Afternoon,
Just a quick entry to highlight that KoL will be appearing at the Uckfield MRC show next weekend 17/18 October 2015 - Details of the show can be found here:
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/103559-uckfield-model-railway-exhibition-1718th-october-2015/
The support structure has had approximately one metre trimmed from it now, meaning the layout is about 1500mm overall now. I have added a base at the bottom which not only allows more stability to the su
Afternoon all,
3 months since last post Actually have been suffering the post exhibition dip, loss of mojo and snowed at work...however, am on hols for a couple of weeks now so might try to make some headway. My two boys also want me to progress their 4mm shelf layout too which I promised I would do.
Following the one day exhibition at Burgess Hill I have now had confirmation of invite to this years Uckfield exhibition which I am rather excited about. One of the main objectives was to g
Evening all,
A resume of the day yesterday where KoL 2015 had its first exhibition since it was flown over as a box file layout in 2010 - same venue BHMRC one day exhibition.
The first show resulted in a number of changes to be made namely, viewing height, lack of lighting, redoing the back-scene, build the station building, build a fiddle yard, more appropriate rolling stock, general running qualities etc as depicted by the image below:
Following the two makeovers since (the fi
Evening all,
Just a quick update to say that work on the layout has now seized ready for the one day exhibition at BHMRC tomorrow.
Today the layout was erected on its support structure and last minute jobs ranging from works to the front fascia including a few descriptive images and storyboard to the rear fascia track plan diagram with notation for the magnets, isolating sections and turnouts - old school stuff this
Here's a few pics and I will report back after the show on whether
Afternoon all,
Work has been plodding away on the layout of late but haven't had time to do an update so thought I would take the opportunity this b/h weekend.
I had made a mini target programme of activities for Feb/Mar/Apr and May but this has now been converted into a final 'to do' list as the exhibition is two weeks yesterday
This update concentrates on rolling stock, particularly locos which span the eras. I have been doing some research and found pics of Kyle of all locos mode
Evening all,
Quick update on progress around Easter - my recently returned turned down wheels were reinserted and after a second period of running in on the rolling road the locos were tried on the layout - some fettling was required to the two turnouts so the bare solder may be visible in some pics below prior to getting retouched in with a paint brush.
With most of the big tasks for scenery, lighting and wiring undertaken my attention has now turned to the rolling stock. My primary aim
Afternoon all,
A quick update on general progress of late. Lots of small bits and pieces undertaken since the last update. First up the station sign. The original layout has had two different signs during the last two years starting with the Scottish blue one before I swapped it to the British Railways black and white sign.
I have always had a soft spot for the blue signage so set about recreating it. The previous one had been undertaken trying to match the typeface and colour to pics bu
Good evening,
Time for an update...
Work doesn't seem to be allowing any windows to do any modelling after work in the evenings at present so progress is focussed around weekend slots in between family duties.
The wiring has been simplified (how can it be complicated on a layout such as this you ask ) but in the main down to the fact that it was originally constructed 5 years ago in 300mm sections to get in my box files/suitcase, so lots of jump wires etc. A test class 47 managed to
Evening all,
Another heavy week at work lead me to want to get some modelling done this weekend. This followed a lightning 90 minute visit last weekend to the St Albans show to keep the mojo topped up.
Progress has been in the form of fixing the 4 roads to the fiddleyard in place, which has once again put my basic soldering skills to the limit. To aid this process, I have used both Solder paint and red flux from C+L so was feeling a bit light headed after breathing in fumes the last two
First up Happy New Year all
Resolution nr. 1 - more modelling...less thinking about doing modelling
It's been an intense period of work for me up until Christmas and likely through to Easter but having committed to the BHMRC show set for early May there is nothing like a deadline to get one focused.
I had set myself a slightly unrealistic target of getting the Fiddle Yard finished and wired over the 10 day break and although I didn't quite make it, I gave it a fair crack. The inten
Afternoon all,
Subtle reference to the Fawlty Towers 'The Builders' episode in the title there
Little opportunities to do anymore on the FY this week so a splash of grey paint this weekend to keep things moving in the right direction whilst I work out how to resolve the electrical connections.
The fascia has been given two coats of grey paint to match the scenic section and the 2FS logos have been positioned - overall I am happy with the composition which I think highlights the slid
Afternoon all - 6 months since the last update
Work has been relentless and it will continue as that well into the new year...but I have since committed myself to take Kyle to the Burgess Hill MRC one day show in May 2015 as it made its original debut there as a boxfile layout in 2010 flown in as part of my handluggage from BCN and its had a couple of makeovers since then.
Nothing like a deadline to get you focussed Here's the crack - Get new FY and tidy up scenics by 1 Jan 2015 leavin
Good evening,
As Phase I of the 2014 refurb draws to a close (second coat of paint added to fascia and new lettering has been applied) I turned my thoughts to the new fiddle yard.
As mentioned previously I would like to give cassettes a rest for a while and revert back to a traverser running on mini 150mm shelf runners that I acquired some place in BCN.
One of the issues to be addressed was due to the track layout, for run-a-round the train needs to back the stock almost halfway int
Happy Easter all,
Now I have a week off work I am hoping to snuck in a little modelling.
Still need to apply the second coat of paint to the fascia and add some white text which I will try to do this week.
As Phase I draws to a conclusion, my thoughts slowly start to drift to Phase II which is to try and get the layout working again....otherwise its a photo plank and straight onto rolling stock.
This afternoon, I managed to lash up connect my Pictroller and run a few tests...it s
Afternoon,
2nd attempt as I lost the last upload just as I was spellchecking
7 weeks since my last blog update - work has been full on of late but at least I get to travel to Oxford once or twice a week so I get to see a bit of 'real' railway action to compensate...class 66's on long freights are growing on me somewhat
On the last entry I had just been redoing the backscene giving something like this:
New backscene and fascia...
However, when I placed the layout up at pro
Evening all,
Two weeks have passed whilst I awaited a print to return (more on this shortly) coupled with some intense periods at work
Before I complete the fascia framing I had to redo the back scene. Not only had it faded badly but being paper, spray mounted onto a card former, it had also bubbled and delaminated.
Chris Nevard had suggested getting the image printed directly onto sticky backed plastic or onto 2 or 3mm foamex however after a little research, not many printers could
Good evening,
A quick update on progress this week following the initial entry last week and very encouraging comments.
Decided to take on board Rich B's idea (thank you Sir) for losing the corner post to the right hand end and cantilevering the fascia to complete the corner. That corner was troubling me somewhat as it would have meant covering up a part of the dockside in addition to looking like there was a piece of back scene missing.
I sketched out the components and laser cut th
Good evening
First blog entry since we relocated back to UK and the period of re adjusting continues, particularly as we have downsized and have had to shift 99% of my railway stuff from our apartment to a storage garage a brisk walk away. No longer can I meddle and tinker with something located in a spare room...as there is no spare room
Have only managed one evenings modelling since July 2013 which was a crack at a 7mm C+L turnout kit, which is 75% complete...and as I thought this wee
Good evening,
Not had a chance to do any modelling since the exhibition of 11 May 2013 so I guess the next best thing is to think, read and draw about it...
You may recall that this layout is on the list to be scrapped when we move back to the UK in a couple of months, all being well.
Whilst I have had fun making it...and then remaking it, I have to be ruthless in some of my decision making to set the example in our apartment as we have a lot of pruning to be done...plus we have far
Good evening,
I was having a trawl through the KoL images earlier for Chris Higgs and I happened upon a pic that I always liked but it never made it into the final cut.
It was taken on my iPhone, with me balancing dangerously on the edge of our desk in our spare room late one night with only the small directional ceiling mounted spots directed at the layout as it is stored out of use about 2m high on the wall.
I always liked this pic as the light coming in from the right threw some n
Good afternoon,
This post is threefold really...
First, the inset track of CJM is stalling mojo at present so a good time to jump on the overnight sleeper bound for Scotland...
Secondly, I had been asked to provide a few photos to the 2mm Association of the track (for possible inclusion in a revised edition of a 2mm article on track) hence the need to photograph it.
Thirdly, I recently bought a Sigma 70-300mm lens with Macro for the camera so I wanted to test it out.
It was
Update - That title's twofold really.
Firstly, I lost most of last week due to some gastro which struck me down...a trip to a rather fine Indian restaurant here soon put my stomach on track...
Secondly, I got stuck in on some more weathering of the rolling stock. Again, using dry brushing techniques and a few MIG powders with a few strokes with some cotton buds too. Its not up there with Mercig's weathering by a long shot but it has given me a little more confidence to keep having a go.
Update - I am of course referring to weathering. I couldn't put it off any longer so I have had a first bash with a tractor. I also seem to have got a better understanding of my camera so hopefully the latest photos are an improvement...and most importantly are more in focus...
Back to the weathering - Before I tackle the 24 and 26, I thought I would warm up on a class 37. My gradual conversion of a new Farish 37 to 37175 is taking far too long and I will probably strip the aerosoled paint
Update - A number of activities have been taking part of recent, and so to blend against those new FC Barca RMWeb colours I thought I would try a few black and white photos.
Firstly, I recognise that I do need to improve on my photographic skills. The neat Canon A590 digital camera bit the dust recently so I have been using our 'entry level' Nikon D3100 and am still struggling to get good light/depth of field despite using a tripod, manual settings and selftimer simultaneously...
Back t
Update - Its been a bit of a frustrating 10 days or so for me...
Last week our two boys were away on holidays so I took the opportunity to work on their 4mm roundy roundy. I made quite a bit of progress although when they returned this weekend it wasn't long before the screaming, shouting, arguing and fighting started and I nearly went a threw the whole lot on the floor in frustration
So, rather than work on finishing the station building and weathering it, I decided to work a little on
