Touring around

 

So, as part of my "get out more you hermit" drive, yesterday afternoon I found myself on a Layout tour round Palmy. Quinten also turned up so we have a good chat between stops (ranging from 3D printing to the latest advances in car fuel systems and climate change).

I was surprised at the standard of modeling during the day (and also that other people somehow manage to keep their garages clean). All but one were US Ho scale layouts, and I must admit That US prototype just leaves me cold. With that said, there were still bits I liked.

 

Could do with a bit of weathering but I like the overall look

 There was a truely enormous setup, with stunning woodworking and lighting. both photos taken from teh same spot, and it continued round to the left.

It also had some nicely detailed industries, with a bit of dirt.

The last layout on the tour was possibly (to my mind) the most impresive of the lot. UK prototype Southern railway prior to nationalisation. The station is almost to scale and is a model of the town where the builder was born and grew up. His father was a signalman there.

There were some really nice wee scenes including the house he was born in. When he pointed out which one a voice at the far end of the room says "and I can see inside and you haven't cleaned your room".

The signal box was re-created using PECO switches.

As well as the points, all the signals worked as well, driven by servos. One think I did find interesting was that the OO scale locos and wagons looked really small. 

On another layout I found a very clever way to set up a helix using threaded rods.

Takes some of the issues out of the engineering of construction.