Whilst it's not been over busy due to musicy stuff,  I've attended to loads of small bits and bobs - as well having a nice game of telegraph poles.

The small stuff has been putting in the remaining cranks for the point rodding, filing in ballast around the point tie tie bars and some general adding of splashes (?) of grass here and there. The dummies have been weathered and their counter-weights painted black (no idea why I painted them white in the first place!), just need to add the 'lenses' to the double one before it goes in the station throat. The junction bracket has arrived on the workbench for conversion to 'left-hand'.  On the layout I think all the basic work is done, bar fencing which will go in last (in case anything gets in the way!) and on crank I keep forgetting, on the north section. The plan is start from the tunnel mouth and work south doing everything, signal wires, telegraph wires etc as I progress along to the signal box. A trip to McDonalds is needed to get some planks to finish the crossing ;-) And a couple of 'trespass' signs. Oh, and the speed signs... It's amazing how much junk goes alongside a railway line.

So, to telegraph poles. I spotted these Peco ones whilst having a browse. From not registerting to 'must have' instantly - how could I have forgotten them? Easily, apparently. It seemed a bit odd that they come as a kit, but then there are options - different length arms supplied, you don't have to use all the arms/insulators etc. I opted to use all three arms (long variety) and a few insulators, initially because I've then got to fit less wires but subsequently because cleaning up and drilling a 0.5mm hole in the bottom of each insulator is a tad tedious. All went well, and the posts painted Dark Earth on the wood, and Dark Earth/Dark Rust on the steps and empty insulator spikes, with white and black chalk to weather then to 'been there a few years, but not that long' look. Guff that got on the insulators  while doing this took care of their finish too. More follows...