How do central heating systems know when theres a cold snap on ?

Just about to go out and purchase some bits for the board including the track, Lenz system & the first bag full of assorted scenics and the boiler packs in !

So, as well as being cold this weekend the wallet is bracing itself for the plumbers bill next week and not a visit to the model shop. This challenge really is turning into a challenge and then some !

Good job we have plenty of time so a bit of saving wont do any harm to the boards progress and I can get on with building the next structure which I already have the materials for.

Meanwhile, plumbing & heating issues aside, the board progressed a little further this afternoon with a coat of 'Dark Sky' gloss by Johnstones.

The support table by the way is a very handy piece of kit I found on the Cromwell Tools website. Currently on offer at ??26 it folds and locks in half a bit like a paste table but has legs of steel tube construction and a hardwood top with a gloss coating. The legs all fold in and a carry handle is included. Very handy and just the right size for Challenge entries. Link below for those interested -

http://www.cromwell.co.uk/PRO8000004A

Had a half used tub of plaster repair in the garage and seeing as it dries quickly, is sandable and doesnt weigh much when hard & dry I decided to use it up and create some variation in the surrounding land around the running lines. Still have more to add but whats done so far will help to give the stabling point area a bit of depth and seclusion for the photos & the lump on the other side that spans the 2 boards will help to break up the uniformity of the brick wall that will run along the face of the raised loading roads.

After another check for warping and that the boards were fitting together smoothly we decided to have a little play with some trains and took a few rough measurements for the next structure which will be right on the front edge of the scenic board butted up to the front panel on the fiddle yard board. It will be as tall as the building at the back on the raised section and span the 3 running lines on the lower section to provided some cover from activity in the fiddle yard.

With several pipe runs and conveyors running from this structure to the back structure the view to fiddle yard should be obscured enough and with the fiddle board detached a perfect camera angle will be provided looking through the structure down towards the stabling shed.

Right, back to the workbench for some balsa bashing whilst dressed in wooly hat and gloves to keep warm !!!!