Mine arrived this morning.

Had a bit of a skim read on the train today. Overall impression favourable.

Very decent mix of articles including several "how to" articles that should appeal to all sorts. I really liked Jonathan Kinghorn's one on scratchbuilding buildings as that's my thing at the moment. Lots of good ideas and very clearly written. In his usual style, Richard Bardsley has written a piece on a basic stock conversion ( using ferry open wagons) that makes me what to start cutting up some of mine!

Of less interest to me personally are the ones on whitemetal kits, open frame baseboards, adding lighting to buildings, and making resin military vehicles -- but I can see them appealing to other modellers. Having got some back issues of the Journal all the way back to 2010 now, I do think this increased focus on modelling projects is welcome.

Some decent layouts reviewed too, though Chris Sharp's scenic test track oval "Llanstephan Halt' won my heart. Shades of 'Camelot Halt', one of my favourite layouts of all time.

What I will say is that I think the editor has adopted a much lighter touch than before. Apart from (some of) the product reviews and the piece on the Artitec resin kit, all the other substantive articles seem to be done by good range of NGS members.

Thumbs up from me, anyway, and well done Grahame!

Cheers, NeMo

Took the words right out of me mouth Nemo. Nice little mag and a credit to the NGS.

Favourable reaction here too.
Only skimmed it so far but it looks good.

My copy arrived today, I hope to have time to have a good look at it tonight whilst I am on shift    .

I've only had a quick browse but it does look to be a good issue.

Not fair, haven't received mine yet

Mine arrived today.  I agree, a very good edition.  As one who has "bashed" a number of kits and RTR locos over the years, I was interested in the L1/A5 conversion - though it is not one I will be copying.  And that test oval layout is captivating.  I missed a trick with my own bare board 3*2 test oval.

Interestingly the new NGS Chairman notes that membership has fallen to approx 5500.

NGF membership is 5250, so we are nearly at parity - let's have a big membership push - everyone bring a friend!

Yes, there is some interesting stuff in this issue. I've started to have a proper read and there are some very good articles. I would like to add a word of caution regarding the otherwise excellent article by Jonathan Kinghorn on making buildings without published plans.

He recommends using old Ordnance Survey maps as source material, which, as a former OS surveyor, I can't disagree with. However, he says accurate measurements can be made from OS six-inch maps which I am afraid is not the case. The maps you should be using are the much more accurate, and detailed, 25-inch maps (1:2500) and, in fact, the extract he uses of Welwyn North station is from the 25-inch series. I would also be wary of enlarging the maps too much - this enlarges any errors by a similar amount! I will write to the editor to ask him to print a clarification, but in the meantime I thought I would put something here.

If Jonathan is a member of this august forum, don't take this as criticism! It is an excellent article. I only wish I had the patience to scratch-build stuff... it's kits for me, I'm afraid...

Cheers,

Chris

My copy only arrived yesterday, as my NGS membership had expired – something I only discovered when I registered here on the NGF... 

Quote from: NeMo on July 30, 2016, 06:41:01 PM
I really liked Jonathan Kinghorn's one on scratchbuilding buildings as that's my thing at the moment.

I also liked this article, as one of the hyperlinks listed has been a real revelation to me:
http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore

Despite the website being for the National Library of Scotland, it does also cover places outside Scotland. It has the part of England that I am particularly interested in. Previously, I had been buying the 'Alan Godfrey' maps – then trying to scan them in at work (the print-room copiers can scan A3 size)   only to discover that a crucial part is missing off the original map...

Quote from: Papyrus on July 31, 2016, 10:05:48 PM
I would like to add a word of caution regarding the otherwise excellent article by Jonathan Kinghorn on making buildings without published plans.

He recommends using old Ordnance Survey maps as source material, which, as a former OS surveyor, I can't disagree with. However, he says accurate measurements can be made from OS six-inch maps which I am afraid is not the case. The maps you should be using are the much more accurate, and detailed, 25-inch maps (1:2500) and, in fact, the extract he uses of Welwyn North station is from the 25-inch series. I would also be wary of enlarging the maps too much - this enlarges any errors by a similar amount!

I would concur with this point, too.
Whilst it might sound like a flippant joke, you really do need to "keep it all in proportion", as far as map-making goes.

With the National Library of Scotland website, it did take a bit of a rummage around to get hold of the 'correct' maps (1:2500), of the area just outside London that I wanted. I spent a merry time, last evening, taking a series of screen-shots from the website (Wow! You can actually rotate the map to get the tracks horizontal...! ). My current interest is getting hold of the actual track layout of my particular location. Whilst it is from an OS Map from 1947–1964, it is easy enough to update the trackwork, where necessary, but I do also want to get hold of the tracks that are no longer there.

In due course, I will make use of the article to get measurements of the buildings. For various reasons, going to the actual location 'armed' with a tape-measure is not something I would ever consider doing! As a man of "mixed-race heritage", I do fear that my intentions and actions would not be understood – nor tolerated, in these dark and dangerous times...

In short, thank God for this edition of NGS Journal...! 

Charles.

Just got mine; I think it's the best journal evah!  you can show this one to anyone to prove N gauge is exciting. 
a good balance of interesting lay-outs,some(brutal) kitbashing, the testtrack.. I'm really impressed! 
Yes, a good one; seems Graham found his feet, now lets hope he doesn't runs out of good copy.....
Gerard 

Got to the competition in the latest journal and the first thing that sprang to me be was "Cat of the canals" OYSTERS, CLAMS AND COCKLES. But clam and mussels are missing. HELP.

I begin to suspect, there are a few red herrings dropped in for good measure.. 
Gerard 

I normally don't much on small layouts with tight curves, but the test track is very impressive.

Thanks for pointing out my error Papyrus--I should have referenced the 25 inch maps in my article, not the six inch series. I am also aware that there can be errors in OS maps, and should have included a warning. If only the OS had manged to continue with the magnificent 1:500 maps begun and quickly abandoned in the 1850s! I'm glad people seem to be finding the article useful.