not to worry. An interesting point. I've also passed a number of solicitors, sat outside my "friendly local" Magistrates Court, getting their "nicotine fix".* (* Apologies to any smokers who might find this description offensive - this isn't my intention. It's just an observation that a number of smokers appear to crave whatever's in their cigarettes, in a similar way to that in which a number of defendants appearing at my local courthouse appear to crave their "fix" of certain "exotic" substances ... .) Huw.

Magistrates' courts also have them. To be honest, you probably wouldn't need to model this area - you could effectively hint at this by showing a Serco, or Group 3, truck on the road approaching a courthouse, about to make a "discreet door-to-door delivery" Other possible cameos could include a couple of police cars parked nearby - and, just visible behind the main entrance door, a "loop" metal detector, a table for people to empty their pockets out onto and a uniformed security officer checking visitors for contraband. :nono: :nono: Huw.

Component Shop also sell it - I've seen it on their stand at some model engineering shows. I've only dealt with them at shows - but I think their website is something like <componentshop.co.uk>. I hope this helps, Huw.

I suspect that might be the idea behind any "shaky" camera work - I'm certain it's deliberate. After all, the BBC (or whichever production company are actually making these programmes) would have all the equipment - and skilled staff - needed to produce rock-steady footage, if they actually wanted to. However, they're clearly going for the "rough and ready", "men in sheds", look - complete with crew in outdoor clothing (make it look as if the shed is unheated). Anyway, rightly or wrongly, James May strikes me as a bit of a perfectionist - a decent guy, but with high standards - traits which have been sent up in the past on some "Clarkson era" TopGear programmes. As for the research and planning, I'd be very surprised indeed if he hadn't been involved in some way. Huw.

If you're taking the Victoria line to Finsbury Park, there's also the option of the W3 bus (from outside the Wells Terrace entrance), up the hill to the bottom of the steps in front of the main foyer at Ally Pally. This bus then continues down the hill to the GN Alexandra Palace railway station and Wood Green station (Piccadilly Line). Over the years, I've used all 3 of these stations when visiting shows at Ally Pally - I tend to avoid the GN "Alexandra Palace" station, mainly because the train services are less frequent than the tubes (and the changes seem a lot more awkward). I've generally found changes between Victoria and Piccadilly lines (or vice versa) at Finsbury Park to be very straightforward - get off one train - find one of the link passages to the adjacent platform and you can see your connecting train either waiting for you or on its way into the platform. As for the Finsbury Park v. Wood Green question, I usually use Finsbury Park on my way to shows - and Wood Green on my way back (especially if I've got time for a meal at the Wetherspoons across the road from Wood Green tube). Huw.

It looks like some of us might be sticking with traditional DC for a bit longer yet, then. Anyway, I'm trying to imagine what a 3rd generation Edgeworth might look like: (1st gen) - as built - trains are steam or early BR DMUs. (2nd gen) - platform buildings have been replaced by a bus shelter (on one platform) and some of those Macemain + Amstad "011" benches NSE were so fond of - some tracks have been fitted with OHLE - trains are a mix of EMUs and DMUs (early BR types or "1 for the price of 2" 1980s replacements). (3rd gen) - station is now unstaffed - trains have been replaced by "rail replacement coaches" (probably ancient service buses, complete with PG9 notices), some of which might even turn up - are these the road vehicles you're talking about? After all, I'm sure there's plenty of fun to be had painting / weathering diecast buses and adding LED light strips inside the ceilings. Joking aside, this new layout should be interesting - whatever it is - but whether you completely finish ALL sections of the layout before taking it to a show (or deliberately leave some bits as "work in progress") is likely to be a matter for the editor. Huw.

Would that be Seven Sisters, Neath Port Talbot - as opposed to a number of other places of similar name, the other side of Offa's Dyke? (I know - I had to Google that one - before today, the only Seven Sisters I'd heard of was on a tube map! Thanks for the excuse to do some research.)

At this point, I'd like to echo a lot of the sentiments already expressed - and take the chance to thank Phil and everyone else involved - for keeping the MREmag site going - and for everything that's been involved (and will be involved) in doing so. It's inevitable that a few people might not appreciate all of the stuff - some might even be less than gracious about all of this stuff - their loss - I don't see any reason why it should be anyone else's lookout. As for long term plans, I wish you well - all of you - Phil - and everyone else who has been involved with this project or will be involved in future. I don't think this is the place to go into any detail - but there won't be any sour comments from this direction. Nobody will have wanted the current IT problems, but I agree that the forced break is as good a point as any to work on changes for the future - a future that's likely to look rather different (certainly in the long run). Anyway, I'm not sure there's much more I can usefully add to this discussion right now - so I won't interfere. All the best, Huw.

Sort of. What it does allow you to do is "hide" the post in question - which (as I understand it) is all you've ever really been allowed to do on pretty much any forum site. I believe the authorities in a number of countries expect it to be possible to trace / recall any web posts - including ones that have been deleted - presumably in case of any (particularly) illegal activity. However, there's nothing to stop unwanted / now irrelevant posts being removed from public view - which I believe to be what actually happens when you hit the "delete" flag on any forum site with this facility. (I'm aware of one well known forum site which, when I was active there, only allowed you to do this for a short time - half an hour - an hour - something like that.) In some ways, this reminds me of some countries requiring broadcast radio and TV stations to hold on to a copy of everything they broadcast for a certain length of time. Huw.

Is Bristol Zoo anywhere near there? Otherwise, I can't think of any obvious reason for most people to be in the area.

Would I be right in assuming that the "new improved" RQ will also be putting in an appearance at "Warley"? To be honest, though, when I visit shows, I don't mind seeing progress on layouts that have previously appeared - especially when there are significant changes to their appearance or operation. The use of a kit controller adds an interesting angle to this topic - especially if anything needs to be PAT tested for shows. I can't help wondering if a "ready made" power adaptor ("wall wart") might have been used - as a way of ensuring that any stuff directly exposed to mains voltages is easily tested - easily replacable - and known to be OK, whoever builds the "controller" part of the setup. I'll be interested to find out how this controller - and this layout - works out over time at shows etc. In fact, I'll be particularly interested with the controller, as I've never been a member of MERG - so I don't know the controller's "capabilities" or what was involved in building it. Whilst on the subject of constructional skills, I could also add that I'm surprised I haven't come across any demos of electronics soldering (and perhaps some other general electronics stuff, such as LED coach lighting) at shows. (I could add that there is a reason for me saying this - my background is in this sort of stuff. I'm also wary about making suggestions like this, in case anyone reads too much into what I say.) Huw.

Interesting ideas - I might not be about to try any of these for myself, but I still find them fascinating. (No surprises there - after all, I am an engineer ... .) I can't remember where I read this, but I seem to recall seeing some stuff about a DIY digital uncoupling setup using memory wire to release some sort of lightweight sprung latch. I could also imagine some people using a servo to achieve a similar aim. A train washer would also be straightforward to produce / build - although it might be advantageous to have the rotating brushes arranged so they don't actually touch model rolling stock (well you don't want to remove any transfers or paint, do you?). As for digitally controlled opening doors, this has already been offered RTR - by Roco, in HO. I suspect that Ben Jones might remember this one - back in 2008(?), there was a DCC day at what was then OnTracks (in Pontrilas - on the Wales / England border, between Hereford and Abergavenny). At the time, Ben had recently been promoted to Editor of ModelRail magazine, which he was representing there. I'm sure he would also have had a look at the goodies various firms were presenting there - and a chat with the people representing these firms. I was also there - and I remember Roco's motorised door equipped model train causing a bit of a "buzz" amongst visitors. I'm not sure that many of us would have been able to afford this model (I certainly couldn't then - and I can't now). However, I wonder whether models like this are really about how many they can sell - or making a statement about what they're capable of doing (and how amazing the result is). Huw.

A working traverser could also be nice - preferably at an affordable price. … or, failing that, "Th*m*s the tank engine". A non-streamlined one could also be nice (possibly even one of the 2 car sets) - the Limby one is getting a bit dated and hard to find in some places - and even second hand Lima versions seem to be going for silly money when they are available. Huw.

I'd imagine that a lot of first generation DMUs must have got rebuilt during their lives - towards the end, I'd imagine that a significant number of these rebuilds would have used parts from other classes, which looked different to the "original spec" parts. There is, however, a rather more unbelievable aspect to the photo - that's right - it's Wales (well, the UK in general) and the sun was shining!! Yes. Right. As somebody who was born in that general part of the world - as somebody who's lived most of his 51 years within 15 miles of Canton - I know just how credible that idea sounds. Let's just say that, a lot of the time, there's the perception of sunshine being measured in millimetres - that's right, it's "British Summer Time" ... . Joking aside, the weather in the UK (especially in Wales) has had a bit of a bad press over the years - but I certainly wouldn't fancy a continuously hot, dry, climate (cool and dry would do me just fine). Anyway, there are enough other issues with Limby 121s - and the multiple unit "models" they were adapted from - like the length of the windows in the small passenger compartment immediately behind a driver's cab. Also, the lack of a "non brake" driving car in the multiple units strikes me as every bit as "out of place" as a swapped cab roof dome / route display box. Huw.

This is looking good - I hope I get chance to see it for real at some show in the not too distant future.

Isn't it nice to know that we still make stickers in the UK? Joking aside, these days, what's really meant by "made in" any country seems to be rather nebulous - and presumably based on percentage of the price. I seem to recall about stuff like marketing being able to be counted - possibly also stuff like maintenance deals, wholesale and retail markups and VAT. How much truth there was in these suggestions, I don't know (and probably never will know for sure). If there is any truth in suggestions like these, you could almost imagine kitchens from a well known Swedish themed flatpack emporium being given Union Jack stickers - after all, the installation is carried out in the UK by UK based workers. Strip away the installation - and they're marketed by a Swedish company ("European") - but it wouldn't surprise me if the manufacturing of units, accessories and other stuff actually took place on another continent. Please note, I'm not singling specific companies out for criticism - and I'm not accusing specific companies of dishonesty or other unethical behaviour. I'm merely commenting on how difficult it is these days to identify where stuff actually comes from. Anyway, turning to CAF, it sounds like they're looking to establish a meaningful base in the UK. It also sounds like they might be expected to maintain what they sell - which is likely to be easier to do if they've got people working in the UK who are familiar with how their trains are put together. Regardless of any political angle, I'd much prefer trains they are building and selling for the UK market to have at least some local content.