taunmarc88

I have started a new thread as I have just finished building a very modest baseboard to start my TT layout Holway Green. The name comes from the area that I live which is Holway in Taunton. There is an old road running through the estate called Holway Green which I presume was the original road through what would have once been a village but is now fully absorbed into the town. Not far from here is the former route of the Creech to Chard line so the premise is that for some reason a line was built through Holway. Although this would have had a GWR feel I will be using it to run all my locos and rolling stock and I will likely be setting the scenery in the late 50s/early 60s. Pictures will follow when ready. I wanted to state my intent and make it official. As a few of you helpful people have pointed out… just do something and see how you go. I’ve been watching in the shadows for too long, it’s time to jump in!

My inspiration is the West Somerset Railway as I grew up nearby in the 90s/ Early 2000s. Modelling - My primary school headmaster had a model railway installed in the photocopier room. Every week we would go to ‘train club’ and be allowed to run the locos… after hoovering the track of course! I also watched Thomas all the time as a child and those two combined meant I was hooked!

I’m in a similar place to you at the moment @Moccasin as you know. My suggestion would be to use that board you already have to practice scenery and make a diorama. It may not serve another purpose now and it seems a shame to waste it. As for a new table, it’s hard to choose what to go for as a lot of the advice is different. Hornby magazine use a standard 2x4 sectional style baseboard which I think sounds good for those space confined. A layout can be created in stages and then attached together. I think if my current small practice layout goes okay I will go down that route. I change my mind a lot and go off things for periods of time so it’s not good making anything too permanent. For now… it’s loop on the dining room table if I want to run long trains round and round. Hope that is of some help ☺️.

The buildings look great @Dave the Busker ! Building Metcalfe in OO was always fun. I think I might need to invest in some of the N gauge kits now I have seen the results looking so good.

I definitely feel more conscious looking at model railway mags than at attitude but I’m old enough now to think I like what I like! I like the layout of modeller, all the ads are at the front and back so the middle is pure model railway stuff. But Hornby tends to have more TT features… of course Modeller is with Peco and I do feel that it is very TT positive as they will want the venture to succeed.

Same here. My Railway Modeller sub just ran out and I think for now I’ll buy as I go. It’s enjoyable looking through the mags in Smiths as well before I commit 😅

That looks very good. Plenty of options for use in the sidings and it looks more prototypical having it at odd angles I think. Interesting that you are thinking of going back to DC. I have had the same thought, in fact I’m playing with mine as DC at the moment. It’s easier and as you say cheaper. Looking forward to seeing this layout idea develop.

Sounds like good progress with your 08. I set up a loop of track to play with my 08 earlier and also converted Bonny back to DC to join the fun. The 08 was definitely struggling and got jabbed a few times over the points! Had some fun with an Inglenook shunting puzzle. I was watching your video earlier with all your locos running, it’s lovely to see a DC layout as I think I might have to go back to DC I don’t think I can afford all the locos I want and decoders! Also not a fan of surgery to get power banks in…! Love the layout and well done on getting the 08 going so smoothly, keep making videos please… I’ve spent hours watching TT modellers today.

Such as amazing layout! I’m always surprised by how good everyone’s TT layouts look! Can I ask is that Hornby track? The 08 was running so smoothly I was wondering how it was achieved. I’m so bamboozled by the electronic aspect of it all.

Are you thinking green 08? Looking at the value it may be worth waiting especially if there are exclusive wagons… possibly newly numbered BR vans and a brake? Of course it would be DC only at this point due to lack of chip for that size. It would be a good starter set and possibly under the £200 mark.

It was interesting when talking about the small decoders, it doesn’t sound like they are even able to get them working yet. I wonder if there will be a delay on them?

It’s really looking great! May I ask which track you have used and also what radius? I feel like I’ve been planning and then getting nowhere for so long so it’s getting time follow your advice and just do something!

I love the J50 in both LNER and late BR livery… really need to choose which era to go for! I’m definitely grabbing one. Crossing as well. It is such a classic Hornby railway piece!

The J50 looks great. I suspect there will be no sound for the near future from a HM7000 chip. The intercity set looks good, that should attract so many more new modellers waiting for a diesel set.

Today’s the day! I actually dreamt of model railways last night, it feels like forever since they announced the date for this reveal day. Not expecting too much just one or maybe two surprises please 🙏

Is it possible to buy the blanking plate separately or is it only available in the locos bought as DCC ready. I agree with most, it would be nice to have one supplied for those who haven’t decided yet but it would add extra cost to the DCC fitted models.

I’d say keep your TT stock for now. I am still undecided on how to proceed as I have more fun when I set my old OO up on the table but I’ve been waiting for tomorrow’s announcements first. I do believe however that I will keep all my locos and rolling stock - if I do end up going OO again for now it will be lovely to have some of the original releases from the TT range in the cupboard should I then do a TT layout in the future and I can also justify buying the odd loco if I really love it (such as a green 08 and any tank engines). I did think of getting one of those IKEA glass cabinets to display it all in. For me the main sticking point is that originally I thought TT would allow for a smaller layout but the reality is not the case. TT demands wider curves and longer runs as the models are suited to longer trains. In OO the flying Scotsman pulling two carriages around a 6x4 is something we are used to but in TT I wanted up to five or six carriages and that requires everything to be longer. I’m likely to do a 6x4 OO again and then see where I am after that project.

Just finishing watching now, I have really enjoyed this video. I think the TT community is shaping up so well and it is the main reason I have stuck with the scale. Thanks guys for making great content!

I’m not expecting too much, I just want a new catalogue of current ranges and some of the already announced future phases in picture form and any surprises will be lovely. I just like looking through a catalogue and dreaming.. my original catalogue is out of date now so it doesn’t work so well anymore!

Ooh blimey! I genuinely thought knowing Hornby it would be the last day of the month! I hope there’s a catalogue that day too.

It’s a clever idea, just goes to show what you come up with once you start. As I am currently thinking of just doing a module or shelf so this is very interesting. I was thinking a goods yard for a small branch line might work once we have the loco for it. Maybe include a station and trains can move in and out but there just wouldn’t be a loop. I’m starting think I’ll never truly start but I’m trying to gather ideas still and hopefully something will stick!

Wow that’s so impressive @Dave the Busker! Are you running DC? I like the road layout with the angles as well as the track layout of course!

It really does look superb @Rallymatt well done!

That’s good to hear that shunting in TT is enjoyable. Are you using DC or DCC? I’m starting to question what I prefer, I find the sounds a bit much when I’m shunting and I forever over shoot where I want to go using the app… that’s definitely my own issue though! I mostly wanted sound for a big loop run but as that idea drifts away I’m wondering if I should go DC for the small steam loco and combine it with my DC class 08. These will not have sound anyway I assume (officially).

@Moccasin I actually really like this. I was knocking about on Minehead’s terminus station platform this morning as I’m local and it was lovely to see how a long thin area works.. it’s obviously how real railways look. I always dislike my loops as it just doesn’t seem realistic unless you have loads of space to create tunnels, baffles etc. They had all the carriages in the platforms being cleaned up for the new season and it made me think how ideal a layout like your proposal would be for a heritage railway. At Minehead they had random wagons attached to the end of trains, presumably whilst they perform manoeuvres or train up new volunteers on the railway. So you could really go to town as a display piece with the bonus of having trains go off scene to the wider world.