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.