Hi,

It's been a couple of months since the last work update, so there's quite a bit to catch up on.

Shows

TINGS 2015 - 12th / 13th September 2015 (4 weeks) - http://www.ngaugeshow.co.uk/

Going Green....er

Allot more work has been done on the Scenic Modules, we have started to build on the base layer of scatter and clump material that we had already applied. We have been adding trees and larger bushes to the top of the retaining wall. Again we've been using some more of the Woodland Scenics product range, this time Fine Leaf Foliage, which is quite easy to work with, but for 2mm, we have to do quite a bit of trimming to get things the right size for planting. We've also been adding some detail to the base of the Retaining Wall, adding clump foliage to represent smaller bushes which are growing out from it's base. Here are a few pictures to show progress so far.

Industry Fencing

We have always wanted to fence in the Industry Buildings on the right of the Scenic Modules and had previously bought some 8' Pallisade Fencing from N Brass Locos. The fencing is available in 10cm strips and there is also an etch available which contains gates that you can fit. The etches themselves are very finely detailed, but surprising easy to work with and even forgiving if you're a bit heavy handed. As we needed to put together quite a few sections of the fence, rather than using super glue, we decided that it would be better to solder them together. This is a little tricky, but as long as you are careful the results are fantastic. You get some additional posts on the etches and we made use of these to add some angled supports which you often see on long runs of fencing. We opted not to drill holes in the baseboard to mount the fence and instead decided to use some of the spare posts and bent them at 90 degrees to provide feet, which we could then glue to the modules. Rather than spray the fence grey, we decided to use dark green to provide a bit of contrast. Here's a pic taken just after spraying.

Shunting Frame

Our on-scene sidings are not intended to be part of the rail network as they are privately owned by the industry, as such we have built a small shunting frame which will be sited near the entrance. Access to and from the mainline is assumed to be controlled remotely from a signalling centre. The Shunting Frame itself is just a small version of a signal box and it has an associated brick built equipment building at the side of it. We have also decided to place a fence around these buildings, probably more for the safety of the workers than for security of the buildings.

Track and Lineside Detail

As part of the Scenic work, we are adding further track and lineside details. In the last week we have added:

• Equipment Cabinets - located near the signals initially, but we need to install more for other uses
  
• AWS Ramps - placed a scale distance away from the Signals (about 180m)
  
• TPWS Grids - with Arming and Trigger grids before the Signal and a double Arming/Trigger grid at the Signals location
  

Here are a few pics.

Equipment Cabinet and an AWS Ramp

Single TPWS Grid and a drainage Catch Pit waiting to be dug into the Ballast

Double TPWS Grid and a drainage Catch Pit

Running Session

We decided to have a little running session so that we could do some fault finding with the Signals. At the Middleton show, the signals although operational were showing what seemed like random aspects, so they were shut off and used just as dummies. Without the pressure of people arriving to view the layout the solution of the problem was quite simple in the end. After watching the trains go round a couple of times, it was obvious that the signal aspects were reversed, so the aspects would be lit when off and unlit when on. After a quick click in JMRI to reverse the sense of the Accessory Addresses controlling the aspects the signals were working perfectly, so we had a little time to play trains, here's a short video.

Cheers, Mark.