Joined up thinking

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 1:43 pm

MDLR:77797 wrote:
Andrew:77790 wrote:I think it would be a shame if an idea with such potential were to miss out on major exhibition invites etc because it developed a repution for being a bit of a visual hotch-potch...
From my point of view, having a hotch-potch is part of the fun! You'll never build the same layout twice, and if forest ends up next to beach, so what?

Hello again,

Yes, I agree, a forest next to a beach sounds good to me too. Then a rocky gorge, and an engine shed scene, followed by a cement works or whatever. I just reckon it'd look better if, for example, the pale blue sky on the beach backscene doesn't make a sudden, vertical, transition to a bright blue one behind the forest... Thinking about it, perhaps the sky/backscene is the most important thing in this regard...

Cheers,

Andrew.

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:40 pm

Andrew:77799 wrote:I just reckon it'd look better if, for example, the pale blue sky on the beach backscene doesn't make a sudden, vertical, transition to a bright blue one behind the forest... Thinking about it, perhaps the sky/backscene is the most important thing in this regard...

........... or possibly a thing to do without altogether?

IRON MAN · Post by **IRON MAN** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 5:16 pm

To get a realistic continuity, get Greenscene or another of the large scenery companies to sponsor it. This has been done to great effect by the smaller scales.

I think although a backscene would add to the layout but only if a standard blue paint was used.

I reakon minimum depth boards would be great to pad out between the scenes. This would reduce the hotch potch look.

This is a good example of the layout wiggling across the room.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=europe ... :200,i:139

Dan

Steven.T · Post by **Steven.T** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 5:26 pm

I think the backscene may be best left off, then at least the operators can stand behind the layout, whilst still working on their engine?

IRON MAN · Post by **IRON MAN** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 5:39 pm

Here arises another thing that has been discussed in the group. What we came up with was a loco steam up bay and sidings on one of the balloon loops or on board spurring off it.

Dan

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:05 pm

A live steam loco needs to be watched nearly all the time as you will know especially Manual locos... I don't have much experience at shows as such but not everyone has RC locos that can be easily controlled from a distance, so wouldn't putting a backscene on it limit you to using only RC? And what about keeping an eye on water levels and the occasional derailment?
It seems to me the backscene would just get in the way

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:24 pm

I think backscenes are not good for this idea as the ideal is to operate from any side. I intend to set a couple of tiles in under the track as a steam up area.

I expect that area clubs will evolve a uniform house style but the key thing is that each module is owned by the maker and brought along to be used by all to create a larger layout.

Lner fan Sam · Post by **Lner fan Sam** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:27 pm

would this be end to end layout or a continuous run layout?

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 10:11 pm

Lner fan Sam:77958 wrote:would this be end to end layout or a continuous run layout?

That depends on whether or not somebody turns up with return loops!

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:14 pm

The idea is end to end as no one needs to crawl under to get to a middle

IRON MAN · Post by **IRON MAN** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:57 am

The layout will feature balloon loops however...
If someone turns up with a junction and terminus then we have out and back aswell.

If more than one people turn up with junctions and terminusseses. Then even better...

Dan

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:53 pm

..................... but there's no reason why you shouldn't have a tight radius return loop at each end................

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 5:10 pm

True no reason why not.

It would be intresting to have a MOTY standard module section at peterborough.

The hampshire group already have a 16mm modular layout which is a great start but until some standards are decided compatibility will suffer.

IRON MAN · Post by **IRON MAN** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 5:55 pm

Question has anyone who's shown interest contacted Dad (The Author). He's waiting to hear from people.

I like the MOTY Idea thats a corker!

Regards

Dan

Lner fan Sam · Post by **Lner fan Sam** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:19 pm

You wouldn't need ballon loops at both ends of the layout. You could just have a turntable with 5-6 lines on it that allows the trains to be turned in a smaller space compared to balloon loops.

Say we got a lot of modules together. How would people communicate with each other when they are at the opposite ends of the layout?

Sam

TommyDodd · Post by **TommyDodd** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:26 pm

Lner fan Sam:77999 wrote:
Sam

1!

1

3-1?

3-1

2!

2

1!

1

2-1

2-1

IRON MAN · Post by **IRON MAN** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 12:07 am

Thought someone was posting Armature dramatics (football) scores on the forum...

If your planning on having a turntable thats 10' in Diameter, to accommodate a decent length train. You may as well have a 5' balloon loop which would be easier to transport.

Quite Right Bell codes would be useful. We used a buzzer system on the Branchline of Rowlands Lodge. Which was sufficient.

I think there would definetly need to be someone who knows whats going on. Or a timetable/ sequence to follow. Eg a train leaves from each end ever ten mins or something like that..

Dan

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 8:08 am

IRON MAN:77996 wrote:Question has anyone who's shown interest contacted Dad (The Author). He's waiting to hear from people.

I like the MOTY Idea thats a corker!

Regards

Dan

I have tried via the editor of smt but I don't know if it was passed on

IRON MAN · Post by **IRON MAN** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 3:41 pm

Hi all I think Dad has joined the forum, I will give him a poke to start posting

.

Got a feeling he doens't want everything to be organised on the tinternet because many of our the 16mm community don't use the forums or internet in general.

Best Regards

Dan

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:10 pm

I've fired off a link to this thread to both the Editor and the MOTY organiser........................

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