The quality of RTR items and the massive output of 3D printed scenic and complimentary items has IMO diminished the need for exchanging hands-on info about railway modelling!
Even 2 years ago when I moved house it was becoming obvious that my original plans for modelling, involving collecting copious amounts of polystyrene packaging, plastic films and large pieces of cardboard, were rapidly becoming outdated. Visiting the Canterbury exhibition in Jan '24 and being offered a service to 3D print any building from a few pictures stopped me dead in my tracks. Here was a quick route to "perfect scale modelling" perhaps?
From there on I've revisited all the ideas for the layout, can't change the track or control panel as I'm too deep into DC and all the kit is DC. But the scenics and the rolling stock AND the locos? Should I now be looking to "purify the stock" so that only the latest, most accurate and detailed items are in the running fleet?
Then if it truly is a scale 'model' shouldn't every building be a replica or at least an accurate representation of the prototype? Why is the farm in grey stone (from Metcalfe) when the prototype is sandfaced Norfolk bricks?
So much is being offered to us in the most convenient packages yet containing the most complex control items or constructions that we are becoming irrelevant in our very own hobby, descending into "train set" owners rather than modellers and becoming more reliant on funds than fun, consequently having less to talk about!
Or do you disagree ?

I generally avoid trainline as their terms and conditions on refunds are much worse. Thankfully in Wales since we nationalised most of this nonsense all you have to do for sane pricing (or as sane as it gets in the UK) in South Wales is avoid GWR services.

Quote from: jpendle on Yesterday at 06:24:56 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on Yesterday at 05:38:16 PMMy brother was a godsend watching snooker on the black and white tv.

"For those of you watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green." - Ted Lowe, BBC

John P

I did indeed get to see that moment live on TV

My experiences going from Thanet to Heathrow were that both Trainline and Southeastern wanted me to go via the underground and walk 'miles' between mainline stations and underground platforms. Southeastern did promote Advanced purchase prices and 'no service charge' and offer slower, cheaper routes but they included too many changes for us.
Sorting it myself was the best and proved to be at a reasonable cost too provided I insisted on the intermediate stations - Stratford International and STRATFORD Mainline.
If the current system of ticket selection by algorithms is applied universally then it's likely a simple App search will NOT provide the best value nor accommodate particular needs. Avoiding cramped underground trains it is possible to cross a fair bit of London with the Elizabeth, DLR and Thameslink systems. Also the aboveground services are now more integrated into the TfL pricing than they were so it's worth checking on TfL for the price of a point to point journey and the preferred route!

I did another "Winter" scene using Gemini. This one preserved the original more accurately, but it doesn't look quite as atmospheric.

@LASteve had a great result in reply #9 but it failed me using......



with the instruction to colourise it........

Purely because of the amount of invalid tickets people buy in good faith.
Cheers Colin

Quote from: jpendle on Yesterday at 06:24:56 PM"For those of you watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green." - Ted Lowe, BBC

"For those of you watching in black and white, Spurs are in the all-yellow strip." — John Motson. I'm pretty sure I was watching MOTD when he came out with that. Spurs were playing Leeds away, so everyone except the 'keepers were wearing all-white on our telly.

Very happy today as I've just heard that my planning application for a small extension to the house (no, not for a train room unfortunately) has been approved by the coumcil 

I'm off to the pub! No surprise there eh? 

Quote from: EtchedPixels on Yesterday at 05:38:16 PMMy brother was a godsend watching snooker on the black and white tv.

"For those of you watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green." - Ted Lowe, BBC

John P