CloggyDog

Sadly, Nottingborough has had to withdraw for personal reasons. In it's place, we will have our club BR 1970s EM layout, Shirebeck-in-Emswell. This also means a change to the club demo stand where our treasurer Chris will be building O gauge locos and stock, along with answering questions about the club. The showguide will be posted up here early next week.

I've adopted a simpler, less bulky approach for displaying my micro layouts at exhibitions. Not original by any means, Iain Rice mentioned the basic method in his excellent Cameo Layouts book. Most venues have tables long enough for most micros (or multiple tables). But yes, they can be on the lower side. I made a simple and cheap set of folding layout stands from 4mm ply and some small (1in/25mm) butt hinges. These slot into simple battens licated on the underside of the board and hold the stand in a V shape for stability. On a single board, theres one near each end. On multi-board layouts one board will have 2 stands, the others piggy-back off that and have only a single stand. The stands are hidden, along with all the other usual detritus, with a suitable 'skirt' velcroed arpund the lower edge of the board. My stands are about 14in/35cm, on a standard table that brings rail height from floor to around 4ft. The stand height also means rail height aligns with the Tim Horn display stand I use as a fiddlestick support. The stands are common to all my Lack micros. There is a lower (7in/18cm) set which were the original ones I made. However... Most venues also have chairs in abundant supply, soI usually sit to operate and have a couple of extra chairs along the table for viewers to sit and watch the layouts at a nice viewing height. Why stand all day/weekend when you can sit?

Changing of the Light - New Model Army

A good half of my EM wagon fleet ride on regauged Gibson and Romford OO wheelsets. You'll need an EM back-to-back gauge, but it's pretty straightforward a job. Just make sure there's the same amount of axle protruding either side of the regauged wheelset.

Beyond The Pale - The Mission *throws confetti everwhere*

The World Turned Upside Down - Oysterband (but equally could have been Billy Bragg, Barnstormer or many others)

Song To The Men Of England - New Model Army

Between Dog and Wolf - New Model Army

Round The Outside - Blyth Power

No Man's Land - New Model Army

A slight update to our traders, sadly Buzz Models and PG Model Supplies can't now attend, however Neil Cresswell (new and high-quality used OO and N) and the FRS (used continental) have filled the gaps.

Inside the Horse - Blyth Power

Ah... Had the Y5 been a Hill Y4, I'd have been all over that 5#!t, as the young 'uns say. 😣 Still, a Y11 Simplex I'd definitely have, plus the LMS motor car van.

Those middle/lower pics are what inspired me to make my Reading Signal Works micro (follow link in sig)

Going Down With Alice - Blyth Power

A very pleasant day at Woolwich exhibition, Liz line and the 244 played ball allowing me to get there and back with no problems. Still need to get decals for the 50ft BG, will get an order in to Railtec in a day or so (need the numbers for the VoR too) Dounreay's next outing is April 2024 at the Bentley MRG's show in Calne.

Western Dream - New Model Army

Meet You There - Oysterband

Aiming to have this LMS 50ft BG added to the fleet before Woolwich exhibition on Sunday. It's a cut & shut from a Rivarossi Third using Silhouette - cut sides. Decals, glazing and a light grotting to do.

A couple more, structures roughly placed and a train in the main platform road. I've also roughed out an operating sequence using 2 passenger trains and alternating p-way and coal 'freight'

The display box (well, fascia, end boards and lighting strip) are now glued and pinned to the Lack. The back board will wait until the bulk of the scenic work is done. 2 sockets on the right-hand side for the track and light feeds, a pair of spst isolating switches on the left for the bay and headshunt. Lights are 2 LED strips, one warm, one cool. And I've fitted the point handles - innards from choc-blocks just screwed onto the protruding wires. Scenics next, the Woodland Scenics foliage has arrived, so I can crack on with the trees. Coaches have had a blue primer coat ahead of a BangerBlue spraying session in the near future.

Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter - Iron Maiden \m/

The track is now fixed in place, wired up and tested. Point rodding fitted, with some strategic holes drilled in the fascia to poke the point rods through. Ply display box surround is primed and painted, I'll glue and pin it to the Lack tomorrow, though I'll leave the back board off until the bulk of the scenic work is done. The coaches have a coat of primer, I'll get some BangerBlue on them this week, and to the 2nd loco body. Must order the coach number decals from Railtec!

Lovely job! Fond memories of childhood journeys on 306s (Brentwood to Romford on market day, or up to Stratford/Liv St for a day's spotting), especially if one of the 'sofas' was available.

No Greater Love - New Model Army