lapford34102

Well Drewry has now gone off for a well earned rest. Must start by saying many thanks to Mike, Tim and Paul for helping operating the layout at various times over the weekend as well as being excellent if somewhat raucous company. Was mildly alarmed at being down one of the school's alcoves but that worked to our advantage as we had bags of space to operate, chat to people and drink tea. Had a number of people reminding us of previous shows including a couple of gents who remember seeing it on it's first serious outing so thanks to all those who took the time to come and chat with us, it made the weekend. I did though have one of those gents who viewed the layout from a little distance away, never said anything but writing away on a notepad, love to know what he was putting down, then again maybe not...! Steve, you're welcome, pleased to give you the opportunity. There'll be a controller waiting at Shenfield... :-) So whether this is The End or just a time off may I say to all those who have commented on here or I've spoken to at Shows plus the Ex. managers who have invited it along many thanks for your support. Cheers Stu

Thanks to Paul and the team for letting us come along and play trains for the weekend, we had a fun time, plus an equally big thank you to all those we spoke to. Stu

Just sorting out Drewry Lane for what might well be it's last show though having a few second thoughts. Will set up Sat morning and we're in Matisse.. Stu

For anyone interested in whether a German invasion was every a realistic option this is worth reading https://www.amazon.co.uk/Operation-Sea-Lion-Failed-Invasion/dp/1468301497 It's conclusion was that Churchill was never convinced it was serious threat but felt but had great value in keeping everyone focused. The Sandhurst "war game" was based on what was known at the time, re-run with the benefit of 40 years of additional research the result might be even clearer. Hopefully Mr Oldman will get his Oscar, he deserves it. Stu

Instead of what would be a very big change to the track layout they could evidently use the Eurostar platforms though quite what the inplications would be I'm not sure, ceasing E* stopping at Ashford ? Electrifying the Marshlink line might be financially viable with a bit of creative thinking as part of an improvement scheme for the wider area For those with a bit of spare time https://www.railfuture.org.uk/Marshlink More 395's (or equivalent) would be essential. Stu

I like that, looks flowing and you've avoided any dreaded "S" curves with the pointwork.- assuming 3 links ? No idea what you've in mind for scenery buildings etc so my only comments would be To drift the lower LH siding round to be almost parallel with the run round and lengthen it a tad Move upper RH point left a little to give a slightly longer siding there. Try not to limit the run round length too much as you will want to run something larger at some point - believe me...! Stu

I've noticed people doing this when I'm exhibiting and found it not that uncommon. Don't have a problem with it at all and realise I tend to do the same thing. If they're getting something out of it fine, talking isn't mandatory. The ones who spook me slightly are those who stand there and make notes and don't say anything. I'd love to know what they're writing down, then again, maybe not. I haven't read through everything here word for word so someone else may have mentioned the completely random conversation that has nothing to do with the layout or even modelling. Occasionally felt like a Ad Hoc social worker and not that comfortable. Having worked on large layouts and my own small ones think it's a particular hazard of the single operator layout. Stu

In a word - Yes Concise, easily read (size/font etc)info displayed useful. Some are like war&peace in 8 pt type.... Stu

I suspect Mike's tongue was firmly in his cheek when he demanded OAP reductions. However Clive I would be on the lookout for someone in shorts, tanned, waving a fistful of Euros and claiming to be under 16..... Stu

Drewry Lane will be appearing at the Longfield show on the 27th/28th Jan. Details here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/calendar/event/1793-longfield-model-railway-exhibition-2018/ This will be Drewry’s last show before retirement, unless someone knows differently of course. It’s been around for 8 years now and turned up in venues from small village halls to some of the largest shows, appeared in BRM courtesy of Andy Y and even turned up on the Hornby calendar. It’s been great fun and I owe it a lot but it’s probably time to give it a rest. This brings up the question of what to do next. Scrapping isn’t an option (yet) and I doubt it’s worth more than 7/6d and half a packet of Rolos so it’ll be stored for me in the time being which will give me a bit more room at home. I must also give credit to all those who have helped out over the years, thank you. So if you’re at the show do stop by and give it a wave. Cheers Stu As many of the photos have sadly been Photobucketed one from the archives

A little while ago I wrote a rather scurrilous piece about cameo layouts which I know a few on here have read. Porcy Mane's comment "layout in a box" more or less paraphrases the conclusion I came though I put it tad differently. I did though ponder on where all the offcuts ended up wondering if there was a slowly increasing mountain of oval shaped mdf and ply somewhere. Or whether they were being turned into smaller cameo's the offcuts of which were turned into even smaller ones and so on. One of life's mysteries I suppose. Agree with Neil's comments. Having got the book I think it's good "one stop shop" on the genre, if we can call it that but felt some aspects could have been better. As a purely personal view it did leave me with the feeling cameo = finescale but that's probably my imperfect interpretation. Cheers Stu

Hi, Crisis, thanks, just having one of my wobbly noments. Will gave to sleep on it. Another show now requested, a bit of a timeline building. Ta Kev As for the name did note where Julian was. My choice was a tad personal. Lived fo 20 odd years just down road from Portwey Hospital,now long gone. Was born there and my Mum nursed there for long time. Even got a paintibg of it done by one of her patients. Anyhow going to nake the Wessex Trains bit obvious in layout name Cheers Stu

Dave, as you've been kind enough to enquire....... Fiddle yard, built + tested. Requires a couple of extra brackets as being constructed in my usual fashion out of bits of old MFI bookcase and scrap could use some help in places. Need to get some trestles built so I can return my borrowed ones but that can wait till Feb as Drewry Lane has a show then end of Jan and that'll need a bit of fettling before it goes out - important show. Been faffing around with some stock. Been using Martyn Read's useful site as a guide - https://ukrailwaypics.smugmug.com/ -as it has some good photos to work from. A couple of Cambrian ZCA's; Seahorse and Sea Urchin A couple of Bacchy OBA's That gives me a large handful of wagons to play with, more than enough really. And to shove them around Vitrains 37, picked up ages ago in a Toy Shop sale for £39.99 ! Was 3TG but now in EWS colours again taken from Martyn's site So far so good. All stock has been chipped and tested, no sound yet but if anyone's offering... :-). Still need to sort a backscene or perhaps something more radical along the back as it jars with me a bit now but in practical terms it's good to go. To date 4 shows booked so been worth the effort. Cheers Stu

Trawling through this thread will probably give up the some of the answers http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/102801-Dapol-08/ There is a good photo resource here as well https://www.martinbray-ukloco.com/08001-09205.htm Metal doors came in around 08i 700ish, sure someone knows exactly which one. Sure there were specific details about possible renumbering in the Dapol thread depending on number of exhauster boxes etc HTH Stu

Merry christmas all, have a good one Stu

All my Hornby sound 08"s died comparatively quickly, one rather noticeably in the middle of a show. Another in similar fashion to yours. I think its down to using full sized chips in limited space and overheating. Think a micro would be better option Stu

Quite, and when this transaction comes to the attention of the Domestic Authorities a snivelling weakling to boot. Stu

Lord knows why but just done the same :-) Stu

We've still got plenty of Goldfinches around, had lots this year and a bird we've rarely seen before in our garden in the 40 years we've been here. At Dungeness on Wed had a Cetti's, Chiffchaff (x2), Goldcrest and Kingfisher in the space of about 10 minutes. At the ARC pit for anyone who knows there area. Also finally got to take some half decent shots of the purple sandpipers that have been around this bit of the Thanet coast. Six hauled up on the sea wall at Dumpton Gap awaiting the falling tide Stu

Suspect it's this http://www.proto87.com/Paved_industrial_or_dockside_track.html Stu

Welcome back Wessex Trains........ Stu

Shawplan EELW4-1 http://www.shawplan.com/depplaq.html HTH Stu

Page 9 of Ian Allan's Diesels on the Southern. Maroon Warship with 3 on. HTH Stu

Thank you Ian. That layout you mentioned rings a faint bell, will have a search later You mean like this, a section of an old Gaugemaster "village" one temporarily popped into place and hastily photographed Problem I think will be finding something appropriate. I'm aware of the Gaugemaster and ID offerings but not convinced there's anything there. Think I need something urban rather than sylvan fields or misty mountains... :-) Cheers Stu

Hi, As someone has asked the help point is "bodged" up from assorted bits of different plastic. I've plenty of pics, mostly culled online but no dimensions as I haven't plucked up the courage to go to my local station with a tape measure. I've one decent shot of my own from Narborough but as it's taken on a crowded platform a bit reluctant to put it up here. The post is scale 3x3 square section as the posts look pretty substantial with a bit of plasticard for the "flag". As for the help point itself I think I've made it somewhat undersized but it's made from some scrap plastic tube capped off and sanded to a shallow dome. Using photos simply dabbed some appropriately coloured blobs on it with a fine brush. If you stand back and squint it's passable....... There does seem to be a few varieties around with some having what looks like a train describer screen. Perhaps someone who gets close to one regularly can put me out of my misery :-) Apologies for pics but my cheap smartphone camera doesn't like close ups. Got a spare hour or two today so completed my backscene edging. The bit at the stopblocks end started as a transport bit but in end decided to turn a this into a backscene section which I might use for real. It's at the stage now where if it had to go out in the near future it could though the fiddle yard needs some work. Have now finished a repainted Vitrains 37 into EWS colours to haul a few wagons around with the OBA in one pic is a relatively recent effort. Cheers Stu