David41283 Posted November 24, 2014 Author Share Posted November 24, 2014 Having acquired a TPM DBSO etch on Ebay on Sunday (no-one else bid, and I've always liked them!) I popped into Chris' Crafts in Plymouth to get a second hand Mk2 to cut up - which he had for £6.50. Also in stock was a loose bag of N gauge vehicles at 50p each - I picked three - they look like Toyota Versos so I reckon probably Japanese origin. They have been quickly turned into taxis by adding a tiny trapezoidal piece of plastic strip to the roof, which I painted yellow. They've been added to the taxi rank at the front. The shop has recently started stocking a range of Noch figures, I've previously objected to spending £10 on very few tiny figures, but I couldn't resist this pack. Given the hugely varied (quite remarkable!) traction which can be seen at this inner city terminus it would be inevitable that these guys would be at the end of the platform. Note the chap standing directly in front of the other guy's tripod for added realism! Cheers David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David41283 Posted November 30, 2014 Author Share Posted November 30, 2014 Having purchased my first set of more expensive Preiser figures, I wasn't that impressed with the painting - the figures themselves are great, and clearly the selection of people (photographers, builders etc) is what you pay for. After spending an hour on my 165 project, and with no interest in people singing, dancing or camping in jungles, I decided to paint a few more of my cheapo 500 for £6 people. I wanted to make a couple of workmen for the scaffold and some people to place around the National Express Coach in the foreground. Painting these tiny figures is somewhat theraputic - The two top-right are the workmen for the scaffold. I then started doing football shirts - this took me back to customising my subbuteo sets with my dad in the 1980's - painting a 'tache on the Liverpool no 9 for instance! Look out for Newcastle, Arsenal, Oxford and Plymouth Argyle! Cheers David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David41283 Posted December 10, 2014 Author Share Posted December 10, 2014 Good evening everyone, I reckon I need to be careful to avoid falling into the trap of "funny" cameos that appear on layouts, however I've added a load more people around the National Express coach, along with some baggage from Ratio sacks. I've also added a couple of workmen to my scaffold - something I've been meaning to do for a long time. It must be time to start another project soon! Cheers David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloucester Road Posted December 11, 2014 Share Posted December 11, 2014 That bus is a great idea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David41283 Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 A glimpse into the future: It's 2016 and a cascaded 165 is heading into Exchange Square in the new DfT spec "Greater Western" Livery. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David41283 Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 A couple of months since my last post in this thread, this weekend I have taken a break from various little projects and working on the new layout and have just been playing trains with the kids on Exchange Square... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David41283 Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Evening all, After 18 months, I finally plucked up to courage to undertake a bit of brutal surgery to correct the one annoying issue with this layout. At one end the clearance on the lowest level was just too tight, most stock would get round, but odd items would derail or get stuck. Dapol 67s and some intermodal wagons were the worst offenders. The front panels were some of the first bits I attached, and I used glue in similar quantities to a chinese factory worker assembling the glazing in a Dapol unit! After a bit of work with a chisel (!) I had managed to remove the front panel. I then carved the offending support beam underneath to give a few mm extra clearance. 5 mins with a saw and a new panel was created - a bit of black paint and you'll never know it happened. Cheers David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David41283 Posted July 1, 2015 Author Share Posted July 1, 2015 Exchange square is no more!! I have dismantled the layout a couple of days ago. On reflection there were some bits which really "worked" and I was delighted with, and other areas which I felt weren't nearly as good, both in terms of operational interest and scenic modelling. I am far more satisfied with Poldeen as an overall quality project, and I have ideas for my next layout. Exchange Sqaure sort of ended up being neither a particularly fullfilling home layout, nor a purpose built exhibition layout, but it was a great learning experience, my first foray in N gauge, first use of an airbrush, etc.. I have salvaged all the electrical useful bits and details for use on my next project, and a few bits will be appearing on ebay this week. I am flattered that this thread has had more than 11,000 views and so many nice comments and I have enjoyed sharing the journey of building this layout over the last 2 years. In the meantime, I have accepted my first ever exhibition invite with Poldeen in November, so I have plenty to do to get the layout and stock ready, and with a minor operation due in August (no, not *that* operation!) I may well start a new project during my time off work to recuperate. Cheers David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cklammer Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 Hello David, It is always sad to see such an outstanding layout go but the old goes away to make space for something new (and better - having observed this layout fromit's start). But if I were you I'd dread your sons' questions on where their layout is ... they'll not let up on this, you know, if they anyway like my two daugthers Best of Luck to you with "Poldeen" and "Exchange Square++", Christian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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