Hello,
Well,....Been another while, I might get better at regular updates one day.

So, another change of track plans but this time their set, still two main running lines however rather than a single branch station I've managed to squeeze in a small terminus, I've switched the side of the junction so rather than on the left side flowing to the right it now runs rights to left with the terminus situated at the left front edge.

The terminus comprises of 3 platforms, all three long enough to fit 5-6 coaches with a run around in the centre of platforms 1 and 2 with 3 being used for DMU's or parcels using a head shut for loco release, it's no Kings cross or Newcastle central but more a modest Penzance which is where i drew inspiration from, built in the hay day but now used just by local commuter trains and parcels making occasional stops with the majority of traffic passing by on the main line. Also having the terminus situated at the end of the baseboard does allow for extension in the future by extending the platforms and also space for a 4th.

I have maintained the two double slips which keeps my wish of a complex junction, signalling for which is going to be a challenge. Using insulfrog double slips is easier to install however when joining them to elctrofrog and other points its creates dead spots between the live rails so ensuring each positive and negative line has its own power supply is essential, one tip is once (finally) happy with the track plan, wire it up using droppers wrapped around the bus wires and run a 0-6-0 loco over the point work, this type of loco will soon show any areas which require additional power supply, preferably a Railroad or Lima loco too as these normally have a less pick ups and if you have any issues which you can resolve running your Bachmann class 66 or Hornby class 50 will have no trouble.

Which brings me onto new fleet members, so due to my job i travel around the country a lot and when i travel somewhere new (to me) i like to see if there is a local model shop in the area, i recently visited portishead and googled the area and a lovely little railway shop called the Model Railways Direct, all brand new stock and stocked to bursting point full of locos, rolling stock and scenery and not just OO gauge, N and O gauge and i think i saw OO9, the staff were really helpful, i believe it was the owners, more that happy to help and advise and even check stock as i couldn't see an item i was after (Hornby HST in BR blue and grey, which is no where), i digress, so in this lovely shop i picked up a shiny new Hornby elite, i know a lot of people dislike the Hornby controllers but after being a Hornby select user for ever the switch to the elite was very easy as it's a very simply unit to use.
I also picked up a Heljan class 33 in br blue which is an awesome model but the only issue is that the detailing on the front and rear of the loco fouls the coupling but after a few minor adjustments this can be rectified.
Another purchase is a Dapol class 121/122 in br blue, again another awesome loco, runs like a hot knife through butter which i got from a loco store to me which is Westons Model rail shop, which is in Swindon.
Lastly I picked a lovely little Bachmann class 08 in br blue, had to give it a service as it was a second hand model so hadn't been used in a while but now is also running like a dream.

Right, onto the projects....
I had to work away for a couple of days so managed to get on with some of the repaint work, all paint work was removed from the class 31 but in addition i managed to strip the paint off my old GB built Hornby HST power and dummy changing them from intercity livery to BR Blue, all have been undercoated white and then taped up and yellow ends applied, wasn't the best finish i was hoping for, i thought id stuck the tamia masking tape down well but i guess the airbrush is a lot finer and can find all the little nooks that might not be noticable to the eye.
photos will follow however i haven't backed up my google photo account so the most current pics aren't ready yet.