Well, I have begun my first attempt at ballasting and...it's going. I'm trying out the gadget from Green Scenes to help lay it, which is doing ok but not as quick and simply as the demonstrations/video's would have you believe, but then what's new. My big negative against it is the total lack of instructions, so it's a trial and effort thing, but it's getting better. Hopefully it will look ok when it's finally dry, and lightens up as it seems to have gone quite dark. Early days.

If anyone out there has tips for ballasting the points, then I'm all ears

Scalescenes have proved there worth to me once more, as I make a start on the scenery plans and print off some tunnel mouths. So far it is literally just the mouths, the rest of the construction can wait till I've finished moving things about to find where I want it bewfore I waste ink and effort on what may actually be unused.

So I am faced with the reality that other than ballasting, lots more ballasting, moving forward is halted until I buy the insulation panels to construct the centre island area, as looking at it 90% of the rest of the scenery is going to interact with it, so can't really be moved forward until that is in place. I do however have the fun of attempting to construct my static grass applicator, although static grass would be an advantage to see if it actually works.

On other news, for my birthday last week I went to the BRM show at Doncaster, and I have to say it was worth all the logistical nightmare of getting there. A great day out, with some wonderful displays and demo's (The hands on 'lesson' at weathering was an eye opener, and on my list of things to try now). Loved 'Cliffhanger' (how many trees), and it was good to see Black Country Blues in the flesh after reading about it each month in the magazine and forums. I took along my bestie who isn't a train person, and the yard stick for me was how much he enjoyed the day even though it isn't his thing. My only regret was having little (read no) money, as I could easily have spent a fortune. Next time I'm saving up.

What was good for me in a practical way was the stand for Digitrains, who let me get my hands on working DCC units, letting me see the differences in units. Up until now I've only really seen the Bacman Dynamis in use, so trying different types was great. Although awkward to buy due to limited retailers stocking it, for the difference in price I am set on going forward with the NCE powercab system. It's about 20 pound more than the Dynamis, but it seems alot more for the buck. Of course at 130 pound ish it's out of view right now, but then at around 100+ so's the Dynamis so it's horses for courses.And yes, I know the NCE isn't wireless, but that's not really an issue for me.

So that's how things are right now, nothing much changing but at least I can start to move forward. Or backwards depending on your point of view...