Hi,
Just back from a long weekend at the Trainsmania show in Lille with Red Hook Bay. We were received very well and have a couple invites to other future shows in France.
The continental layouts tend to be big on scenery with less focus on operation. The majority tend to be "run throughs" with a simple single or double track design for almost "automatic" operation. Ours seems to be the only switching layout. The show was over three days with an 0800 breakfast followed by a full day until 1900. Tres fatigue as the locals would say.
They put us up in a small hotel on the outskirts of Lille and on the final morning we had a drive around the city before departing for the ferry. The prototype engines in the last picture are at Armentieres station.
Mike
Enjoying the pictures Mike..... 8)
Mike,
Very cool! Looks like a lot of fun over there. No problems with traveling? You didn't get dragged off anywhere or punched in the caboose? ha. If no, then good trip! Thanx Thom...
Mike...
Sounds like a fun trip.
Thanx for the photos
see ya
Bob
Looks like you had a great trip Mike. You are right about scenery being more important then operations on most Continental layouts. I have seen the Gare de la Praz layout at Eurospoor, it's a wonderful scenic layout.
If you are ever closer by let me know Belgium or Germany for instance.
Congratulations, it looks like a lot of fun.
Thanks Guys, the French were quite friendly so no punch ups!
One invite is being confirmed for next October to Montelimar in the south of France. They have accepted my estimate of travel costs so.......Interestingly in the UK we have very few toll roads. I estimate the round trip from my home to the show will be 1500 miles (2400 kms) and the tolls will be in the region of 152 euros ($165).
Here are some pictures of a very nice O scale Dutch tram layout. It was arranged as an oval with four separate scenes.
Mike
Hi Mike:
Nice photos. glad you had a great time and got invited back.
Karl
Montelimar, you'll end up using your travel money for Nougat. If you're not fixed on getting there as fast as you can you can save the Toll money by taling the Route National RN, you'll see a lot more of France that way too. I know you always travel with your wife Mike , but should she ever be unable to make a trip , give me an email , if I can , I would gladly lend a hand and take a trip with you.
Thanks Karl. Jan I will bear that in mind thanks for the kind offer, maybe if we get an invite in Germany say..........
Here is a Cuban layout in ON30 by some Belgian modellers.
Mike
Mike
Very nice work and photographs. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Hi Mike:
Ditto on what John said.
Karl
Mike,
It is always good to see how modelling styles differ in various countries. I find that the EU scenery to be done very well and the trains are just part of the scenery, not vice-versa.
Very unique. I don't think I have ever seen a layout based on Cuba.
Quote from: PRR Modeler on May 05, 2017, 02:34:40 PM
Very unique. I don't think I have ever seen a layout based on Cuba.
Hi Curt,
One of our club members, Peter Smith, built a Cuban layout. It eventually ended up in a museum in Havana. See link for photos.
Mike
http://www.hwdmrs.org.uk/galleries/members-layouts/peter-smith/
Here are a few more from the show..............
Mike
Trainsmania was staged to celebrate 80 years of the leading French model rail magazine - Loco-Revue.
I was delighted to have my Red Hook Bay featured in their April issue..............
Mike :)
Congrats Mike...great tribute!
John
Thank you for the link Mike.
Thanks John it is much appreciated.
Mike
Congratulations on the magazine article.
Mike,
Wow, that's so cool! I'm happy for yah. Congrats on the publication. Uh-oh? How will you be able to walk through doors without your noggin hitting the doorway sides? ha. Thanx Thom...
Thanks Curt and Thom.
I keep my feet on the ground Thom. I have had four articles in mags now, 2 British, 1 Spanish and now 1 French. Without the fine kits from Fos, Bar Mills, BEST, Innovative, Sea Port etc the layout would be nothing to write home about. I am happy to spread the word for American modelling.
Mike