The Phoenix Rises? (WR)

Seasons Greetings from a cold Bristol.

After alot of sole searching i cant bring myself to destroy WR. As its the first layout i have ever finished i've got attatched to it. So in a desperate bid to keep me sane i have decided to re-do some bits of the layout. This begins with removing the rear siding and putting a station in its place. This will also allow me to replace the dodgy 3 way that was in the fiddle yard.

The new project is not dead yet but the boards will be going in to store for a short while. Maybe until the urge to get them out again surfaces.

Anyway now is not the time to be modelling, its the time for enjoyment so raise your glasses for 2010 and toast to 2011!

The New Blood (EAS)

I know i havent updated this for a long long time but sadly family things have got in the way, anyway its business as normal now and time to announce the new project.

Easterton was something which i was playing with before i built Westlea Road however Westlea kid of got in the way, anyway the decision has been made to stip Westlea for bits so i can build this new project. So far its been fully budgeted and so far i have got the wood and the track sorted, i just need to await the finance to get it all. Hopefully i should begin building the boards over christmas.

To give you some background on the layout, its 11 by 2 for the main scenic boards with the fiddle yard at a 90 degree angle to the rest of the layout. Its got a small 2 road station with a small SP and a warehouse unloading area. I toyed with the idea of using code 75 track but i decided to go for 100 in the end as it was easier, i will be using electrofrog points and this will also be a start for DCC control. I'm planning to get an NCE powercab unit as it seems reasonable for the money.
I'll try and upload a plan on here if possible in the next day or so.

Richard

Long Time Lots Of News

Its been a while since i updated this blog. Mainly because various different things have conspired to get in the way but here we are again.
First news is that Westlea Road has gone into storage in the loft while i sort out some stock. Essentially WR has served its purpose and its now time to look at its replacement (which i actually got half way through about 2 years ago) and i'm doing track plans at the moment http://www.37412smodelphotos.fotopic.net/c1871565.html
Click the link to see them so far. I intend to reuse the current fiddle yard so it will just be three new front boards. So far the jury is still out on the plan but i'm tweaking and playing around with them to see which one gives me the best operation and is the most interesting.

Apart from that not much else to report.

A pandoras box update! (WR)

I thought i would update this given things have been going on in the background.

First of all there weren't too many wiring faults with the layout. Those that were there were mainly me getting the wires crossed. Needless to say after a few nights of swearing and sweating (its very hot under the layout with a headlamp and a soldering iron for company, its even worse upside down) it has settled down quite nicely. I had to replace the hardstanding as the polyfilla method just didn't work so it was chipped out and replaced with plastics, it now works fine. I've also got the LEDs to work in the shed correctly. I.e they dont burn everything in sight!

I also now have some packs of the dapol catenery masts to fit. I was planning intially just fitting them and then add the wire later on. The 3rd rail is being installed on the rear tracks where units are likely to run, i also have a third rail flasher unit to add, just a question of how to mount it.

The lighting towers havent gone in yet simply because i dint fancy doing it at the moment.

In terms of the stock I'm having trouble with a new hornby PCA. The wheels seem to fine and keep dropping into the VEE of the double slip point and derailing. Everything else though manages it fine so I'm looking to re-wheel it and see if it makes any difference, my lima and dapol ones run without fuss.

The rest of the stock is being weathered at the moment with alot of it being done by simply drybrushing. Only the PCAs have so far received any form of airbrush weathering.

Also my blog address has now changed to www.theelectriccockroach.blogspot.com - I blame Tim Hall for this idea!

Dont go away (WR)

Just a quick update seeing as how i havent updated in months. It all works. Just a few tweaks to do. I will do a full update later on this week but expect to see a big annoucement.

Richard

New fotopic update (WR)

Just been updating my fotopic account with the latest Westlea Road photos.
http://37412smodelphotos.fotopic.net/c1870325.html

Enjoy

A new dawn (WR)

A nice bit of time away has got me back into the mood to do some work on the layout. The layout has been completely rewired from the bottom up as there were too many wiring glitches when testing. I've also begun the last of the woodworking and have cut the fiddle yard fascia. This just needs to be painted up. I also need to the sort the trestle legs as they are a little flimsey (well their built like bricks but the screws used were too small). It really is starting to come to completion that i really dont have much choice now than too look at the stock.....

The stock is in some respects comming on well but at the moment its all awaiting time. I tend to do most rolling stock work during the winter as its just such a shame to do it during the summer. I'm still after alot of locomotives and units but the wagon rakes are comming together and the coaching stock is nearly complete. Just two more guvs or BGs required. All it needs then is finishing which could take a long time and that is time i dont have.

Anyway still more to do so back to the grindstone.

Miles o Wire (WR)

Well i'm currently doing the panel. I have 292 solder connections to make. So far i've done 48 so i'm 1/6 of the way through. Hopefully another few weeks and it should be all up and running.

There has been a change of era too. Given one of the club layouts i'm involved with has been backdated i decided perhaps it was time to backdate this. So its now a mid 80s layout. Not a mega change but it does mean a little stock changing has had to go on. Also means the cleaning siding will see more DMUs than planned. Also means there is more stock work to do. Oh well we still have 6 months to do it all in.

Surfs Up (WR)

Well backboards are now painted and refitted. I need to add a brace at one end as for some reason it seems to have warped slightly. I suspect an issue of using MDF. Anyway the front of the panel is also now fitted and all of the switches are also now in.
There was a minor panic when i realised one of the 25 way tag strips had been wired in a completely unfathomable way so that will need to be replaced (sadly i have already soldered some wires to it, never mind). Anyway I'm just about to begin to note up what goes to what on the board tag strips, then it is a question of endless hand burning while i try and fit alot of wires into the panel. Oh what fun....

The end is in sight (WR)

Well scenically Westlea Road is getting there. I've redone the backscenes as painted using a colour called Surf from Wickes. I still need to finish off the industrial building but the vents should hopefully be here sometime next week. Just the roof to do then. I also need to weather the hard standing down a bit and then just do some small tweaks.

Electrically however there is still lots to do. The panel front still needs painting (the main body has been completed) and it then all needs wiring up. Also the fiddle yard still needs wiring up although i have now sorted out the joins (i decided on using conventional joins using coach bolts in the end) and i also now have the extra 1ft extension. All i need to do is put the copper clad in, solder it down and then cut it. After that its case of wiring it all up.

I hope this to take around 2-3 weeks so by the beginning of July i hope to have it operational. This would be useful as i think I'll need around 6 months as it may have a potential show appearance.

Anyway enough yakking and more working.

I've done some more work but the list hasnt got any shorter... (WR)

Well the wiring on the main scenic boards has been completed. The panel however has been stripped, sanded down and is being resprayed a lovely black shade. With this lovely weather its drying quicker than is normal so it should be ok to use within another 24 hrs (it needs one or two more coats as the paint is quite thin (gloss black from the pound shop)). Once this is dried i can then begin refitting the panel out. So far all of the switches have been sorted and are ready along with the tag strips and the main power din plug. All i need now is for it to dry.

There still plenty to do in the mean time though, mainly this time concerning the fiddle yard. Originally i was going to make it folding however on the first time of trying this i realised i didn't leave enough depth for the track so it meant they were being forced in unnatural directions. So 've had to remove them and instead mount some standard 2x1 strip wood on top and while using a flat surface (not many of those around) reattach these folding arms. Then it should all clear. Also i need to wire it up as currently all of the wires are just loose. To do this i need to add the tag strips which i still need to do. Once this is done it is literally the panel left to do. Hopefully then the panel should be ready and then i can begin on that. As i said it never seems to end....

Some new piccies (WR)

http://37412smodelphotos.fotopic.net/c1849907.html

Some of the latest photos showing work so far. Because I'm not far off being scenically happy i have decided to get the mass of wires working. The first job was to remove them all. Now its time to put them all back on hopefully this time in the right order.

Hot Solder (WR)

Well the re-wiring has begun. I managed to get hold of some red wire, all 100metres of it, I've now made the cables for the 9 way and 15 way D plugs (the 25 ways use standard computer cables). I made a list earlier of the jobs to do and i came up with 23 bullet points so theres plenty to do. Hopefully a quiet weekend this weekend should mean chance to get on with alot of it.

I've had to replace two dodgy seeps which don't actually fire, however while they are fine off the point when attached they can hardly fire it, i think I'm going to have to alot of work to the point spring which i suspect has become gummed up, anyone good some good ideas for freeing up peco points?

Anyway back to work, more wires to solder!

Miles O Wire (WR)

Well its been a while since my last blog post and alot has changed. First and foremost is the dumping of a cassette style fiddle yard. Its now a conventional five road fiddle yard wired up as cab control.

Also the panel has been rebuilt and actually looks alot smarter with a nice new satin black paint job and new front. It looks a little rough close up (it is 20 years old) but it will serve its new purpose. Between this panel and the layout there are 140 connections along with 9 between each scenic board 9 between each fiddle yard board. It just all needs now to be wired up, and yes i have run out of red wire which is probably the most important colour.

I'm going to try and fettle the points themselves a bit as i think a poor CDU and stiff points might be the answer as off the layout they work fine.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel ( WR)

Again no updates for a while. This is mainly because I've been working hard on the layout.

Anyway its finally coming to completion (more or less and i know a layout is never finished). I've just put the sky on so its now looking the part. Just one more industrial unit to finish and the two lighting towers to fit then scenically the layout is finished.

Just the fiddle yard cassettes of which have done none along with the fiddle yard fascia.

Theres also the little matter of the wiring. I've decided to completely rewire the layout along with the panel. This will more than likely take a few weeks to complete as its more or less from scratch. Also I'm beginning to think that changing the point motors from Seeps to Pecos would be a good idea. Hopefully by selling the Seep motors i can reduce the cost of the Pecos.

Once this is all done then its shakedown testing to ensure that everything performs as it should do. This should then mean that it should be completed by the middle of Autumn.

Latest photos will come when i get a chance.

Playing with the detail (WR)

Well i've been mainly playing around adding little details. I hope however to get some more bits this weekend at the Bristol show. I'm also going to need to start the wiring and to get it done properly. I suspect i'm going to change and go for peco motors but its still all got to be tested. And also so far none of the fiddle yard has been completed. But i still have time.

I'm also looking at the rolling stock. So far i have virtually nothing but who knows, i have nearly 7 months to buy the required bits and pieces so it might be a bit of a scrabble but we should get there.

Lighting up time (WR)

Well I've now ballasted in the back gap between the wall and the first siding, I've also begun painting around 200 odd 3rd rail chairs so i can begin drilling the holes. Its a very boring and monotonous task!
I've also fitted some non working lights to the rear. They are brass construction and very strong, much stronger than the knightwing cast ones i was going to use. They are of course removable for transport. These essentially hide the poor gaps on the scaledale walling.

I've also added two advertising boards to the front as where the viewer would stand there is planned to be a road so these could be seen from there, these are standard Modelscene items.

Hopefully come the Bristol show next weekend (I'm on the DEMU stand on the Friday) i hope to get alot of bits such as my point levers, some GEM water taps for the platform and some other bits and pieces. Hopefully this means the week after that it should be a flurry of activity.

Anyway always more work to do.

Painting the Insulators Red (WR)

Well tonight I've fitted the rear wall and cut down the three overlarge industrial units. I can now ballast in the are in between. It means i can also begin the tedious task of not only painting but installing the 3rd rail. One job i do need to do before i start fitting however it put in the barrow crossing between the three way and the scenic break. The bricks on the scenic break are nearly finished, they just need to coating with some grime and some varnish to tone it down and then the sky can be added. This is going to be done using the peco sky sheet. The same sky sheet will also be used on the back scene when i get round to it. Oh well back to work.

Also the modelling fotopic site has been fully updated with many not previous uploaded shots. See the links next to this.

Just Another Brick in the Wall (WR)

Well today I've managed to fit the ground signals. I've also sprayed up the industrial unit a nice shade of rail grey and also sprayed the brick wall. I've also mortared it and I've now begun the very boring task of picking the bricks out. So far I'm around a quarter of the way through and I'm already fairly bored, but in little bouts its not too bad.

The next job will be to fit the rear wall, along with cutting the three larger units down even more as otherwise they are too close to the wall. The one i'm working on at the moment still needs a roof and some more of the peco train shed side wall ventilators. It seems that no one has any spare and peco wont provide any either. Still I'm sure I'll find something.

Also my fotopic sites are being given a through overhaul. I'm updating the images with better ones and also uploading many that have never been seen before of previous layouts and rolling stock. I may even upload photos of layouts I've taken at shows. The modelling site looks a little spartan at the mo but hopefully the first will be up tomorrow with the rest following during the week. The transport site will follow after than as its a much bigger job.

Anyway still more bricks to paint....

Some scale walling! (WR)

Some more work today despite the good weather and the ash. I managed to pop into Model Railways Direct in Portishead. I thought despite its location (in the middle of a housing estate) its a brilliant shop. Excellent range of bits for OO and they price match with the big box shifters in the RM. They also have alot of the bits and pieces and are planning to get more lines in. I fully recomend them as a customer. I also finally managed to get my two ground signals (they don't have any left now :D). Now I've got these and the 3rd rail bits I've put off doing the wiring to finish the rear scenic area.

I've put the new walling in along the rear and through some ingenuity using a Peco Trainshed building cut about i have a suitable building to fit the gap. It will get a new coat of paint before being anglicised a little bit to try and hide its origins. The ground signals have also now been drilled. The next job is to drill the holes for the 3rd rail, just need to remember to do it every 4th sleeper. Theres also the flasher unit to installed, the trouble I'm not sure i have the right bulb after the first one failed. The new bulb just doesn't look right.

I'm also still contemplating whether to use Peco point motors with base plates or stay with the seeps. The Seep motors have no adjustments and seem a little down on power. That's a decision that doesn't need to be made yet however.

For the 3rd Time (WR)

Was reminded through something else today that i haven't updated my blog in a while. Well the reason for this is two fold, works been very busy and secondly i had a club show to deal with in the mean time. Trainwest passed without incident and despite being exceptional knackered by the end it enjoyed it. I also managed to get hold of a 507ish. I actually got an MTK 313 kit virtually identical apart from the panto well and a slightly different window arrangement under the panto well. Anyway more on that in later post.

What about the layout then, well its being completely rewired. I wasn't happy with the quality of my wiring. I'm also having terrible difficulty with my point motors not firing. I suspect alot work will be required here. Also it was mentioned in the previous post that it was DC control. That's still the case but the All components unit i had need a another dc output for lights. So while in Cardiff today on a course i popped into Lord and Butler (a fantastic shop, no connection, just a customer) and they had a Gaugemaster 100m which has all i need in being twin control and having both DC and AC outputs for £25. Oddly enough that's what i got for the all components one at the weekend by selling it to a trader. I haven't made anything but i didn't lose anything.
I'm still having difficulty in finding a Eckon ground signal, they seem to be like hens teeth.

In terms of the scenic side i now have enough rail chairs and the Z gauge rail joiners i need for the layout. I may stop the wiring to do this as i will need to fit the flasher unit for which i also have a new bulb except this one is 12v, just hope the flasher will cope with 12v now.

I've not taken any new photos as there really isn't anything to show but i will do once the 3rd rail is in.

The April Fools update

It looks like its staying as a DC layout for the time being. I foolishly bought an All components MPC3 with handheld for £25 at the Slough toyfair today. Quite a bargain i thought.

In terms of the layout, i still havent got an z gauge rail joiners (might try n gauge ones as i have some of those), the holes are now all drilled though. I've also fished out the 3rd rail flasher kit but i'm not sure what the best way to mount the little micro/reed switch is. Its not a U shape as i expected (although i probably could bend the wire to suit. I've also found a supply for some yard lamps. Ok they are kits but for £5 a pop and they look reasonably british its got to be worth a go. i did look at the Express Models one but at £32.50 they are a bit pricey. I've also got some buffer stop lamps to build using some Eckon signal LEDs that i have left lying around. Looks like i shall be busy with the soldering Iron over the rest of the weekend.

The 3rd Rail (WR)

Well after alot of head scratching I've figured it out. I wanted to be able to have a layout i could either do North West England or the Wessex Area. And i believe the answer is very simple. Just go West from Manchester and you hit Liverpool which has a nice 3rd rail system. All I'd need now is 507 or 508 which means either a nice letter to Mr NNK or finding an old MTK kit. I've already got all the bits (except the z gauge rail joiners).

In terms of the layout I've been doing a little more ballasting and touching up. Hopefully thought if i can get the n gauge joiners then it should be able to start tomorrow.

Its almost frighting how quickly this layout has come on. Considering up to November last year work was slow to say the least. Since Mid November work has been frantic on it. Will i accept invites for it. Yes but not until next year. By that time i should have it working and have all the little faults ironed out. I just now it will take nearly as long to get it running well as it did to build it.

Ballasting Tonight Pt2 (WR)

Well I've been finishing some of the ballasting off tonight with the area around the platform now filled. I've also published some more images to my fotopic site. See the links area on the left for the modelling site and look in March Modelling Pics. The scenic break is also now nearly finished. Just needs tidying up and painting. I also need to paint the sky in on both the scenic break and the backscene. I just need to find something to fill the gap on the backscene. I just need the ground signals, point levers and other associated junk (and there is alot of it) to finish it all off.

Who knows i may even try and get on with the extender board.

Richard

Ballasting Tonight (WR)

Went to ally pally today but was sadly unable to get any of the detail bits i need for the layout. Hopefully the Clevedon show tomorrow should be better. Anyway I've now begun ballasting in the rear track but I'm going to have to wait until i get the ground signals before i go much further with this. Also i ran out of mixed up PVA and i cant be bothered to do anymore till tomorrow.

I've nearly finished the scenic break at the end i just need the town scene to go above it. In the end i went with the scaledale tunnel mouth mated to the wills arches. The only bit to finish then will be the gap in the back scene. I've space them out a little to give some space but i still have around 2 and half feet spare. What will go in there i don't know. I'll have to see whats available. So far its either the industrial or town scene. I think i prefer the town scene.

Also I'm getting cold feet about the DCC again. It would be very easy to re-wire the boards back to dc especially given i need to add some new sections. Perhaps some time for some quiet reflection.

All change please.... (WR)

Well after alot of umms and ahhhs its been decided on whats going to happen towards the rear of the layout. Currently where the platform is there is going to be a new track laid. This will form part of cleaning/servicing platform. This will also mean that the run round loop is not always blocked up by passenger trains. I've modified the history of the layout to suit so that not only is the WRD on the next board but also a simple to track station is also located on that board. Requiring some trains to run forward so it can reverse in the yard. Some units going to be stabled. This still gives me the option to do as much as is possible with the layout.

Because of all of this I've spent some time today assembling nearly 4ft worth of servicing platform from the Ratio stable. I also have some knightwing bits but they just not as good as the ration ones being cast rather than plastic.

I also need to lay the track which is fed from a three way point which i already have. Its just a question of doing it. It will require a little careful adjustment to remove the point already there but it should be possible i hope to fit all in.

I need a new bogey aircraft (AC)

As the title says. On sunday while at Heathrow for the strike flight covers, BMI A319 G-DBCH finally produced on a run from Dublin. Only about 4 years after having seen the last of the rest of the BMI A319 fleet. Anyway i'm now looking for another one, which BA one havent i seen. Hmm quite a few.... Perhaps i should do the 737s as they arent long for this world...

Bricking it Up pt2 (WR)

Well work has been continuing at quite a pace. TBH the biggest stumbling block is still the scenic break. I was initially going to use a Hornby scaledale tunnel mouth and some of the Wills retaining arches. However it just didn't look right with the two different styles of brick, so its been decided to use another Wills retaining arch kit to create a tunnel mouth. This will involve building a small plinth about 5mm high to increase the tunnel clearance along with the rest of the wall.

I've also not done any work on the platform or the back scene. So far its all awaiting everything else to be finished. The rest of the layout is more or less complete with all the final details being fitted. I suppose in all essence theres still loads to do such as fitting lights into the shed and associated crew building. Theres also the fiddle yard to work on (cost is the main factor holding this up at the moment). I've also got the panel to re-do for dcc operation. There also the station building and the extra board to do. I've got lots to do but i cant afford to do it all the at the moment.

Mainly however at the moment I'm just adding small details which is satisfying but annoying when i know theres more work to do.

Bridging the Gap

Well I've now finished re-wiring the boards (i still have the panel to redo). I've now turned my attention back to the scenic break. It really didn't look right so i decided to see what else was available. Thankfully Wills do a lovely little kit (SS52) or retaining wall arches and i hope it should just fit in the space i have available. I have had to modify the wooden structure by removing the extra lower walling. I'm going to try and get some photos taken this weekend showing the work so far which isn't very much. I've also got hold of my red Ford Capri. Its exactly the same as one my father owned ages ago. Now all i need is a 5 door Escort in white mk2/mk4 and a BL Metro Mk1 in Blue. Much chance of that... no i doubt it too.

I'm also looking at Son of Westlea. It could be this or it could be that, watch this space....

Its Electrifying (WR)

Firstly an apology. No updates in over a week. The reason for this is simply i've been so busy doing other things. But work has been continuing with the layout.

As i seemed to have got to a bit of stalemate with the scenic side of the layout i've decided now could be a good time to convert the layout to DCC operation. So far board 1 has been completed with board 2 half way. While i was doing this i also put the extra capacity in for lights and wire up the signals. After board two is completed i will need to rebuild the panel which will mean another new front. By going dcc however it has meant there is now just one cable to each of the boards as before board 2 had two cables and there was also the trans board connection which are now defunct.

I have got a before photo showing the wiring but i'll also get an after shot before i post them both to my fotopic account.

Also as an aside if anyone knows where BMI A319 G-DBCH is let me know as so far i've never copped it. I've done all the others at least three times. This must be my bogey aircraft.

The platform of Life (WR)

Well i know its been a few days since the last update, but in my absence work has been progressing well. Virtually all of the ballasting is now done. Its just a question of weathering it and adding some flock and foliage. The scenic break is now in and just needs a little filler. The signal is installed but not yet wired. I've finished the portacabins and have begun adding smaller details such as the fueling kit and the fuel unloading point, the depot office which is a Knightwing gatehouse kit has also been done and fitted. This has also all been weathered in.

Oh and the fencing on the scenic side has been done up to the shed area. I need to get the rest fitted once i know where the backscene is. I shall hopefully tomorrow begin cutting brick sheet for the retaining wall and the associated pathway, this way i can finish the fence.

I'm also going to start the platform using Peco sides with a plasticard top and frame. The backscene which is formed of industrial units will then sit on but it will be fenced off from the platform. What fencing this will be i don't know. Also i hope to get some more lowrelief warehousing units as i currently have more or less half of what i need to finish the job.

Apart from all that there isn't much else to report. I did publish some photos as can be seen in an earlier post which shows the work up until tonight. Its certainly coming on but the photos really don't do it justice.

Also lots of new items released in OO from Bachmann for scenic detailing. Items such as the station modernisation pack and depot maintence pack will be good. Also the brutes will definitley need to be added.

Quick Update (WR)

A full resume will come later on tonight.

Just to say that the fotopic site has been updated again the photos being here and in the file name March 6-9
http://37412smodelphotos.fotopic.net/c1820907.html

The Green Green Grass (WR)

No updates for a few days for which i apologise.
First of a link to the latest work (well its not latest after today obviously) Anyway they can be found here http://www.37412smodelphotos.fotopic.net/c1820907.html

Today I've finally got the white grain of wheat bulbs so i can now illuminate my shed. I've also picked up a royal blue Reliant Schimitar which should be another car to add, i did see a yellow one actually on the roads last week which i thought was very rare.

I've also added an office to the shed. Its a knightwing gatehouse kit with the roof cut back so it join onto the shed, again this will be lit like the shed.

One other thing is I've now begun the front area of the layout. I was initially going to have a fence but i decided given the narrow nature to leave it off so its going to be scrubland. I've put some green flock down but it doesn't look right so i think tomorrow it might be scraped off and redone another way. Which way is another question....

Time to become Doctor Who

I suppose i soon need to begin to think where I'd like the layout to be located. Obviously the time period is not under discussion as it will be early 90s (1990-1994). But i have three areas I'd like to do. I wouldn't mind doing the scottish lowlands, there aren't many layout which show this period preferring to either come up to date or going for the mid 80s. Then there is the north west scene, which i find extremely interesting because of the sheer variety of workings and stock. And then we come to the Wessex area. Its the are i began my spotting in and also i have quite alot of photos from the area. Could i realistically do all three? Possibly but it would get expensive unless serious consideration was taken as to the locos to try and maximise their usage pattern.

As i write this I'm looking at rather tasty fotopic site showing the northern reaches of scotland which means if they got there it must have gone through the scottish lowlands to get there.
http://photosbyroddy.fotopic.net

Construction liveried 47s on blue/grey and nse mk2s in 1991!!!! My Lordzzz! Its all just so tempting.

In terms of the layout not much has been done, i've weathered some more track and fitted the scenic point motors where i can. But theres still plenty more to do!

Laden with Ballast (WR)

Well today has been a day of feverish activity. The layout has been set up and it was noticed that all the ballasting i had done while it was up in the garage had cracked. I assume as it was done in the cold and was brought into the warm it move causing the cracks. This has now been redone, while doing so i took the chance to do the rest of the boards and begin thinking about some of the buildings and where they will go. One key area is the back scene is currently being set out. I do need to get some more warehouse style buildings for this.

The next job is to fit the scenic point motors along with the weathering of the hard standing. Theres also the portacabins to be finished off too (I'm not too sure where the glazing is) but there is still plenty more to do.

A wide view (WR)

Well i needed to get the layout set up, sadly the weather was against me today so its now up in spare room. When one board is up in the garage it seems quite small, stick the pair up though or try and move one they suddenly seem so much bigger than they used to be.

Anyway i can now work out some of the back scene and other details need to go. As the track is not quite parallel to the rear it does mean I'm going to have to do some cutting and shutting so that i can get something that fits. I'm also going to put the main station building on the layout board rather than the extension as i really think it just doesn't look right with it missing while its at home. I'm also debating whether to use the hornby platform straights or use some peco edging sections i have for the platform and cobbling together a new roof. I currenty have both so its an easier decision to make.

I've also wired the shed. I just need a plug and some grain of wheat bulbs as it was decided that the LEDs wouldn't work. All i need to do is to install them. I also need another peco shed side vent as one of mine has fallen out and i don't have spares, still will have to do my best.

Correctly Scaled (GR)

A break tonight from Westlea Road. I've been thinking (dangerous i know) about the N gauge project. Devizes is a very very long term project so Gatslow Road is the inbetweener if you like. Essentially I've now managed to draw up what i hope is a useful track plan. Its basically a standard double track oval with a depot in the centre. The depot track plan is unashamedly taken from a rail magazine from a few years ago (1988??) which fits the space i have quite well. The layout is 11x3 on three 3ft 8 inches by 3ft boards. Its too long if split into two boards and too short for it to be 4 boards so three boards it is.

The era and location is fairly fluid at the moment with the general plan is that its the early 90s somewhere in the UK. In n gauge its much easier to hide the differences between different parts of the country. As such yet the layout is still in the planning stage so there is still plenty of work to do before the first bit of wood can be cut, but who knows it might not be too long.

Building Bridges (WR)

Right well I'm not very happy with the scenic break. The strip of wood i used is far too wide. The trouble is to cut it down would take forever so it looks like that's on hold. I haven't tried to get it off the fake wall yet as i nailed it instead of screwing it on. I shall have to have a look in the garage and see if there is any other timber suitable however i very much doubt it.

Apart from that i have done absolutely diddly squat! Trouble is i cant really do much until i can get some bits so whichever way i turn I'm stuck. I suppose i should get on with some research

Also a little plea, does anyone have a photo of 150205 in its NNW colours around Bristol. It was allocated to Cardiff for a while before heading back to NH via Derby where it was given an overhaul and repaint into Merseyrail colours.

Timber!!!! (WR)

Well today the old permanent n gauge layout was dismantled, needless to say the spare room looks a lot bigger now. It does however benefit me as i can use some of the timber for myself.

I haven't really had a chance to do anything today except to nail a section of the aforementioned timber to the scenic break. I just need to decide how I'm going to play it from here on in! Is going to be brick or stone. Cast or sheet. Theres just simply too much choice!

Fotopic Link (WR)

http://37412smodelphotos.fotopic.net/c1817664.html
Heres the link as promised to show some of the work thats recently been going on. Enjoy.

Red Brick Paradise (WR)

Well today i have been mostly working on my station building. The station building is now structurally complete aswell as having been treated to a coat of Railmatch Light Brick. The next challenge should i choose to accept it is to do the mortar courses. I have had a practice run but it wasn't exactly brilliant so i suppose i should keep going and see where i end up. It certainly looks like enamels will be a better bet than acrylics as they seem to dry rather to quickly for my liking.

I've also been busy taking some photos, i havent uploaded them yet but i will soon to my fotopic page showing some Mud, some oil and a red brick built building.

Building Blocks (WR)

Well i didn't manage to get the layout set up in the end however the station building has come on a pace. I was originally going to get another peco office kit however after some thought it became possible to put a fake rear wall in so as to save on the bits required. It's a combination of brick sheet and plasticard but this shouldn't matter in theory as it will never be seen as it points to the rear. Its currently had the internal walls fitted with the next job to give it a coat of paint on the outside (Light or Dark brick, its all the same to me). Then i have the roof it fit which will be entirely scratch built using wills section and plasticard. At the moment it looks quite reasonable but hopefully once its been painted it will look much better.

That's more or less it to report for this weekend as the only other thing which happened was some mud was painted on one of the boards but I've now run out of paint so a trip to the toyshop is necessary to get some more. I'll wait until the shed is looking vaguely presentable first before i post any photos of it, it doesn't look that good yet as any construction site does until its finished.

Bodysnatching and Skippage and some englightenment (WR)+other

Well some time was spent today doing some bashing around Bristol. True its mainly scratch mileage kind of stuff but enjoyable all the same. Both the 57s and the 67s were done. Also saw the red shed which is entirely boring, in fact its exceptionally boring ;)

Anyway moving on to the layout, I've managed to get hold of some clear LEDs so i can fit lights to my shed. However as I'm wiring them in series I'm not sure if i need to put a resistor for each LED or if i can put just one in the circuit before it splits up. its not a major problem if its the former but obviously the latter would be easier. A small plug will connect this through the board hidden in the unseen corner of the shed.

I've also found out what colour Brown, Mud is which is Humbrol 29 which is classed as Matt Earth. it looks to be the best out of all the shades tried (around 10 in all) so i shall be getting on adding some mud in certain areas before i begin to add some ballast, flock and other assorted scrub/wasteland kind of stuff.

Also i shall hopefully get the layout set up in one piece this weekend so i shall try and get some photos for a more complete overview.

Why isnt Brown, coloured Brown? (WR)

Right back to normal today, I'm still flirting with the N gauge but i really need to get on with the oo project and finish it off. I'm looking now to paint all the gaps on both boards brown so i can begin the scenic work of that uncared for and scruffy look. My big question is thought, what colour is Brown or more importantly Mud. I've got one or two colours in mind especially Railmatch Frame dirt which seems a very very close match but i don't have much available so i may choose another one but trouble is i really don't know which.

I'm also going to begin fitting lights to the shed building. Not sure whether to use grain of wheat which are easier to wire but do get hot or use LEDs which don't get hot but are more expensive. Perhaps some more research is needed into this before i go any further.

Also i still haven't done the scenic break and i still don't have another peco office kit, hopefully it will soon all be resolved though.

Reducing Requirement (WR) + (GR)

I know another day missed, my excuse is I'm full of a cold and i really couldn't be bothered so here it is, yesterdays and todays rolled into one.

Firstly to update the progress on Westlea, Ive now more or less finished the shed area and joy of joys, i now have the station building in the form of some Peco Office buildings (LK81), I've just got to decide which way i am going to build them, that being the difficult bit.

I'm also working on the N gauge plan. It does have a name already (the most important bit that) so i hereby name it "Gatslow Road". Its going to be 11x3 split into three boards and will be a double track continuous run with a depot in the middle. Yes i know its been done loads of times before but it suits my needs best. Track is as yet undecided but it will use electrofrog points, and that's more or less all i can tell you at the moment as i don't know the rest myself yet.

Electric what?

Yes i know no traditional Sunday update, a family visit meant little time was available for modelling. In terms of the OO gauge one I've now repainted the concrete and weathered it down again using the tempera powder. It looks much better than before so it looks like the weathered new concrete has won the day and it really does now look the part. Just need to tidy up the shed and roadway now.

Moving on however is a new angle, I've been thinking about a possible move to N for a while. After doing a pros and cons exercise N gauge almost makes OO look stupid. So I've been playing around with xtrakcad tonight but i haven't really come up with anything that I'm actually happy with. The maximum dimensions can be 11x4 but it does need to be transportable which makes it 3ft8inches by 4ft on three boards, In reality it may be 3ft8inches by 3ft on three boards. Its mainly at the planning stage at the moment but expect more to come soon. How soon is another matter.

A road trip of sorts

Well even though i said there wouldn't be an update today, there is. This is simply because i got back earlier than expected. Doncaster itself wasn't too bad, perhaps not as good as it used to be but its still not bad. There were quite a few bargains and some good layouts too. A layout called Alanbeck Road was my favourite as it was set firmly in the sectorisation era. An interesting concept in that it was end to end but looked like a continuous run.

Anyway some update on the layout. The fake wall for the scenic break is ready to be bricked and finished, also I've got some new concrete coloured paint, its supposed to be New Concrete so I'll try tomorrow and see what i get out of it. Also I'm going to repaint the parking/road areas as having looked its still too dark. I might try a much lighter grey and go from there.

Anyway i've been up since for 4am so i'll sign off for now!

A spring Clean

I've been tempted by these post privatisation liveries! It is sometimes just too tempting. Oh well i suppose just watch it then delete it when i get over it. Hmmm just found a lima dognose on ebay too.

Also I've revamped the blog a little, all the content (or lack of worthwhile content) is still here just in a new wrapper.

Bricking Up (WR)

Had an afternoon off today so decided to use some of the time to do some work on the layout. Essentially I've now weathered in the tracks around the shed area with some black tempera powder. It looks quite good in the flesh but in the photos it looks quite poor but there are photos to be found here.

I've also repainted the road area around the depot. Simply because i didn't think it looked right. I found some Humbrol paint which was a lighter shade and seemed to do the job perfectly. I've also done some work on the scenic break, using a 3mm hardboard base I've cut a fake wall which eventually form the new scenic break behind which will be a footpath. At the moment I've had to glue a restraining bar behind the current board as it was rather weak. I'll then mount it onto a a piece of strip wood which will form the base to the footpath aswell as being the support. It will then be screwed together and then the fund part of cutting out brick sheet will begin. I may use a Hornby scaledale single track tunnel mouth if i can find one or i may cheat and use some of the iron girders and see where that takes me. Until its been mounted there isn't really much else i can do.

Also its unlikely there will be update tomorrow as I'm off to Doncaster for the day.

Road to nowhere! (WR)

I decided tonight to begin the parking area around the shed. Question is what colour are roads? and dont say grey! I decided in the end the best colour was to be Railmatch Roof Dirt. It has quite a good dark grey/black, the trouble is i have now run out so i was only able to do a small bit. I shall hopefully get some at the weekend so i can fully finish it off. While there was some paint on the brush i chose that time to weather down the hardstanding a little, it doesn't look too bad now and I'll get some photos (when its a little warmer) to show what it looks like. Also in that area I've fitted some guides for the shed building so it wont be tempted to move and will also be easy to line up.

I've been pondering the DCC situation today. I really am in two minds about this whole set up. While i think its a brilliant idea, the extra cost and temperamental nature puts me off. But then i remember its a whole lot more flexible than standard DC but then i remember i have insulators fitted which means if I'd have decided to use DCC a while ago i wouldn't have needed lots of insulated joints. It really is a case of swings and roundabouts.

To energise it the way God intended? (WR)

I've been having a quiet evening tonight and I've been contemplating the control methods used. At the moment I'm going to use DC control. However DCC is getting more and more tempting. True there is the cost of chips and when you already have the layout wired for dc and all you need is a controller DC is cheaper. But DCC is just so tempting, but Is it worth the £10 or so a loco extra? I've used DCC before and found it to be good when it works but when the numbers don't add up i find it a pain to get it working again. In some respects I'm a technophobe. Not a complete one mind you but certainly a fair way there and if i do decide to go down the DCC road what control unit and what chips??

I like the dynamis in most respects but i dont like it when you have to keep it pointed at the main box. I like a digitrax unit which twin controls on one handheld but i understand that's quite expensive. The lenz set 90 is a very good set but perhaps is a little old hat now. It all just seems to be questions questions but with DCC that seems alot of what it is. The roco multimouse was a perfect unit but i found it didnt give very good control. Perhaps that was just me though! Question is where does one get a roco multimouse from?

Black is the new Black! (WR)

Well to update the ballasting has now been all but completed, the area round the hard standing has been more or less sorted, its still waiting to dry as its not exactly too warm down in the garage. Once this has been done i can begin to weather it in. I plan to use some tempera powder to weather the track, this does seem to work reasonably well as it seems to have the sporadic look about it, It is a little more temperamental than paint but it doesn't look too bad.

After all this it will be back upstairs to pair them up to begin the platform and back scene along with the scenic break. I'm hopefully going to begin the scenic break later on tonight cutting the wooden wall and top which will but up again the current back scene. Essentially because of the narrow width that there is I'm going to make it loo like a footpath as this is likely to look fairly plausible, anything else would just look like over kill!

Ive also finished the signalling, I've had to lower the phone boxes on both signals as it was realised they were both rather high, despite looking right it would be in fact impossible to reach. One of these signals has also been fitted with an eckon cast calling on head. It doesn't look that good but hopefully once its in it will look better and also given the cost its alot cheaper than getting a Roger Murray and alot easier than making one myself.

The station at the moment is more or less on stop. I'm planning to just use it without the extra scenic board initially as the layout will function without this, it was purely a scenic add on for shows and also by doing it this way i can spend extra time trying to sort something suitable.

The future looks Grey (WR)

What colour is concrete? Is it grey? Cream? Beige even? Whatever colour it is i cant seem to find the right one no matter where i look. Even paint labelled concrete doesnt look right, so i'm ina bit of quandry as where i should go next. I suppose the simple answer is to leave it and carry on regardless.

The hardstanding area is more or less done now so give or take a few more days it should look reasonable. I'll take some pictures of this once its all been completed as i already have some work in progress ones.

The next task i need to complete is the scenic break, this is going to be more difficult than i first thought as i dont have the depth i thought i had. I'd like something of a tunnel but it looks like its just not going to be an option. I do have a two track tunnel mouth so i may use that and some brick sheet. Again obviously i'll keep you all updated!

Anyway i suppose i'd better go and do some more work touching up the hardstanding.

A spring Clean (WR)

Well one thing i've done today is to have a complete tidy up. I've sorted through all my stuff and put the vast majoirty of it in the £1 for 10 plastic trays. I really didnt realise i had so much stuff. I already have the kit for the lighting along with spare bulbs, I have enough will sheets of various different sorts to clad the entire house and in terms of switches, i have enough to control the national grid! Anyway its all been sorted so its easily accessible for future use.

I've now painted the hardstanding with the phoenix concrete grey. It doesnt look too bad, I just need to touch it up and hopefully it should be ok. Then its touching in the rails and the inspection pits before the inevitable weathering. I can also ballast right up to the hardstanding now i know where it is. Then some more weathering.

I have had a problem with a point motor being tight. It seems the hole is slightly narrow and its catching at one end of its travel. Before it was ballasted it was possible to sort it out but its going to be alot more difficult now so suggestions on a postcard please.

I'm also going to try and add the calling on head to the the platform signal. I'm still not sure where it should go or even if the platform starter should be a two or three aspect. Three aspect is slightly better but its more likely its a two aspect.

I'm not sure its all working correctly but once some more of the scenic work has been done i should be able to sort it all out.

The next job (WR)

Well i partook in a trip to the show at Stafford today. Quite a good show in all quarters, the layouts have been better but they certainly werent poor. Some quite good bargains too, £7.50 for the Hornby Rudd and Clam wagons certainly was a good one. For me the only thing i got was some concrete paint for the concrete oddly enough. I also got another working shunt signal which i'm going to fit to the platform road signal. Well thats the plan anyway, trouble is i really dont know where to mount them, In the middle or at the top?

While at Stafford station itself i got plenty of good detailing shots, I could have got more but the light was going, and an two journey still needed to be done to get home.

I've also been through and sorted out my bits and pieces, I've been putting it into 99p for 10 store boxes. I didnt realise i had quite so much!!

Anyway its now time to relax after a day of rushing around. A big update will take place tomorrow as i've been making some notes as to what to do next, but i'll bore you with that tomorrow.

The Colour of Concrete! (WR)

Well there isnt really that much to report. Except that the sanding has been done. Question is what colour is concrete? Hopefully some suitible paints will be purloined this weekend at the Stafford show. Also i'm going to get another calling on head. I have a fake one for the entry signal but not for the platform starter. This should be a working model. I've also redrilled the mount holes for one of the ground signals after i got one rather out of shape. Just fill it back in and bobs your aunties live in lover.

Also rather annoyingly one point doesnt seem to want to play ball. Or rather the motor doesnt want to play ball. Some suitible adjustment will become neccessery.

Also i must say it was rather pleasant this afternoon watching the trains at Temple Meads. Was almost spring like. It was a bit different this time last year when the ground was covered with snow and i had a trip home to Yate on a Voyager!

Back to..... (WR)

Well i painted the hardstanding last night and it looked terrible. Firstly because some of the pot holes were more like craters and secondly concrete paint from Humbrol looks nothing like concrete. Now I've been to a few places today and sadly none have any concrete paint in stock.
Anyway i took the opportunity to do some filling on some of the craters. Its now waiting to dry which given the current weather will probably need 48 hrs.

Other work to happen involves the signalling. I've wired in some extra wires so i can add the ground signals in when general work with the filler is complete. Also the main platform starter has gone in along with the fake which guards entry to the station area. The main platform starter is a three aspect signal wheras the one guarding entry is a 2 aspect (red/yellow) with left hand feather. This doesnt actually work but its need for the sake of clarity.

And talking of stations I've been thinking more about the station area. A construction site is a very good idea, essentially by doing this a simple portacabin can be used to provide a ticket office and as there wont be much station furniture apart from the usual seats, posters and TV screens it seems the right thing to do. Essentially then next job once the hardstanding is done and sanded, but not necessarily painted is to do the rear. This can be done with the scenic break which is going to have be alot narrower than first thought as there is simply not the room. It seemed big enough on xtrakcad anyway :s. I'm going to look at other options as well to see what i can do. Perhaps a simple retaining wall with footbridge over the railway may have to do.

Anyway no update tomorrow due to the need of having to work and do a presentation. Bah!

Dust to Dust

Right well finally the filling and more importantly the sanding is done. Its now time to begin to paint it all. Question is what colour is a normal hard standing. I'd say and creamy kind of colour. But is it really that colour. Well its going to have to be concrete and then weathered down with suitable black washes.
I also managed to lose one of the ground signal heads. I found it again later when emptying the vacuum cleaner. DOH!

Anyway must dash some painting to be done.

The curse of David Bayley (WR)

As its rather to cold to be working in the garage i thought i'd just nip out and get some of the much promised photos. I've uploaded these straight to my fotopic site and these can be found here.

First up is the hardstanding which is not completely finished in those shots. It needs to be sanded down again and some little bits clean off and then painted. Until this it does look quite rough and ready.

The next shots are of the much quizzed ground signals. I didnt know the difference between one yellow and two whites and one red and two whites. I eventually chose the latter but i may have needed the former. They dont look too bad but the still need painting and wiring in. I'm also not sure they are technically correct being one either side but given they have arrows i hope it will suffice.

Theres also a photo of the three low relief warehouses i got from Nigel Crow of MISM., these need to be cut down and have some airvents and a new coat of paint. Although the platform road is straight it isnt parallel with the backscene, whoops!

There is also a shot or two of the panel. This is because i'm actually reasonably proud of it. I dont mind wiring and although i'm not expert it works reasonably well. This is also a reason why there is a photo of the board wiring. Again i'm reasonably happy with the result and it all works. Just!!

Setting things in stone (WR)

Another cold and dark day draws to a close over North Bristol. Its at times like this i tend to reflect on things and the thing that i have chosen today is the fiction behind this layout.
I felt that perhaps the old fiction was a little weak. I had planned to include a WRD but this seemed unlikely so with aid of a modellers license i chose to locate the WRD just off scene on the other side of the scenic break/road bridge. To add to this i made sure that it was only accessible one way. This in theory has meant i could run virtually any time of wagon in any formation.

However i also wanted to create a freight only branch line so again i used the same principle in that trains needed to run round the only place being the station area. After alot of thought it was centred on a Cement Works and a Nuclear flask depot. Essentially with this i can run 4 different trains. Obviously the nuclear flask would remain fairly static but the cement works could receive train loads of coal in both HAA and HEA hoppers and send out going supplies of Cement in PCAs and also in bagged form using normal vans. This simple idea has almost given me some excuse to get away with more or less anything. It also means that the current sidings on the layout can be used for wagon berthing, unit stabling and loco stabling. I prefer to call them my get out of jail sidings as no matter what they will come in handy.

The last two freights to mention are engineers which will use the sidings next to the station and also fuel oil feeder trips which will drop one or two TTAs in the head-shunt to unload fuel.

The loco hauled train has also been sorted in how it will operate. It will pull in and unload, then move the train back slightly so it can run round. Once run round it will propel the stock back to the buffers so it clears the entry point. I'm told this is quite realistic for many stations.

And talking of stations I've come up with an option for the station building. Why not make it so the building is being rebuilt. Therefore i don't really need a building. Also if the extender board is NOT used i don't really need the station building at all. I could just pretend its off scene. This would work in the short term although i would like to do in the longer term. It just this way it doesn't hold up construction work anymore.

And another link into construction work. The polyfilla i put down has more or less dried so i can now being sanding it back. I suspect it will still not be perfect this time but its getting better so i hope most of it adequate.

Anyway enough for now.

More filler time (WR)

Again some time spent filling in all the craters that were left on the layout. TBH i now realise my mistake and i also know now how to mix filler properly. Oh well we learn from our mistakes.
There is really much else to do until the filler dries. Which unfortunately takes an age!

In the mean time i suppose i could spend the time doing more research and getting more links in the process.

The newest of the new (AC)

I know this is primailiy a modelling blog but i do have an interest in aircraft. So i'm pleased to report that after coping BAs new A320 G-EUYF today it did the decent thing and go tech on its return in LHR from AMS. Its only on its second day in service and by the sounds of it it could be out for a while. Oh well just blame the bits the French and tell them to honour the warrenty and we'll be fine ;) :D

White powder of a different kind (WR)

I'm now head to toe in a white dust. yes i've spent a pleasant evening rubbing down the filler i put down last night. Theres good and bad news. The good news is the bits which i did towards the end are ok. The bad news is that some of it needs another application as its sadly a little flaky. I dont mind a little bit of roughness but some of it is almost like craters. Hopefully some time tomorrow afternoon should get the new top on again so hopefully by monday night it should be ready to painted and weathered. I plan to paint it concrete at first and then using a series of washes darken it down. Perhaps i should have used the dry method after all!

The next job i need to do is to install the ground signals and wire them in. I'm a little worried about damage but as long as i'm not cak handed i should be ok. Once this is all done all the wiring should be complete. There is already a feed for any lights which will be fitted although in hinsight it might be better to put and extra circuit or two in so some lights such as internal shed lights could be on wheras extenals would be off. it also looks like i wont be able to fit the strip LED lights in the pits. Hopefully though they can be used in the shed building itself to provide light. I will admit i havent played around with it yet but rest assured playing will be done.

Once all this dirt work is done they can be set up as a pair again so i can get on and do some work on the backscene and then once thats done i can do scenic break. I can also begin to fill in the gaps between the tracks with typical wasteground type rubbish. The photos from Eastleigh and Warrington may come in handy then.

TTFN

A day ranger GM/WR

A pleasant day was had at the Southampton Model Railway Exhibition today. A reasonable mix of layouts and trade. For me though the best bit was the ability to get one board of the layouts back scene sorted. On the MISM stand there were some ex demo low relief warehouse units. Three of these later, its on it way to be sorted. I've uploaded a photo or two to the Westlea Road section of my fotopic site, the link for which is to the right.

While i was there i was also on the hunt for a suitable station building but sadly nothing was found. There were a few possibilities but many required too much kit bashing, something i am keen avoid.

Also some time was spent at the station at Eastliegh and while there i managed to fire off around 100 photos of just general detailing bits that will come in useful for the layout, this included even taking photos of what colour the platforms actually were!

I've also been able to inspect the damage from my time with the filler and apart from a section which i put on a little too wet its not come out too badly, its certainly better than i expected. I need to do some finishing with sandpaper and i suspect a little more filling will be necessary but in most respects i'm not too unhappy with the results. Again some photos will come to show the work as its been carried out. I may add some new sections to my fotopic concentrating on certain scenes as if its all lumped together it seems a little over the top.

Anyway more work to do.....

Action Planning (WR)

Now its time to come in from the cold some serious planning can begin as to what to do next. Do i work on the platforms or do i do the scenic break? Its all very important as sods law states that if i dont get it in the right order one or another could affect it all. The main scenic jobs to do are the scenic break which is planned to be as a road going up and over the line, a little twee i know but it works in my eyes. Along with this is the backscene. I plan to make up some low relief warehosuing using wood shapes cut out to form the ends and then plasticard and embossed sheet etc to clad the wood to make it look like a warehouse etc. I have some i got which need redoing so i shall use these as a base for the rest. Electrically apart from some shaking down and the wiring up of the signals (capacity has got to be put in as i didnt intially plan on having working ground signals. I've got to make up some 25way d plug tag strips so that i can wire these up, which will mean another job knocked off the list.

I've also got some chippy work to do such as the fiddle yard fascia boards and the general front fascia. I've also got to do the lighting gantry for which i already have all the kit. I just need to do it all!

Also i think its out grown the small 3dr car it was designed to go in. A new vehicle may be the order of the day perhaps?

Also what colour do i paint the fascia and fiddle yard cover? I did find a shade of Br Blue in homebase but i think its too dark. Intercity red maybe or NSE red white and blue? Or what about dutch colours or even railfreight with sector logos? I think i may plump for a maroon that the club uses for its layouts as its relativly plain and does look nice once varnished.

Also one other thing in the title you will notice two letters after the title itself. This are to denote which layout they are in relation to WR= Westlea Road and WH= Wellingham. If theres a GM= general modelling and if theres no intials its something else not related to modelling, probably either the rant of the day or aircraft related.

I hate filler!!

Having just spent a few pleasant hours spreading filler to create the hardstanding on Westlea i would be quite happy if i never saw the stuff again! I should have used the dry method as its going to look a right mess and is going to need alot of tiding up once its dried.
Also i've been putting some Eckon ground signals together this evening. And without doubt they have to be the most fiddly thing that is ever possible to make. I just hope they work and it isnt £15 for the pair wasted.

I say all this just as it starts to snow again which has now promptly frozen on the ground. Should make it a good trip out tomorrow morning then. And the met office said it was going to be sunny with clear skies. They must have missed the snowy bits!

First one of this year and of this blog!

Well now the christmas rush is over its time to get back to whevever you have your workbench to see what can be fashioned out of various different things. For me it started a little differently as i had a model railway show to deliver leaflets for. However now thats over work can begin.

First on the agenda is Westlea Road. This is my mini layout (well its 11ft long) and so far has been up and down like a Yo-Yo. Well there is progress being made. The most recent photos are on my fotopic site can be found here:-http://www.37412smodelphotos.fotopic.net/c1695772.html

These were taken as long ago as september which reminds me i must get the camera out and take some more recent photos of it. So far the hardstanding has gone in and the signalling is now in place, which considering there are only three signals (2 ground and one 3 aspect) on the layout it wasn't exactly a challanging project. The biggest problem i'm having so far is the station building, I'm not a brilliant scratchbuilder but there isn't really any suitible building available without having to resort it extensive modifications. I suppose i'll have to spend more time hacking bits of kits and plasticard about to get something that looks vaguely presentable.

The next layout to introduce is Wellingham. This is a co-project between myself and another gent who frequents the same train as me home in the evening. This is essentially a twin track mainline set somewhere in the NW. It will have OHLE so it assumed its north of Winnick Junction where it goes from 4 to 2 tracks. So far only basic planning has taken although some boards now exsist but there isnt anything less interesting than bare boards, so i'll spare the agro for the time being. However once enough has been done i'll post some pics on the fotopic site above.

As you might be able to tell i have a hankering after the early 90s. My easliest memories were of 50s at Salisbury painted in a funny Red White and Blue, tbh i cant really get interested that much anymore. Given i grew with the railways of Wiltshire and Avon in my blood, i never really took to it. My main interest is the NW but i do have some wessex area plans. I just keep getting tempted by that red white and blue livery again. I've uploaded some shots which arent my albums to my fotopic site which can be found here, along with a load of useful modelling shots :- http://www.37412sphotos.fotopic.net/

Anyway i need to go and do some more filling on the hardstanding on Westlea so when i take some photos i actually looks like some work has been done.
TTFN.