David Holman

Compared to this side of the water (where even obscure companies seem to have at least one book about their wagons), it is a neglected area in Ireland, so these notes are really useful.

Somebody clearly knows how to solder! A proper little jewel.

All 7mm broad gauge stock qualifies for running rights on NPQ, Leslie so you will be most welcome! Applies to anyone else out there too, not least because there are so few of us.

Overall, the layout performed pretty well at Railex. I seem to have largely solved the track issues, so derailments were minimal. Getting on top of the Alex Jackson couplings too, though I need to make a better alignment tool to ensure the couplings are all the same height and inline with the centre of the track. Several trains worked almost faultlessly - coupling and uncoupling reliably. On other trains the AJs proved a bit sticky, so need to check the height of the dropper wires I guess. Otherwise, the latest remedial wok has proved successful, despite the A41 road to Aylesbury doing its best to reduce the layout to kit form on Friday afternoon! Next outing will be Aldershot in October. This was the show I had to drop out of last year, so nice of them to invite me this time. Attention now turns to the Chatham Club's 0 gauge layout, for our Show in July. A 10m x 5m double track oval, am currently fitting backscene boards while last minute scenery is being added too. Hopefully, the layout will provide a nice setting for a wide range of trains belonging both to the club and individual members.

It was a a fine weekend at Aylesbury and a pleasure, as always to have David along on Sunday. Railex is very much a 'fine scale' show and though there were plenty of families and other folk along, events like these have a high proportion of knowledgable fellow modellers, which always results in interesting and informative conversation. My Acla coaster caused much interest, while it was nice to get plenty of comments about how 'Irish' the layout looks, which has always been essentially one of its main aims. David's PP and Q locos really are fine models so it was great to run the PP all day. Slight problem was that it is too long for my headshunt [likewise the Q, which is an even bigger beast], so eventually we worked out a way of using my J26 to collect the coaches. AJ coupling at one end for the 0-6-0T, screw links the other for the PP. The latter's 6'6" drivers are obviously intended for high speed mainline work, but it rolled across NPQ, at little more than walking place, very smoothly. Another highlight for me was seeing Ditchling Green again. This was the layout that launched Gordon & Maggie Gravett as major players in 7mm scale modelling. When the Chatham Show first started in the Dockyard, we used to put up a lot of exhibitors in our own homes, and Ditching Green helped start a long friendship when they stayed with my wife & I. Gordon later sold it, to make space for Pempoul and it ended up in a barn somewhere in France. Later, my own Loose End layout ended up in the same place! Anyway, DG is now back and has been extensively renovated. As can be seen below, it still looks very good indeed. See if you can spot the baseboard join in the last picture. Other things that caught my attention were the 2mm depiction of York station and an interesting diorama illustration perspective modelling, but all the layouts were of a very high standard, so it was great to be part of it all.

He would probably have self combusted of he touched it Leslie! What I noticed was one of his cronies complaining about the new Pope not putting "America first" on his agenda. They just don't get it....

Absolutely! That is one enormous cattle train.

Loads of very subtle detail. An ordinary scene, beautifully observed and not easy to get right like this.

Fab. Think the printed paper approach is the right one, especially in 4mm scale. Am guessing the markings on the real thing were fairly shallow and probably would look too deep on a 3d print. And you've still given a nod to modern technology! What could work in this situation is resin casting. When I've done my own wagon sides, found that even the fine scratches of a wire brush on the plasticard masters are picked up by the resin. Likewise even a glass fibre brush. Both good for wood grain effect.

Spoke with someone at Railex yesterday who actually has some of Sid Stubbs and Alex Jackson's models. What a privilege that must be. Nothing about the Isle of Man layout in MRJ though.

Hadn't noticed the tender wheel on Shannon, though rear bogie wheel on Wolf Dog wasn't always turning, which probably means the springing needs adjusting. Not sure about the uncoupling. Some trains were almost faultless all day, so suspect more adjustment of the AJs is necessary. All were working fine the two weeks before, honest! Guess I wore them out... Will have to see what the 1950s stock brings to the party today.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

They look great. Am rather tempted by the idea of a 7mm one...

If it's no trouble then yes please. Am presuming the axles will be something like 3mm or 1/8th inch steel. Easy enough to replace, especially with no quartering required, but the modern penchant for force fit, nylon, final drive gears would have me worried about both splitting when replacing, plus the worry of sourcing a new one.

Many thanks! I thought there might be room and shaving a bit off the back of the axle boxes could well do the trick. However, wondering if would then need to realign the brake and sanding gear? Another concern is whether the wheels are thick enough overall to cope with moving them out 2.4mm on each end of the axles? Back to back on Fine scale 0 gauge is 29.2mm, I think, but 33.98 (call it 34) for broad gauge. When I looked at an Impetus 0-6-0T a while back, replacing the axles didn't look much of a problem, but potentially breaking the nylon main gear in the process put me off immediately. In the end, another loco I wanted, but didn't need, so pragmatism ruled...

Northport Quay will be there this weekend (actually at the Stoke Mandeville stadium). Very much a finescale show, I' m quite chuffed to be included and fly the flag for broad gauge. On Sunday, Galteemore is bringing some of his stuff as well, so possibly the largest selection of 7mm scale, Irish broad gauge at a model railway exhibition for quite some time. Shame the layout is only 7'6 long!

Great thread. Recently been pondering on an 88DS for Northport Quay. Photos of the model indicate there might be enough room behind the dummy axle boxes to ease the wheels out a couple of millimetres each side to 36.75 gauge. If so, I'll have to debate my customary needs and wants with myself. I don't actually need one, but I could certainly want one...

Northport Quay is at Railex this weekend. 7mm scale/36.75mm gauge, I use code 100fb rail on copperclad sleepers, which works well, both visually and physically.

There are some fabulous Lego models out there. At the recent Ashford show, they had an oval layout that hadhe Forth Bridge as the centrepiece. I kid you not. Approximately 7mm scale, I guess the bridge itself was about 7m long and 1.5m high. The oval layout was more like 10m by 4m. If that wasn't impressive enough, there was a vast range of trains available, all made from Lego and very recognisable. Everything from modern diesels to steam outline. A bit of 3D printing was involved for some details, but all essentially Lego. Probably spent more time watching this layout than any other and it was great to see it was mostly younger people involved too. It will be coming to the Chatham Show, in the Historic Dockyard, in July.

The latest Model Railway Journal celebrates the above, with a fascinating insight into some of its many achievements. Former members include some real legends of our hobby including Alex Jackson (of auto couplings fame) and Sid Stubbs. Both men were pioneers of 4mm scale in the immediate post war years when you had to make everything - including even wheels and motors! Indeed Alex Jackson worked with 24 volts, after using no less than 110 volts in his Gauge 1 garden railway. Chee Tor, the pioneering 2mm FS layout also features, along with a host of other stuff. Well worth getting a copy if this sort of thing interests you.

Epic! Thanks JB.

Interesting to see how the whole approach to modelling changes as you go up a few scales. Lovely stuff!

It might be me, but reading these regs made by brain hurt and my eyes glaze over! Can't help wondering whether high tariffs or making the system so complex that nobody want to use it, amount to the same thing.

The Keith Pirt book is especially good as all the pictures are full page and therefore give lots of detail for everything from weathering, through wider landscapes to buildings and even clothing of the time.

The latest Railway Modeller has an article on weathering a Class 37 which looks very useful.