roundhouse

I tend to use Soundtraxx decoders in North American locos that have sound but Digitrax in non sound locos especially my N scale American locos as I make use of the transponding functionality with the Surroundtrax sound box. In my British outline N scale I have used numerous manufacturers decoders without issue . However I tend to use Zimo sound and non sound decoders these days. Loksond are also fine but IMHO Zimo have the edge without having to play around with the CV settings for motor control.

Its just another thing to weigh up when planning. I doubt that we will be in DC anyway, more likley to be Texas and then possibly the NW.

We are considering being across the pond over Xmas but one thing putting us off is any potential issues after the election especially if the orange one loses again. This Summers plans to be at the NMRA convention in Long Beach was deterred by he special hotel rate of $210 per night plus taxes , breakfast etc even before looking at flight prices in the middle of UK school holiday time. Been busy ferrying mum to and from hospital. We are less than 3 miles from the hospital but its a 45 mile trip to collect mum and take her home again. One trip yesterday and another Thursday late afternoon . All for various tests although yesterdays was the only one that was not a good outcome which had already been explained a year ago but it only sunk in with Mum yesterday. Younger people they can operate but not at her age and frailty. Brother from HK was at Mums last week took mum for blood test at the hospital so we just had one trip that week but brother has just flown out to his boat in Granada to get his boat ready for a trip through the Panama canal. Thats one trip that I would love to do but he could be waiting a few weeks to go through and we have shows to do. Friday we are helping on a friends layout at the Macclesfield show then a week later helping another friend at the Swiss society do at Kidderminster SVR. Plenty of apres show drinking.

In recent months I have been working on quite a few non railway models. Firstly, these were a commission for a fellow railway modeller using resin kits. A fair amount of filing and filling plus some research to add extra details such as wing mirrors etc. but not quite 100% accurate. There is a book on Rugby Cement vehicles but is not cheap for potentially a one off build. number plates have been added since the photo was taken. Next, a few aircraft for my self. This Airfix FW190 was bought for £1 . The kit decals are showing heir age but once weathered the yellowing should blend in more. The tail decals are no longer supplied in many kits so a whole sheet cost £5 and are a little large but will do till I find some the correct size. It must be around 40 years since I last built a German WW2 kit. And lastly for now, an Academy Kit of a USN F2H-3 also known as a 'Banshee'. A kit that had been on a show traders stand for months and I finally decided that it needed building. I managed to get a bit of overspray under the masking tape on the canopy so I used a bit of IPA to remove it but it fogged the canopy. Not had this issue with other kits but luckily a bit of polishing and Pledge clear varnish sorted this out so be careful with any Academy clear glazing.

Looking forward to seeing the layout at Macclesfield as its some years since I saw it a Wigan. I will be helping on Star Lane.

Yesterday I finally got around to fitting the Tilmanstone wagon onto the disused section of track. At privatisation quite a bit of the old EKR rolling stock was diamantled on this siding but on the layout this one was missed. its held on to the track using wire wrapped around each axle and passed into drilled holes in the ballast and stuck using canopy glue. A small amount has been applied to the track to hold the wheels in place for a bit of extra grip. There isn't a spare slot in the stock boxes for this wagon hence fixing it in place. The photo below whilst a little out of focus gives the presepective of the wagon on the layout from the viewing position.

Superb pub if you like ale and cats

Our neighbours cat came in our house the other day and jumped up on the sofa to lay down next to my other half. He has also started jumping up onto to her laptop when she is working from home, so on warm days we have to keep the conservatory door shut to stop him coming in. However this cat cat is waiting for bar service in a pub in Clerkenwell on Thursday when we were in London.

A couple of weeks ago we were in Manchester and Glossop. On passing through Dinting towards Glossop the old disused platform building where the Dinting railway museum was next to, is still just about standing but probably for not much longer

Star Lane is currently being checked over by Mike prior to him loading it for the show. He has a little bit of my green stock plus Star bridge signal box as I am coming by train. I will have a different class 33 this show to the one in the photo. Mike and Phatbob have quite a bit of new stock to run on the layout.

A quick update to say that the outing in September is confirmed for the Faversham show.

Its quite different these days to how it used to look. We must make another trip as havent been there since 2019.

I now get my vehicles serviced there. Also a Toolstation, Halfords service centre and a Screwfix.

A Turkish Airlines plane on a 'go around' in the strong winds as we departed Gatwick on a Littlehampton train diverted via the Arun valley due to a landslip near Hassocks yesterday.

I travelled on it a couple of weeks before it finished. The staff were talking to each other that for now they sill had jobs in maintenance as the operator is a our boat company. Even the modernised pier at Gravesend is now empty but once had a bar or two plus a few small shops.