swisspeat

I have recently come across Primo Trees (www.primomodels.co.uk) and am very impressed. I will be using some of them on the Blausee project and have tested a few on a new diorama I have built to test out a few new scenic techniques and materials. Peter

Good to see the layouts in the latest issue of Continental Modeller Jim. I hope to pop over to see them at the NEC. Kind regards, Peter

I have taken a photo of the Felsenburg ruin with a better backdrop. Starting to look proper Swiss....

Simplest track plan ever! One single line end to end. That did not stop it drawing crowds though. The team who made it have exhibited other Scandanavian layouts at Ontraxs over a period of around a decade I believe. All of them have been turned out beautifully scenically speaking. Peter

There was another scenically attractive DSB layout at Ontraxs 22 that might interest followers of this absorbing thread. Regards, Peter

Thanks. while the track plan remains the same you are right that services passing through are limited to the Lotschberger units and occasional freight workings. I find these are supplemented by lots of test workings such as for the MIKA sets plus quite a number of PW short trains. there is shunting to add some variety to the local quarry. The goods shed is now used by a company retailing exotic lights.

Slow progress is being made on the project. The extended goods shed is coming on. The foam platform has a nice curve to it which will be remedied once it is fixed to the layout! Pete

Yes. Apparently it is due to happen in the next decade. They do not want a re-enactment of the 1947 explosion of stored bombs hidden in the mountains. i imagine the residents are none too pleased at being told to move out!

DGO makes a good point about proto stations needing a repaint too! On the latest Kibri build I have matched the curtains with those hanging in place on the day I visited in August. I have now moved on to making the goods shed and platform. Attached photos are WIP old goods shed awaiting its modern extension (plus some minor tweaks) to the left plus shaping the stonework on the front of the goods platform using an old paintbrush minus its bristles. The goods platform is being ade from two quarter inch sheets of foam sheet by Woodlands. Peter

Thanks Paul. Interesting. I had forgotten one of those chains. I am sure that your recent trip will have enthused you to make some progress on the N and Om projects! When I was in the loft yesterday I came across my AlpinLine stuff. Perhaps I should resurrect the idea of building something for that scale too! Peter

So, when are we seeing Rhatia II Paul in HOm or Nm?

Thanks again for these again Paul. A few things: It is a few years since I have visited RhB territory. I always get stuck in BLS area! But you have reminded me how gorgeous it all is. The Grischuna must be the world's best hotel for us types. I recall those balconies you have included in the photos. I must dust down my RhB models.... Kind regards, Peter

I have retrieved the Kibri kit I made over 30 years ago from a draw in the garage and it makes an interesting comparison with the kit just built. The old one has changed colour somewhat! On the new model I have made signs based on my photos. I have also included the blinds in what was the signal "Cabin" part of the building.

Oh Goodness. That is a blow. But understandable in todays climate. Thanks for the heads up Paul. Enjoy your trip... :-)

Great photos Paul. I have stayed at that hotel several times. A real trainspotters find! Hope the weather stays good for you chaps.... Peter

It has taken a few weeks but I have finally got round to building the Kibri model of the station building. I built one of these over 30 years ago and it is good to see it is still in the catalogue and available from Golden Valley Hobbies. Here is the first photo of the completed kit to give me a chance to remedy any modelling faults. Some manufacturers make laser cut kit versions of this building but they are not coming in at Kibri prices! Peter

Thank you gentlemen. I had not come across that source before. I now recall I purchased my sheets from IMTHURN in Switzerland at a show. Their websites are definitely worth a look: https://www.formandpaint.ch/ https://www.imthurn.com/ In addition the ones I mentioned by Woodlands are made from extruded foam: https://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/item/C1177

The green Styrofoam was bought on a visit to CH. Woodland Scenics have various foam sheets that are useful. The stonework was made by indenting the foam using an old paintbrush with the bristles pulled out!

Here are a few photos of the castle ruin located above the station. Scratchbuilt from pieces of hard foam. Now I just need to build the rest of the location!

Thanks Craig. i have already built a model of Felsenburg castle ruin that overlooks the station scene. Will post a picture later today. i will scratchbuild the goods shed and the station will be kit built. someday I will build a proper layout rather than just scenes of Switzerland! kind regards, Peter

I noted, but was not able to record digitally, that BLS is repainting some of its Fans U wagons and PW units in an all over BLS silver livery.. Some of their Vectrons have an updated side livery too. MIKA units working Spiez to Zweissimmen R services.

Last week I was fortunate to spend an hour at Blausee Mitholz on the BLS mountain main line. While trains no longer stop at the station the bus stop is less than 400 m away. I happened to be there when some shiny new BLS hopper wagons arrived. Now where is that Kibri kit of BM I have in stock........

Sorry! I returned home yesterday. Hopefully I am back there in October. I will try to take photos for you then. Kind regards, Peter

Looking jolly good! I passed the Thun postal depot 4 times this week and saw no rail wagons in evidence. Road vehicles were there but not rail ones. The siding looked a bit weedy too though it has always done so! Peter

Hello Steve, I share your pain! For some years my model was the dearest loco I had bought and for that I hoped it would run like a dream. It did not. The problem seems to be that it will not run on Code 75 track - the flanges are too deep. It rumbles around Code 75 track. This is the reason that most of my recent layouts are Code 100 again. Just for this loco! The sound is great. To top it all 18 months after I bought it the motor turned but the wheels did not. Seems to be the problem you describe. I had to return it to HAG who fixed it FOC because it was under 2 year warranty. Please let me know how you get on. I have considered rewheeling mine. looking forward to how your project progresses. Kind regards, Peter