Phil Parker

Cake was a bit of a disaster. There is a promising independent baker in Muswell Hill where I was staying. I stocked up on giant cookies, as they are easily transportable. Each was like eating dust. They went in the bin!

They are in the packs handed out on arrival. It's up to the exhibitors if and where they display them.

Parking: @SteveCole is on this and trying to get it sorted. On the positive side, several people have commented how pleasant and helpful the Ally Pally stewards are. I can't disagree, even the guy on the gate in the rain this morning was brilliant.

That's interesting because I was also put in that car park, and didn't spot a flag about a fee owing, but I might just have missed it. I wonder if a letter will follow? What should have happened? Exactly what did as far as I know. There was a list of those who could go down into the North car park, the rest are normally put into the one with a concrete base at the side, but the gate stewards didn't point anyone in there, directing us to the Ice Rink car park. I'll chase this up tomorrow. But for the moment, I'm in the same position as you.

A bizarre question - why wouldn't it be fine? There aren't model railway police for this sort of thing. If they were, then they would have arrested loads of people for building Ashburton.

When you say "tried", did you just email them the same appeal for help, or actually go down and meet them? If it's the former, most clubs receive a few of these a year and so they tend to be ignored as the members have joined to work on their own, or club projects. That's not to say some won't help, I know people who have done just that, but it helps to get to know people. Looking at the plans, your stations will require multiple feeds and some isolation gaps. Not rocket science, but more than 2 wires. There are a lot of point motors though, so a lot of wire! Good luck with this.

That's your choice, but you need to be realistic - what you are asking is for someone to come along, fit the point motors (and relay the track if there isn't a slot for the point motor arm) and then wire up the whole significant sized layout up. That's a massive commitment - even a professional would be looking at a couple of weeks full-time. Perhaps it's time to start asking for recommendations in that direction if your budget will stretch? If you want hobbyists, then it's more likely to take 6 months of their spare time. My suggestion - JOIN a local model railway club. Enjoy running on their layouts and use your skills to do the bits you can do. That way, you make local friends who might be persuaded to work on your project too.

Which is odd, because that's not the reason Richard gave in his interview to Radio Liverpool linked early in this thread. But I assume you know better. Truth is that none of us know the full story, and it's unlikely that we ever will. Speculation, with a side order of blaming whoever the speculator doesn't like, is pointless. It won't throw up any answers, and none that would be useful to the people here. If anyone does have more information, it will be the trade. I expect Rails have a much clearer picture for a start.

Step 4 in this series might help you - https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/techniques//building-a-micro-layout-step-by-step

In all this, a good (and less controversial) guide is the Luton club's model of the Great Train Robbery. It was a static diorama, in a tent, where visitors were treated to a somewhat dry telling of the whole story, based on facts. The team had put a terrific amount of work in, to produce an accurate history, devoid of lurid detail. Despite this, I know people who not only wouldn't look at it, they said it should be destroyed. Online, magazines that featured the model saw comment sections with people screaming that they would never buy the magazine, and often anything from that publisher, ever again. If we can't deal with a relatively minor (in comparison) event, I suggest that many wartime railways are far too challenging for us to deal with. Leave it to a museum.

I think part of it stems from the British attitude to WW2. There's a generation who think we won and should celebrate. Lots of "bang bang you're dead" style war films that gloss over the reality of conflict. Apart from the first half hour of Saving Private Ryan, it's all very sanitised. Having taken Overlord (a model of Southamption Docks in the run-up to D-Day) to Germany, I know they, understandably, have a different attitude to conflict. Anyway, mod hat on again, I'm just being careful, not trying to stiffle anything.

You seem to have more enthusiasm for this than anyone else. I know static, diorama-szied, models of Nazi railways have been built by military modellers, but am unaware of a working layout set in the period. No matter how well researched, and supported by interpretation, I suspect most people would feel very uncomfortable faced with a group at a show who appeared to be enjoying displaying such a model. I'd apply the same discomfort rules to those who enjoy dressing up inaccurately as German soldiers at preserved railway wartime events. With my mod had on, I'd suggest we let the topic rest. This is a public forum, and this is an area where it would be easy to stray into areas where someone alighting on the discussion without context, could get a very wrong idea about railway modellers.

I've laid them straight from the box, and while switching the frog using a point motor might make them more reliable, it's not essential. This Peco stuff is pretty good, and they do know what they are doing. As far as myths go, I once was told that to use a Peco O gauge point, you needed to cut it into six pieces. It was the only way, apparently. When I pointed out that the layout in front of me used five O gauge points, all laid straight from the box, and all working perfectly, he told me I didn't know what I was talking about.

Very positive by the look of it. I wonder if this was inspired by @Modelrailwayquest and her latest video timed for International Woman's day? Whatever, positive publicity is always good news, and without any obvious mention of celebrities either.

When I needed a "modern" in 2008 for commuting, I bought a 206. It was as old as my Beetle was when I got it, but rust-free. I always regretted having to sell it as I think they are very attractive cars, and this one had (for the time) all the toys. Even a CD multi-changer in the boot. Apart from a clutch throwout bearing, and servicing, it did me well for a few years. And I could have taken it to Rustival too! When it was time to sell, I could hardly give it away. £80 to a local Landrover specialist who wanted a courtesy car. Very sad to see it go.

When I say I want one, that would be in my dream garage. I AM trying to be sensible. Two broken VWs is enough, and there isn't any space for another car that I won't use. It can all wait until I find a rust-free Matra Rancho.

I visited Rustival on Saturday, and it was fantastic. Organised by three YouTubers, I was one of the older people there, the place was full of da kidz! The cars (around 1000) were a real mix, mostly the sort that have me thinking "That's not an old car, there are loads of them around." before I realise there were loads of them around, but now there aren't. How did a Mini Metro become a classic? Surely they are new, or am I just old? 😁 Anyway, there are some photos on my Flickr feed The thing is, the place was infested with people making their own YouTube films, but that's part of their hobby. The organisers managed to film their own, AND have it out the day afterwards, a level of comitment that is incredibly impressive. And I want a Toyota Sera. For those doors.

Contents The Willow Brook Line by Phil Clarke Trouser Money by Mark Thatcher Trying to make a McEwan Pratt of myself! By Mark Linehan NGRS preview Diary Dates A train for my estate by Dave Bancroft The Black Dog Inn by Mike Duffy A Custom Brass Pilot for a HLW Rail Truck by Alan Thomas Low Loader Lowdown by Dave Skertchly Having a good sort out – Part two by Mark Thatcher Mailbox Product News Readers Models

Contents Lazy Grange Bay 3 by Michael Duffy Fishy Business by Greg Oehm A Gauge 1 railbus by Chris New Diary Dates Having a good sort out - Part one by Mark Thatcher POC – The Story of a Live Diesel Electric Locomotive by Alan Bird Midlands Garden Rail Show guide Trackside Troubles by Dave Skertchly Making ‘George’ the tram engine by Stephen Wise Enhancing a Rail Road Hunslet cardboard kit by Rik Bennett Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! by Mark Thatcher Guinness locomotive review Mailbox Product News Seen at the shows

Contents Hylands Light Railway – the story so far by Charlie Walton A letter from Smalltown by Donna Mitchell A laser-cut contractors locomotive by Eddie Lund Boxing Clever by Mark Thatcher Building a ‘Make It Up As I Go Along’ Steam Tram by Mike Wakefield Diary Dates Miniature Lamps Posts by Martin Ranson Building a Bagnall Wagon by Melvyn Jones Building a tramcar – My first attempt by John Mileson I fell in love with 'Rosie' by Dave Skertchly The forgotten carriage by Daniel Cousins Mailbox Product News Seen at the National Model Railway Exhibition

There was a problem with the site host, and many of the pictures were lost. Hopefully, a new host means that anything uploaded will stay put now!

Handbags away please. In general, it's always worth looking back on the last couple of pages in any thread as you may find the answers quicker than re-asking the questions. I appreciate that on a long thread, this might not help that much, so if those who are closely following the topic could keep calm if questions are re-asked. You don't have to take time to re-post information, just say "this was answered earlier in the thread", Thanks

Just a reminder from the top of the page: Sexist, racist or religious jokes aren't funny - keep them to yourself!

I drove one for a circuit of Pete Waterman's layout when they came out. Plenty of points there.

It runs on the same track, but has different couplings. You don't want to give tension locks to the Playtrains market, they would hurt themselves on them. The magnetic versions are far more child-friendly.