Evening all,

Today marks two weeks since I took over the running of the layout, so I thought I would post a little update of what has been going on.

Other than sorting out stuff behind the scenes (It's a modellers treasure trove!) and working out how to run two trains at a time on each track, my main area of focus has been the street scene immediately as you enter. Firstly, given the size of the layout it's the most obvious place to start, and secondly it is the first thing people see as they first view the layout.

I've decided that the layout will be updated to portray a rough approximation of the 1980's. I reasoned that such a setting will look modern enough for non modellers to identify with (and possibly invoke a bit of nostalgia!), whilst at the same time allow for the running of steam locos or some of the post privatisation stock without things looking too odd. Modellers license is a wonderful thing. I would also add that my decision is in no way my excuse to run more classic diesel traction such as class 20's and 50's when I book stock out onto the layout...

With that in mind- The street scene. Or Cowley Road as it is now known.

The original depiction had been of a Victorian/Edwardian street, complete with etched brass iron railings and cobblestones. When it was installed thirty years ago, and indeed when I was a boy it looked fantastic. Sadly time had taken its toll.

The cobble stones I can only assume were some sort of sticky backed sheet which you trimmed into your road shape and stuck down in situ. They were also rather spongy to the touch and after many years had become marked, gouged and a magnet for dust as can be seen in the post picture. It was time for them to come up.

Armed with a scraper I began at the road tunnel end. Initially only the top layer of cobbles came off leaving a sticky, black and uneven mess. With a little more work I managed to get down to the board and the job became a little bit easier.

The next step was make a template for the new road surface which I made out of A4 paper cut lengthwise into strips and stuck together with tape. I then laid the now one long strip onto the road and marked out the shape using the pavement edges as a guide. With the road shape and width now marked out, I cut out the template and then split it back into smaller strips ready to be marked onto the A4 plasticard. It was then just a case of cutting out the road surface, checking the fit, labelling and painting with acrylic paint mixed to a suitable shade. Voila- One half of a new tarmacked road surface ready to be placed on the layout.

Before I laid the new road surface, I wanted to turn my attention to the houses.

The etched brass ironwork was removed as well as any figures, plant pots and bins and duly placed on my 'current project shelf'. The state of most of the houses was really very good considering their age and only one- Yes one downpipe needed replacing!

A couple of the houses however did need a lick of paint. I would like to add that these buildings are VERY firmly fixed in place, so rather than risk breaking them trying to get them up, I repainted them in situ. With most of the trains still running. I don't think my back has quite forgiven me yet! I also took the opportunity to paint the pavements before the road went in, which was finally stuck down onto the board using PVA and touched in after drying.

Hedges were then added to the front walls of the houses to replace the ironwork, which I had to pilfer from other parts of the layout.

Lastly, a couple signs were added to the Methodist chapel and a 'For Sale' board put up on one of the houses.

In-between all of the house painting and road building, I have also begun to construct some modern day street lights. So far only the main poles have been assembled out of plastic tubing, and the holes drilled into the pavements to take them.

Next week I will be tackling the other half of the street, replacing the cobbled road surface in the same manner, modernising some of the shops and continuing with the modern street light construction.

But that's not before a well earned two days off after seven days on!

Incidentally if you are in the area over the weekend, why not pop in, take a look for yourself and say hello!