Spent today just switching off from the outside world and focused on the hobby. Not done much in all honesty but a lot of rethinking has been carried out in regards to Downham.

The biggest rethink was to decide not to bother with the cheap pasting table idea and actually build a proper baseboard. The reasoning behind it is simple, pasting tables are a good, quick and cheap option but it does have its downfalls such as warping, sagging and being quite flimsy. I've tried a few techniques to add strength to the ones I got but I don't think it is good enough for a long term layout.

I've always wanted to build a layout on a proper baseboard but costs and lack of space and having nowhere to put it in the past was off putting. This time round I really want to do it right and have a layout that is built on a proper, sturdy and well-built base. I'm doing my research to find out what materials are best and in the new year, will be visiting my local timber merchant to get the materials.

A good bit of news as well, with the new hobby room having more space, I can make Downham bigger! From 9ft as originally planned to a whopping........... wait for it..... 10 feet!!! (shocker I know). The track plan will not be altered but it will allow for slightly longer trains.

Anyway, thought it was time to add some photo's!

This is the current set up, the stock showing very roughly what the track plan will be like. You can see I've added extra legs to the pasting tables but to no avail.

This is one issue that bugs me, the gap and slight height difference with the pasting tables was a big factor in the decision making.

My 27th Birthday has been and gone and I've got my first little 08. Slade Green's very own Ivor!

My interest in the NSE era knows no bounds. I have a slowly growing collection of memorabilia from old leaflets to tickets. It now includes a bus blind!

And a replica sign that I could not say no to.....

That is all for now, last few weeks of my signalling training to get through then more free time!