wagonbasher

The use of a reversing triangle into a side street would work. Birminghams Summer Row would be an example. Often the triangle at the terminus would be into a one or two road coke yard. Here, the locomotives could be watered, take on coke and if necessary sand, and the fire can be raked. These coke yards resolved the running round issue but also there were many complaints about mess on the road because the locomotives were being serviced in the street. If modelling the sort of steam tram trailer that became standard (Dundee example preserved at Crich, There is very little overhang as the bogies are at the extream ends of the vehicle, beneath the platform. Andy

Clicked on this from ‘new content’ and it opened on that statement. I knew immediately it was Paul’s ‘The depots’, no more to say. Andy

Couldn’t help notice the reference to figures on the Darjeeling Mountain Railway. I have an interest in abusing model figures, changing their clothing to suit period, place or social standing, so I just flicked through google images of the Darjeeling Himalayan railway to see what you might do to represent the local population in present day (I take it you are talking modern day with references to tourists etc). I was surprised to see so many people where wearing what I might consider to be western clothing, although, short sleeves as standard. I had imagined women in saris and men in Kurtas. That’s where assumptions get you. A quick look as to how to spell those garments led me into a world of traditional and contemporary Asian fashion, the topic is vast, as most things are when you look. To model something accurately we have to know so much, we burden ourselves (I do) with a requirement to be Uber accurate and research is essential if we are to get it right. There will always be someone that tells you when you get it wrong. of course you don’t have to do that, you can do what you like. Andy

Suspect the driver is a Modelu example. That layer of realism makes the difference. Andy

What we like, changes with time, although a little too young to remember steam that was where my young interest lay, dismissing the dirty diesels. As I grew older I grew to tolerate and even like the classic British diesel locomotive. Then came the sheds and some very ugly looking things. I didn’t warm to them compared to a 37 or a 47 and I was sorry that the transformation was so quick. Now.. I am just pleased to see something with a locomotive on the front. Andy

Someone has written Santa Fanon the side of a shipping container! Andy

I believe most layouts are booked for exhibitions as a result of being seen at exhibitions. I was involved with the Stafford exhibition for decades and we simply wouldn’t book a layout unless someone had seen it. Today with so much imagery via a variety of media that is not so necessary. I can see that if you haven’t been to an event recently it may be hard to get a booking. I think most of the post Covid shows are basically the 2020 show deferred with some changes to reflect circumstantial drop outs etc. Drop out replacements will inevitably be sourced via existing contacts. I suppose if you are keen to exhibit and need to promote the layout you could make a video for you tube, certainly create a leaflet with pics and get a thread going on RMweb, layout seeks exhibition - no time wasters please. Andy

Ok, I’ve got him… good to know irs nothing too technical. Andy

It is hard to believe that after 80 posts, that I have anything to add but I do. I have burnt many candles into the night before exhibitions trying to finish something. It might be a couple of wagons or part of a building. This precious time before a show is for testing, checking and cleaning. You have dozens, maybe hundreds of wagons better to check the back to backs and couplings on those than add two more, the punters won’t miss them, they don’t know about them. Andy

A great video, do you know what controls the points, there is no little man with a stick. Andy

I am reasonably confident that the wagon manufacture painted the wagons. There are a lot of formal official photographs of wagons taken by the manufacturer, all painted. They are usually accompanied by a small notice or two stating builder, date and then key dimensions and wagon body and text colour ( in words). Andy

The train, as Papa says “Four francs is four francs” As I scrolled down it counted down and I was beginning to worry as there was no sign of Buster Keatons, ‘The general’ no fear it was relaxing at the Number 1 spot. Andy

I thought I had a book, and I have.. dug it out. Cardiff Electric Tramways by David Gould. Quite cheap second hand from what I see. Andy

so the KH Trams kit probably fits the bill, as on of the first 20 Dick Kerr cars albeit with curved stairs as per some of the modifications and then if you want another tram, KH do sell spare parts, you may be able to cobble together an open top version with balcony. Andy

That is the Dick Kerr tram I was picturing. All Cardiff trams were challenged in height due to some railway bridges in the city. Dick Kerr provided 4 wheelers, bogie cars and single deckers, Originally they had straight stairs with a reverse and a landing but many were changed to conventional curved stairs later. In the 20’s many cars received balconies and enclosed vestibules, but remained open top (presumably because of the low bridges) Brush developed a low bridge design car and towards the end of the 20’s Cardiff took delivery of fully enclosed 4 wheel cars and bogie single deckers from Brush. Some bogie open toppers ran up to 1946 and all done and gone by 1950. sorry, don’t know much about Newport trams, other than there was an electric tramway, closed early, pre war. Andy

I think Cardiff had some Dick Kerr standards, 4 wheel tram cars and they have been produced as kits in a number of forms. Hopefully some 4mm modellers can help. Andy

can I assume that we are talking 4mm / foot ? what period are you thinking or doesn’t that matter? Andy

Hi i always find these things fascinating. if the flashing beacon flashes because something is moving, do things only move when they ‘enter and exit’? Is there no scenario where things move that are not ‘entering or exiting’? Any idea how the prototype would have worked, would the flashing light have come on at the same time as the lights changed from ‘enter to exit’, who is pulling that lever, flicking on the hazard light. if the flashing light is an independent switch then the game is over. sorry to question the brief. Andy

At the risk of being controversial, the locomotive colour looked nothing like any of the purples I have seen supporting the jubilee's events - to my eyes. The Jubilee imagery I have seen, including here on RMweb have a muted purple colour, not unlike Wimbledon purple. The loco seams vivid purple Andy

Fasinating, as always. Thank you Andy

I have some experience here. I found that the cut foam track bed was not smooth/ accurate enough to mount the track directly onto. I laid the track on strips of 1/8th ply that was then bonded the ply to the foam. The layout features curves and gradients which were mostly set by the foam but corrected and adjusted by the ply. does that help Andy

At first I should say, I don’t know. As Stephen says bricks or stone sets are more likely. So logically this needs to be a robust, hard wearing surface. Not slippery either I would have thought, don’t want tonnes of cattle sliding around. The South West geology is very complicated and colours of aggregate vary dramatically but I lean to Grey. Cornwall has granite and basalt that vary from light Grey to Black, granite is a go to material for setts, they used to make slate setts in Cornwall as well and again that would be dark grey. If Brick it will be very hard engineering bricks which I think are more likely to be dark grey. If you are thinking of Bristol / Devon the rocks are not very hard (There were granite quarries on Dartmoor, also Grey) and so imported Cornish or South Wales stone is likely, South Wales would also be dark Grey. hope that helps Andy

H'mm not sure which ailment, but a shaky hand is clearly not one of them. Andy

Maybe develop an ailment, something that comes and goes. It could be quite debilitating at times. Andy

I like the way you can still make out the bottom planks through the tarp, this is very realistic. Modelling things that have naturally taken on a shape though a combination of their physical environment and gravity with our soft, semi soft or rigid modelling materials is very difficult. Andy