Kyle - More Tutbury tractors...
Evening all,
As per Andy’s blog update, there was a 2mmFS Supermeet in Tutbury yesterday. I have posted a few thoughts and photos from the day on the exhibition thread so here’s an update on Kyle as part of the show.
Took the day off Friday to run some tests and check my two 37’s ran ok as had just received them back from Coastal DCC - Kevin had done a great job hard wiring the lights and also introducing a stay alive to them. In trying to reduce the amount of ‘stuff’ I usually take to exhibitions I decided to knock up a quick A4 workbench as my A3 one is a bit overpowering to travel with...and slides around the car during hard cornering
Armed with a brand new A4 cutting mat and some scraps of foamboard I fashioned this which fits neatly in one of the plastic crates.
Below, is a small drawer inset, a remnant idea from my Moorswater viaduct RMWeb competition entry...allows me to be selective in tools and leave the kitchen sink back home!
I set off from London around 2pm for the scheduled 2hr 45 journey but our Tom Tom spat me off the motorway into this...
...lots of hard braking to avoid tractors and farm vehicles ensued Finally I was back on a motorway around Brum and arrived around 6:05pm 4 hours after I set off...nice timing in fact as the Village hall opened at 6:00pm
Arrival in Tutbury was marked by seeing the castle on the hill, where apparently Mary Queen of Scots was held prisoner about 500 years ago...
The layout was fairly quick to set up and I ran some quick tests - I apologised to my immediate neighbours (the superb Lightermans Yard) that I had some sound fitted engines and would be providing some background music for the Saturday I brought along some of my recent mock ups (Loch Awe and Exeter St David’s) and also my work in progress DJLC entry Meeth to get some feedback.
Some new traversers have also been built with the idea they can be used on a number of differing layouts.
The evening was capped off by meeting Bryn, Pixie and Matt (who had timed a visit over from New Zealand for this) for a few beers and a curry...
The next morning after a hearty breakfast, the track was cleaned again, stock set up and the event kicked off at 10:30am. A very nice relaxed informal atmosphere was had, wandering amongst the layouts, demo stands, 2mm Association shop and ‘N’ Brass stand. So good to meet old and new friends and put some names to faces.
The tractors performed well and overall I was pleased with the running quality aside from a couple of derailments and the usual DG coupling alignment issues...must get around to re set all the heights. I think I may also dispense with the Dapol knuckle couplers between coaches as they are quite rigid and can sometimes help derail stock.
Matt kindly helped out with cover and at 6 foot 10” I was slightly worried that he would have back ache from stooping over to see the DG’s had worked
Overall I received some very nice comments on the layout and also some great feedback and interest on Meeth and the mock ups. It was a great gathering and am very pleased I attended as I came away very inspired.
Many thanks to John Aldrick and all the others who organised the event. I look forward to the 2mmFS 60 year gathering in Derby next summer
Pete
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