Unicorn1

A nice line up of post war LT types at Brooklands on Sunday

Just a heads up for the Hobby Shop in Faversham, their March Madness sale is now on - bargains on some continental items, plus there's a Dapol Dynamometer car currently at £107 - the prices drop by 10% per day, so as they say 'when they're gone they're gone'. Les

One of my favourite London pubs, and they usually have proper Perry on sale too.

Reminds me of the Joe Meek appreciation society(s)

Another thought before I get to the painting / cork / track laying - I've already decided on the backscene, but how to mount it? Previously I've jus 'stuck' it to the walls, but I'd like it to curve around the edges of the layout; I've left room for this, but what to use? Would flexible MDF be too heavy? There is a gap left around the baseboards for this, but other that this I'm at a loss for what to use. Any ideas anyone? Thanks Les

Progress on Bishopscombe II The main boards finally in place - stable and dead level! - although recovering from a recent hernia op has slowed things down quite a bit! All joined with pattern makers dowels , and each of the 'push fit' legs equipped with an adjuster. Never have so many holes been drilled by so few! Need to seal the tops next then get some cork down, but Mk2 is getting there. Cheers Les

Well I really don't need one, but a lined green one is on the way! Once Bishopscombe 2 is ready it can potter about in the quarry for a while. I did try and resist before, but the price finally made any attempt futile! Maybe the O1 announcement also influenced the decision........ Les

I'm in the process of rebuilding my layout. I use DCC for train control, but have always used DC for points, via an old Hornby transformer, a CDU and a bank of peco passing contact levers. Could anyone suggest a way of using MP1's (I've got one to experiment with!) but via DC only? Three things before I start: I'm used to two wires (+ -) this seems to only require one If I need to use a SPDT switch is it ON/ON or ON/OFF/ON? I will need about eight or nine motors - how do people connect eight 'power' wires to one power source, and eight 'earth' wires to, err, earth? Sorry about the basic questions! Les

After dismantling the layout I now have space to start planning and building Bishopscmbe Mk2. I have deliberately decided on a very similar plan, but with what I've learned over the past 11 years with Mk1 I think I can make this one better - starting from the ground up. Building the boards has started, and a track plan is more or less decided upon. two boards now well underway, and the frames for the others done. And the track plan - as it is for now....... There isn't a bay as such, but an end loading dock from the station forecourt, and maybe the cattle pens could also be on this short siding? I'm not sure I'll keep the cut-out in the second board - but I thought it might b useful for the controls, I need to think a bit more about that! Cheers Les

Thanks Jules I know the feeling. It took me a while to get round to dismantling the layout, but I've done it now so no turning back! The basic plan was just really to see how the new baseboards would work. Cheers Les

Well, only just three and a half years since the last post in this thread! Sadly the original layout had seen better days. It did sterling service, and I learned a lot with it. The layout's baseboards were not very well thought out, and the electrics had become un reliable after after twelve years of 'make do and mend'. So time for a new plan. I need to have the four main boards small enough to get into the railway room through a small opening - so they are two boards 48" x 30" and two by 48" x 24", with an additional extension (the board to the lower right). (Sorry, I still think, and see, in old money!) My old fiddle yard board will be re-used where the plan ends at the bottom of the plan. This is my first draft of a track plan; it's not unlike the old Bishopscombe, which gave me personally plenty of operational interest. So basically any observations on the plan would be welcome, especially the baseboard joints; the scenery is planned to be mostly drop in, so could be removed later if need be. Les

The Bedford (CA ?) behind looked better then too.

On the other side - here's D142 emerging from the museum after much work resplendent in it's new Public livery

Indeed.

I agree, that would be a start.