Robc058

Flexibility is key. I have an oval and a branch line. Having recently got an HST I am considering making some temporary platform extensions. I can add these when running modern era. And remove for steam only running. Many stations have longer platforms now than when first built. Running Willy Whitelaw, Falcon and Blink Bonny in steam. 08 shunter in blue, HST in blue/grey, Ed Elgar on order. Rolling stock is Pullman (starter set), mk1s in crimson and blood and custard, mk3s with HST. Mix of wagons. Taking Alton (Hampsire) as an example I can mix heritage and main line, but of course to be truly authentic to modern era this would need EMU stock. You can't have everything. I suppose NYMR is another case of a joint modern and heritage steam layout that would also fit LNER locos. I think a real dream operating rule is some way off as the ranges is still young. However I have given up on GWR and Southern for the time being!

Mine arrived yesterday. Pleasure awaiting me on my return from France business trip

Mr Sam has reviewed this HST. Very favourable on detail and performance. Less so on quality and value - a little harsh. As far as price is concerned compare to an A3 with lit Pullmans. Not far off! Quality comments were rather picky. But I suppose this is generally what he does.

I have read that the logo evolved from Inter-City 125 through InterCity 125 to INTERCITY on later swallow liveries. The joys of modelling!

More advances in the range!

Also watched the review and left a comment. TT community is strong and growing. Hornby faces competition from other OO producers and thus needs TT to succeed to grow its consumer base.

Back on track so to speak! Printer eventually worked.

Something of a frustrating day. Struggled with the fretsaw which had a mind of its own and also cut my finger. Downloaded a plate girder bridge card model but the printer has gone awol. The bridge sides are to be adapted for the sides of the turntable. Ah well progress will be made somewhen.

First pics

Manual. Need to focus my limited electrical skills on power to the rails. The plan is to use the table as a power feed to the "client side" so should avoid risk of shorts. I hope it works.

As mentioned elsewhere I am taking courage in both hands to attempt to build a turntable for the Great Longwood Railway. As the Railway consists of a mainline oval and a to/from branch line a turntable is needed to manage branch line operations with the current locos and also to operate engine sheds etc. The concept is to build a table on top of the existing baseboard. So the surrounding terrain must be elevated. This saves cutting a hole in the baseboard. Stage 1 is the decide the length of the turntable. I settled on using Peco flex track 34 sleepers or 19.4 cm long. I stuck a sticky label from Hornby track under the centre of the length. Then using a drawing pin through the label enables a pivot. I had 2 reference points- the existing line from the layout, and the 2 road Hornby engine shed. Locating the shed in the corner needed 2 straights of settrack, and one straight + R6 curve. I have now defined 3 access points to the turntable. The key thing then is to align the table to the incoming track and pin through the pivot point to the baseboard. A basic design of other exit roads from the table can be defined through rotating the track. So that's where I am now. The next stage is to make the table platform, hopefully progress tomorrow. Wish me luck!

The great thing about TT is it can be simple and run on a table. Simply running trains can be a therapeutic pastime I think. If time is short set up a simple oval. Or a double oval to mimic a main line if the width of the table allows. Hopefully dismantling is quick and not too stressful! Or if the wish is for freight / shunting, then this introduces new possibilities. It may not be necessary to run an oval. But turnouts and sidings become a must. But we need a tank engine in the range! Having a different layout each week presents its own interest. Which also begs a question to the community - any tips on the design of a roster or timetable? This would give a structure for running sessions.

I will start a thread about scratch build turntable when I have real progress to report. But as my initial response was on this thread, here is the concept. The surrounding track and engine shed will be elevated to the same level as the turntable base. I had hoped to have an additional length for the carriage sidings. Top level you see the terminus of the branch line, it would be great to run this with 0-6-0 tank to utilise the run-around loop.

Definitely time - just been on a 2 week business trip with more in prospect. And waiting for the loft to warm up a bit. But this always was a project to take me into retirement. Local region is Southern and boyhood in GWR, so range is not my first choice, but trying to model Scots/England border at the moment. Church carries flag of St George and the tower is Scots saltire. But I can switch the tower flag for Welsh dragon and switch to GWR if locos and money allow. Work required - relay and ballast track and install gaugemaster controller with wiring bus. Complete branch line an upper level. Build turntable . Should keep me busy for a while.

Thanks RM. I will try to post some pics as it progresses. Out of the country at the moment. Maybe I will start a thread. I hope it may give some ideas to others. I propose to create a layer above the baseboard that will give a shallow well in which a plywood trackbed can rotate. The idea is to give a functional solution to turn locos rather than a prototypical one. Connectivity to be by tabs from aluminium tape. Then I also need to learn to solder!