AJon30

Thanks. If the pony engine box is removed is there a raised moulding or a hole in the footplate? Can't really see from the photo's posted. As the bonnet comes off, it might be possible to remove the existing detail and add new bonnet side doors with single grilles suitable for DVLR Churchill and others, including this crazy colour scheme! Rgds Andrew Jones Luton MRC

OK Thanks for info. That's a shame, but then they are wrong anyway, being 2 rows of grilles rather than one Rgds Andrew Jones Luton MRC

Thread drift - Fowler Diesel Do the donkey engine boxes on the side come off easily? If so then it could represent the later electric starter versions? (and I might buy one!) Rgds Andrew Jones Luton MRC

Hi. We saw Dock Green at Warley on Sunday and were all most impressed - best layout of the show in our opinion. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us as well, and answering all our questions Rgds Andrew Jones Luton MRC

Good day at the Royston show - a good selection of layouts and seemed well attended. Some pictures Next showing will be QUESTA at Letchworth on 20th November. Retail therapy at Warley next weekend!

Hello. Off to Royston on Saturday with the short version of SHLR and Willowbrook Marsh, another layout from a Luton MRC member, as Royston have apparently been let down at short notice - always ready to help. See you there Rgds Andrew Jones

Had a good couple of days at the Wimbledon show Another modern visitor (thanks to Mark Hedgecock for the loan of his J94 and the Railcar) A quiet perid coming up so time to work on all those outstanding jobs!

Thanks Donw, I was really pleased because it was with the small version of the layout which was my original idea to show people who say "I would love to model in O but don't have the space" that it is possible in 9 feet to get sufficient operating potential and scenic opportunities to make it interesting and yet fit in most houses. As it is the SHLR is showing growing pains again so there will probably be an additional scenic section going in between Pertenhall & Kimbolton and maybe more after that!!

The SHLR was displayed at the GOG Langley show yesterday. Here is general picture of the paraphernalia required when exhibiting (the red bin is not mine, just stratigically placed for any stray GWR loco's that might appear!!) I have been working on the maltings buildings at Kimbolton Town. After much head scratching I came across an English Heritage paper on the malting industry which included some cross sections (with dimensions) of the maltings associated with the Northgate Brewery in Newark. I have rearranged the layout and added a more modern office/stores building at one end. Still lots to do though Here's some general pictures at Kimbolton Town Will be showing at Wimbledon this weekend 2 / 3 Nov, so may see you there Rgds Andrew Jones.

Back from the 2 day show at Loughboro. Layout performed well and the trial with the Dinghams went well One of the overhead signs that cover the lights. GWR invasion! Diesel take-over Most suprising of all was that lhe layout won a Cup for scenic work, to which I am most gratefull to the SVMRC - promise to polish it regularly! Next outing is the GOG at Langley on 27 Oct

Hello. Here a couple of pictures from the Oxford show. Layout performed well but 3 link couplings are a pain! So at Loughboro I am going to try some wagons with Dinghams to see how it goes. Loco is visiting 48DS Rgds Andrew Jones

Hello. Off to Oxford show tomorrow, first time out with the small version of SHLR, just the Pertenhall & Swineshead station, which was the original concept. Have completed the station building end Here's the "Yellow Peril" ready to take (the few) passengers on to Kimbolton, now that that section of line has been abandoned since the gas works closed. The crossing gates hasn't been opened in a while, the local council complained about the amount of time the crossing was blocked with shunting, so when the line was cut back they insisted that the crossing be taken out of use. Here's some picture's from last weekes Northolt Show with QUESTA See you at Oxford (and Loughboro the week after)

I know its not really SHLR but here's some shots from QUESTA getting ready for tomorrow's show. Newly finished big diesel, m9 (on the ATRR anything not a steam locomotive is a "motor") built from a Mount Blue laser cut plywood kit, on a sound equipped Bachmann S4 chassis Here is is with its little mate! The whole loco roster, now up to 10! Rgds

Busy time at the moment. QUESTA is out at Northolt this weekend, then the short version of SHLR will be at Oxford on 21st Sept and at Loughboro on 28 / 29th September. Hope to see you there. Rgds Andrew Jones Luton MRC

Hi. Had a good day at Northampton, but forgot my camera! If you saw the layout - what did you think?

Hello. As usual the last minute rush to get things done for the Northampton Show tomorrow. The gas works is nearly there, just some final detailing required to make the place look less tidy! The Signal box is complete outside but needs the interior finishing. The surrounding area needs to be completed (including the signal mans vegetable patch!) but the box needs to be removeable as it covers some point motors. See you at Northampton

Hello all. An update with the Northampton Show now looming (20th July) The signal box at Kimbolton is well underway (it covers some point motors), in plasticard this time for a change The tar tank is geeting the final pipework The new gas works buildings are well underway The coal stage and water tank are now basically complete, have been glued in place just need some bedding in. A good load of coal, must have just been a delivery!

Hello. Bit of a shock to realise it is a month since I last posted anything - where does the time go? Have been quite busy with work, being a coductors on a bus at the Welland Valley Beer festival (the less said the better), helping out on G scale garden layouts etc etc. Anyway, back to the SHLR. There was a couple of area's of bad running at the Dunstable show. One of the three way points was a little under gauge so that was adjusted but the trackwork on the run-round at Kimbolton was not up to scratch (it looked like it needed a rack railway) so the whole section was ripped up and relaid. You cannot see much difference but the running is better (track laying I've decided is not my strong point!). Now that has been done, I've started on some of the missing scenic items and here is current progress on the Kimbolton coal stage and water tank. Water tank is next to do

Hello. Bit quiet on the modeeling scene at the moment - a bad dose of manflu & some real work is keeping me occupied. However, here is a video of our club exhiition at Dunstable, including the SHLR Enjoy

Good day at the ALSRM show at Reading on Saturday with QUESTA The buildings for the oil depot got finished on Friday. Still needs more detail work in the area but looking better. A wind powered pump was added next to the water tank (Bachmann kit) The maintenance depot on the spur to the mine. Next thing to look at is replacing the warehouse building at the back which is a bit underscale. 459 disgraced itsself but refusing to budge!. When I got it back home it worked perfectly on my test track so there may be an issue with DC supply thriugh the Bachmann controller. Probably easier just to put a sound chip in! Hopefully got another couple of invites, so that's all good. Back to the SHLR now, July the 20th is not that far away (where have I heard that said before!)

Hello. Continuing the American Narrow Gauge theme for the moment, I have managed to get my MMI K27 459 running on QUESTA. We had thought it was too big as it kept derailing, but detailed study showed that the coupling between loco and tender was too tight and the wires bunched up on the curves derailing the tender. I drilled and tapped a new pin and that has solved the problem, in fact it is a little too large a gap so a new drawbar needs to be fabricated. Nice to get this expensive bit of kit working, now need to fork out for the Sound Decoder! See you at the ALSRM show at Reading this weekend

Donw. Thanks, last week was hectic getting as much finished as possible, including painting the other road bridge at 0030 on Saturday morning - luckily the paint dried quickly!

Thanks for your kind words. Still lots to do but gradually coming together

Slightly off track but have been working on Questa. The oil depot buildings are the original card mock-ups, which have been in place since Oct 2011 but now is time for an update. This is the old dock & building Now removed and the new dock in its place

Well the Dunstable show is over and done with. We think it was a good show, but the attendence was not as good as we had hoped, which is a problem when holding a show in a town where there has not been one in the recent past. Did you come - what did you think? The layout performed well, just some more tweaks to some of the points and the buildings to be finished Thanks to the Gauge O Guild for their sponsorship, and for the traders who supported the show. Next year (2014) is our normal Luton MRC show at Stopsley, so 2015 will probably be our next O gauge focused show - not sure yet where we will hold it We went off to Stowmarket with Willowbrook Marsh on the Sunday and that was a very well attended show - packed to the doors on opening..