Tony Simms

Lovely; looks like it's going to be a cracking little layout. I could get so waylaid by narrow gauge. Very easily...

Thanks for the nice comments guys (and for the likes!). After a couple of fairly major shows, I'm more comfortable with the layout and its operation. I'll now be looking to expand the motive power and stock as well as completing the scenics.

Nice idea with the ballast Pete. Will there be enough "meat" to grasp hold of at each side of the cassette? I could see my fingers slipping...

John, that looks very nice. I wouldn't be unduly worried about the loss of detail, as you say a bit of dry brushing will bring it out.

What's FGW? Fogthorpe Gas Works?

Seriously Pete, good to see you getting back to the serious stuff. Keep at it. 7mm? Pah!

Hi!

I too would err on the side of caution and try something smaller first.

It took me nearly twenty five years as a 2mm modeller to make a start on Brafferton and even then I'm battling away some three plus years later! A layout of that size in 2mm scale is quite an undertaking for the majority of individual modellers, and Brafferton is only 6ft across with 1ft wide boards. I also gleaned a neat tip when building my circular layout; avoid even numbers of boards. In that way, there are never joints directly opposite each other in the circle and the result is substantially stronger. With hindsight, I'd probably have gone for seven boards rather than five; the curved boards are a bit awkward for handling and if yours are 8ft diameter with a 18" (?) width, they'd be right bu99ers...

Indeed, good luck; I'll be following your progress with interest.

What did you use for the wire and post fences? All looking really good.

The posts are microrod and the wire is EZ Line; wind line round posts under reasonable tension/stretch and dab with superglue. I made the posts extra long, then snipped them to height once they were fully wired.

...Sorry if it sounds critical but its one of those things a lineman would notice...

Don. Thanks for the comment, which just is the sort of thing I need; constructive criticism. It's only a train set, but it's good when that train set can look realistic. Information such as yours helps me go in the right direction. Hopefully!

Pannier - got it! Thanks Jerry!

Lovely! Look forward to seeing more as this develops.

Cool! Look forward to seeing it painted.

Took my Cuneo book to bed with me last night and discovered why I couldn't find a mouse on the Greenwood box picture - its too early, Cuneo didn't start adding the mice until1953!

 

Tony, have a look at the bottom, right insulator on the telegraph pole in the foreground.........eeek!

 

Jerry

Found it and the one on "Autumn of Steam". Is there one on the Clapham Junction painting - it all seems a bit dark for mice.

 

ps. you need to be careful about flashing on the roof, you could end up getting your coller felt!!

Oh no, I'll use lead, not felt...

Thanks Jerry and Tom. Or is that Tom and Jerry?

It really is nice to have the trainset up permanently; me and the boy can play trains when we want or just sit and watch them go round and round and round...

Didn't know there was a mouse in the Cuneo; must have a look!

Very nice Bryn. Keep at it lad!

Ian, I'm very impressed with what you've achieved so far and eagerly anticipate some photos of the fruits of your labours.

I'm sure this process will become more and more useful to 2mm modellers with its short run capabilities. I have downloaded Sketchup, but am nowhere near as proficient as you obviously are. I need more practice!

I know you're only planning position here Pete, but don't be afraid of getting some good size trees in there!

Too often we get the trees on our trainsets too small and their impact on the scene is lost. You mention that the trees were quite young in the 80's. By the late eighties, it appears that some of those trees were pushing 45/50ft? http://www.djipix.com/view/gallery/images?category=1&subcategory=19#

Incidentally, it looks like they might have copied your design on that viaduct...

Hi Tony.As you say the underlying work on a layout is often overlooked and can be very tedious so its good that you are enjoying it.It just makes the fun stuff even more fun. Its looking great though, when is it next due out?M

Next "show" is the NEAG 30th birthday bash in June. Make sure you've marked your diary!!

Next public show is Shipley in September.

Very nice Julia. I have the point rodding to do once I actually get the trackwork running to my satisfaction. I hope I can make mine look as realistic as yours.

Cheers

Tony

Very good, Pete. The viaduct looks rather well in its new home!

Keep 'em coming.

Thanks for the comments guys and gals!

Just back from a few days in snowy Wales; no internet and no modelling. Back to the layout fully refreshed this coming weekend!

For those who have been worried about the heading of this post, WTF? of course means Where's That File?

Thanks for the encouragement guys! Said office and weighbridge (W&T etch) are now bedded into the central scenic board and are being surrounded by fences, bushes and general junk. I'll keep you updated...

Nice office. I really must finish mine for South Yard. Dunno about a few hours work - mine has been on the go for about 5 years or so... and that's without an interior.Your layout looked good at Nottingham, although we spent rather more time looking at the back of it than the front. It certainly didn't look 'unfinished', although I'm sure that you (like us) have a huge list of stuff that still needs to be done.Regards, Andy

Thanks Andy. Yes we are rather more critical of our own models than a general viewer, aren't we?

Tony, that's a great improvement on the ratio model I just brought some of those Noch rubber roof tiles for my goods shed, how do you use them? Leave them on the backing sheet or peel and affix to a plasticard subframe? Also how we'll does it take paint and weathering?

Bryn, I remove the tiles from the backing and stick to a sub roof, usually constructed to fall between the walls so that just the edge of tiles show. The rubber takes paint surprisingly well. It's also worth painting that overlap on the underside of the tiles so that the roof isn't permanently stuck to the building!

A nice project Tony - that SM scalpel really puts the size in perspective.Love the story about stealing from your sons layout...that deserves 'Father of the Year' award...

Thanks Pete (and Don). Yes it is a bit wee! From the scale on the scalpel, you get some indication of length; 24mm along the longest wall and 20mm high. The base will be set into a recess on the layout so that the threshold of the door will be fractionally above ground level.

I also need to fabricate and squeeze in some weighing mechanism and a coal scuttle and irons. It might be nice to put some sort of lighting in too. We'll see...

Pete

Very nice. Some top notch modelling!

I did get your PM about Brafferton. Nottingham was fairly successful and I think a couple of photos have made their way into the exhibition thread.

I hope to get the layout re-erected this week and I'll attempt to emulate your success with the camera.