rob D2 Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Great townscene ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arnington Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Layouts looking superb Stu. Nice one! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 A spare day this week yielded construction of a drawer underneath the fiddle yard for storing stock. Bought a piece of 4x2 MDF and a couple of timbers to construct as well as drawer runners. Used offcuts to save cash for the backbone of the drawer walls, and fitted it all by eye. Amazingly I managed to align the drawer runner on the drawer after fixing the lower part. No pics of such boring stuff though. In layout news not a lot done other than some additional ballasting under the second scenic break as it stopped a bit too soon. I will be adding a few strands of cut black bin liner so to obscure the fiddle yard view through the tunnel (a la Tidworth) in due course. The HST has packed up and needs to be returned to Liverpool - seems like the motor is binding - drive shafts appear OK and lubrication OK. It cant move under slow speed but with a "shove" will move off but run like a bag of spanners so as its under warranty will be going back to manufacturer. Still havent finished wiring the rest of the street lights, and again the existing ones trip out occassionally though I am beginning to wonder whether its either the nature of these lights or I need to change PSU - anyway thats for another day. Ran a few evening commuter services tonight after what they called on the Andover Fist "An Event" (derailment !) A few obligatories:- 33004 waits for fuel Blue Grey Heaven tonight 50011 on a down stopper for Oxford late in the evening After misbehaving and causing a GUV to fall off the track 50031 was removed from the train and laid up by the shed waiting inspection 50020 took the train forward to Paddington and awaits the RA Cheers, Stu. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted January 13, 2017 Author Share Posted January 13, 2017 (edited) Having had some bonus time today wiring of the street lamps continued. This required being able to contort myself into all sorts of shapes to drill holes in the baseboard using a 24mm flat wood bit and then a torch and "hook" to retrieve the wires - due to the fact the roadway is elevated. It turned out actually not as difficult as I had envisaged, although one slight judder brought the flats crashing down on to the railings. Fortunately damage minimal. Just 2 more to wire tomorrow and that will be the lights completed for now. Quite happy running trains in the dark at the moment to fit in with the lovely winter we are having. A few more pics below Street lighting has arrived for most of the main road and layout centre overbridge Dark dingy London flats - reminds me a bit of my late Grandparents place in Stockwell, South London during the 80's. A deal is going down outside the Lion. 33004 waits with a short overnight parcels bound for Southampton 50020 on ECS back to Old Oak Common The spotter is still looking for something even at this hour Cheers Stu. Edited January 13, 2017 by SparxD428 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan product fan Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 Some great photos there mate love the one of 50020 superb lighting . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted January 14, 2017 Author Share Posted January 14, 2017 Finished the last 2 street lights today so now all lights that are currently planted are operational. Bought a few bits and pieces from Alton again this afternoon, mainly more people for the streets and station as well as some trees and other scenic items just to add further detail in the future. Also will seriously start to plan what I am going to plant in the final corner. Very nearly bought a Red Stripe 56 but that's on hold just for the moment A few pics of the street scene as it gets more populated as well as one I missed off yesterday of 50020 through the scenic break Final two street lamps now lit. More people on the streets Late night shoppers leave the Co-op View all the way down the elevated street scene (garage walls paintshopped out) Cheers Stu 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted January 16, 2017 Author Share Posted January 16, 2017 This evening I decided to bite the bullet and workout how to fit an 8 pin decoder to another old friend, this time to utilise the directional headlights. To complicate matters extra pickups had been fitted by the previous owner I think with a hotch potch of red/black wires not matching their polarity. After a bit of work I am happy with the result, although for some reason she refuses to budge in the Forward direction, but works only in reverse. Directional lighting works fine both ways. I have a feeling a small pin on the chip got a little damaged however I will prove in the future by reversing grey/orange, and/or fitting another chip of same type. At one point it almost took off and smoke was emitted from the motor but i am hoping as I had the chassis open and wires loose for testing it must have picked up a boost where it shouldn't. So it can only go in one direction and can only work under strict supervision to avoid fire. Just like the real thing then. (Apologies to some, only kidding). Anyway I think PCM may be happy to see this out of retirement. Working out its days on Speedlink services on a rare foray to the Western region welcome back 45103 Waiting for the up relief road then it will be over the North London Line and up to Northamptonshire with this working With the road, rolling through Acton Green Passing 50031 waiting with a parcels for Gloucester Cheers Stu. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Flats look great. Remind me of where my grandparents came from In Fulham Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 Hi All, Enjoyed last weekend as part of the Tidworth on the road crew at the Southampton MRC show in Eastleigh. Also took the opportunity for a few purchases whilst there to finish off Father Christmas' money ! Have done a little bit of work on some weathering (no pics) but 47402, 50020 and 50035 have been further weathered and look a lot better now IMHO. 47402 now has a directional white LED at each end although because of the old Lima see through plastic this needs some optics or tidying by myself before I will deem myself happy with it. Haven't added red tail LEDS just yet, have another old Lima 47 to experiment on for that one. Bought some White/Red LEDS as well so in the future I am considering wiring the old Lima 117 for directional lighting through the 3 car rake with single decoder so I will need to address the coupling situation before deciding the best method for this. Took some "eye level" pics of some new items as well as some old ones during a little running session 2 more London Taxi's purchased this weekend. Reg plates are so miniscule but need backdating to pre 1987 but at least streets feel more like London with 3 cabs driving around Couldn't resist 37284 (CF example) as I thought its exactly what I need to work speedlink work in to Acton Yard and probably Ripple Lane-Micheldever and/or other tank trains (when they enter existence on the layout anyway). Havent yet fitted detailing parts or weathered her as shes still being run in 2x Speedlink VGA's also picked up this weekend. Currently sitting idle in the yard behind the 08 Platforms have become more populated this week too. Cheers, Stu. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic9014 Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Stu Love the progress on the layout and how you seem to make the older stock fit in with the more recent releases. Keep it up . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Hi All, Enjoyed last weekend as part of the Tidworth on the road crew at the Southampton MRC show in Eastleigh. Also took the opportunity for a few purchases whilst there to finish off Father Christmas' money ! Have done a little bit of work on some weathering (no pics) but 47402, 50020 and 50035 have been further weathered and look a lot better now IMHO. 47402 now has a directional white LED at each end although because of the old Lima see through plastic this needs some optics or tidying by myself before I will deem myself happy with it. Haven't added red tail LEDS just yet, have another old Lima 47 to experiment on for that one. Bought some White/Red LEDS as well so in the future I am considering wiring the old Lima 117 for directional lighting through the 3 car rake with single decoder so I will need to address the coupling situation before deciding the best method for this. Took some "eye level" pics of some new items as well as some old ones during a little running session 2 more London Taxi's purchased this weekend. Reg plates are so miniscule but need backdating to pre 1987 but at least streets feel more like London with 3 cabs driving around pic111.jpg Couldn't resist 37284 (CF example) as I thought its exactly what I need to work speedlink work in to Acton Yard and probably Ripple Lane-Micheldever and/or other tank trains (when they enter existence on the layout anyway). Havent yet fitted detailing parts or weathered her as shes still being run in pic112.jpg pic113.jpg 2x Speedlink VGA's also picked up this weekend. Currently sitting idle in the yard behind the 08 Platforms have become more populated this week too. pic114.jpg Cheers, Stu. You could also run that 37 on a parcels from Wales to Paddington. I have pictures of a 37 on the blocks on just such a working Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 1, 2017 Author Share Posted February 1, 2017 You could also run that 37 on a parcels from Wales to Paddington. I have pictures of a 37 on the blocks on just such a working Thanks Rob. I have a feeling I saw the odd one on parcels going through Reading so nice to have confirmation that it did at least happen . According to one website 37284 worked a Swansea - Padd in June 1988 although I think it may have been in triple grey by then. So I might need to add a few more bashers to my bashers coach as it could drop on to a turn through Acton Green. Cheers Stu. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Pedro32 Posted February 1, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2017 Hi Stu, Your new purchases look lovely, but will be even better once the locos have some grime added. Some years back there were kits you could buy (from well known auction site) to add directional lighting to Lima dmu's. In the end I opted for express lighting kits for mine before selling them on when Bachmann introduced the 101. And hopefully the Dapol 121 and 122's will be arriving in the not too distant future too. The preproduction ones I saw at Warley were superb! Cheers Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 4, 2017 Author Share Posted February 4, 2017 Hi Stu, Your new purchases look lovely, but will be even better once the locos have some grime added. Some years back there were kits you could buy (from well known auction site) to add directional lighting to Lima dmu's. In the end I opted for express lighting kits for mine before selling them on when Bachmann introduced the 101. And hopefully the Dapol 121 and 122's will be arriving in the not too distant future too. The preproduction ones I saw at Warley were superb! Cheers Pete Thanks Pete, I have tried to blend them as best I can though there are always a few little details that still need tweaking. I think my 117 lighting project can wait until the summer as I've got a lot of weathering to catch up with first I feel. Looking forward to the Dapol 121 and also the Bachmann 117 appearing sometime soon, just hope I can persuade the bank manager to release the funds. Speaking of which.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 4, 2017 Author Share Posted February 4, 2017 So I have been experimenting with some further weathering on a couple of items. 50035 was the guinea pig for further weathering this week, including roof, bodysides and frames. My technique may not be the best but I used thinned down enamels (black, white, brown, hemp & sand). Then I either wiped the paint in directions where natural weathering would occur, and/or used the sponge to gently dab areas depending on the effect I want to create. I'm quite happy with the results, hope it can be seen in the pictures below of 50035 as phone camera is not the best. Now after last weeks purchase of 37284 I said the bank was closed. However a few weeks ago I was in Alton Model Centre , and after much consideration decided today was time to reserve and go and buy this (not the GUV !!) Welcome 50024 to Acton Green. Already painted the marker lights in a delicate thinned white as I always do. Now needs some further details but for now I am just running it in. As 37284 came with a set of snowploughs, I always remember how fantastic 24 looked in LLBR/red beam/yellow skirts. So these may find their way on to her at some point soon. I've also been weathering the NCV, just waiting for it to dry before doing a second run and seeing the results. Cheers, Stu 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 5, 2017 Author Share Posted February 5, 2017 Some more weathering has been undertaken last night and this morning. Fairly pleased again even though phone camera tends to show it up as harsh in close up, it looks fine in the flesh to my eye. 50031 underframes weathered Likewise 50011 Really happy with 33004 now Thought I'd go to town on 47402 as its an old Lima model. Actually looks better in my eye than this blurred picture suggests 37284 has also been done but he's drying at the minute Now all these weathered loco's are making my gronk look seriously out of place so that's next in the queue. For now 50004 (ex works) and the HST set will stay pristine. Still a couple more things to work my way through (117, DPU, 47593) Then on to rolling stock. Cheers Stu 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 They look good ! I'm a great fan of the paint it and wipe off technique - only thing I can't perfect is exhaust grime as I think that looks better sprayed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIRCLASS80 Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Great layout, lovely Locos, keep up the good work Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 8, 2017 Author Share Posted February 8, 2017 More weathering, more weathering, has been the order of the day. along with fitting another chip to an old loco. Replaced the directional light bulbs with LEDs although limited clearance on the No.1 end for the LED means attention is needed on that end. Missing Jumper box made from plastic at the No.1 end as well just needs painting. Now if only I had a shed load of PGA's rather than a paltry 3 I could send this round all day long. And I know I need to sort the red lights out but I quite like it lit up like the proverbial Christmas Tree. Not a bad runner also for something so old. 56079 in operation. Also purchased some more mountboard so I can crack on with the final scenic corner bus depot. Cheers, Stu. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 15, 2017 Author Share Posted February 15, 2017 This last week I have been busy with constructing the small office and canopy for the speedlink goods platform that is still in occasional use for deliveries to the depot. My often used principal of "make it up as you go along" has been put in to good practice for this. I still need to put some further canopy steel support structures in place and finish weathering the roof but although the pictures are brutal I am reasonably happy it has filled the corner with something OK. Will be bettered also when I can add a couple of vans and more pallets etc. Also the weed planting has been upped a little using some tree scenics left over from planting a few trees the other week. Finally, decided to run a few trains to keep things ticking over taking a fair few pictures along the way. Cheers, Stu. After arriving behind 50024, 33004 backs on to a parcels service to return it to Eastleigh Whilst 50035 rests in the background having unusually worked a Speedlink turn of just 2xVGA The new canopy and office building on the speedlink goods platform With a resting shunter and laid up VEA's Full corner flat view To finish 50024 lays up on the shed road next to the Ark Just before 50020 arrives on the evening Padd-Hereford, which unfortunately for the basher has a GUV up front! 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan product fan Posted February 15, 2017 Share Posted February 15, 2017 very nice work mate always love to look on here and see lots of 50s in action Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted May 4, 2017 Author Share Posted May 4, 2017 (edited) The residents of Acton Green were woken from their slumber this evening by strong motive power on a Speedlink freight which is residing in Platform 5. Been so busy with work and other priorities that the layout has taken a seat on the backburner for about 3 months. Also having that little lack of Mojo blip so havent really been on here much either but nothing that won't come back. Have so much on over next few weeks as well thought I'd at least turn the power on and run a train or two to check it all still works ! Hoping to have some time to do a little bit of layout work the next bank holiday. Until then proof trains still exist at Acton Green Cheers Stu. PS - Just noticed pics can be 32Mb now. Sorry but these below still fit <1.0Mb and for some reason this old pic reappeared on the post probably because i selected and deleted in error Edited May 4, 2017 by SparxD428 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Temeraire Posted July 11, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 11, 2017 Hi Stu All okay I hope? Just wondered if you'd noticed this thread: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/124278-western-region-carriage-formationsworkings-intoout-of-london-mid-late-1980s/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted July 15, 2017 Author Share Posted July 15, 2017 Hi M Hi Stu All okay I hope? Just wondered if you'd noticed this thread: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/124278-western-region-carriage-formationsworkings-intoout-of-london-mid-late-1980s/ Hi Ian, All OK thanks, Had so much to do around the house as well as constantly staying away in far flung exotic places with work that the layout has gathered dust really for the last few months as well as the garage accumulating so much junk ready to move off to the tip. However last weekend I managed to crawl in and run some trains and tomorrow I am hopeful to clear out the junk. Who knows I may be back in there finishing off in the next few weeks. Hope you're OK too mate. I hadnt seen this link so will have a little view tonight. Can you email me the latest Tidworth Exhibition schedule when you have a minute please mate so I can see whats in the pipeline. Cheers Stu 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted July 16, 2017 Author Share Posted July 16, 2017 (edited) Removal to the tip of a defective fridge freezer has given e a new viewing point for the layout for the time being (stilts needed to see over the backscene). Thought I'd take a couple of pics down the layout viewed from the station end. 50024 on the fuelling point 37284 gets the amber to proceed towards Acton Green 56079 sitting in the siding on a short trip working Might kick start me in to doing some modelling tonight ! Cheers Stu Edited July 16, 2017 by SparxD428 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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