Using Magnorail to Animate Higher Edge Village

Higher Edge Village is a typical English village made as a diorama to take to model railway exhibitions. I wanted to animate the village and added a working windmill and Magnorail cyclists that wend in and out of the buildings and through arches. There is a small heritage railway and station as well.
I have made another video showing this village lit at night. • MAGNORAIL VILLAGE AT N...

[@frankhooper7871]

As someone who had a model railway [N-gauge] back in the '60s, the Magnorail system is tempting me back to modelling.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

It is tricky to put together but magical to watch when the cyclists (or cars) go round!

[@jesperlykkeberg7438]

The diorama is absolutely adorable. The market isn´t too dissimilar to Ludlow's. The houses bring to mind Sandwich and Rye. The guild hall is somewhat reminiscent of those at Plympton, Abingdon and High Wycompe. Good old small town England the beautiful.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. That is very kind. I really enjoyed making this a typical English village (I had nowhere in particular in mind but have visited all of these places over the years). I just enjoy the whole creating process.

[@ewoodrailway]

Looking great, I can appreciate how difficult magnorail is to use

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

It’s magical when it works but a bit fiddly when you drop things a lot!! Happy now it is up and running though.

[@davidsheriff8989]

How wonderful, makes me think of Bridgenorth...

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. Sadly never been to Bridgenorth. Probably more Hebden Bridge mixed with an element of some French villages I have been to!!!!

[@jesperlykkeberg7438]

Spelled Bridgnorth. Sorry for the nitpicking. The diorama is absolutely adorable.

[@davedixon2068]

These things are brilliant. I was involved with a model railway in the North of Scotland it was around 20' by10' and totally mobile in 4' base boards and there were several dioramas dotted through out its length, many people at exhibitions were interested in the trains running but were captivated by the dioramas.

[@davedixon2068]

Just a small addition to above, this was in the mid 1980's and the idea of removable vignettes was around even then, people could take a section home to work on and bring in to club nights as they progressed to ensure they fitted the character of the layout.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

@@davedixon2068 it makes a great deal of sense to me to add dioramas to a layout. For a start, as you say, they can be worked on away from the baseboard, and can also be changed to bring different interest! It is how I am building my current narrow gauge layout. My next Magnorail challenge is to turn this village into a snow scene.

[@alexholker1309]

I'm impressed that the cyclists work so well at that scale, if the legs are articulated just by the traction on that central wheel as the magnets drag the sled around.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Yes they are pulled round by the magnets and the movement comes from a tiny plastic wheel going round with the feet attached. Clever but rather fragile!!!

[@modelrailwaynoob]

@@CarolFlavinlocoladies The gatehouse is similar to several Shropshire towns. I was a community nurse in Bridgenorth

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

@@modelrailwaynoob it’s not a specific place but I wanted to get the fell of an English village. Hopefully I have managed it!!

[@grahamnichols1416]

It looks fabulous! You can be justify ably proud of that.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

@@grahamnichols1416 thank you. I really enjoyed making it.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Ich liebe dieses Hobby und sehr viel Spaß daran, Modellbahnen zu machen. Vielen Dank für Ihre Kommentare.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Danke für Ihre freundlichen Kommentare. Ich habe es genossen, dieses Diorama sehr zu machen.

[@leemwilson]

Road and paths with wallpaper! That’s so clever! Thanks for the idea, and what an awesome diorama. Cheers for sharing

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. If you look around the stores you can find some amazing textures in wallpaper. A torn off sample can go a long way. Just make sue you put mat varnish on top to seal it!!

[@EastBroadTop]

Delightful presentation and diorama

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. This Magnorail Village was fun (if tricky) to make, and I really enjoyed making the video.

[@Lassmichma]

Toll!! Wie sich eine Frau, eine Frau /Lady für so ein "Männer" Hobby begeisten kann ;-) Aber wir Männer backen auch Kuchen und nähen......ich finde das wundervoll!

[@kendrawatkins8290]

Thanks for sharing this video. It is nice to see other ladies making dioramas

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thanks Kendra. I really enjoy the scenery side of railway modelling!

[@alanfbrookes9771]

Because of a house move, I'm between layouts at the moment, but I'm planning on building a new one sometime shortly in a converted barn. I'm planning on using MagnoRail to create a canal with moving narrowboats. As far as I know, no-one has done this before. Canal boats move slowly. I might even put a cycle track along the towpath.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

The Australians have done a lot of boat based magnorail. It is brilliant when it works. Just a bit tricky if you have arthritic fingers 🤣. You will enjoy it though I am sure.

[@videogalore]

This is excellent! The only thing I would do would be to remove the chimney smoke as it seems to be a hot day, so it feels a little out of place to think of roaring fires in every house, but I am being picky!

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

I see what you mean. I just like the smoke effect. Mind you, it can be sunny and still cold in Yorkshire! However, there will be an article in British Railway Modelling Magazine in November (to coincide with my taking the diorama to the Warley Exhibition at the NEC) where I am changing the village into a snow and ice scene - so the smoke will be more appropriate.

[@videogalore]

Like I said, I'm being picky as it certainly doesn't take anything away from your wonderful creation! It'll be interesting to see it in a different season too.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

@@videogalore just about to start doing it! Winter in the height of the UK summer 😄

[@modellbahnkeller]

Hello Carol, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful diorama with Magnorail and your explainations how you builded it. I love it! Best model-railway-greetings Mathias

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you Mathias. I will make another Magnorail video soon - it will be of the village night!

[@frankkie3849]

Excellent design and details, thanks for sharing..

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I am very happy with the way it came out so pleased you like it.

[@Hawaiianstyle-dz4xb]

❤. I’m building my first of three for my train layout. A country and two in downtown area. I truly enjoy doing the landscaping part❤

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thanks I do too. It brings everything to life.

[@fldrummerman]

Thank you for sharing. You did a wonderful job!

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you - it is kind of you to say so.

[@gerry5134]

Absolutely fantastic work! Love it. Thor !?? 😂😊

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. And Thor was for my grandkids 🤣. He appears in its latest version. I have changed it into a winter version now.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKDUaahofdiifc0si=G2sHzxhGIml8wn6B

[@Weesel71]

Very nice. I appreciate the modular idea. Each module being a separate vignette. I've seen this done on another channel, and I like the idea. One can build the entire layout and never get satisfaction of finishing or working on smaller, independent chunks and then piecing them together for a different sort of challenge and a sense of growing satisfaction with the whole.😁

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thanks. I am building my current layout, which is a narrow gauge railway in OO9, off the layout and on my works bench. So I agree, I am making most of it as separate dioramas that I am able to put together to make the whole Harland Light Railway when I have finished.

[@davidvincent2758]

I really admire your work and your patience 👍🏻

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. It is worth the effort as it really does look magical BUT it was definitely fiddly and a bit tricky at times!

[@michaelallen3424]

I’m in my first attempt to incorporate Magnorail into an HO layout as I build it. While I’m not planning to port the rather large layout, I’ve been noodling the idea of using set in/lift out sections of the town the cars and cyclists run through. Seeing your success with that inspires me to work out the details. Thank you! (By the way, I’d enjoy seeing you disassemble the diorama for portage and seeing you set it up again. That would be very instructive!)

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I was going to put the Magnorail Village on my layout but got invited to take it to the Warley National Exhibition at the NEC I last November so made it transportable. I’m really glad I did. I will be doing more videos, especially of Higher Edge Village as a night scene, so I will add a section of me taking it down and reassembling it if you like!

[@alfiejohnchester8108]

Very nice. I enjoyed this video. I've reached the stage on my layout where i want to build the town and i want it to have animation in it. Magnorail is the way I was thinking of going and your video has sealed it for me. Thanks again.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

The results from Magnorail are magical. I opted for the bicycles but cars look good too. The magnets were the trickiest bit for me as I kept losing them!! Mostly they ended up stuck to my metal lights!! 🤔🙂

[@1dianep]

Love this. I’ve mainly worked in dolls house 1/12th scale but want to try and build a village diorama with moving cars. The Magnorail system seems to be the way to go and the cyclists are really cute.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thanks. Magnorail is a bit fiddly but the outcome is really good. I love the cyclists …… but they are very delicate, so be warned. Cars are much more robust but I really wanted to use the cyclists as my family are really keen cyclists!

[@roystudds1944]

I have seen some of your work before, but this diorama is really beautiful. I really liked the instructional side of this video. Fascinating detail. Thanks for sharing. Subscribed. Roy.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I appreciate your comment.

[@duckman5642]

Beautiful Art, thankyou.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I really enjoyed making this village but it is about to come back as a winter village soon!!

[@nigelcarren]

Carol, this really is quite charming! I make miniature armour for a living and restore medieval armour for museums etc. I am involved with a few short-films and music-videos at the moment and have adapted the old Matchbox spring-system to do something similar, but this Magnorail system seems to be the sensible option, especially because it looks expandable. You have made a beautiful job of this... Bravo! 🏆 Best wishes from an Englishman in a French forest and all the mice in the workshop. ⚒️🐭🐭🐭🐭

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thanks. I am currently turning the village into a winter village with snow and ice! I’ll be taking it to the Warley National Exhibition at the NEC in November and there will be an article in British Railway Modelling and I’ll do a video too. It is a really magical system!

[@jcsalerno8263]

How intrepid and detailed. You have achieved a true work of fine art. It a joy to behold!

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thanks you. It is kind of you to say so.

[@jcsalerno8263]

@@CarolFlavinlocoladies Your village is intriguing. What materials did you incorporate to produce them?

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

I like to use second hand buildings and improve them and use them to best effect. Most are kits but some are resin buildings. I do have some that were scratch built to fit a certain space.

[@franktuckwell196]

Absolutely marvellous.Fantastic, go show them how its done properly. Brilliant!.........found and subscribed.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I am making the village into a winter version now. I am loving the effect. Videos when I have finished it.

[@cavecavecavecave5295]

Brilliant job Carol. Looks great.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. Tricky to make but I am very pleased with it.

[@stephenpowell5912]

Perfect and beautiful layout , Absolutely top class creation ❤

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. That is very kind of you to say so. I am in the process of turning it into a winter scene at the moment to take to the UKs biggest model railway exhibition in November. It is looking amazing. There will be a video nearer the time.

[@Lysimachus]

very charming details and very impressive technique throughout, thanks for sharing this.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thanks. Pleased you liked it. It was a bit tricky at times but I enjoyed making it.

[@carlteacherman194]

Amazing, creative imagination. I'm very impressed how you work in this scale.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Many thanks. I’m certainly not lacking in imagination and being an artist I mostly have the skills. I also enjoy a challenge 🙂

[@mysticrailroad]

beautiful work! :)

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you so much 😀

[@jaspercain1691]

Magnorail is a game changer

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Does bring a whole new element to a layout - I agree!!

[@maxximumb]

Great work. It looks amazing.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. It was fun - if a bit tricky - to make!

[@jeanricard918]

That’s a very beautiful layout you have made there,best wishes from Denmark.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I’m pleased you like it.

[@jumbledfox2098]

This is beautiful! You do such a lovely job with everything.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. That is very kind of you to say that.

[@ian_b]

Things like this make me feel somehow more at peace with the world.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. That is a lovely thing to say.

[@ian_b]

@@CarolFlavinlocoladies The thought you've put into your aesthetic choices here really makes it work. It's delightful. The world needs more delightful things :)

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

@@ian_b thanks. I will keep making short videos on railway modelling and hope you continue to enjoy them.

[@ludvigmauritzson8975]

Absolutly charming :)

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. 🙂

[@steverileyretired]

Very good Carol, well done

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Many thanks! It was fun to devise if a little bit difficult to make!

[@reicoming8087]

Ohhh sooo fantastic and amazing

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you.

[@billforrest4205]

fantastic very well done 👏

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you I have another video I will put up in the next couple of weeks. The Magnorail Village at night!

[@desmondriddler6909]

Nice layout.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. It was a layout I loved making.

[@condor499]

How amzing is that diorama - great job and really perfect !!!👌👍It inspires me to go on with my "Dutch" diorama with Magnorail and 009 / H0e Railway that I started just an few days ago. Have seen other videos of you here at KZbin. I like tem too. Thank you und greetings from Bavaria / Germany

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I really enjoyed making this diorama. Going to add to the videos when I have time. Carol

[@LuisGonzalez-jd6gy]

l am very greatfl for your hard work and stupendous video i love dioramas and im thankful i can learn from you

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I will do my best to keep making interesting ‘how to do it’ videos 🙂

[@ripwreckraceway]

mind blowing well thought out wonderful details are perfect im a new sub !

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. Pleased you have enjoyed this. I have made it into a snowy winter village now so lots of new videos of it on the way!!

[@nordictram]

Very nice video and Magnorail layout. Thumbs up!

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you.

[@duncanrhodes4778]

Incredible. Well done.😊

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. 🙂

[@JohanSchwarz-Nielsen]

Very good. I am impressed!

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I enjoyed making this.

[@DrKloebner531]

Very nice! Did you think about making the tower clock working? You could use the movement of a battery driven wrist watch (available in different sizes).

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

I hadn’t thought about the clock tower working but now I will do, so thank you.

[@66lesjo]

Beautiful work Carol. 1 new subscriber. Love it.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you and welcome.

[@melkitson]

Fabulous. Some nice detail and some wonderful ideas for future reference. I am trying to avoid paying for magnorail and am about to experiment with my own, very similar system in N gauge.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Glad it was helpful! Good luck with your own system.

[@pierreklee2479]

very well done! I enjoyed your work! nicely detailed too!!!

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. Pleased you liked it.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you.

[@wyb80]

Excellent 👌🏽

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you.

[@jezcon9467]

Beautiful ❤

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Many thanks. I am going to be turning this into a winter scene later in the year to take to the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham. Will be doing more videos as I make it.

[@CarlosAlberto-ii1li]

Patience of Job.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Not really!! I actually enjoyed it (most of the time!!!)

[@mesco8200]

Excellent

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I am making a winter Magnorail village now.

[@MrMaurice1960]

Wonderful

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you.

[@francelibre1365]

Magnifique !!!!

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Merci beaucoup!

[@rudolfabelin383]

Thanks! I have just discovered Magnorail. Considering reopening an old hobby of mine (yes, I'm that age..). Best greetings from Sweden.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

It’s a great way to use your skills and imagination. Magnorail does provide added animation and movement. Enjoy restarting your old hobby. Carol

[@rudolfabelin383]

@@CarolFlavinlocoladies Thanks!

[@musoseven8218]

Very nice, thoughtfully done, sounds very enjoyable to build too👍✌️😊💜

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. Building this village was a challenge that I really enjoyed.

[@musoseven8218]

@@CarolFlavinlocoladies 👍✌️😊💜

[@chinesechicken20]

Nice Job!

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you.

[@paulsotheron710]

Excellent, love it. Beautiful job. 👍

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. Pleased you like it. 🙂

[@1952TonyC]

What a magnificent diorama. I love the Magnorail. Can you please tell me, when you added a ‘paper’ Road, was this stuck on top of the plastic surface? Or is it just varnished paper? Many thanks. Tony

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thanks for your comment. It is appreciated. As to the trackway. I put down the plastic surface first and stuck it down, and then glued the paper surface on and varnished it.

[@1952TonyC]

Thanks Carol. I really appreciate your reply as your BRM article couldn’t have been more timely as I am about to start laying a Magnorail road on my layout. Tony

[@PilotVolunteer]

Super! Thank You

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. Pleased you like it. It will be a snowy winter version soon!! I’m enjoying modelling it.

[@jeniferallan6693]

Nice job. 😊

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I enjoyed making it.

[@OBear07]

fantastic project and very informative video! what scale are you working in?

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. The buildings and railway are OO gauge or 4mm.

[@noahandgabrielsmodels3387]

Fantastic. So love this.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. If you are in the Uk there will be an article on this in the new British Railway Modelling magazine.

[@noahandgabrielsmodels3387]

Yes. Seen it. That’s what brought me to you. So enjoyed your feature. 🤗

[@eliasblum753]

That's a very nice village. Are the buildings from kits?

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Yes to most of them. Some are new kits still available others that are harder to get. I like mixing them together. Some are Skaledale buildings and a few scratch built.

[@DarrenMalin]

really good work , thank you for sharing :)

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I really enjoy the scenery side of making model railways

[@markharrison3445]

I am so impressed with your design skills and model making. Can you tell me about the gatehouse building with a clock. Is it a kit that is available or did you scratch build it? I am binging on your videos and having great fun.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. As you can probably tell, I really enjoy making the model and scenery aspects of the hobby. The gatehouse with the clock was scratch built but not by me. It caught my eye on EBay and I knew immediately it would be perfect in the Magnorail village. I am always happy to reuse or repurpose as well as making myself.

[@Louispr730]

Carol this is amazing, i love it and i would like to ask about the figures Where i can find those figures, thank you

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Thank you. I am in the uk and can buy them from this website along with the track and motor you need for underneath them to make them run. magnorailuk.com/. If you search Magnorail you may find other stockists. They came from Europe originally.

[@Louispr730]

@CarolFlavinlocoladies thank you so much Carol, I love your videos

[@stormride6548]

Carol, What kind of plastic did you use for the magnorail track and did you use a full sheet to cover the entire cork and track layout? Or did you just cut out the plastic track individually. Thanks

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

I originally used MAQUETT 602-02 CLEAR PVC SHEET 194x320mm 0.25mm THICKNESS which is recommended by Magnorail, but the cyclists occasionally got hung up on the joins, so I have replaced it with Clear Flexible Plastic which I cut as a continuous strip to the shape of my track. That works much better.

[@user-ct5eq6gr3z]

disculpe me gustan mucho las villas podria decirme. Como. Pido Este kit. De. Movimientos. Y donde lo consigo

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

I’m sorry. Please can you translate this into English so I can reply to you?

[@muhammadzulfadlin5335]

Dimana saya bisa mendapatkan rel seperti itu

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

That's no village. That's a town :-)

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

Probably depends where you come from!! This is typical for the village centre of many Yorkshire villages!

[@ullscarf]

You can still get Copydex?!

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

I had to look around. The Range had some!

[@noahandgabrielsmodels3387]

What gauge or scale is this please.

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

If you use the cyclists they work with oo gauge. If you make the system up as a road you could use n gauge cars on it as you attach them to sliders.

[@noahandgabrielsmodels3387]

Many thanks Carol.

[@noahandgabrielsmodels3387]

What size is the actual baseboard please. Is your layout just from the starter kit or did you have extras? Sorry for going on😊

[@CarolFlavinlocoladies]

No problem at all. It is approx 1m by .75m with the train track on the side as extra. And yes, I bought the cyclist starter pack. The only extras were additional cyclists. Hope that helps. The article in Decembers British Railway Modelling gives a bit more information about how I actually made it (out now)

[@noahandgabrielsmodels3387]

Many thanks again ☺️