The Bigbee Line

It is an excellent web site. There are blank areas on the 25". But where available is an excellent modellers research tool. Does anyone know if they are filling in the missing bits?

I've seen a picture of Wissington going round what looked like a square corner. Looking on old maps the railway outside the Sugar factory just follows the farm lanes. I mean to visit some of these roads to get an idea how tight the curves were...

I did a little cut and paste tonight, doesn't look too bad...

I popped into the Kidderminster model railway shop. The Peco rep was there with a sample. It's the same geometry as the straight and curve. Metal check rails and a unifrog (dead or alive if you choose). Looks ideal for industrial or dockside use. If you want to make a crossover the curved legs can easily be trimmed. Worth cutting out some templates. Well done Peco.

I was only thinking that today.. Maybe just one side of the train....

P&L diagram emailed to Steve

How about a round layout, say 4' diameter that slowly rotated. The proscenium arch being formed by a 1/3 scale coach window. The layout rotates slowly with shunts and train movements as seen from a moving train..,,,

Since this Cameo lark has started my view of cameos has changed. It's not just a small layout. It's a detailed peek into a facet of rail operation. Most seem to be using small locos. It would be interesting to see what could be done at the other end of the scale - as a kid, Dad used to sit me on the bonnet of his Morris Comercial to look over the fence and watch engines on the turntable at Brighton.

I like this thread. More things on the go than me.....

Is this meant to be a teaser? I'm no good at maths, but some A3 pacifics could be used to model the RH&DR....

Agreed. Better not to respond directly as it "enables" them.

Cameo in my mind is like a characature. So why does it need to be fine scale? Maybe fine modelling is enough?

If repainted, would it have been at Lancing?

aaaggghhhhh, being asked for constructive critism.. I wondered if it needed to be slightly flatter. Thinking about how it would have been laid, simple shuttering and tamped down using a long timber between the shuttering. That method sometimes leaves the slight rippling. I have also seen the top lightly brushed with a bass broom to give a slight grip and the edge next to the shuttering smoothed off. Not saying I could do better.... I do like the general effect and as you say it looks better in the flesh.

Graham, What is your opinion of the concrete? Always interested of what modellers think of their own work.

I like your tip of replicating the track layout under the board. Shows where wires come from. Really useful.

Good evening, Had a busy weekend; Work, Rest and Play... Last weekends trip to Wakefield, yielded 2 inspirational books: Cameo Layouts and Southern Nouveau. I needed to try out some ideas for Caterham so decided to create a Lyddrail Challenge layout. 4'8.1/2" x 12". Chief items to try are laminate floor underlay as a sub road bed for the track and my wire coat hanger push pull point control. It will be cameo'd as a concrete updated halt KESR style. See thoughts below...

They do say that certain car owners go large to compensate for a lack of size in other areas. Maybe the same for modellers??

A pleasant Saturday at Wakefield. Came home with a few bits. Here is my bodged plan for the Goods Shed, end view. I'll use my stock of Wills sheet brick and Ratio arched windows.....

Looking for a suitable goods shed to measure.

Busy day at work but had time to rough out the idea for a goods shed location. It would be the left hand siding. Comments please.

The BR versions looks like it will take a 'polish'. I presume some would have got a varnish in their latter years?

Not much actual modelling this evening. Just cutting 2 sections of rail to splice into the joint between the single slip and the adjacent turnout. The 'half' fishplate joints will be soldered to ensure continuity and to also attach feed wires. The actual gaps will have a thin piece of insulating material araldited into position. Cutting through the rail a few sleepers back from the joints will allow metal fishplates to be used; better alignment and when soldered a place for the feed wires to be attached. BEFORE - with the wonky short sections forming the join: AFTER - The rails cut and the 'plus 8mm' sections slid into position:

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw051529?search=caterham%20station&ref=0&quicktabs_image=2#quicktabs-image I hadn't thought of that one... However it is an obvious choice.. Last night browsed the Britain from above website, it has a couple of good pictures of the station yard, including: http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw051529?search=caterham%20station&ref=0&quicktabs_image=2#quicktabs-image Interestingly if you subscribe, no cost, you can zoom in: The goods shed quite compact, just about the right position. Look at the coal bins behind, virtually rail locked

A Goods Shed, Do I or Don't I... I wanted to stick to 18" maximum width, but a goods shed is quite iconic. The shunt requirement would make the freight working a little more interesting. Some suggestions / comments appreciated. Here's a 'artists impression' based on the real Caterham.