Brian D

Just a quick update of what's going on. The make-over of the existing layout continues. Following reconstruction of the platform, I have added new running in boards. I intend to add platform lamps, seats and passengers in due course. Work continues, albeit slowly, on the new station building. I couldn't resist adding the tangerine sign at an early stage. Here are a couple of pics showing it temporarily placed on the platform. The roof has yet to be tiled and fixed down properly and chimney caps and pots, gutters and down pipes and possibly a canopy are yet to be added. There is also a new (old?) addition to the loco roster. This is a secondhand Lima model I picked up on a well known auction site. For details of the help I received from fellow RMWebbers and the tinkering that look place see http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85075-lima-brush-type-2-d5679-servicing-info-required/ Regards, Brian.

Indeed, Ray. I had the same problem waiting for my "cuts" when lining out the inside of my shed. It seems there is only ever one person trained to use the cutting machine and he/she is with another customer/on a break/hiding (delete as appropriate) Regards, Brian.

Just a little update on the station building and how I'm going about building it (and a little "back history"). I started off my career on a "sandwich course" in 1969 as a trainee Civil/Structural engineer. For many years I was on the drawing board and thoroughly enjoyed it - Rotring pens, parallel motion, happy days. The CAD revolution happened I can't remember when but by which time I was managing draftsmen, not actually doing it and thus missed out on acquiring the industry standard AutoCAD training. None the less, it must have been around the year 2000 I purchased a copy of DesignCAD from PC World for about £50 - AutoCAD would at that time cost about £500 for the Lite version, the full version costing in the thousands. Anyway, this cheapo CAD programme served me well and the latest version compliant with Windows 8.1 is called "TurboCAD Designer 20" - about £25 from Amazon (usual disclaimer). Basically I use this program to "draw" the various building facades which I then print and glue (cheapo glue sticks, not the expensive stuff) to 2mm or 1mm thick grey board card. I attach a jpg copy of the current plan I'm using. Construction is based on Scalescenes techniques - basically a sandwich construction for the exterior walls, the windows being the "meat in the sandwich" as it were. I'll post more pictures of progress soon. Regards, Brian.

I just love the "German Type" smoke deflectors on the A3s

I suppose I could always tell SWMBO that it doubles as a nail sprayer . Seriously, thanks Andy, I'll think about that one but might try some of the weathering powders before going down the airbrush route. Regards, Brian.

Hi Andy, I trust you are well. I really should weather some of my pristine locos but am scared stiff of messing things up. I once tried a diluted wash of acrylic paint of varying degrees of strength on some Hornby CCTs as a bit of a trial but gained no confidence from that exercise. I don't have an air brush and I have no inclination of purchasing one (difficult to justify the expense - they ain't cheap by the time you've factored in a decent compressor). I'd appreciate your advice. Regards, Brian.

Progress on the station building is slow but the front wall is pretty much finished as below. Regards, Brian.

So. You take a few bits........ ...and, Hey Presto! ... erm...well, not exactly. It took about an hour or so.... A small addition but, I think, an improvement which cost nothing in terms of (cast off) materials. It also makes operational sense in that the station and loco staff can get to and from the track safely. Regards, Brian.

Yes, Clive. I've worked out it was the oilers that were fouling my platform. Also the centre crank pin seems to have a lot of sideways float and go out of gauge. Regards, Brian.

When I was a lad lineside in the 1960s at Easington, I was always behind the railway fence Les. Have a word with Barry and his mate Seriously, I've always loved V2s and I have two Bachmann versions, one black, one green on the roster. Regards, Brian.

Thanks, Hal. It's amazing what pleasure I get out my feeble efforts. A case in point was last night when I used some cast off card (window cut outs from the new station building and left over platform sides) to make some stairs from ground level up to the loading bank. I'll post a picture tomorrow to show you what I mean. Regards, Brian. PS Just caught up with your thread - see my post there.

Couldn't agree more with you comments Clive and thanks for popping in. Your tale of woe with the 08 wedged in the shed made me smile but I guess you weren't laughing at the time. Regards, Brian.

Thanks for your kind words Andy. I think the camera pics flatter my work but at least I think they are an improvement on what went before. Also, this is really good practice for the new layout which I will commence once the weather warms up a bit. Regards, Brian.

Thanks Duncan - will do but progress is slow despite me being retired. I sometimes wonder how I had the time to go to work! Regards, Brian.

Some pictures as promised. This shows the platform complete and the loading bank awaiting its top surface. This picture shows both the platform and loading bank complete with a temporary Scalescenes station building placed in position on the platform and the existing goods office, which I might retain, on the loading bank. The last picture shows the existing station building which is about 9 or 10 years old now and which I never really got round to completing (no facias or gutters/downpipes). There are also some glaring errors which I am not happy with - far too many chimney pots (what was I thinking) and the advertising signs are either too big or wrong period (e.g. the Shop at Binns sign). Also, I used Metcalfe building paper which is a little too glossy to my eyes. The new building will hopefully correct these errors and ommissions. Regards, Brian.

The main platform has now been reconstructed and the adjacent loading bank partly completed. I'll finish tomorrow and post some pics here. I've also decided to rebuild the original scratch-built station building to make it look a bit more "North Eastern". Regards, Brian.

Thanks, Andy - I'm glad I'm not the only one suffering this 08 problem. The model railway texts tell you to use your longest carriage to check platform clearances which I did when I built the original platforms and was somewhat miffed when this problem arose with my two 08s. Another lesson learnt. Regards. Brian.

Services suspended again due to platform demolition and reconstruction works - see below. The "engineers' train" was used for checking clearances. One of the reasons why the platforms are being reconstructed, apart from the wobbly nature of the laminated cornflake packet construction of the original platforms, is that the rods on the Bachmann 08 shunter used to collide with the underside of the old platform edge - none of my steam locos exhibit this problem. Hopefully, the new platforms will reopen tomorrow Regards, Brian.

Hi Ray, Just catching up with your thread by speed reading, that is to say hardly reading any of it at all You (or a tame "chippie") could always modify the door and frame and reposition the hinges so that it opens outwards, or have I missed this suggestion by my not very good speed reading? Regards, Brian.

Well, the pictures of "Brit" Oliver Cromwell are still in the big camera but I took a few phone pictures of the almost complete Scalescenes goods shed earlier. Firstly, the main component parts. Secondly. a couple of pics of the office pushed up against the main structure and the main roof resting in position. I still need to glue the main parts together (but might leave the main roof loose so internal access to the shed can be maintained to add interior detail), add the coping stones to the main gable ends and fit a chimney pot to the office. All in all, I am quite pleased with it. Regards, Brian.

Many thanks for your advice, Andy. It's always good to hear the "voice of experience" Best Regards, Brian.

Just caught up, hence all the "likes". Amazing stuff, looking forward to seeing more progress. Regards, Brian. PS Just a thought. To hurry things along, why not give up the golf which I've heard is "a good walk ruined" and spend more time on this fantastic project.

Looking very good, Les. I love the videos. Don't you think that operating signals are just a must have on any layout. Best Regards, Brian. PS Any idea when we are going to see the layout "in print"?

Thanks for that, Andy. I've seen cheaper products but they do look a bit "Micky Mouse" so I've ordered the FMR starter pack (includes the applicator, glue and 4 packs of different colour "grass") which comes to just under £40 including postage. I'm looking forward to having a dabble. Regards, Brian.

Andy, Thanks very much for your comments. That's a great vid. I just watched it without sound (got Portillo on the TV at the moment which, as he's in the north east, I'm half listening to - multi-tasking hahaha!) but will get the full benefit of your dulcet tones later. Would that be the DoubleO Scenics product? The german static inducers are ludicrously expensive so I'm not going there!! My main problem is I am a forty mile round trip from the nearest model shop that sells Peco products so tend to favour the convenience of internet download kits such as Scalescenes and I can get mounting card more locally. The 5 yards of track I bought last week involved a trip from Thames-side Essex to the county town, Chelmsford 20 road miles away. This despite being within commuting distance of central London where there is a dearth of model railway shops despite the massive population. Regards, Brian.