Duncan.

Looking very, very good. Its better than my first attempt at a layout.

Hi @gingerangles As Andy said both shows are confirmed. I will be updating raffle news on both Shirebrook and Hobbs Bridge Goods threads. Thank you for your support. I hope I can sell tickets to RMweb members pre event.

You are quite right Dave, one of the prizes will be a Dapol class 56, a Dapol class 50 and another yet to be selected. All the models have run regularly on Shirebrook, are weathered and detailed/modified as appropriate. All funds raised will be donated to Moorlands Hospice Oxenhope where my late friend and Shirebrook layout operator Robert spent his final days. RMweb readers generous support will be very much appreciated. Duncan

Robert last operated the layout at the Barnsley Show last November. He is pictured here 3rd left with his son Harry on the far right.

And the latest views from Hobbs Bridge Goods It's a case of spot the newest detail really! Cheer Duncans

This post refers to Shirebrook please see links below, however it may be the most important in the threads. Today's running day was arranged for one of our operators, Robert, after he received a terminal diagnosis for returning cancer. Sadly he passed away earlier this week. We continued with the running day at his and his son Harry's request. Harry also operates the layout. The stock on the layout in the main belonged to the operators. You may be aware that Shirebrook will be retiring from the exhibition circuit later this year, our final shows being Loughborough in August and TINGS (Leamington Spa) in September. It has been my intention to hold raffles with some of the locos and stock from Shirebook up as prizes. We will be sending profits from the raffles to Manorlands Hospice, who looked after Robert in his final days. Please repost and get as much support as possible. Final details TBC but I hope tickets will be £1 each. One of the prizes will be a weathered 50149 from Dapol, other prizes will be some items of rolling stock and probably a class 56 from the Shirebrook stock box. Cheers and thanks Duncan

Hi Woodenhead, Today's running day was arranged for one of our operators, Robert, after he received a terminal diagnosis for returning cancer. Sadly he passed away earlier this week. We continued with the running day at his and his son Harry's request. Harry also operates the layout. The stock on the layout in the main belonged to the operators. You may be aware that Shirebrook will be retiring from the exhibition circuit later this year, our final shows being Loughborough in August and TINGS (Leamington Spa) in September. It has been my intention to hold raffles with some of the locos and stock from Shirebook up as prizes. We will be sending profits from the raffles to Manorlands Hospice, who looked after Robert in his final days. Please repost and get as much support as possible. Final details TBC but I hope tickets will be £1 each. One of the prizes will be a weathered 50149 from Dapol, other prizes will be some items of rolling stock and probably a class 56 from the Shirebrook stock box. Cheers and thanks Duncan

Hi, Here is a weekend update for Hobbs Bridge. I have been around the layout with the air brush mostly weathering the ballast. The platform is painted. I used a mixture of Acrylic paints and pva glue for the road surface, sprinkled with a mixture fine sand and wood powder to complete. Please note most surfaces are only base painted , scatter and static grass to be added, the scene is far from complete. I use the photos to study the work I have completed, spot areas for change and or improvement. Cheers

Here are the latest photos, just the area round the platform base painted. There will be steps at this end of the platform and a foot crossing for staff to access a works bus for onward travel into the nuclear plant. Cheers Duncan

Hi, I think you've hit the nail on the head, what indeed, may be over the hill? I have only the platform to paint. Air brushing and scatter/static grass to follow! Latest photos to follow....

Probably not (yet)... I will have to purchase a bubble car... in the meantime it will have to be a loco and one or two coaches.

Weekend past progress.... a few details added,,,, landform completed with installation of platform for a passenger service for employees only of the nuclear plant I'll get the base colours down soon and the track bed weathered next. Cheers

Hi Andy I'm sure your patience on this mammoth job will be well rewarded, certainly looking good.

I am a firm believer in using all modern technologies to make sure parts stick together.

Thanks David, valuable info. Do you have any contact details for Andrew Hartsthorne, I may go into production myself. Thanks for your kind comments. Cheers

By way of light relief I thought I would include some photos of the current situation. I have used Redutex for the cobbled area of the goods yard and access road. The ballast looks very messy and far too clean in these photos. It really is not so bad but I do need to take the airbrush to it and weather it down. Cheers Duncan

The control panel is constructed from ply wood The layout is wired for dc operation. The black toggle switches operate servomotors to operate the turnouts via a Peco smart switch system. The yellow toggle switch turns scenic lights on. The red push buttons power pk electromagnets for uncoupling operations using DG couplers. Red leds on the mimic indicate position of the turnouts. The bundle of blue wires connect to the layout while the white cable is the power supply from the power supply box.

Hi Here is the control panel and power supply for Hobbs Bridge. All the dangerous stuff.... mains is contained in the near box. The white cable connects to the control panel and is only low volts 24 and 16v ac (safe). The internals of the power supply On/off switch (mounted on lid) and transformer.

However Kevin, what you see is just the base.... I will be adding scatter and static grasses in due course. I have a couple of buildings and lights to 'plant' and the backscene to paint, and much detailing... please look out for future updates. Cheers

Hi David, The intended model will use Daubhill as inspiration in the architecture etc, it won't be a direct copy, but I hope to capture the 'feel' of the area. I won't be starting construction before the Autumn. Collecting materials and making plans for now. Cheers Duncan

Thanks Keith, tried that didn't work!

Hi David, You are correct. If I can ask you to check recent posts in the Shirebrook thread you will see that Shirebrook is being retired this year from exhibitions... last one at TINGS, and you will see a brief peak at my new project using Briish finescale track. Tell me your thoughts! That will also use DGs.... Cheers

Morning , I had intended to upload this photo last evening , however, no matter how I tried it was upside down (uploading from phone). If anyone knows how to upload from a (samsung) phone without the photo turning upside down please pm me! This weekend progress; roads smoothed, coping stones added, buffers painted, concrete hard standing formed and painted, platform started. Cheers

Any photos etc of your layout with the handbuilt track Rich, I would like to see that. Cheers

Thanks for your kind thoughts NIck. In response to your remarks posted above I would say that the rail alignment was existent long before the power station. Being a former 'main' line it was built to good standards and provided a reliable connection to the site. My assumption was that this was the closest point to the site. Trawsfyndd was built near Bleanau Ffestiniog high up in the hills of North Wales. The other inspiration for this layout was Devils Bridge near Aberystwyth, Hobb being another name for Devil. Cheers