cromptonnut

Based on the one that used to be at Chard Junction, which function key will be Frank yelling "come on you b###tard, start...."?

"Dave" standards require track to board ends spaced with the Peco gauge, so you'd just need short lengths of track to get to the end of the board on Fremo. Tim Horn makes some "Dave Compatible baseboard kits" or make your own, I have the carpentry skills of a grapefruit but can still manage to knock up boards that don't fall apart when you look at them.

We are building to the UK modular standards as discussed and agreed in this thread several years ago: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/88537-rmweb-modular-project-standards/ There is a lot of compatibility with other modular standards however.

The problem is that the standards call for track at centrelines (or either side of) so that modules may be used either way round without the need for offsets and other potential issues. In a 12 foot module, for example, you can do whatever you like along the way as long as the track remains to the standard positions at the end of the module.

Sort of commitment? It's already on the plan Remember scenics are a secondary consideration, getting the boards wired and working (which shouldn't be difficult on 2 lengths of plain track) so it can fit in with everything else. I can lend you a bus to put on the bridge if you don't have one

Must be a Fairy Liquid livery tanker with all this froth

If Andy Y has got the stuff ready to go, it may well be released as a new announcement thread rather than here.

Just as well it's Friday, 'cos train don't stop Camborne Wednesdays.

You'll be looking at a 4-5 hour slog so I would tend to recommend the overnight option at least on the Saturday night (and depending whether you want to stay over Sunday night and take the Monday off). There's a Premier Inn at Andover just off the A303 which is about 5 miles from the venue, and a Travelodge at Barton Stacey (which I know, sounds like a 1950's detective series) about 7 miles before Andover. If you book well in advance you can find some very good prices so would suggest having a look around at your options. Just google "hotels near Andover" and you'll get loads of options. As far as "packing up" goes, I don't see that we're going to be making much mess anyway so pretty much when we call it a day we can start breaking down the setup and go as soon as you're ready, and anyone local(ish) who doesn't mind giving a hand helping everyone else pack up and run the broom over our area can stay.

Up yours...?

Once we are a couple of weeks away and have the final plan locked down, I am looking at potentially making some "train plan cards" to give out randomly to have a go at an operating session with a purpose, so there are going to be places where trains may have to reverse/run round, or wait in a loop for something coming the other way etc. It may work, it may be more fun as a 'free for all' but I think in these early stages we can try things, find out what works and what doesn't, and then future meets may be planned with a timetable in mind or something. It's all exciting In other news, I am trialling the prototype of my "Mini-Dave" idea using a 10" wide board end rather than 18", for long thin open scenery or whatever may be required. In this case it's a simple 3 road fiddle yard that goes with the layout I'm building at present (as a module), but will have basic scenery so it works as standalone sidings such as those required to tack on to the end of Zomboid's "Grand Lake" as a headshunt if it ends up at the end of a branch.

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I'd love a Dace ballast wagon converted from Shocvan B. Used in long rakes (so multiple sale opportunity) in the Southern region extensively in the 1980s. I asked on a thread 2 years ago and I'm still waiting

Based on the current submitted plans, there are a few things that might be handy if you're looking for inspiration. Another junction module, whether it's single or double on any end, could be quite useful looking how things stand at present. We don't have many freight facilities either (a dairy and a 'converted switching yard'). We have 4 stations so a small station on a 4ft board wouldn't necessarily go amiss either.

Well that's 7 out of 11 enquirers positive about the new venue (4 non responses at present) so as tempted as i am to go with 'majority rule' I'll give it a few more days before confirming with the museum.

Yep you'll just display it. Then realise you can make a small additional module with a couple of sidings to act as a storage yard to go with your little dairy. Then it might be nice to have a station the other end to terminate the branch line... and before you know it you've got a 12ft layout all of your own which needs more stock to run on it...

I have some Lima "St Ivel" milk tanks you could use on the day, and I'm sure I can find a suitable loco to lend you if necessary. My nice sound fitted Adams Radial could be utilised if required.

Not much fun out of Waterloo either due to an incident at Wimbledon, and very limited services to/from Waterloo are stopping at Clapham Junction in either direction.

Income, basically. Like many volunteer run places, income is at a premium and outside of the school holidays visitor numbers tend to be fairly low; it's also kinda a specialist interest and something you might spend a couple of hours at but it isn't a full day out so combining a visit with another attraction for a family of 4 including lunch could turn out to be a very expensive family day out. On a quiet average Sunday they may only get 50 visitors. As it stands right now, the village hall is 'full' with knowing of 2 complete layouts that have said they are coming but not returned the form just yet to fit in, plus at least two other potential interested parties - plus whatever tags along in the meantime. As the larger venue won't be costing us any additional expenses per person, it makes sense to go with the larger venue as it means even if we have more space than needed, it does allow a better arrangement of modules rather than some rather convoluted curves trying to make everything fit. There are no walls in the way, just the barriers we set up, and if we need to shove that out 2ft one way to accommodate something then that's much easier than trying to do it with a brick wall! It's also a bit more complicated this time given that we have both single and double track modules offered whereas last time it was pretty much all single track and thus much less hassle to plan.

There is a Thameslink "Meet the Managers" at Blackfriars tomorrow morning. That could be a very interesting opportunity.

I did discuss whether it would be a fixed sum (apart from the £1,000 for exclusive hire for the day) or on a per person basis, and his response was "I can offer you £10 per head, if you’re happy to set up shop in the area that we discussed – along with the cordoned off zone." which is your second option, and preferable as it means if someone drops out we don't have a shortfall. It's also worth noting that normal admission price is £12, group rate £11 so we are effectively having a day out at the museum at a discount, and getting floor space and the opportunity to play trains for free! I'll discuss with him if us paying on the day is acceptable, as that then means I don't need to mess about with gathering money in advance … and the cheque(s) I have got in advance I can just return or destroy; this I can discuss with those relevant off-forum. Regarding opening hours, they are usually around from 8.30am - 6.00pm or thereabouts (obviously there's cleaning and things that the volunteers do before and after opening hours), so the "turn up from 9" should still work for us. I did discuss this with the guy and he didn't seem to think it'd be an issue, the hangar doors will be open and the final information pack I'll be sending out a couple of weeks before the event to all participants will confirm the exact details, and it will most likely be "enter car park, go through gate in right hand corner, and look for the massive open door and other people dragging bits of model railway in"

Hi guys I've had confirmation from the museum that they are happy to offer us the space as indicated in my previous post for the same £10 per person rate as the village hall. Obviously the 'downside' to this is that there will be members of the general public allowed into the venue, although our area will be cordoned off but visible. I believe that this isn't a big problem, and am very happy to prepare a leaflet explaining the principles of Modular and why we are doing what we are doing, to deal with any questions. I can also update the SECAG website (which is badly out of date) with many of the basic questions too. It just means there may be the odd distraction if people want to ask questions. I am confident that the revised, larger space will suit our needs and that we will still have a good day, but before I confirm to the museum could I please ask everyone to confirm that they are happy or raise any issues/concerns/objections before making a final decision. Many thanks 'Nut

Who sang the first version of "When I'm cleaning windows"? Shammy Davis Junior.

I've encountered a few that are acutely aware of the impact of their decisions for those working for them - and simply don't care as long as they reach their targets and get their bonuses, whatever the cost.

Unifrog. A new design.