It has been a few weeks since I last posted in this blog and that rather reflects the lack of progress on Skaleby West recently. At every turn work seems to get in the way. First it was school report writing. Then it was parent’s evenings and more recently it has been SATs marking. If that was not enough the local authority have chosen our school for moderation this year, resulting in yet more work as I compiled the evidence for the “dragon†of a moderator who will be visiting me just after half term.

The half term holiday did give me some modelling time, in fact more than I originally expected as the bad weather caused several cancelled trips out. On the first Friday I had planned a trip to the Severn Valley Railway whilst my wife was visiting her mum, only to postpone the trip due to bad weather. So a full day’s modelling then!

First I tackled that troublesome final point motor. I finished filing the hole to open it out, and test fitted the new motor. Thankfully the arm moved freely, and after a large amount of “jiggling†I managed to get the motor to fully change the point in both directions. New screw holes were drilled and with a real sense of achievement I screwed the last motor into place. I couldn’t resist a quick picture. The fitting of that motor has been a long time in coming!

No sooner had I fitted the motor I moved onto the station platforms. These were placed in-situ and then clearances were tested with a Hornby coach, initially propelled by finger power, and then by my recently purchased Bachmann 3F. I couldn’t resist running it! Once everything was in the correct place I marked this on the baseboard before marking and cutting out the cork base. This was then glued down, with the platforms placed on top, with tools on top of them to weigh down the cork whilst it dried. Things were then left overnight to dry.

* Gluing down the cork base for the station. My home layout, Skaleby, can be seen in the background.

* Checking the clearances for the station.

* My Bachmann 3F on test. The rough floor plan for the show can be seen in the background.

During the following week I moved back to the track. I painted the sleepers and the track sides with “Deck Brown†acrylic paint to provide some form of weathering. Although at first things looked a little bit messy, the result was quite effective once the paint had dried.

On the final Thursday my wife was off to visit her mum again and I had once more planned a trip to the Severn Valley Railway. Sadly the weather beat me yet again. Even heavier rain forced me to cancel my trip for a second time and so I was left with a second full day of modelling. This time I finally turned my attention to the ballasting.

For the ballast I mixed some Woodland Scenics medium and fine grade grey ballast with some coarser material purchased from “Brickyard Modelsâ€. To this mix I added a sprinkle of Woodland Scenics medium brown gravel. This was applied to the main running line and brushed into place. More brown was added to the mix before I repeated the process for the run round loop. A sprinkling of Woodland Scenics “fine cinders†was added to small patches of the main running line to indicate where a steam engine may stand when trains pause at the station. The cinder ballast was mixed with the brown and a small amount of grey and this was then added to the sidings. I was quite pleased with the effect, especially for a first attempt. My final job was to glue the ballast down. I followed the instructions given in many issues of the Hornby Magazine. I made up a 50 / 50 mix of PVA glue and water, with a few drops of washing up liquid. This was then dropped onto the ballast via a pipette. Prior to this I wet the ballast with water from a Woodlands Scenics “Scenic Sprayerâ€.

I found the water / glue mix didn’t cover well out of the pipette, but patiently covered the whole layout. After leaving for a couple of hours to dry, I then mixed a second batch of glue, water and washing up liquid. This was then added over the top from the spray bottle. Things covered much better this time and the ballast looked very similar to those shown in the magazine’s “How to†guides.

* Unfortunately things have not run quite as smoothly as I had hoped. Once the glue had dried I found that the points had also stuck fast. I know I should have covered them when spraying the second coat of glue, but never thought that the weak glue would stick them!! Looks like I have to get my "problem solving hat" back on to try and sort this out!

The show

After a quiet spell things have also moved forward with the show. I have begun the advertising for the event. I updated the leaflets to include directions to the school. These have been sent out to some of the traders who have already booked their tables. A supply of leaflets was also left at the Derby show last month. My mother and father have also been displaying leaflets and posters on their stall at various local toy fairs. These have proved useful already, as it jogged the memory of one of the model groups who had yet to get back to me. A quick phone conversation and I have now been able to add another layout and a trade stand to the list. The layout is a Thomas the Tank Engine one which will cost the children 50p for a chance to control the engines. The group have promised to contribute all money raised from this to the school funds. Great news indeed!

With these additional attractions I have now filled the main hall and reckon the corridor areas have now been filled as well. This means I do need to measure up that classroom to see how much I can fit in there.

Until next time…..