TomJ

I'm pretty sure it was ten pairs (ie 20 pockets enough to convert 10 wagons). Also includes a jig to get the height and alignment right. IIRC it's just a conversion pack to make a NEM pocket. You then fit what ever couplers inside you want, and can always put rapidos back in if you want to sell the stock etc

Good to see you modelling again. A few small projects can really help keep the mojo flowing Those etches make a huge difference to the wagons - as does the lack of rapido. Good luck with the travelling (you really did chose a cold month to return!) and happy Christmas.

The Tullis Russell hoppers were for wagonload traffic to Scotland which I think stopped at the end of Speedlink or soon after. Definitely well before your period. No idea when the Tigers were withdrawn but 2003 sounds about right, the JIAs are quite similar modern examples.

I agree the plan is a very good one - and maximises the viewing run for trains. It's good to see more china clay and N gauge. I look forward to seeing it develop. Do I spy the Dapol uncoupling magnets in the sidings? If so how have you found them, do they work ok? Am thinking of trying them for my new layout. Do you try to hide them under the ballast or are they not too obvious?? In terms of traffic most of my knowledge of the clay scene is steam days or the 80s but I'll try to help. The clay industry has declined markedly since 2000 with many works shutting and traffic lost. At the start of the millennium there was a lot more activity. Mainstay of the clay traffic was/is of course rakes of CDAs to Fowey docks. Out of Cornwall traffic included the 'silver bullets' as a block, although slurry was occasionally sent as wagonload (don't know what period) and Tigers/JIA (not yet avaliable in N gauge - something for the society....!?!??) and polybulks and occasional van traffic, presumably ferryvans. For non clay traffic there has been a bit, although not at the same time! There's cement to Moorswater (using the old clay works). There has been scrap metal from St Blazey and incoming pipes. More recently there were freightliner trains of sand (a by product of clay extraction) which was used extensively in the Olympic build. Loco-wise I think it's pretty much exclusively 66s, EWS/DBS and freightliner. The 67s were used for a while before the TPO ended and the 57s on the sleeper but these are both mainline of course. A few other locos/liveries appear on one off or charter trains. Hope this helps, please post more pics as things progress

Presumably that means that it won't work on the trailing/pony trucks of steam engines either? That's a bit of a shame as it rules out a whole host of my locos and coaches. I had dreams of my 45xx running round it's B-set in my station. Looks like I'm stuck with the rapidos. Realistically for me any system has to have the possibility of converting most stock, it just wouldn't work to have two seperate systems. It's a pity that even some stock I've brought in the last couple of years doesn't have NEM pockets and can't be converted

Sorry to hear things haven't worked out in Spain but sounds like its for the best. Spanish colleagues tell me it's horrific out there, especially for the young. Good luck with the commute, it's horrible leaving the family but at least there's an endpoint to it. And there's Skype/FaceTime etc. Maybe a bit of simple modelling will keep you sane during the week?? Maybe not work on the layouts but some wagon or loco kits etc. A few tools and bits in a shoebox might be enough, especially if you can find a local model shop and store the box at work for the weekends? Good luck with it all.

Thanks guys, just the advice I needed. Think I'm ready to dip my toe in the world of auto-uncoupling so a trip to my local model shop this lunchtime might be in order. I'll get a couple of magnets from the Squires stand at Warley so I can experiment with Karhedrons method. Thanks

Having seen the conversion packs I am very tempted to take the plunge. I suspect for my diesel era stuff it will be simplest (nad cheaper) to put a magnetic coupler on the end of each rake (or split them into two) and keep the rapidos for in between. However before I dive in I have two daft - one very daft - questions for those who have used them. Firstly what happens if you simply drive over the magnet without stopping and backing up? Does stock stay coupled up? I've a situation where there's a run round loop which some trains will shunt but others just pass through. Secondly, the really daft one. Can you still couple/uncouple by hand if needed? Do I need to fill my fiddle yard with magnets, and what if I play with my stock on someone elses layout? Thanks for humouring me.....!

The framing really does the job of focusing the scene. Its that thing about making it like a stage, and drawing ones attention to the set.

It's a very easy mistake to make. I've done it on several occasions. Must be something to do with their website!

Are you not planing on installing a working 3rd rail then??? Very disapointing..... I'm not expert on EMUs (or much else TBH) but I wonder if the problem is that the shoe is too high on the model. I wonder if Farish have deliberately given it more clearance to cope with us coarse scale modellers, to ensure it doesn't foul stuff etc. Is it possible to carry out a little surgery to lower the shoe a bit? The 3rd rail looks superb by the way, and I think it wouldn't look as realistic any higher. After all the EMU is only visible for a burst at a time (and the shoe is only a very small part of the EMU) where as the 3rd rail is always on view. And huge thanks for the tips on painting/weathering sleepers, very useful indeed

That is looking so good. Its those details like the walkways and exaust stack that really take it too the next level. And the last picture is hard to tell if its the model or the real thing. I know what you mean about it maybe being a chore, I often put these little jobs off once the main buildings done but once you start its all rather engrossing. Enjoy the trip to Cornwall, hope you've packed waterproofs and a kayak! Sorry I didn't make it to Wenford for any photos - a bit optomistic as to how far we could cycle!!

This really is the thread that just keeps giving! For my next layout the lure of North Devon is getting harder to resist.....

Good to see more progress on here. My modellings the same - a long spell of not much then a sudden blast of little jobs. The clay works is really coming together. And I love that view under the viaduct - really gives the scale of it