nickwood

Happy 15th birthday to RMweb and congratulations to Andy Y for your dedication to the cause over those years. No wonder all your hair fell out. According to my profile, RMweb has been an almost daily part of my life since 10th November 2009, which would seem about right. I remember returning to the hobby after many years of lapse and starting a thread for building Much Murkle on another well known forum in 2008. There are many lurkers, procrastinators and naysayers, all forums do have them and perhaps we've all been there at some point. One thing though that Rmweb does have that other forums don't is a large membership base with the vast depth wealth of knowledge on just about any railway related subject, willing mentors who will encourage and offer constructive criticism, modellers who will inspire in all disciplines and yes, many comedians. The latter particularly make my daily read so enjoyable. Ask questions and you will often receive a number of answers on even the most niche of topics. I've made good friends through RMweb, I've gained exhibition invites through RMweb, I've been asked to write magazine articles and I've been asked to demonstrate scenic techniques: all because of the exposure RMweb has given to my modelling. I think the move to put RMweb under the unmbrella of BRM turned out to be a masterstroke. I remember some were against it at the time, seeing it as commercialisation and fearing it would be heavily censored and lose it's identity. I don't think we've seen over- commercialisation, the level of moderation hasn't changed, Andy Y still rules and it still retains it's identity as the leading RM Forum. If there are any negatives they are heavily outweighed by the positives. Many internet forums are slowly dying, but not this one, which seems to me to be as healthy as ever. Long may RMweb continue and thank you Andy Y for everything. You're a Saint mate.

It was good to chat with you at MK and I hope you enjoyed the read. Here is the track plan that was drawn up by Ian Wilson at BRM for the magazine article. There is an extra foot on the end of the fiddle yard which isn't shown making it 12' x 2' overall. It is a great plan for operation, simple but will keep you occupied for a couple of hours or so. For a home layout it would be nice to perhaps have an extra couple of feet run from the end of the run round or perhaps make it into an 'L' shape and move the fiddle yard further along.

There used to be a whitemetal detailing kit available but I forget who by (possibly Westward??) which I think mainly consisted of vacumm pipes and better roof vents. I sourced mine on Ebay some time ago. I have the SEF flush glazing fitted but the smaller windows are a PITA to fit. I have a set of Shawplan glazing ready to replace the SEF stuff. Repainting the interior also makes quite a difference.

Nice pictures Paul, thanks for posting them and I enjoyed our chat in the morning. Sorry I missed you later on, but I have to take a break sometimes.

That’s very kind of you to say so. I’m pleased that you enjoyed it.

Thanks Nick, I’m pleased you liked it.

Thoroughly enjoyed the weekend with Much Murkle. Thanks to the Milton Keynes club for being great hosts. The weather didn’t help getting between the halls and I would echo the sentiments about the general maintenance of the venue especially the toilets. All that aside some great layouts varied trade to satisfy most modellers needs. Also good to see lots of families with mostly well behaved and interested children. Well done everyone involved.

Power back on. Normal service is resumed

Announcement Half of the main hall at the MIlton Keynes exhibition has lost power. Much Murkle will be running a replacement omnibus service

Well, there is a first time for everyone I suppose

We look forward to meeting you Paul. How will we recognise you, will you be the one stooping to get a look under the fascia?

If I bet a tenner that there was one person on RMweb that would post that, it would be you. By the way you don’t count as you’ll be behind the layout doing what you’re told.

Much Murkle will be heading to the Milton Keynes show this weekend. Details HERE Hoping there might be a few of you visiting. Say hello and stop for a chat.

Much Murkle is checked and ready for the journey up the A34 on Friday. Looking forward to it.

It's a shame you haven't been able to see it at Basingstoke. I only live 20 miles away but have never been invited to their show

There has not been much new to say about Much Murkle for a while now. Since the last post it has attended three more exhibitions at Didcot and Newbury, both in October last year and last weekend at Alton MRG's show. Much Murkle has now done 33 shows and over the Xmas break I had been toying with the idea of retiring it from the exhibition circuit at the end of 2020. I was feeling that perhaps most exhibition goers, especially in the South and Midlands would have seen it at least twice by now. I took the opportunity at the Alton Show this last weekend to take more notice of comments made about MM by visitors to the show and this has changed my mind somewhat. I can't, and don't expect every modeller visiting the exhibition to like the layout, it is 1930's GWR afterall, and some will very obviously walk on by, giving MM only a cursory glance, if that. However what I had neglected to take into account was that a large proportion of visitors are local to the show and seeing the layout for the first time. Many of these passed some very pleasing comments but also asked plenty of questions about it's construction and operation. I also found out that MM (not me) has some 'groupies'. One gentleman even declared that it was his favourite layout of all time and that he had seen it several times. Gosh!!! All of which was encouraging and has made me rethink MM's future. MM remains popular with Exhibition Managers, with 4 more invites this year, Milton Keynes, Epson & Ewell, Wigan and Warley and more enquiries for 2021 so whilst it continues to run well and look good it will stay on the circuit for as long as it get invites. In the meantime I will plan and at some stage start to construct its replacement. To finish here are some photos from last weekends show. Apologies for the quality as they were taken with my iphone. Dukedog has just been given the road to depart with the 10:04 Market Day special to Hereford comprising of two D15 brake3rds, a C10 all third and a D37 brake 3rd. Another view of the same train from the goods yard Due to an increase in sales of their fine cider, Rancoutt's have invested in an 0-4-0 Peckett, yet to be named seen here shunting the sidings. and finally a closer view of the Peckett simmering by the loading dock

Assuming that you want to use acrylics, the first minute or so of this video should help. I would have thought that the shades in the middle of the top row would be about right. Similar to what MIck has said, I would mix 3 shades, not too far apart in colour and paint patches blending the edges of each patch into its neighbour until you have covered the area. good. Luck

About time Somewhere to run all that weathered stock.

Personally I wouldn't entertain reducing the axle diameter, it could lead to other problems. Broaches are definitely be the best solution, they are invaluable for making etched kits and a really useful addition to your tool collection. They usually come in sets according to size range. Assuming this is a 4mm chassis you are going to need one that ranges from 3-4mm for a 1/8inch axle. About £9 from Squires (page 90 in their online catalogue). You can buy broaches in sets which works out more economical if you want to invest in a larger range.

If any of you guys want a copy of the article explaining how to kitbash the Clifton Downs set from the Ratio 4 wheelers send me a PM with your email address.

247 Developments make the correct 6’4” Dean Bogies in Whitemetal. I think someone may also do them as a 3D print on Shapeways. I left the original Triang buffers on mine.

Very neat work and looking good. What bogies are you going to use?

If you have a problem accessing the correct parts of the site to post your layout progress, and can navigate to the forum rules, notices, faults and help menu, you could seek help and advice or alternatively the try the link below. If you can't do this then perhaps seek some advice from Andy York using the PM facility. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/forum/52-forum-rules-notices-faults-help/ I really don't think that you should be posting your layout updates on this thread which is supposed to be about modifying Triang clerestory coaches into a specific GWR diagram and therefore quite niche. Wouldn't mind knowing more about the bike though BSA A10?

I would say that is a very balanced list of traders for most modelling needs. What would you be expecting to see that isn’t there?

The carrot that this Donkey has been waiting for. I've now subscribed. To cancel my digital magazine subscription do I just kill the direct debit ?