Welcome to Andy Sollis

Discussion in 'New members welcome lounge' started by paul_l, Aug 4, 2018.

  1. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    :hismiley: and a warm :welcome: to Andy from Dundee.

    Glad you decided to join us here at platform1mrc. Were a friendly bunch who love to blether about model railways, and have also be known to do a spot of modelling :avatar:.

    Settle, in, and when you are ready please introduce yourself, we'd love to hear about yourself and your modelling adventures.

    Once again welcome to the forum

    Paul
     
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  2. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Welcome Andy Sollis, great to have you on board.

    Cheer's, Pete.
     
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  3. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Another Knotty man joining us Dundee Paul... scary eh? Whatever will Toto think:avatar::avatar::avatar: Hey Andy :hismiley: so happy you joined and welcome here.
     
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  4. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

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    Hi Andy :welcome: from a very hot Spain grab a chilled brew get sorted and join in and enjoy

    Ian vt
     
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  5. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Oh no ...... not another .......:avatar: :welcome: aboard and I hope you enjoy your stay here on Platform1.

    Get settled then when you are ready, come back and tell us a bit about yourself and your modelling interests.

    Most of call ....... Enjoy the forum.

    Cheers for now

    Toto
     
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  6. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    Welcome to the forum Andy.
    Keith.
     
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  7. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Blimey! Thanks chaps! Never had a greeting like that to any group ever! Paul (York Paul) said you were a good bunch!
    Thanks!

    Well, I’m not sure what t’other Paul has said before I’ve joined, just hope it’s good.

    I’ve been an on and off modeller since my early teens, spent my first 6 years in retail working in a model shop!!! So kinda started with my dream job. A change in 2000 then saw me move in to radio and telephones with the local constabulary and during these times of the two jobs I took up volunteering at the full size railway on the CVR in Staffs. Although I’m Notts born and bread, with family directly ties to the Local GNR station (great grandfather was the station Master at Teversal and we believe his brother was once station master at Nottingham’s grand London road Low Level station around 1904).. I digress...

    So I joined the CVR back in early 1996, just before they started out on the main line (as opposed to the yard line) with the C&W dept, two of whom are also modellers. Banter and p@ss tasing was abound, but two thinks took my interest as I learned more of the NSR. It’s nearby connection to the narrow gauge Leek and Manifold and the sand traffic that had kept part of the Churnet operational under BR till 1988.

    So at some point, I started to model what I saw. Not very successfully....i part scratch built one of the PAA sand hoppers in OO from a Hornby PGA wagon. I tried to model the L&MVLR, but alas, it fell stale.

    Around 4 years ago I stumbled on an article of 3D design and printing.... not sure what got me, but I continued reading.... downloaded the software to my iPad and had a play...
    The first idea was to do something simple. How about seeing if I could redo the roof cover as a model for these sand hoppers?
    I soon found that there was 1000x more flexibility on doing it on the laptop as opposed to the limited program on the iPad. And so the developments progressed. V1 became v4 and so on... modified this, adjusted that. Even bought my own 3D printed but this was of little use in this detail.. till eventually I had something I was reasonably happy with appearance wise. It was not to scale as I could find no drawings, had no access to the wagon (then) so could only guess from photos....

    It was then time for project 2... and this was where Mr Brooks came in, his invaluable help and advice over the first two weeks must have slowed my decorating my house down by 2 days, but it was supportive, informative and of great use... the subject? A simple NSR McKenzie and Holland signal box that Paul
    Himself had been part of a group of which preserved and moved and refurbished it back at Cheddleton.

    I then proceeded on with a few more bits, interior lever frames, sinks, stoves. Lamp shades! And then thought, why keep them to myself? So I set up via Shapeways Northern Bridge 3D Models (or NB3DM as we sometimes shorten it to) which took its local name from the former GNR station next to where I worked in the model shop in Sutton in Ashfield.

    Well, that’s probably on the long side, but hey, you asked and I have a few mins to type before tea whilst I’m on my holidays in Bulgaria! (Not seen any wombles yet? Guess they are still in Wimbledon Common?) so I suspect the only other thing is to leave you with a link if that’s OK? And again say thanks and I look forward to future conversations!

    Andy
    Www.shapeways.com/shops/nb3dm
     
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  8. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Ha, no I’m actually Notts born and bread, I just play trains that way!

    Andy
     
  9. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Great intro. You can rest assured that York Paul speaks very highly of you. It is truly great to have you with us. It adds another avenue of modeling for folks to look into.

    Enjoy your hols in Bulgaria. I was there ( sunny beach, hotel Bourgas) in 1993. Just after the Russians had up sticks and left leaving the place with nothing. I believe it's picked up since then. Beautiful beaches and very good value for money. Take a trip to Old Town Nessebur and the harbour and market. Really nice.

    Again, welcome aboard and We'll hear from you on your return.

    Enjoy

    Toto
     
  10. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    I’m In St Vlas next door! Seen that change and expand in last 8 years since I first came so no idea what it was like in 1993!

    TTFN.
     
  11. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    That's a new one on me. It was either sunny beach or golden sands that you chose from back then. We took a day trip into Varna but to be honest ( at that time ) there was nothing to see, just empty shops. Quite sad really. When I was there, the national football team were visiting for some reason and they were treated like demi gods.

    A very down trodden culture with black market scams abound. You were warned not to change your money on the beach because instead of Bulgarian levs, they were fattening out the wad with Yugoslavian Dinars. They counted out in levs but then came the big switcheroo when you were not watching or were being " distracted ".

    I think things have possibly changed since then for the better and no doubt you'll have a great holiday. It's certainly cheap.

    Bulgarian goulash ...... Hmmmm. Tasty. Puts hairs on your chest ..... so keep the wife away from it. :avatar:

    Have a great time.

    :cheers:

    Toto
     
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  12. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    There's plenty of that going on here Andy so it should be home from home for you :avatar::avatar::avatar: Anyway enjoy your hols dude and when you get back you can print me some FPL boxes :thumbs:
    cheers for now
    York Paul[
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2018
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  13. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    I’m still trying to sort some drawings. Or even go and get a drawing myself.
    Hopefully by end of the month and can make a start.

    I may even finish the level crossing gates!
     
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  14. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Mind and get a layout thread started Andy. Sounds like you have quite a bit to offer us. Always great to get someone else's take on things. :thumbs:

    :cheers:

    Toto.
     
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  15. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    I’m a sod for starting and not finishing things. I have a layout, based on the the then CVR southern section called Oakamoor. Gradually redirecting it after 8 years storage.

    I have a few 3D design and printed bits, one being an NSR four gate level crossing in O gauge... also has the road locks for the gates.. servo controlled... more about that when Home as no photos.

    Andy
     
  16. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Nice one Andy :tophat: I'll take two off you straight away.:thumbup:
     
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  17. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    You are in great company then. Luib Bridge is probably the furthest I've advanced any layout yet but this one will get finished. The level crossing sounds interesting. I'll keep my eye open for your thread starting on that. Not only for the level crossing itself hut there is a growing interest in the 3 D PRINTING side of things as well. It's something I would like to see develop on the forum.
    I'll look forward to the rebirth of Oakmoor as well.

    :cheers:

    Toto
     
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  18. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Andy I'm also wondering if this new layout being planned should just have elements of the Leek Line... I'm back to thinking about a servo operated set of gates with working road locks. Maybe something different such as a skew crossing as per how it was at Leigh or Clifton.
     
  19. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Is this a joint venture by any chance.
     
  20. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Ooh Toto you will like the level crossing kit he does... maybe even come up with a Scottish pattern of gate... but then Dundee will feel at home with NSR stuff remembering Blythe Bridge and a certain barbers shop :avatar::avatar::avatar:
     

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