A busy day last Thursday and also today, with the final preparations for the Hartlepool show nearly complete.

I put the layout up on Thursday to test the new alignment dowels that Re6/6 and I fitted a fortnight ago, and I'm pleased to say that they are doing what it says on the tin and making the alignment of the three scenic boards easy, saving us a few minutes off the time it takes to set the layout up.

John (Re6/6) has very kindly let me have a couple of his recent trees for the layout, so to ensure that they don't get damaged in transit (they are too large to stay on the layout when dismantled for transport), they had to have a 'Captain's box' built for them. First, here they are on the layout:

The smaller one has replaced an early attempt of mine, which was built from Seafoam, attached to a twig that used to grow down one of our local lanes, and which will now be quietly retired (unless anyone wants it!). The larger one by the stream has replaced another original tree, which is still OK for use, and which has been moved to the other end of the layout.

The box took a couple of evenings. In the end, I decided to use some Sellotape to help hold the Dalerboard together. In practice, this will last OK for a few years before needing replacing:

Some time was also spent revamping the displays that go on the outside of the fiddle yard screens, including a completely new one based around the Hornby Magazine article from 2007, featuring Chris Nevard's excellent photos.

Finally, the last bits of buffer beam detail were added to the Stanier 2-6-4T and some couplings to a Jinty, and the bodies taken out to the shed for the first stages of weathering. A coat of grime consisting of Humbrol Metalcote black, Tarmac 112 & Matt Leather 62 was applied, and then a second spray with a little bit more Leather was added from a lowish angle.

The chassis of both locos had previously been weathered by brush, using the above colours plus some additional ones, including Railmatch 'Oily Steel'.

More weathering, using dry brushing and some powders, will be applied tomorrow and early next week: