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The spoils of War(ley) & Ropley Progress (or lack of!)

TomE

Entry posted by TomE

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Hi all.

 

A rather intense period of work hasn't seen much opportunity for work on the layout recently, however things should start moving again and a trip to Warley has give me a burst of enthusiasm!

 

The main purchase at Warley this year were a couple of the new DCC Concepts Cobalt point motors with a decoder built in, removing the need for a separate decoder. It also brings the price down slightly!

 

I am a big fan of these motors. Smaller than a tortoise and a doddle to wire and programme, they will be my chosen method of point control for a long time I think. This new version makes things even easier, by removing the need for the AD1 decoder on the side, the wiring is now down to 3 wires. Two to the track or bus power, and one to the frog. As the Meerkat says, simples!

 

7d6a69d4.jpg

 

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Over the next couple of days the two picked up at Warley will be installed under the Barry slip which will leave only two points still needing to be wired.

 

As for the top of the baseboards, the only real progress since the last entry here has been a little bit of work around the water tower area. This is quite a sludgy messy area and to recreate this I first ballasted the line, then whilst the Kleer used to fix the ballast in place was still tacky, baking soda was dusted on top then brushed off straight away before being sprayed with rail match sleeper grime to fix it in place. This is then dry brushed with black paint to get the wet, mucky, oily compacted ash & ballast look.

 

It still needs a little bit of work, but here's how things stand at the moment:

 

c7a3ee59.jpg

 

593a5bb0.jpg

 

I'm hoping to make a start on the embankment this week too so hopefully another update in the next few days!

 

Cheers all,

 

Tom.

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SNCF stephen

Those cobalt motors are a dream. I have a spare one going if you are interested. I just need to remove it from my layout.

 

That muck looks spectacular!

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bcnPete
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Nice looking trackwork there Tom...almost a shame to cover it in gunk...but the effect is compelling though!

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Will J

Ah, but it is the gunk that really makes it come alive, the way it builds up around the track (particularly the chairs) seems very 'right'...

 

It is crying out for some random litter/junk or some other colourful 'odds and sods' to add a little more life*, though in my experience the Mid Hants is by some margin the tidiest preserved railway I have encountered!

 

*Some bright, almost dayglo object would stand out well against all the cold, grey oilyness..

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TomE
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Thanks all!

 

Stephen, thank you very much for the offer, but I have all the motors required to finish motorising the points on the layout. You are right, they are a dream!

 

Will, there is some dayglo at Ropley. Not Sea Prince levels, but it's there!!

 

Cheers,

 

Tom.

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