Hi Missy

Some people will always critisise I am afraid - most of them wont ever show anything of their own though so sod em. You will naturally form an idea of who's opinion you hold dear and whose you dont. Exhibiting can be tiring but its great fun - go for it.

Cheers

Jim

Hi Missy.

Putting anything of yourself into the public arena can be nerve wracking - try performing your own songs for instance!

Operating such a good layout as yours is not likely to draw anything but praise, so I wouldn't worry.

I'm looking forward to seeing Highclere in the flesh - it may even tempt me to the Golden Jubilee you mentioned on Saturday, when I dropped by the stall!

Chris

Thanks guys for the vote of confidence

The reason why I mentioned it was because I seem to be finding quite alot of comments about poor layouts and the way they run etc, mainly in the exhibitions comments where someone would be dissapointed with a particular layout, era, or scale. I know my layout is far from perfect but its my best attempt and I have put alot of effort into it and I have never said to myself 'that will do' but done everything to the best of my ability. The whole exhibiting the layout thing frightens me in a way, after all I am building it for me.

Michael. I have heard you will be dropping in on the show which is cool. You can have a play on the layout if you like.

Pete, you are right. I currently have an 02, 08, 33?, and Warship ready for the layout (although the 02 and 08 arent really any good for it). The 37 is still N right now. I dont mind diesels at all, just prefer steam engines.

Pugsley, it was nice to meet you and have a chat on Saturday and thank you.

And thanks Jim for the vote of confidence.

Its late and I am waffling

Missy

Hi Missy.

Putting anything of yourself into the public arena can be nerve wracking - try performing your own songs for instance!

Operating such a good layout as yours is not likely to draw anything but praise, so I wouldn't worry.

I'm looking forward to seeing Highclere in the flesh - it may even tempt me to the Golden Jubilee you mentioned on Saturday, when I dropped by the stall!

Chris

Hi Chris

Thank you. Performing you own songs? That sounds interesting. You really should come to the expo regardless, Im sure with your abilities you will pick up loads of great ideas and who knows maybe even try something in 2mm FS?

Yes, sorry about that on Saturday, it only clicked who you were when you started talking to Mark! I have been admiring your stuff for a while too!

Missy

I dont think you have anything to worry about at all Missy, like the comments already made exhibiting is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, Your layout is fantastic and at the end of the day if your happy thats all that matters.

Graham.

Hello

Thanks for all the encouragement guys. I wasnt really digging for encouragement (although it is nice!), I was trying to get across how nervous I am getting over taking it to exhibitions. Although the whole layout was built so it can be transported around its only now really dawning on me when I go to shows and see layouts there, that it will be me soon. After reading peoples 'frank' comments recently about some layouts has just reminded me that if the lyout is not upto scratch I could be in for a rough time. I guess by the comments I have had about Highclere that people have certian expectations about seeing it and its a bit scary to think I have to live upto those expectations.

Not forgetting the Class 121 Bubble either

 

Not sure if I missed something, but do I understand from above that Highclere will be making an appearance at the 2FS Expo in July? If so, I am booking my plane ticket right now

 

Pete

Hi Pete.

The bubble car has kind of taken a bit of a back seat for now. The only reason why I was doing one was to try out some of Negel Lawtons motos and pulley stuff. I have plenty of other engines to make right now!

I am hoping you are comming to the expo anyway!! TBH I dont think I have had any choice in the decision if Highclere goes or not. It seems it is going regardless

Pete, thanks for the reminder about the 08 and news of the 37. One assumes these are in a decent green.

Michael

Hello Michael.

Of course they will be green. Thats modern image in my eyes!

Anyway, it isnt worth adding another blog entry but I have been busy on the layout again today but with not quite as much sucess as yesterday.

I have finally managed to finish off the last connectors today and get everything plugged together and switched on! The good thing is I was surprised that some of it actually worked, the bad thing is not all of it works. The DCC side of things all works fine and in theory there is no reason why I cannot actually run something on the layout (which is way cool) but there are still a few problems...

1. The 12v circuit which powers the servo controllers, the lights on the control panel, and the relay which switches the 3v lighting circuit is there, but only the servo controllers are working. I have checked to see if there is voltage to them which there is but they dont seem to be working right now.

2. Not all the servos are working. Out of the 4 on the first board only 2 seem to be operating when switched. I am hoping that this is just because they havent been adjusted yet (none of them have been setup)

After trying to figure out the problems for just over 7 hours today I am giving myself a break until tomorrow.

I HATE electrics

Missy

Hi Missy,

I hope the electrical testing and de-bugging is going OK?

Can't believe you resisted the temptation to run a test train or two if the DCC system was working - if it was me I'd have been running 'test' trains up and down for hours!

Look forward to seeing Highclere at the 2mm Expo.

Andy

Hi Missy,

 

I hope the electrical testing and de-bugging is going OK?

 

Can't believe you resisted the temptation to run a test train or two if the DCC system was working - if it was me I'd have been running 'test' trains up and down for hours!

 

Look forward to seeing Highclere at the 2mm Expo.

 

Andy

Hi Andy

Its kinda stopped right now. I have spoken to a few people about the issues I am having with the electricals and the general concensus is the PC power supply isnt supplying enough current so to stop anymore problems now and in the future I am going to remove it and replace it with a dedicated 12v power supply. Apart from that everything works fine and all first time too (well apart from a small short across 2 tracks on a PCB by a bit of solder)

I still havent run anything on it either. I dont really want to until I know it all works.

M.

For someone who "HATES Electrics" that is a superb bit (lot) of wiring, and that control panel literally out-shines (!) anything I have seen elsewhere.

As one who is never likely to exhibit or work in 2mmFS, I suggest a big "Work in progress" sign, and a biggish low level mirror to show off that underneath wiring. I can safely predict that it would be a talking point to silence the critics!

For someone who "HATES Electrics" that is a superb bit (lot) of wiring, and that control panel literally out-shines (!) anything I have seen elsewhere.

As one who is never likely to exhibit or work in 2mmFS, I suggest a big "Work in progress" sign, and a biggish low level mirror to show off that underneath wiring. I can safely predict that it would be a talking point to silence the critics!

Hello Don

Thank you for the vote of confidence, its much appreciated.

I am pretty sure people at the show will realise that it will be unfinished although I am trying my best to get it together into some kind of condition where hopefully it will attract a bit of attention. As for mirrors well, people are more than welcome to look underneath but I am not planning on advertising anything there!

Missy