Anglian

Lower angles like these are when something quite wonderful happens and a beautiful layout sorts of kicks the viewer right between the eyes, as it jumps into 'real life'. I imagine this effect is a result of more closely reflecting what we'd expect to see in reality. When viewing at shows I'm always trying to get eye level views for this very reason.

Nick, Thank you. So there are potentially many LBSC liveries – good to know. I don't suppose you could recommend a book that details the history of these various LBSC liveries?

If I were them I'd be looking at liveries that Hornby aren't doing. There's a wide open goal for the LBSC umber version (the Rails one has a SR 'B' suffix applied) and there are lots of appealingly named options in the Stroudly livery. Although I appreciate these may be test models from Hornby there is something that makes them look a bit plastic to me. For example, are the red buffer beams red plastic or actually a painted surface? I will wait until we know which is the better model and then wait again until it is produced in LBSC umber. I'd buy a couple of them. Did they ever run in black under the LBSC?

Skimming plaster.

I got Lenninford, that well known crossing point over the Volga.

Ah I clearly have no knowledge of Kitmaster plastic kits or their vintage… oops. In my head I must have been thinking loco kit therefore metal. Still if plastic cement was rubbish, back in the day, freezing it still might cause it to fracture.

I have to admit that I come back for another look on an almost daily basis – I like this layout so much and especially that sense of wide open spaces. Given that it's not an enormous layout I think that has taken some skill in judgement. The goods yards in particular is wonderfully uncluttered.

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do other than strip the varnish and paint and start again. I did a bit of research into paints and varnishes having suffered a similar problem. In the course of my investigation I was able to speak with a number of people who worked in the R&D labs of various paint manufacturers, some who produced DIY paints and other model making paints. They all told me exactly the same thing. Any paint or varnish with an oil or lacquer base has the ability to yellow. That is not to say it will yellow but that it can. To avoid this you need to use acrylic based paints that are based on different types of resins that will not yellow. Lots of folks will tell you they have used X,Y or Z brand of oil based paints that have never yellowed – they have been lucky but I trust the scientists in the paint labs that I spoke with and now only use acrylic paints and varnishes. If in doubt about a particular paint, get in contact with the maker and ask them.

If it's been bonded with superglue the parts may crack apart, as it goes brittle over time. However, if this doesn't work repeated freezing then warming is usually enough to cause superglue to fracture. I'd make sure thought that it hasn't been soldered together, which is more likely.

I do know how lucky I am. I've long wanted to model the pre-group era but the frequently complex liveries of the locomotives has put me off until fairly recently. I've been buying locos as they become available to get a very significant leg-up. A quick snippet on car milages. My last Ford Escort managed just over 200,000 miles but the body needed a lot of work annually. My previous one managed 265,000 My father's Citroen Xantia managed just under 300,000 but what was most remarkable was that the clutch was the original one right up until the end.

The best cobbles I've ever seen. Would you be willing to share how you created them?

You are very welcome. It's nice to see a figure I've painted photographed professionally. I have a sense of relief – I think this one stands up to the camera, that can often be quite unforgiving. (Does anybody take photographs of their models to highlight possible flaws, during the building process?) I very much enjoy painting the Monty's metal figures but ModelU figures are really fabulous to work with and are highly recommended. Being 3D scans the soft folds of clothing and the subtlety of a pose are beautifully rendered. The material they are created with is a little brittle so caution is advised, if there are very thin parts included as part of the pose. For example, the handle a fireman's shovel may need very careful handling when removing the figure from the base for planting on the layout, or footplate. I cleaned the figure but stopped short of degreasing (as I would with a metal figure) – I had no idea how the material may be effected by cellulose. A thinned coat of white enamel, followed by an equally thin coat of white acrylic were applied before painting with Vallejo acrylics. I'm told by a friend the correct Spanish pronunciation of Vallejo is Bah-yea-ho but ask for such paints, even in a model shop that turns out to stock them, and people look at you a bit strangely, at least in my experience. With this figure I experimented by using gloss varnish to suggest the camera lens. However, at 4mm scale I felt the reflective effect it gave was too prominent so I repainted over it.

I noticed the SECR coaches with new running numbers (the first time I've ever predicted something correctly) I'll be buying these. The C class has to be great news for those who missed out the first time around. I think they've taken a wise decision to try to close the lead times between announcement and delivery and slightly reading between the lines of Andy's piece I'd say there's a strong hint that we may get further announcements throughout the year.

That's very true. However, although Hornby mentioned the challenge they faced with their H Class they got it right as did Hattons with their P class. All three have proved it is possible to reproduce these complex liveries. Bachmann would presumably need to add a fee to recover the R&D time taken to match the quality of finish that their competitors are achieving. Both Hornby and Rails are doing SECR Terriers so there is confidence that they can make money on models decorated in this colour scheme.

As I've written elsewhere I enjoyed a great day out. Ferring was the outstanding layout for me. The only thing that I thought needed to be improved was the coffee. Mine was coloured, hot water.

Perhaps but then we've recently been shown a duplicated effort on the Terrier, and the Adams Radial before that, so I wouldn't rule the D out entirely on that basis. In some ways it's a logical next step for Bachmann since they have some coaches for it to haul. If Bachmann don't do it Hattons might follow up their P Class. Perhaps if they do the D we may see a new set of running numbers on the SECR liveried coaches to keep tapping that market. I'd buy another three, that being the case. I'd like to see them do an SECR brake van.

I enjoyed the show today and the opportunity to catch up with Tony and Mo. Ferring was the layout that really captivated me – I'm often naturally drawn to layouts depicting the pre-grouping era. I spent at least an hour watching the train movements. The whole was modelled to a consistently very high standard and view 'under the arches', across the station concourse was very evocative. Regarding the RM article Tony wrote I considered it to be the catalyst of an on-going and interesting debate. I am surprised that some folks have taken offence at it – they've literally been presented with a gift – a set of core principles that form a pragmatic basis to HELP others, who might be struggling with any given aspect of their modelling, including researching their subject. Research is fascinating in its own right. I've actually spent quite a long time exploring one particular railway, to confirm that I actually don't want to model it after all. All that reading and a few field trips has ultimately saved me from a 'false start'. I think if those who have been responding negatively to the piece were asked 'would you like your model railway to be more realistic (convincing or plausible) the vast majority would say something like 'yes of course.' Which makes this negative reaction even more confusing because the article has literally given them a gentle nudge in the right direction, to achieve that aim. I wonder what the same crowd would make of David Jenkinson's tome – Historical Railway Modelling?

Right now 0% of my stock is used. I don't have a layout or the space or time to build one, at the moment. I have been buying a few of the OO pre-group engines that appeal to me with view to building a layout one day. I'm certain that day will come. I just had a sense that I would never have the skill to build, let alone paint, pre-group locomotives. Since most (all?) are essentially limited editions I've bought them when they've been available. I contribute a little to a friends layout and enjoy some military modelling as well so I see this activity as developing skills for the future. I'd never dismiss anybody for whatever path they choose to take – we all have varying degrees of skill, commitment, time, space and money.

One of those moments when you've waited for ages (years) and then three come along at all once, will happen in less than a week.

How did you achieve such a flawless matt finish? Did you airbrush a matt varnish, if so may I ask which one you used?

Was the H1 Brighton Atlantic an exception to this? I genuinely don't know but I recall being surprised by the announcement.

Who will win the race to produce an as yet unannounced Umber one. Did they ever run in Black under the LSBC?

We have a dog fight to watch between Hornby and Rails. I'll wait and see which produces the best Terrier and then wait until that company does a version in LBSC umber before buying. The LSWR brake van is useful. So was the Terrier the eye opener that we were promised since it is so close to being released?

The HST based Measurement Train?

The real eye opener might be an EM replacement chassis for one of their popular models to tie in with Peco announcing that they are to make the EM Society Ready to lay point work. That would really set the cat amongst the pigeons but I suspect it would be a conflict of interest for them. But imagine if in 20 years time the R-T-R market had been lead towards EM by Hornby. Railroad would thus become their OO range and all future highly detailed locomotive models made to EM, would be relatively limited production runs targeted at the adult collector. The marketing of a more true-to-life gauge based range could be extremely compelling, especially once the range began to reach critical mass. I know it's a fantasy but that would have folks spitting their coffee out en masse when reading that particular 'eye opener!' http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/139084-emgs-commissions-peco-for-rtr-em-gauge-bullhead-trackturnouts/