Our world in miniature, hobbies

That building is perfect for a chippy, it looks like several I've been to over the years. I've got a question for an experienced model rail enthusiast and a great cheerleader for the city - if the Cook Street Gate was N Gauge what would be the height and width of the archway? I keep meaning to bring a tape measure with me when I've visited but have forgotten on each occasion.

Hello Helen, Scales & gauges can be complex, because modellers often mix & match. Forgetting gauge, the basic scale that I work to is 4ml to the foot. which is a ratio of 1 to 76. This is the scale most people use for working in 00, or double-O as it is called. People who work in N gauge usually work in a ratio of 1 to 142. In 00, my gauge, our Alvis bridge that the bus is going under has to be at least 15 feet off the ground in real life, for the bus to pass under safely. That means on our railway since 4ml = a foot, the bridge has to be 60ml off the road. If I was modelling in N, then the bridge would need to be 30 ml off the road. I do not know the height of the arch, maybe one of our members can help out there, but a simple piece of arithmetic will tell you the size for you to model. For your model it is going to be in the region of about 25ml, as it is less than fifteen feet in real life, I think. PS According to Wiki, the Cook St gate is 12ft high, so if that is correct, your arch model needs to be 24ml off the floor. Which contractors are you having to build it? In this picture, recorded when the bridge was new & did not have the Alvis advert on it, I have the bridge at 62ml above the road, which was the recommended clearance for Coventry Transport & Midland Red (bus company). The minimum clearance was 60ml, if less, it would be have to be classed as a low-bridge.

About an inch, groan. I was afraid that that would be your answer. The contractor has balked at stuff that small because she can't get her fingers in. Even at 30mm the detailing on the gate is almost too fuzzy to see. At double O the gate would be really detailed but the neighbours would object to the arrival of the Gosford Gate in their side wall. Thanks anyway. Talking of your model and its very fine roads, bridges and bus. I'm surprised after all these years that model transport is still stuck to the rails or stationary for models. You'd have thought they'd have invented strips you could embed in roads and have little buses, lorries and trams run round. Has anyone ever considered sticking N gauge track down and merging N gauge rolling stock with double O vehicle shells?

Hello Helen again With time & skill, it is possible to use devices to move bits around, but very complicated. Two of our forum ladies have been waiting on the same platform for over a year, not having moved. Please be careful as if ever I see a picture of you, you have no idea where you might end up. In fact we have a vacancy for some one to run the new fish & chippy that was the old Masons arms pub. Would that suit you? Full live-in accommodation too. On the subject of scale & gauge, the Masons arms is scale 1-72. The cottage behind the old pub is 1-142. That creates an illusion of depth. Applied carefully it helps.

Hi Helen, Just pretend, hey! A Fantasy World

It is already done. RM's wishing to incorporate Narrow Gauge into their 'Standard' gauge layouts do it, but it is very much the domain of the scratch-builder.

Motorised roadways have been around for decades Helen, Triang once even marketed a combined motorway and railway set. In my opinion they look unrealistic and gimmicky. There are also motorised tramway systems available but these are mostly of continental outline and scale.

Brilliant Hall Brooks video Philip and great music too. Always a pleasure to visit. Thank you.

Minic Motorways.. LINK.. about as realistic as a cheap balsa wood glider..