I'll post this and hope I don't annoy too many people. Yes, I know there are links to this layout and videos, etc., but living as I do in Australia, I have never seen this layout 'in the flesh'. I have followed it's progress since it first appeared in the press, including the April 2012 RM.

My question to any Forum member who has seen it is; IS IT GOOD? To me, it has always been the complete Holy Grail of 9mm scale modelling. but, IS IT? Never having seen it, I would love to hear comments, positive or negative, from folks who have.

Thanks, George

Its a 2mm finescale (1:152/9.42mm) rather than N gauge (1:148/9mm) layout but is exceptional, especially for a representation of an actual cityscape. It's been in the making for over 25 years and is still not complete but is always worth looking at.

H.

Thanks! But I have basic questions - does it run without faltering? At an exhibition, do trains run often? Seems to me to be a parade of LNER 1930's stuff. Do they do shunting? Has the scenery faded after all these years? I have been in awe of this thing since 1989, but does it live up to what I see in my minds's eye? For example, does the Caledonian Road underground work at exhibitions? The modelling is quite obviously outstanding, but my question to the forum is, your gut reaction.... IS it awesome? Does it live up to my Antipodian expectations? I have never seen it, but hopefully I will in future. In the meantime, I will greatly appreciate and respect the opinions of this forum. 
But in the meantime it's gettin' late here and Wimbleton Men's final about to start. SWMBO demands the evening.

Quote from: bealman on July 08, 2012, 10:57:02 AM
does it run without faltering?

Usually yes.

Quotedo trains run often?

Yes.

QuoteDo they do shunting?

Haven't seen any, not sure there is scope for it?

QuoteHas the scenery faded after all these years?

Not that I noticed, and anyway, it would only add to to the realism if it had 

Quotedoes it live up to what I see in my minds's eye?

Depends what you see! The answer is probably yes.

Quotedoes the Caledonian Road underground work at exhibitions?

Not that I've seen, but it's a while since I've seen it.

QuoteIS it awesome?

From a modelling aspect definitely yes. Never before, as far as I can recall, has true perspective been better modelled and the unique shape of the layout only anhances the effect 

QuoteDoes it live up to my Antipodian expectations?

That will have to remain unanswered until you see it, won't it? 


Paul

Here is a link to a video 


Copenhagen Fields - a masterpiece of modelling in 2mm finescale

cheers John.

The trains are very much a progression of passing services (which is of course correct for the location) and if you stand and watch it for a while and watch the trains you'd probably see them all. That's probably a good thing because it tends to draw huge crowds and if they all stayed it wouldn't be much for the rest !

I found myself mostly looking at the scenery. The cityscape modelling and detail is so fine that the trains are really just part of  this huge vista rather than the dominant feature.

Alan

Sprintex and EtchedPixels have answered the question really.
I've not seen it for a good five years and I think they've added to it since then.
If you like a well modelled railway environment then like me you'll be blown away.
If you prefer lots of track and trains it won't have quite the same effect.
The crowds get big wherever it goes.
I saw it at York, in 2005 I think and it took me over an hour to slowly move along the front of the layout to see it all.
Taking  as I went of course! 

Agree with everybodys comments but must add that the underground line was working a treat when I saw it at York earlier this year. Awesome layout 

Marty

Thanks for all that, folks. I was hoping to get over for the Olympics, but that definitely is not going to happen at this late stage. I intend to make a pilgrimage next year to watch the first Ashes test which is being played at Durham (Chester-le-Street), just a mile down the road from where I used to live. Let's hope there's an exhibition featuring Copenhagen Fields on somewhere, then I can indeed get to see it for myself!
Cheers, folks

Copenhagen Fields featured in the 1997 Graham Farish Poole catalouge as the back drop to all their new models........

I knew i had seen it before.

Yes, you're right, now you mention it. I think I have that catalogue somewhere. Might dig it out. Can't imagine what the MRC crew thought of all those steamroller wheels on their finescale track!

Quote from: Sprintex on July 08, 2012, 12:45:25 PM

Quote from: bealman on July 08, 2012, 10:57:02 AM
Do they do shunting?

Haven't seen any, not sure there is scope for it?

Yep, shunting is carried out. Controlled from the front of the layout in a small yard near the centre.

Quote from: Sprintex on July 08, 2012, 12:45:25 PM

Quote from: bealman on July 08, 2012, 10:57:02 AM
does the Caledonian Road underground work at exhibitions?

Not that I've seen, but it's a while since I've seen it.

The below ground underground used to work but I don't think it does currently - it certainly hasn't been working the last few times 've seen it. The above lines underground (NL lines) do run trains.

H.

Thanks, H! When I saw the latest article about it in RM, I thought there must be at least a LITTLE bit of shunting, with the bridge across the layout. I hope I get to see it, one day. It is really more an historical exercise, rather than railway modelling. It is preserving a long-gone London landscape and trains happen to run through it! Great stuff. I'm sure that the model will be a feature of a London museum in the future.

Cheers, George