cromptonnut

I'm regularly tempted with a small shunting plank in this sort of style to keep up permanently , but then planning gets out of hand and it ends up about 20' x 2' and all plans have to be dropped as there will be no way it will fit on the shelf in the railway room

Are you me....?

What's the little plank like to operate? I've always shyed away from making that sort of layout because I think I'd get bored very quickly.

I rather like this plan and although I would probably make it an 8ft end to end scenic layout without the curve on the end, and probably lengthen the platforms (I happen to have more space) I might well use part of the third board that would normally be for a fiddle yard to have something scenic along the front, with an embankment or something to the rear to hide the yard.

Nice one. Always great to see something that's completely different to what you normally model (I'm more of a 1980's southern myself) and get inspiration to adapt it to something I can use.

In fact, in a similar manner, "as is" might well even form the basis of an O gauge project if it scales up into the space I have...

By the way, what is the size of your grid squares on there? My maths isn't working properly this morning and I can't figure it out. Must be the cold.

When my ModelRail arrived this week, I thought "I recognise that layout" straight away before I even looked to check it was this one.

Just a quick post to say that I was in Edinburgh last week and spent a few spare hours loitering around Waverley Station (and enjoying the chinese takeaway on the bridge).

I have to say that, having seen the real thing compared to your model, the real thing is almost as good as your efforts. Well done.

Collectors items dont ya know!

I must admit those weren't the first words that came to mind when I read it...

I didn't know that all that British outline stock was made in Z gauge ... at least looking at the background it looks like Z compared to the ferry

My custom set arrived today, excellent and thank you so much.

Having nameplates of SWMBO's name for a shunter kit will go a long, long way in keeping me permitted to continue modelling...

What trackwork have you used please? If I can achieve half as good a result with my first foray into O gauge I shall be happy!

So far I've been able to stick to the prices quoted above for 4mm and 7mm scale narrow gauge nameplates, and I expect a 7mm industrial would fit in to that as well. Let me know the height and type style you'd need and I'll confirm.

How long would "CAROLYN" in 3mm 'Hunslet' be? I'm not sure whether I have room to fit the plates on!

Perhaps you could let me know the same but 2mm (small plates would be fine I'm sure).

It's a fairly cheap and easy way to butter up SWMBO to allow me to fund future modelling projects if I named a loco after her...

I'm still building the kit so there's no hurry.

What would be the price for a set of O gauge custom nameplates for a Ruston 165 (yes I know my prototype didn't have a name!)

Although I'm already building a layout (a terminus so it won't easily fit in this even if the standards worked), I'd be quite interested in building a module should there ever be some sort of 'get together' that I can get to.

In answer to your questions...

1) Difficult - I plan to go DCC but not everyone will. However, I would suggest the best solution to be stick with "conventional" wiring with isolating sections etc, because then if the choice is to run DCC then you simply turn all power sections on.

2) See above

3) Definitely each section/s (all built by the same people) should be self-contained as far as points, signal etc go, otherwise it's just going to be far too complicated. There may even be scenic sections that contain no points or signals whatsoever, of course.

I do quite like the idea of this sectional O gauge - especially as you could just stick a 4ft (or whatever) storage yard, traverser or cassette system on each end of your modules and operate at home (or exhibtions) as a stand-alone layout.

Have you thought about a 'forced' scenic break at each end of the layout, so that you don't suddenly get a hilly section scenery turning into a recreation of the sea wall at Dawlish, next to a snow-covered section? Even if it's only 3" each end of a 6" high painted black fascia (or whatever convention is chosen) with an embankment, road bridge or tunnel leading to it, or just some trees or a building, to disguise the fact it's there?

Oakville Kits seem to produce a 48DS kit - http://www.whitehillcementworks.co.uk/page_1578697.html - but I can't find any further details.

As someone who has just "taken the plunge" to try O gauge, in what may well turn out a fairly similar sort of project, I shall follow this with interest.

Currently have 3 points, 6 lengths of flexi, a Ruston 165 kit, a VDA wagon kit, a footbridge kit and a station building kit - but haven't quite figured out the track plan as yet...

Don't get me wrong the 20 is a lovely model and I fully applaud Heljan for getting into O guage but I can't believe some final checks didn't spot it before putting it into production.

Perhaps it's the comparative lack of ready-to-run O gauge that's why so many people have bought it? I saw one for sale at the weekend but resisted buying it as it doesn't really suit my intended time period or geographical location (hence my interest in the 33). I will almost definitely buy a blue TOPS numbered '33' unless it really is an awful model and I'm prepared to wait, rather than buying a kit (assuming one exists? I've not looked yet) or modifying the old Lima one.

My biggest struggle with the O gauge layout I'm making is that I have to build most of what I want from kits, or do without. It'd be great to have some modern image wagons rtr now we're getting Mk 1's rtr, and a small but increasing selection of locos. I hope some modern DMU's are coming out rtr soon too - I can't see the '121' anywhere at the moment (although I can't afford it at present anyway). Found a bargain one, just need to repaint it now from green to blue... why are there about 300 screws holding the body on???

Well what started on Tuesday as a plan for a single platform terminus gained a passing loop (so that's two points at £40), has now been extended with the addition of a level crossing to make an 'end to end' with a short fiddle plank at each end.

Originally my plan was to have a 'preservation site' (hence the Ruston shunter kit, with a Lima Mk1 I acquired cheaply) but that could be a private shunter at a small freight facility adjacent to the station if it's a proper branch rather than a preservation site (which would require another point or two).

Now, if I'm going to make it a proper branch and have 'straight through' running on my layout I need some variety so perhaps the Bachmann 121 would be a nice addition (that's £350) to give a passenger service - and perhaps 4 or 5 wagons (£200). I'd need something to pull the freight wagons - and with a name like mine, the '33' has to be the obvious solution (another £425)

I can't run non-sound stock in O gauge, can I? Especially given the space for some quality speakers inside the locos. Another £180 or so per loco.

Methinks I might just have to look at thinning down my OO and N collections to fund this if the bug bites me hard.

I've been trying to figure out how I have space for O gauge but not OO or N... I think it's because I have so much stock I want to run 10 carriage expresses, but I won't be in O unless I happen to have a garden railway. Living in a second floor flat with no garden (just communal grass) at least stops me thinking of those possibilities for now...

Remind me again, how did picking up an O gauge Lima Mk 1 for £15 at a show turn into a £2000 project again?

£425 each... I suppose that's not bad for O gauge and I'd desperately love a blue '33' (I bet you can't think why...) but how on earth am I going to a) justify it on a short layout, and B) justify it to SWMBO?

I had a feeling getting interested in O gauge was going to be painful...

Those trees are amazing! I look forward to giving it a try in OO and see if I can get anything remotely as good.

Lovely little layout, and so tempting to give a larger scale a go - I just need to persuade SWMBO which may be difficult...

Please don't think for one minute I was downplaying the seriousness or unpleasantness of the Taunton Sleeper Fire - I was merely responding with a link relating to the original question. Perhaps "inspiration" wasn't the best of terms to use, and I apologise if I offended anyone.

Inspiration? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taunton_sleeping_car_fire

So we should expect £250 for a 3 car blue/grey with sound fitted, if it becomes available?

I guess I need to start saving up...

Is this going to be an end-to-end, or a roundy-roundy?

I ask because I like what you've done, and it's only a bit more than the space I have available lengthwise (12-14ft) but I'd need 180 degree circles each end for storage at the rear (unless I make it a terminus of course) which then cuts down on the pointwork.

I like the "Walmington on Sea" layout but I don't want to make it a copy of that, if you know what I mean.

Does anyone know when repaints from blue to blue/grey commenced, and the last one done?