Pedro32

Latest BL newsletter details are here: http://Dapol.co.uk/image/data/Logos/Black%20Label%20Update%205.pdf Link to latest running clip from the Dapol newsletter is here: https://youtu.be/ki0EvSppL_8 Cheers Peter

Hello, Slowly plodding along. I've got the majority of the signal box parts painted now and have set about adding some interior detailing and the glazing has gone in. Cheers Peter 061 by Pedro Hill, on Flickr 060 by Pedro Hill, on Flickr

Hi, A newsletter update was emailed today. New pictures and detailed spec of what you'll get in the box were outlined.The BL Dapol A4 now expected to arrive during early November, with a holding deposit being taken from those who have registered interest during October. I can only presume that the Dapol digest will be updated soon too hopefully. I'll best get saving and looking forward to receiving mine! Cheers Peter

It's probably worthwhile keeping an eye on the Dapol digest as some art work was outlined some months back. https://digest.Dapol.co.uk/forum/main-forum/class-121-122-aa/project-managers-blog Cheers Peter

Just a small update tonight. The signal box is plodding along- interior painted, doors done and floor added. Next is glazing, and lever frame. Cheers Peter 018 by Pedro Hill, on Flickr 019 by Pedro Hill, on Flickr 023 by Pedro Hill, on Flickr

Hi, Just a quick bit of colour being added to the austerity box, some off white and then the window glazing will go in before floor and interior. Cheers Peter 005 by Pedro Hill, on Flickr 007 by Pedro Hill, on Flickr

So done a little more over the last few days. Including tidying up the corner of platform and construction of the austerity signal box has commenced. The kit goes well together and with a little paint will look fine. 015 by Pedro Hill, on Flickr 014 by Pedro Hill, on Flickr Cheers Peter

Afternoon, I've managed to achieve two things over recent days, the first actually joining all the constructed baseboards together for a short running session. Secondly I managed to make some more headway with the Weymouth branch and can now set about installing a point motor and running a bus wire underneath the front baseboards. Spent the majority of this morning positioning track and drilling holes for the power feeds. I've also added some greenery to the embankment, which will be added to over time. Cheers Peter Before After

Hi Ian, Thanks for the comments. Yes I know. I'm waiting on a ARP style signal box kit to arrive so I can paint it white to resemble the prototype that was there. I'll also have another box towards the end of the small yard that will be based on Truro. Again this will be fictitious as cc only had one box- but modellers license... Cheers Peter

Evening, Well the grass has begun to grow, but this is just a test, as I think this is too dark a colour. I think I'll need something lighter. Possibly WS light green? Once sorted I'll add some fencing will go in and should start to look half decent. cheers Peter

I may even get some more scenic work done on the boards this week, as have some leave coming up. I'm aiming to add some grass textures and some fencing along the whole embankment. Plus I need to finish off the bridge on the first baseboard. The lists never get shorter! Cheers Peter

Lee, Thanks for the kind words ;-) Its a long wandering journey. You can read lots of material but its not till you've actually done the hard graft yourself, including problem solving that you start to get the satisfaction knowing you're heading in the right direction! Cheers Peter

So I managed to find time to complete my wiring this weekend and attached the extra power feeds to the power buses. Before shots: After shots with some wiring tidying and electical track tester showing my work was done: Cheers Peter

Another month and just a small update this time. On testing some locomotives recently I noticed my peco insulfrog points would lose electrical supply once the point had been switched. Not helpful if you're trying to shunt the loco from one running line to another and it stalls and not wishing to reply on using the hand from above I needed to improve things. Since I'd tacked down the track and wired in the power bus supply/ point motors and placed insulated fish plates between my two running lines to avoid shorting, I wasnt keep to rip it up again. Not wishing to rip it all up again I decided to add some additional power connectors and get the soldering iron out. Given that I'd not used it in a couple of years it decided to give up the ghost - though the new replacement has increased my confidence soldering now! before and after shots. I'll report how the testing goes once I've wired it all in. Cheers Peter

Hi, I've taken delivery of the new BR Blue (71012) version and have to say that I'm very impressed with it! The detail pack comes with two buffer beams with pipe work which I imagine slot into the recess where the NEM coupler is and there is a pack of headcodes to be added as required. Performance wise I've only got a 4 mtr part built layout, but its very quiet and runs very smoothly- no hesitation over points, and is a good weight too. The loco is dcc decoder fitted and Rails who I bought it from didn't appear to have problems leading to removal the compartment detailing. It is positive that Hornby have adopted the switches on the underside of the loco for lights and the phantograph. But they should have been doing this for many of their modern image locos for years really, just my opinion though! I am sure the other 71 manufacturer will produce a fantastic product too, and I have ordered a 74 to compliment my current Hornby 71. Cheers Peter

Well I've ordered 74010 today too. Wishing DJModels and this project every success! Should go very nicely with my 4TC

Hi, I managed to grab some time this afternoon to finish positioning the walls and add a bit of vegetation. Quite please with how its turned out. Cheers Peter

Good afternoon, So as I said before not much progress to report lately. I did manage today thought to make a start on the stone retaining wall that will run behind the platforms and have tidies up a recess around a point motor. Stock wise I received the new Bachmann 08 in BR blue livery, which runs very smoothly. I have also begun the invest in some colour light signals, and have upgraded my dcc system from Dynamis to an ECoS Command Station, which is amazing and so far easy to use. Cheers Peter backscene has been added today (before shot) new loco walls taking shape backscene added point motor recess overview new toys

Hi all, Thanks for the comments. No Glasto special's from my station. I'm afraid work and life have absorbed a lot of my time recently. What I have done has proceeded at a snails pace but will post a photo or two over the weekend. Cheers Peter

I am looking forward to seeing the latest developments with the class 59 from Dapol. To the extent that I've got one on preorder. Granted there has been some bumps along the way with other classes, but my two Class 73 locos I received worked straight out of the box and I didn't need to add extra pickups. It was shame this was not universal, but hopefully any further new types will have the snags resolved. Now back to the 59- I'll be watching with interest to see what new wagon is unveiled to go with this loco! Cheers Peter

And while my bridge is drying I thought I'd mock up where the lines would converge. On reflection I will likely replace the short point for a medium sized one to avoid any potential for derailments. Cheers Peter

Afternoon all, In between enjoying some of this early sunshine, I have also managed to do some more modelling. This time concentrating on construction of the boards which will carry the line to Weymouth and the line to platform 3 and on into the yard. I've also started construction of the second road bridge which will act as a portal to the fiddle yard. Cheers Peter

Hello, Its been a while and actually its been rather quiet because daily family life has meant I've not had much spare time recently! That said I've had a few hours today where I've managed to continue with building my embankments. The plan is that the embankment will disapper once it meets the plate layers hut and it will have some sort of stone retaining wall running behind the station. And the poster boards are just temporary. More backscene added and embankment supports in place. Just geeting an idea where the hut will go and stonework will start.. Thats all for now. Will post more pictures once the walls have been built. Cheers Peter

Evening! Thanks for all the kind words of support- Stuart, ikcdab , ess1uk. Treggyman and Bobster. Always nice to have input from others. I've made a bot more progress and have added some more back scene and more basket liner. Now the eagle eyed among you will spot there is a change in the back scene and my plan will be to partly draw the viewers eye away from this join with some foliage/fencing and the odd tree. I've got some telegraph poles too so may decide to plant those in the odd place here and there. We'll see though as the embankment works have not been finished- indeed these are still at early stages of construction. Cheers Peter

Afternoon. Thanks Bill. Plodding along nicely now. Now I'd never used basket liner before, but what an easy product to glue and place where you want it with the minimum of fuss. I've now extended the back-scene onto the second baseboard with a bit of greenery. Cheers Peter