[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

I think its a really good introduction to model railways, & I am sure "everyone" will have lots of fun "playing" with it, assuming they can get the controls off you LOL !!!!!

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

Merry xmas - it looks really great. How long is the queue LOL !!!! (* also how competitive are things getting LOL !!!!)

Well done, enjoy, as I am sure you all are, Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

At this rate you will be getting answers / suggestions on brickwork bonds, from Strecher, to English to Flemish, to English Garden Wall, not the mention the B***ard bonds in between LOL !!!

There was a post from a new member to the forum Laura78 (* I think was the name), with this link - http://paperbrick.co.uk/ it may be of interest, from a very very quick look the other day, it would at least be "your own" brickwork !!!!!

The buffer stop lights I know Guagemaster do a version of, with either just the upright lights (2No) or with the blank / black buffers to paint.

Best of luck, Cheers,

Norm

PS. The "old" two Ronnies plays on words, take some beating in my book !!!!! (Fork handles !!!!!)

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

For my benefit if for no one else, can you please post BIG pics of the ground signals, & the fact they work is even more impressive. Hope its not a kit. Or maybe they are the "flat packed" ex German traffic lights (Tank) model ? What a scream if they are eh !!!!!

15 all perhaps ?

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

Yep thats small ! Also fairly non forgiving it seems, turn or ...... leave it to the Grim Reaper !!! Would be interesting to hear Bear's views on that ?????

However, I am somewhat dissapointed, I was thinking of "traditional" ground signals LOL !!! (Must be an age thing !!!!!).

Thanks for the pics' tho,

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

That snow backdrop looks really real - & very COLD !!!!

Well now that dt / LF&T & I, have got complexes, well something like that LOL !!!

Why not put the re - fueling point behind / on the other end of the Goods Shed, then the Loco / Engine could be said to be re - fueling, whilst the "live" game wagons are being unloaded / loaded ? Might even be able to get extra points if loco lines up with fueling pumps LOL !!!!

On the basis its a Plank - I think you have done a great job. However, WHERES THE STATUE GOING TO GO !!!! (* Inc. pond or fountain) ?

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Morning Julian,

Sounds like a plan to me. You could always as you had done previously either let the overrun of the fueling point platform run under the GS, or take a bit off each end of the paltform to keep it looking in proportion at both ends, & avoiding the GS being on the p***s lol !!!! You have others for that duty !!!!

Good luck, including with the space now available for the statue LOL !!!!!!

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

Think you have been taking up too many of Greyvoices "artwork" posses lol; although "Gentlemen" might be streching it a bit LOL !!!!!

Hows the "extension" to the plank progressing, has Planning consent been applied for or granted, by swmbo as yet; perhaps a summer branch line off a siding, out through the adjacent window, once the snow has been thawed of course; imagine what you could "fit in" then ??????

Keep that humour flowing .......

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

Unlike it be for me to rock the boat, particularly on something as "sensitive" as asthetics; & given you have it in writing from an Architectural view point. But I will LOL ! I would go for the square / rectangular canopy adjacent to the square end of the goods shed, but the curved canopy end, as the curve will be read asthetically with the adjacent point, at the other end !

Oh contraversey - how exciting LOL !

Paper version in the post, or is that whats said about the AI's normally LOL !!!

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

Well 1 - all is much better than some FT scores today a lot will say !

Perhaps they did not have long enough skies LOL !!!!

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

I now have no inkling of the score, perhaps well on the way to penalities, after added time. Comments on the re - fueling stn's roof shape, have now meandered into whole sale re - build - of the Goods Shed !!!!!!; Yet I have seen no joined up writing, .......... in any comments; surely "The Rules" should be equal for all "Threads" LOL ?

I actually like the "Steel" roof profile, just dont tell LF&T, as it's a bit lacking in curves !

Happy Days, Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

Another double post - maybe 1/2 a point extra !

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

Just popped in to see what the scores on the doors were; it looks like its gone into extra time LOL !

I agree on keeping the higher backscene, as the band of grass / fields appearing above the wall line; adds significant depth to the whole image / picture, without the green band, it would give the impression of the backscene perhaps being a bit "flat". It does certainly make a significant difference to the layout tho'.

Most importantly it sounds like the Small Controllers input is being taken on board - so life goes on LOL !!!!!!

Good stuff, well done, Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

The mini shunting planks content is certainly expanding, Famous Old Loco's & WW2 Aircraft now making guest appearances LOL !!!! Or are these "sample" statues ?? Whatever next ?

As said earlier the LHS location of the fuel point, would allow the engine / loco to be refuelled, whilst the vans / wagons were being loaded / unloaded "in theory" in the G/S.

On the front edge of the sandwich, could you not maybe fix a length of plywood & paint it black, including a socket / electical plug faceplate, to allow the unit to be "plugged in"; would finish it off quite neatly ?

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

Hope the B/T lunch went well LOL !!!

A very plain "blue" or whatever front edge would be good. On MK2 Plank maybe run the elecs to the end panel, less "in your face" & keeps the front "neat & tidy" ? Easy to say after the event I know LOL !!!!!!!

Has the shunting puzzle seen much use since xmas by the way - Not been mentioned in despatches LOL ?

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

That looks really neat, & as you say makes the ballasting look very good. See what you mean about the white & the surroundings, will fit in very nicely.

Hope you can remember where all the buildings go LOL !

Good luck on sorting the faceplate for the electrics so that you can finish it off, Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

See we knew you could not resist the plank extension into the garden.

Those Persimmon house kits look excellent, you must have been hard at work as they are normally at least an 18 - 20 week build, for the Show House alone, & given they look like a lot of town / three storey versions would say more 26 - 30 weeks LOL !!! If you want to progress things any quicker, maybe go with the Cala Homes, Bellway or Charles Church houses, these are all about 20 weeks ish to build LOL !!!!

I also see you have snuck a floodlight into the corner, is that for the Contractors site compound, or an Astro turf sports pitch maybe ?

You certainly will have a lot of scope for modelling - do you have a track plan as yet LOL ?

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian, (or should that be Franz Clammer !);

Hope the snowplow lessons are going well & the boots / bindings have held up. Are you now able to keep up with the Small Controller, they normally have no fear at that age & fly down the mountains LOL !!!!

Thanks for the posting on the loft layout re - Totems.

Hope the garden railway is not too different when you make it back at the weekend.

Have fun, Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

Looks like some real good progress there, with the choice of backscenes as well now. I agree with the previous comment by Ian, that the backscene with the slightly larger versions of the houses, in my view fits better with the model. But the use of the larger format without the need for a join also looks good.

On Angie's comment above, I take it the discussion is only when the patient's are shunting, as being services peeps they can multi - task, but the doc's have to shunt in silence LOL !!!!!

Good to hear you have been making use of the puzzle too.

Cheers,

Norm

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Julian,

Long time no look in, you have also made lots of really good progress - would love to now see a few pic of the overall layout as it now stands. All of the small (* that sounds so wrong - sorry !), added details, I imagine have made a massive overall difference to the layout ?

So is there a special Easter Shunting puzzle, for eggs of course - how many hours have you already got on the practice clock LOL !!!

Great stuff & thanks for the detailed posts, Cheers,

Norm