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Evening all, Aside from the BV kit posted earlier this week, I mentioned I was hoping to do further works on the layout having taken the 4 days off work. Am happy to report some good progress has been made. First up was acquiring a Digikeijs DR500 which James at DCC Automation had suggested to me last year as I was worried about continually plugging and unplugging the wires on the Uhlenbrock Daisy between layouts. One of the great things about this bit of kit is that it has a socket which the Daisy handset can be plugged into. It also has 3 Amps so am told has more oomph for 7mm. Having mounted it in position and connected the track outputs and programme track, I plugged in the Daisy handset and off I went - It can also be connected to a laptop and also allows running stuff off your phone / tablet Next up was spraying the track as despite most of it is inset, I wanted to ensure no silver bits can be seen between the gaps. This was done using Phoenix Precision track colour (weathered sleepers) and I do like the colour it gives as a base. The main road along the front will be ballasted so am looking at using black ash based on some colour photos I have of the line in use. Am still in two minds how to do the inset track as it’s been a disaster for me a few times on my 2mm layouts. I think after talking with Gordon and Maggie I will try card as they have done on Arun Quay - that looks fab Then, the backscene was also filled and a first coat of off white put on to lighten it up. This was done using Wilco match pot testers. Most of it will be taken out by the dries buildings so it is more the sky for this model...and I try to avoid pure blue as it never seems to work for me Some more filling and sanding required to finish this. Another development was to add a mirror as per Marc Smith’s suggestion at the start of this project. Rather than get one cut, I first tested the idea using some mirror sheet we had in our studio. It’s only 1mm thick so fairly easy to score and cut with a scalpel. I must say I am very happy with the result even though it’s just been dropped in temporarily - it needs bringing flush with the rail heads but first impressions is that it will give the dries added length...and double the amount of hoods as I only have 4 I also finished the lighting installation. Both boards/shelves are lit by a Screwfix type LED light, 911mm in length more usually used under kitchen cabinets giving a cool white light. As I wanted to have continuous lighting and no gaps, it occurred to me I could mount the 911mm fittings each end and then add a 300mm fitting to bridge the gap. This means the 911mm fittings are permanently mounted and secured with a glue gun. Once the layout is assembled, the 300mm fitting is then slid into position to link them. The beauty of this being, if I want to only work on one board/shelf at a time, I can still plug in a cable and light the 911mm strip whilst I am doing scenics In the style of the Karate Kid Master... Lights off... Lights on... Finally I gave a couple of coats of my usual grey paint to the front fascias. One end will have the mirror, the other will have a clear perspex sheet. Am thinking of cutting two openings in that should I decide to add on a small cassette at a later date - this will be explored through sketches...watch this space The layout name was also added in my usual font by self adhesive letters. The end of the week saw me having a little running session with the 08, hoods and BV kit. Much pleasure was derived from that sound chipped 08 shuffling a few wagons around. I have attached a few pics already so size restrictions prevent more. If I can upload a couple of vids I might do this as a separate follow up post. Overall, am happy with the way things are moving on this project. As always, comments welcomed... Pete

The old rust application is now finished. Greater volume of pigment (although still only small quantities at a time) has been applied in corners and at edges, and now it is time to add a different tone of rust where more recent corrosion is taking place. For this stage I am using MIG Dark Mud. Once again, small quantities at a time and gentle application, building up the effect gradually. You'll have noticed that there is plenty to do on the underframe.

Have managed to find the data lead for my phone and got myself logged into YouTube so here is my first attempt posting a video. I need to look at canabalising a couple of N20 motors to get a 1.9mm shaft onto a higher RPM gearbox as progress really is too slow. Have also now found another steering arm which should improve the turning circle. Work on a load is progressing nicely and will be updated soon.

Most of the main line(s) have been ballasted over the Easter period using Geoscenics 00 gauge ballast that looks about right to my eye. It's been glued with the standard watery mix of PVA into which I'd stirred some grey paint mix to tone down the appearance. The remaining ground has been textured with ordinary sand and painted dark grey. Further work will be done to add patches of grass/weeds etc. The WD and the Black 5 have recently been weathered by "Grimy Times" and look great! Also note chevron on distant signal arm now correct - a fine pointed felt tip did the job! Barrow crossings made from balsa were installed at each end of the platforms before ballasting.... Chimneys made from wooden dowelling have recently been added to all buildings and this has made a huge difference in appearance Finally, a view looking down the length of the station area with the WD taking the Marylebone line with a loaded coal train.

A major milestone has been the starting of buildings for my layout. The first major structure is obviously the platform which has the station building and the signalbox sitting on (or more accurately in) it. The prototype platform has had a lot of work on it since closure and there is quite a lot of subsidence along the length now. Over the length of the platform the brickwork is no longer consistent in terms of the construction, I'm working on what I think is a logical design - hopefully it is close to what was originally there. So, the main platform wall is clearly Flemish English bond, above that is a course of headers which is slightly proud of the lower courses, then a row of stretchers directly below the final large bricks which form the platform edge. To represent this I've cut the base layer and the rows immediately below the top surface separately, by inserting a slip of card behind the top courses I get the ~.5mm of relief I wanted. From left to right we have:- The slip of card which provides the relief. The top rows of bricks which will be slightly proud of the base. The structural base for the wall. The base bottom layer of Flemish bond brickwork. Sticking them together and we get the front face of a platform. The top surface of the platform was also cut in 1mm MDF and included the brickwork for the edge and holes for the buildings. Once put together the finished platform looks quite satisfying. (Currently the side and top aren't stuck together) Just to get some idea of how things will look I put in place my previously model of a GER 1865 'small' station building (based on Takeley but painted in the style of Clare) and also my shortened GER style signalbox (which is the wrong orientation for Clare). Yes, I know this is a pointless exercise but it was fun! You'll notice the hole in the platform wall in front of the signalbox which allows the point rodding and signal wires out of the box. The platform surface has the hole cut for the size of the new signalbox including a hole for the stairs down from platform level to the locking room. I never properly completed the single storey part of the station building and the roof needs a bit of a dust but even so the effect isn't too bad. All of this is rather good for the motivation as it gives a sense of progress. David