Giles

Foxfield at 1:19, Pontypool & Blaenavon at 1:29 But Fawley at 1:13 we've got three places in the country to choose from at any rate - probably more....!

I got things wired up today (in a very basic way!) which allowed me to test things out under their own power. Much to my relief there are no problems of any sort on anything that's laid so far (and the worst is laid.....). The Garratt has no problems with that difficult transition on to that siding. The Fowler doesn't even notice it...... The Pug is happy with it, but the big surprise that I really wasn't expecting is that the Ixion Hudswell Clarke just about copes with it. If you look closely, the centre drivers have air beneath them at times, but it stays on the track 100% of the time. The only loco I have (other than big beasties) which is a 'no-go' is my 04 whose guard irons foul. I have no problem with this, as it has no right to be up there - it can stay on BR metals, with the 37 and Ivatt....... The gradient isn't a problem either, so we'll have a play and see how far we can push things, as my preference is to use graphite on the rails for conductivity etc.. Also being a lubricant, the will be a balance to be had - so we will have to find it!

Hi Paul - well, when they're working this hard, I defy just about anyone to differentiate between this Hudswell Clarke and a Peckett!! It must be hard to find sources of locos (this sort of size) regularly working at full chat.....! All the best Giles

Regarding sound...... This is what I need.... (From 2 minutes)

Garratt 'at home' for the first time..... (showing why you need a Garratt....)

That's why I was showing the worst-case scenario! The transition from main line up the gradient is positively angelic..... But that one is awkward....

Hi Pete - yes it is! I did very much want to emphasise the different levels, and to 'notice' the gradient (all in an 8' length) so the result was inevitable. Since there won't be much track, I've got to give it interest where I can! It all adds to the fun (and it justifies handling a couple of wagons at a time....)

I too have ordered a noisy black one...... Whether it will stay black, or re-spray the same as the Garratt we shall see.....

Well I could..... But on the whole it's easier to just wire it up! (And save the RC for the lorries!). This way I get the sound - simply - when I want it as well...... Bear in mind I've got yet another hand-held controller for the crane as well, so there's plenty of stuff to have in one's hands. RC locos could still be run, of course!

Looks very good, Andrew - you should (shouldn't) see my carpentry close up! It's nice to see you left yourself depth for 'dimension' .... That box with all its innards is looking really nice...

I've been laying track..... it's a bit extreme in places..... 0-4-0's and large buffers are certainly the order of the day. I've gone to some trouble to make sure the track is level (thanks to a spirit level app on my Iphone!) with jacking and packing, but of course there has always been the complexity of the siding off the incline (where the Fowler is shown. This was all laid level, but when a wagon was tried over it, it rocked, so one side had to be lifted out of level to cure the rocking as much as possible.... The Garratt should have no trouble, as I articulated both engines thoroughly in anticipation of this very situation - in fact it should rock-'n'-roll very nicely! I haven't done any electrics yet, as I shall finish the laying and get the board on legs first.

Chris, I realise that you may not be able to comment at this stage, but could I put in a plea for 'stay-alive' to be an option together with the sound package, when that is able to be organised? It doen't have to be the full half-hour capacity that the Fowler has as provided by EDM, but anything is going to make a lot of difference..... (Black, please.....!) All the best, Giles

Remarkable - quite remarkable. The mechanical horse is a delightful (and most appropriate prototype anyway) but has to be one of the most difficult - for all the reasons you've shown. Your solutions are brilliant and beautifully engineered. I should love to see this in the flesh sometime. Congratulations!

Hi Andrew! I'm not sure what angle the crossings are - I just made them to match the stock rails!!!! The blades and tie bars were surprisingly easy, and much less of a struggle than I imagined - yes, it was an extra job to 'joint' them with the fishplates, but no great hassle, and it made them much freer, without any wobble - so it's definitely something I shall carry on doing. It's probably not something I would attempt with soft solder though, as it would re-melt and just make life very difficult (unless one drilled all four holes through and captured the rails properly, so the soldering was unnecessary). The baseboards are just 18mm ply ends (profiled), 90 x 18 stiles and rails, and foam on top - open at the bottom. When it's finished I will fire-proof it with Idenden, or another PVA based mix. It makes for a very light board (as was TEOTL). I still have to make and fit the leg sockets for the pipe legs. These (being welded steel) also reinforce the corner joints. These are sockets for TEOTL

Where would be the fun in 'easy'....! The difficult thing is going to be laying the track with points on gradients without undue twists as sidings diverge. We'll see how we go. I suspect that 0-4-0's with suspension wil cope, but 0-6-0's may possibly struggle - we'll find out soon......

I'm using the C&L flexi track (bull-head) - which is a bit nicer than the Peco (in my view). I shall notch it for 32' rail breaks and add fish plates, of course. It will get primed and sprayed black before rusting with various colours (gunmetal, then assorted rust colours). Timber sleepers 'grained' - all before ballasting.

Trying the track for size and 'layout' 4mm ply track-bed to go down next

You may find this of interest, if you've not seen it before..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ickWlkfYcrc

It's got to be 18 months plus...... Time to warm up your fingers for crane operation as well as lorries, Garratts, and anything else I can organise for you both! (You wouldn't like it too simple....)

I would have thought it makes perfect sense to market directly. This is a very small world, and Ixion (Minerva) have stamped their mark very successfully all over the market, and have established a very strong customer base and reputation. I would have thought that retailers are probably as much of a weak link to their efforts as a help, and that by taking control of the whole process, they are probably best able to maximise customer service as well as profits/low cost. Certainly we all know where to buy the stuff from!!! I suspect they've thought it through and probably got it right......

Hi Bob, I get it from Cooksons http://www.cooksongold.com/category_select.jsp?query=Silver+Solder+Paste+10g+-+Easy%2C+Syringe&queryFromSuggest=true But you can also get in from Amazon if you do a search...... Yes - it works very well with brass, nickel-silver, copper, steel etc.. Smear it on where you want it, and away you go (after a clean with emery of glass-fibre brush etc.) You'll find it may change the sequence of your assembly work a bit - but it really does make life easier.

Always lovely to see progress on this delightful and beautifully crafted layout..... Can't wait to see the next instalment.

Now here's some unusual footage! Enough to give some inspiration......

Absolutely..... I find that white spirit will soften and start removing the paint and varnish, so I don't use it at all, similarly, I don't use cotton buds with anything wet. My ideal is kitchen towel, which, being paper, is slightly abrasive, and used dry, will gently polish very nicely - or if more is needed, a very quick wipe with Duraglit, let the solvent evaporate off, and then polish with kitchen towel. If hard pressed, I would put a bit of T-Cut on a cotton bud, let it dry off, and then use it (rather than using it wet)

Quite superb - as you say, the Scarab is rather fast off the mark - ideally a higher ratio gearbox would be the thing - but there's really not very much choice. The video doesn't really show quite how small the Scarab really is, and therefore what an achievement it is to pack everything in there (at least the motor/gearbox and servo have got to be in there.....!) The steam lorry is also delightful. In neither case is there a 'give-away' as to obvious technology on view -not easy with the size..... Please post some photos and info as to what and how you've done it - I for one would be fascinated to see. (You'll get very bored with people talking about how it's done by 'Faller') Giles