I posted the following on NGRM Forum, and received several replies within the hour.
At the start of a new year, it is sometimes customary to consider what lies ahead, so I have been asking myself two related questions with regard to my modelling:
Where do I want to be in X years? and Where can I expect to be by then? X is a number relevant to someone who is now into his 60's, say 5
Personally I would concentrate on one scale (it's worked for me - though don't mention the odd bit of 7 mm scale stuff built for Dad!).
As to layouts if the current Elmgate is getting a bit much to heft about then perhaps something lighter (6 mm ply or even foam board construction) might be the way ahead for exhibition use, perhaps as and extension to Elmgate which becomes the permanent home layout (or the basis of it) or even another section of the line, much like Paul Windle's series of Rother Valley Tramway layouts, each one reprisenting a part of the network.
As mentioned above, I have decided to retire from exhibiting my own layout, and concentrate on modelling at home. Therefore, ELMGATE's appearance at the Chatham Show, Gillingham, last weekend (13/14 June 2015) was its last. Typically, after going nearly a year without any invitations, I could have accepted half a dozen, but stood by my decision.
I was ably assisted by Simon Wilson, of Sussex Downs 009 Group, Richard Glover (GDNGRS and this forum) and Dick Wyatt (Dovey Valley Railway) was assisting with stewarding so took a turn at operating - on Saturday, with Martin Collins (SDG and NGRM) and Simon Hargreaves (Spitfire Goggles) on Sunday.
Just before packing up, we ran a last train, which fell to loco number 4 - UCK to haul:
(https://elmgatemodels.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/dscf1914crop.jpg)
(https://elmgatemodels.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/dscf1915crop.jpg)
Of course, this is not the real end, as my plans to incorporate ELMGATE into a home layout are being developed. I will continue these plans on this thread, and post the ongoing saga of the ETR here.
As a taster of my proposals, here is the current layout plan:
(https://elmgatemodels.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/layout_proposal1.jpg)
You will note that I have abandoned the idea of going out of the room to the landing, and back in again. It seemed to me that, when operating on my own, much of the track would be out of sight, so I would not benefit from it! Having had Elmgate set up for a few weeks, in the position shown above, but with the Fiddle Yard straight after the road bridge, I realised that this was perfectly satisfactory from the point of view of working at my bench, and that I received no complaints that the wardrobe was inaccessible! So, if I included a lifting section, to give free access to the wardrobe and my bench, I could continue around the free walls of the room. By chance, the width of the functional part of the FY is just under 10", which is the space available opposite the entrance door, so this can be cut down widthwise, and reused in the position shown (with a small extension on the length). Provided I can switch the various sections, and main loop points at Tulleys Hill, and Pearcelands and the Fiddle Yard points, from Elmgate, I can operate from my traditional position, and view the trains as they run from end to end. Additional control panels at the two new stations will permit visiting operators join the fun [;)] You will observe that a branch line has appeared, to West Norton. This was inspired by some comments in my thread on NGRM Forum describing the rebuilding of a conversion of the Egger OEG coach - and explains why the railbus' serve ELMGATE so frequently (in my exhibition schedule!)
More details later, as they are developed, and put into place!