David Holman

This weekend, for anyone in the area. Northport Quay will be there, along with loads of other layouts, lots of traders, plus Societies. Indeed, over 100 stands in all, plus the delights of the Historic Dockyard.

Interesting editorial from Karl Crowther in the latest Model Railway Journal. Musing on the future of the hobby, he wonders whether the quality of ready to run models these days "makes the question of gauge superfluous". Coming from a magazine that, over the course of 300+ issues, has always been a champion of fine scale modelling (EM, P4 etc), that is quite something. Suspect the mailbag in the next issue could be bulging with protests, but food for thought maybe? Back in the day, RM editor Cyril Freezer once said that you can't count the spokes on loco driving wheels when they are going round. Mind you, he also once wrote that you don't notice a lack of scenery if you are running an intensive service. Less sure about that one...

There is no doubt that railway modellers have never had it so good in terms of the sheer range of stuff now available. Trouble is, there more we have, the more we want! Certainly do not blame anyone for this, because if I was starting again, I'd be going along the route of ready to run for locos and stock, but enjoy being creative with buildings and scenery because the quality is so good. Or would I? Returning to the hobby after pushing up the value of brewery shares, chasing girls and eventually settling down to married life, I found I already wanted something more than just opening the boxes. My route was to go EM gauge right from the start because I reasoned the extra effort would limit my spending (not sure about that!), though the one bit of discipline I have applied over the years is only to build one thing at a time, with no drawers or cupboards full of unmade kits. Gradually developing my experience and skills I eventually gained the confidence to build my own stuff. The process isn't quick, but eventually you realise that if there isn't something available that you want, you can, with effort and a few rude words, make it yourself. It can be annoying when, soon after scratchbuilding a model, one appears rtr - in my case a 7mm W&M railcar - but hey, I still had the satisfaction of building my own. Indeed, were I able to start again, knowing what I know now, then S gauge would be my route, being an ideal size between 4mm and 7mm scale, with a wonderfully quirky track gauge of 63/64ths of an inch for 5'3. What am I wittering on about? I suppose if you really want something, sometimes you have to do it yourself. On the other hand, when there are so many tempting things out there, why not enjoy them if you can?

Really coming together well!

Nice - and a less seen area of the layout too, perhaps?

In 7mm scale, Slater's do a kit.

Good kit, with a clever six wheel compensation system. Should you want to build it in 5'3, the axles on Slater's wheels are plenty long enough to move them out to 34mm back to backs.

The wows keep coming, Alan! Reminds me I've got one of those jigs somewhere. Very handy when I remember to use it...

Lovely clean lines and coming on really well.

How can it steal chips with no eyes? Seriously though, in 4mm scale, the model is many times smaller than in the photo!

Definitely worth all the effort!

Agreed, though if you checkout my workshop thread, you'll see I've been scratchbuilding in 7mm scale, 36.75mm and 21mm gauge for many years. Love seeing other folks creativity, so great to see what you are up to.

Splendid stuff. Not sure whether it is a case of alchemy or witchcraft, but either way shows what can be done.

With the next outing at the Chatham Show less than a month away, attention has turned to getting the layout ready. Managed to find some Code 83 rail down at the club, so the track table in the fiddle yard is now dual gauge throughout. Decided to paint the whole lot in white emulsion, in the hope that any loose bits and pieces would easily show up and perhaps also make putting stock on easier. We'll see. A mundane, but important bit of kit for any exhibition layout is a shelf for the drinks mug. However, with a front operated layout, this limits the options. I already have one simple shelf which can go on the far end of the layout, easily added via quick mount plates. After much thought, realised I could add one for the operator by putting it inside the fiddle yard frames. Ok, the train table needs to be slid over a little to allow access, but figure that doing it this way, keeps drinks out of the way. Finally found a use for my Dremel saw, which works fine with plywood, but is hopeless with what I bought it for, namely cutting thin brass and nickel silver. The saw itself is ok, but the blades supplied are useless and break far too easily. Anyway, managed to cut up some pieces of 6mm ply and then cut a hole for a coffee mug. All a bit rough and ready, but hopefully the Chatham Show will prove how well it works.

Back dating, to cover more than one period, is always an option, once the 1940s are covered and I do like the Donegal 4-6-0Ts!

Better than grabbing hold of the hot end - too many T shirts in the drawer for that one. And it's not as if it doesn't hurt! Seriously fine work, Alan and speaking of pain, feel for you over that gear set too. High Level are my go to for all narrow gauge stuff, but while the quality is not in dispute, I much prefer all metal gears for reasons you describe. Managed to ruin a set of HL with the cyano you are expected to use to fix them in place, while those tiny grub screws are a nightmare! Once done, they are great, but a ready to run 7mm box from Premier Components is far less hassle.

Surprised to read of your issues. Older Lima stuff certainly has deep flanges that require code 100 rail, but current models should be fine on code 75. Might be worth carefully checking all wheels, just in case a bit of crud is causing the problem. Likewise, if the track has been blasted maybe it needs checking too?

Thanks Colin. Have indeed wondered about that possible amalgamation, not least because of how drab the Swilly coaches looked compared to the Donegal's. Locos another matter, especially the very fine dark green. Suspect the Donegal would have rapidly dieselised things, with railcars taking over much of the passenger work, as per their own system. Equally, it is still under consideration, though the option of having a range of liveries remains attractive - especially with a yet to be decided one for the tramway.

No idea 're large scale semaphores, but adapting or even scratchbuilding colour lights might be the way?

4mm scale three links can be tricky. One option is to fit a slightly larger end link. Another is to use the Smiths three links which have the latter and a more open hook. If you are happy to have wagons in semi permanent rakes, use three links between these and something else on the end of each rake and your locos. Three links look so much better, but all couplings are a compromise!

Yep, hence the rebuild, Don. Have used cassettes extensively in the past and found they work best when there was a separate loco cassette so the actual train only needed sliding from side to side, with just the loco lifted and moved to the other end.

Climate change and railway modelling! Modern image folk seem to have new challenges - pot holes, flash flooding and storms. DCC control for any of these? Seem to remember there was a gizmo to make a tree fall down a while back, though must have looked very odd in reverse...

A 21mm one would be good too, because proportionately wider body width make failing very tricky with bogie stock.

Surface texture too, with 600 grit wet and dry paper more than enough. Alternatively talc on dark grey enamel paint works well - even in 7mm scale. Were there as many pot holes back in the day, compared to now?

Further on line research suggests that the unlikely named Downings would make a better destination for my tramway. Beyond Carrigart, its safe harbour once had a significant herring fleet and given that Burtonport still only has a population of under 400 today, makes me think it could have been at least as viable. Fish traffic would have decreased significantly into the 20th century, but the Emergency and likely poor roads (as per the Burtonport line) should have ensured survival until the late 1940s. Which is enough for my bit of fiction. The idea of Ramelton being served by three different railways - Swilly, Donegal and tramway - is admittedly more than a bit contrived, but the different liveries would make for a colourful scene. By the 1940s, don't suppose any of the lines would be offering more than two or three trains a day, but make it market or Fair day and a timetable adapted from actual Swilly and Donegal timings at Letterkenny could make for a decent sequence.