Bibby Line Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Richard, Really good progress, well done. I might have missed it but have you mentioned what type of signals will you be building and how many will you be installing ? Cheers Eddie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernMafia Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share Posted April 6, 2016 Thanks Ed and all. Signals will consist of three 3 aspect starter signals, one will be a gantry for exiting the mpd/yard area which has its base on the platform and hangs over the main platform road. There will also be a few ground signals for movements from the carriage siding and yard. I've always wanted to build my own signals, and I built a test subject some months back which went well, so these will no doubt appear at some stage! I'll dig it out and photograph it in situ. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SouthernMafia Posted April 16, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 16, 2016 A few bits and pieces been going on, but nothing substantial to report. Finally got round to constructing the final buffer stops which sit at the end of the platform and run-round roads. These are the PHDesigns rail built variant, just needs priming and painting into some sort of red colour. As promised a couple of images of my hand built signal prototype. I wanted to see if I could get a more realistic looking head as ready available stuff just looks too overscale for my liking. This is pretty much the signal that will sit here and on the left as well as the Bay platform starter, just need to add position light call ons to the posts, which will give access to the carriage siding. Excuse the bent ladder, its been sat in a box for a bit! Sat at work on Thursday I nearly jumped out my chair when I received an email from Rails saying they'd price slashed the Kernow Thumper, so naturally I had to have one...it was very nearly two!! Have been working on some of the ground scenics, filling in the bits between the ballast with a chinchilla dust/ash ballast mix. Also experimenting with various tarmac colours for the MPD access road. Some weathering here will hopefully get rid of the uniform look. And lastly the bridge is starting to look like a bridge! Cut and shut of two 170mm bits here to get the desired length, and a support girder added. As it's a footbridge I didn't want it too high, and have tested with a Bachmann figure who can very much see over the top. This will hopefully get primed and painted this weekend before fixing in situ. Abutments etc to be added in due course. 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Looking great David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWT442 Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Coming along great Rich, will be nearly finished by the time the Brock show rolls around! Very tempted to pick up an NSE Thumper myself, would pair nicely with the Connex one I have! Andy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibby Line Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Good progress Rich and looking good. I am interested in your 'filling in bits. Approximately speaking, what are the proportions of ash/ballast and chinchilla dust and the total thickness. Can I assume that the thickness of the scale track work allows it to be fixed in one pass. Eddie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernMafia Posted April 18, 2016 Author Share Posted April 18, 2016 Thanks guys. Eddie it varies as I am using a similar mixture for the yard area, but this will be much more weathered and is about 50/50. The infill areas are probably 75/25 chinchilla to ash, but again weathering will alter it. It's all experimental really, I just pretend to know what I'm doing (I learnt well from Master Renshaw) In the meantime, here's a quick image of ongoing work with colours on the bridge. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium eldavo Posted April 19, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 19, 2016 You are learning well young Chard! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibby Line Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Rich, Thanks for the response to my question regarding the "filling in bits". I have a large space to deal with. How do you secure the mixture? Do you cover the board with PVA and then sprinkle the "mixture" or the other way round. I think the former is best but before I tackle the task I'd appreciate your observations, will likely save me time and grief. Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernMafia Posted May 12, 2016 Author Share Posted May 12, 2016 Progress has been steady and with a little over 2 weeks to go things are coming together nicely. I start a new job on Monday so am making the most of my time off this week to power through, but I know I won't get everything done. Of course it occurred to me the other day I'd better sort some stock out! Have spent the day sound fitting a Class 33 and two Class 47s along with testing various other bits, I also have 5 chips on their way to Biffo for reblows, 3 of which will need fitting before the show, plus weathering, plus couplings, plus detailing - ahhhhh! Anyway, here's a shot of the layout filled up a bit whilst some testing* occurred (*playing trains) One can never have enough Cromptons Also recently sound fitted, a super detailed Lima 73 body (not mine) powered by Bachmann 25 motor and custom built chassis, with more Limby bits for good measure. Of course this was how you made a 73 look good and run well, before Dapol.......had a go.......(to be fair, I'm pretty pleased with mine) It's pretty much there, just need to weather the underframe and add some headcode blinds at both ends having just fitted the flush glazing. Layout wise - I will be erecting it fully on Friday with an early start to pack as much work in over the weekend as possible. Photos inevitably to follow, along with a receeding hairline caused by stress... 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted May 13, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 13, 2016 That's great Rich! Looking forwards to hearing how you get on - another DCC sound layout on the circuit has to be good.... Hanging basket liner is the dogs whatsits for embankment cover isn't it? Kind regards Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Great progress and an impressive line-up of stock. Nothing like a deadline to panic focus the mind... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ian J. Posted May 13, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 13, 2016 ... One can never have enough Cromptons ... So true, and one can never have enough class 50s either... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernMafia Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 That's great Rich! Looking forwards to hearing how you get on - another DCC sound layout on the circuit has to be good.... Hanging basket liner is the dogs whatsits for embankment cover isn't it? Kind regards Phil Absolutely Phil - messy stuff but looks good and even better with scatter and stuff applied - not quite there yet with mine but all the basic liner is down and trimmed. Didn't get the whole layout up today as other things took priority, mainly fitting the end boards and painting the public side and lighting rigs. The last board was still waiting ballasting so most of this was done today. Looks a mess at the mo but will be weathered down and cleaned up. Also fitted the retaining wall after painting and light weather to bring out the stones. And whilst waiting for various things to dry, continued working on these HEA wagons which are old Dapol I think, have been rewheeled, weight added and real coal on the top to bring them up to modern day standards a bit more. still awaiting a light weather but almost there. More tomorrow... 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SouthernMafia Posted May 15, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 15, 2016 Saturdays progress. Had 3 of the 4 boards up to test some final bits and continue scenic work. Lighting rig for this side of layout finished and tested. Earth added to the footpath As my signals won't be ready for the show I've fitted these two Roger Murray ones I had spare. And finally fitted the throttle pockets in position, layout will operate with 3 throttles for the show. 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Temeraire Posted May 15, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 15, 2016 Looking good Rich it'll be good to have a closer inspection in a couple of weeks, will you be setting up Saturday morning? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernMafia Posted May 15, 2016 Author Share Posted May 15, 2016 Cheers mate, no gonna set up Friday night, not taking any chances! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernMafia Posted May 22, 2016 Author Share Posted May 22, 2016 Less than a week to go, dear god where has the time gone! The weekend has been spent mainly working on stock. 5 sound chips arrived back from Legomanbiffo on Saturday morning, so these have been installed. The Thumper was a right pain as the "internal provision for a speaker" barely existed, so some hacking about of the underframe duly took place and the speaker is just about hidden underneath. Like the layout, a lot of the stock is not exhibition ready but i have some stuff weathered and detailed. As long as it runs and works ok I am happy! All the locos and units fit into one crate, and should be able to get the wagons and coaches in another. Also been adding a few loads to some dogfish and seacows. The layout hasn't really changed much in a week as it's got to the stage where I just need to focus on ensuring it packs away as it should, and it works! Time will tell, and I am away on business until Thursday evening so any last fettling will now have to be done on Friday! 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernMafia Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 Somehow - and I'm not quite sure how - there is currently a layout ready to be played with at Brockenhurst for the next 2 days... Looking forward to the weekend. Do come and say hello if you are visiting 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevescan Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 I wish but good luck and enjoy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 Yep... good luck indeed. Enjoy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempfix Rich Papper Posted May 28, 2016 Tempfix Share Posted May 28, 2016 Good luck. Hope it all goes smoothly. Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkAllen Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 Hi Rich, good to meet you and have a brief chat. Fantastic layout with some super track work and very nice stock. I particularly like Windsor castle and its rake of Mk'2s. I'm certainly going to get templot out for a play and have another go at hand built track now. You never know I might even get a layout going. On the way home I thought of another question for you. Where is your back to back gauge from. It looked rather useful and more user friendly than others I've seen. Congratulations on your debut you should be pleased with yourself. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium eldavo Posted May 28, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 28, 2016 Looking forward to causing chaos/playing trains tomorrow. Might even travel down by train! Cheers Dave 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiket4 Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Was a silent lurker today(Saturday) Layout looked great. Regards Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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