The Welcome Mat

Welcome to this Blog. Hopefully you may find it of use (i doubt it but it doesnt stop me hoping does it?). All my skills are normally self taught, and at the moment i'm a lone ranger when it comes to my layout with the occasional help from friends (normally it involves alot heckling).

I've never yet got a layout really past the electrics stage. I normally lose interest which is why i've decided to become involved in lots of things so i can vary my time between different things. All the work you see on Westleigh is my own work and all the photos you see on my fotopic sites are again my own work. I'm amazed i havent started to play with it, perhaps leaving the vast majoirty of the wiring to the end helps.

My main interest in railways is principally the early 90s. Even though i only just got into double figures in terms of age just as privitisation came in, i find it a very interesting period. My earliest memories were at Salisbury, Oxford and Bristol. So to counteract this aswell i tend to model the northwest scene during 1990 to 1994. However i also do the Wessex area during the same period and the scottish lowlands during 1988-1990.

I do have a little interest in the 1996-1998 privitisation period. I'm more aware of this period than the sectorisation period and again i wouldnt mind if it turned into this era.

I also am working on a project of Devizes station in 1963/64 just before alot of the line was rationalised and eventually closed. This however is a very very long term project and probably wont get anyway for many many years yet.

I do spend alot of time in the summer out an about doing photography particularly of civil jet aircraft. I'm certainly no David Bailey but i'm reasonably proud of most of the photos taken.

Anyway i suppose i really should get off the computer and get on with some modelling work, except work has a tendancy to get in the way!

Friday 29 January 2010

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.
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