I have just finished reading Adam Savage’s book “Every Tool’s a Hammer” (ISBN 9781471186004). It was a thoroughly entertaining and informative read and I highly recommend it.
The section on lists particularly resonated with me. I use a similar system at work: an empty box indicates a yet to be started task, a box with a line through it a task that has been started in some form and a filled in box indicates a completed task.
However my favourite part was a new word I learned – ferroequinologist!
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| N206 Class 42 Warship (D82 “Hermes”) Bo-Bo Diesel |
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| N204 Class 27 (D5379) Bo-Bo Diesel |
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| N212 Class 27 (27014) Bo-Bo Diesel |
Despite the software indicating that the siding (between the Loco Shed and the Controller) would be possible, in practice it was too tight. Below is what the layout will now look like.
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| 1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkV |
Below is the fourth design iteration of my small N Gauge layout. I have replaced the two Peco engine sheds with a single Graham Farish pre-built unit. This gives me more track space at the front and rear of the shed (the MkIII version was very crowded) and allows for the addition of a storage line down the side of the shed.
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| 1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkIV |
I have made some modifications to my planned layout. See the image below. I have simplified the design and added a signal box. Construction has commenced with Tasmanian Oak beams and plywood base. The controller will be a Morley Controllers Vector Zero Two (rapidly becoming my favourite controller).
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| 1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkII |
Edit: See below for a slightly modified “MkIII” design. This is the design I have commenced construction on.
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| 1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkIII |
So, it’s been a while since I posted a blog update. Here goes:
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| 400 x 1200 mm Layout Plan |
Once again this event crept up on us: surely 12 months haven’t elapsed since the last exhibition? As usual I attended twice, once with my father-in-law and children on the Saturday and once with a friend (who is also into model railways) on the Sunday. According to the brochure this is the 35th such exhibition.
While the number of exhibitors and vendors seemed the same as previous years the floor space had increased significantly (this year both the Robinson Pavilion and the Silver Jubilee Pavilion were used). This was great news as it made navigating the crowds with small children a little easier. Popular exhibits with the children included anything with Thomas the Tank Engine in it….
My favourite layout by a fair margin was “Avalon”, a British N gauge layout. We saw this layout as a “work in progress” last year and were very impressed. Running were a variety of steam and early diesel locomotives (mostly Graham Farish as far as I could tell).
Another highlight was the “Northern Districts Model Engineering” display. This included a ride-on train that we all enjoyed and some fairly impressive large scale locomotives.
