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andyram

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Blog Entries posted by andyram

  1. andyram
    Has another week passed by already? Time really is flying at the moment and that is more than a little scary. As I drove out of school on Friday night, and headed off towards a half term break, I reflected that the next time I would be making the same Friday journey it would be on the eve of the model railway event. By then the hall will need to have been cleared, tables set up and there may well be some layouts already on site. The event really is that close now. Without doubt I am approaching the home straight.
     
    The week gone by has seen me re-measuring parts of the school and some of the tables as I try to finalise the floor plan. Following this I was able to confirm the latest layout which will be appearing. Rolleston on Dove is now booked to attend and will join:
     
    Darley Green, Skaleby West, Moxley Heath, Pending, Waterfall Junction, The Works, The Suitcase Layout, Belper Modular layout, Summat Colliery, Irton Road, Guy's Cuttings, Friarsgate, Layout in a tv, Thomas the Tank Engine and Board Lane.
     
    That is quite a pleasing line up of layouts. And to think that back in February I was stressing that I would not find enough layouts to make it worthwhile! One of the pupils also approached me on Friday and is desperate to bring his layout too. That caused even more measuring on the Friday evening. I think I can squeeze him in and I still have space for the vanishing layout from Butterley. I really wish I had taken the gentleman's details on the day. He took mine and promised to be in touch. I have heard nothing since so I assume he is not coming. A real shame that he couldn't at least contact me and let me know this!
     
    On a more positive note I received a further raffle prize. Stand up and take a bow the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. They have become the third preserved line to offer a prize and they are not even a local one. I take back all my summer criticisms of their diesel hauled train! Mind you as a working member of one local line I feel a little embarassed by their lack of response so far!
     
    With more layout descriptions now received the show guide is starting to come together. My target is to have it finished by the end of half term week so that I can tackle the printing during the week leading up to the event.
     
    And so from the show organising to the layout building....
     
    I now have just 2 weeks left to complete Skaleby West, or at least have it ready for showing. After a visit to the Wirksworth exhibition I finally sat down and began tackling the card goods shed kit. This was a free kit from the first issue of the Hornby magazine. As I did not want to wreck the issue, I used the school's photocopier to make a colour copy onto card. Shhh don't tell the headteacher about the use of the school's ink and card for my modelling purposes!!! (She doesn't read RMWeb thankfully!!).
    Unfortunately the quality of the copy wasn't that great and some of the detail has actually smudged during the construction process. I was a little disappointed with the look of the model once I had assembled the intial structure. I know I am a kit building virgin and my attempts were not all that accurate, but the whole thing really does not reach the standards I want. Sadly there is no turning back now. I haven't the time. The kit is my only option as no off the shelf product will fit the small space I have on the layout. I will just have to perserve, finish the kit and hope that with some weathering and additional detailing it will become just about passable. Maybe I can hide some of the worst bits with other scenery once it is added to the layout. At least it does fit the space.

    The incomplete goods shed kit can be seen here, posed on the platform of my home layout - Skaleby.
     
    And so as I look ahead to the half term week I now have a plan of action I must:
    * finish the kit and place onto the layout.
    * build up the end enbankment to the height of the goods shed.
    * add trees and scenic scatter to the area.
    * add flowers, people and detail to the rest of the layout.
     
    Oh - and build the fiddle yard!!!
     
    A busy week ahead then - until next time...
  2. andyram
    The first ever Weston-on-Trent model railway show is getting ever closer. Here is the latest update!
     
     
    I may have been a little worried as I approached the staff meeting last week. The Weston on Trent model railway show was the only item on the agenda, and I faced the task of persuading the female dominated staff of exhibition virgins to provide help on the day. Thankfully my worries proved unfounded. They seemed to get quite excited by the event and a few have got together to take on the organisation of catering. I had expected a few bacon butties, cakes, drinks and sandwiches. But they seem to be planning an even broader menu including jacket spuds and croissants (not on the same plate I hope!!). A few others have decided on a “children’s room” so parents can leave their kids with the staff whilst they go off and spend money. Colouring competitions, Thomas videos and even a Brio train set where mentioned.
     
    With the expected layouts having all confirmed things really are starting to take shape. I have now started the show guide, adding in those layout descriptions and photographs I have received so far. I aim to finish this during the school's October half term so that it can be printed in the week leading up to the show. Gradually I feel that things are "coming together"...now if only I could find a couple more small layouts for the second corridor I would feel like I have completed the job.
     
    Talking of completing the job; I need to really get stuck into Skaleby West and get my layout ready for its exhibition debut. I was back on task last weekend with a rather bizarre modelling day. As Sky Sports showed the Nottingham Forest V Derby County match; there I was dressed in my Rams shirt, working away on the layout, whilst trying not to smirk too much as my Forest supporting wife shouted abuse at the screen (1-0, 1-0, 1-0, 1-0).
    I started by completing the hedgerow at the rear of the layout after finally managing to acquire the final piece. I then added further layers of static grass to hide any gaps at the bottom of the hedge where it refused to stick flush to the top of the embankment. Next I turned my attention to the platform. A few weeks ago I acquired some station fencing from a local swapmeet. This was a nice style, but looked just too bright and white for my liking. It needed some kind of weathering.
     
    Now I admit I have never done any kind of weathering before. I have always been afraid to touch the expensive locomotives and carriages in my collection, preferring to buy factory weathered versions where possible. But as far as I know there does not seem to be factory weathered station fencing out there, so I had to take the plunge.
    First I used a modelling knife to cut the fencing from its plastic holder. Then, using some weathering powders acquired at the Loughborough show, I dry brushed some “muck brown” onto the rear of the fencing. I tried to ensure a good collection of dirt in the corners by the fence posts. I then turned the fencing over and dry brushed a covering onto this side as well. After shaking off the excess I gave each fence piece a generous coating of hair spray which I hoped would fix the powders in place. Everything seemed to remain in place when I glued the fence into position. Fuelled with a little more confidence I then tackled the telephone box. Unfortunately the powders didn’t seem to want to remain in place when treated with hair spray and so I will have to look at this again.

    A view of the newly added, and weathered, station fencing.
    So as the show gradually gets closer I look over the layout and begin to compile the final list of jobs for the big push to the end. I can feel satisfied that many of these jobs fall into the “would be nice to do” rather than the “must get done” category. Ok, the layout does not have any signals and the point motors are not wired yet. But they can be operated, by hand, from underneath the layout away from public view. The layout also needs the additional detail. The recent issue of the Hornby Magazine had some free Sankey Scenic signs which would look great on the station fence. The platform also needs some additional detail including benches, luggage, milk churns and people. I would also like to detail the inside of the signal box and coal merchant’s wagon.

    A low level view of Skaleby West station. It would definitely benefit from the addition of the extra detail described above.
    There is one area that falls into the “must get done” category however. That is the goods yard area. Whilst all sidings have been ballasted, I still need to fill in the gap between this and the main running line. I had planned to have some kind of goods building here, but can’t find one small enough. It looks like I may have to try my hand at kit building. There was a small kit in the first ever issue of the Hornby Magazine which may just do the trick.

    Two views of the unfinished goods yard, showing the gap that needs filling in.
     
    As this scenic work was finished there was just 6 weeks to go until the show. Now, as I write this update, there is only 5 and I have done nothing more to the layout. Time to panic again???
     
    Until next time....
  3. andyram

    Mickleover

    By andyram,

    Another blog entry!
     
     
    It has been a few weeks since I last posted in the "show visits" blog. Last week I visited the Loughborough show, thoroughly enjoyed it, but never got the chance to write an entry. This weekend saw me visit the Mickleover show. This is one of my local shows, held at the Mickleover Community Centre, home of the club that runs this and the Moorways show.
     
    My visit spanned both the Saturday and Sunday. On the first day I managed a brief visit to drop some leaflets off for the Weston-on-Trent show. Family commitments meant that I couldn't stay long. With my wife feeling ill and in need of a break from mummy duty, I was able to return on the Sunday with my baby daughter in tow again as we gave mum some much needed peace and quiet.
     
    I have to say I really enjoyed my visits. There were some excellent layouts on show. In the club room it was great to see the latest developments on the group's "Duffield" layout. This has been a long term project and looks very nice indeed. There is a long scenic run and there was plenty of action as a procession of long trains past in each directions.
    A second 00 gauge layout was "Everywhere" which is the new club running layout. This has five tracks and is made to allow a wide variety of stock to run, something that is important to cater for the wide interests within such a large club. Whilst watching the action I saw everything from a Black 5 hauled passenger train to a motorised "hand cart" and an American diesel express.
    The final layout in this room was the group's 0 gauge "Warner Street". On the Sunday this was being run with a variety DMU's whilst there was a mix of steam and diesel in action on the Saturday.
     
    In the Community Centre there were some more club layouts. I am not a diesel fan, but the club's modern image layout "Farkham" is excellent. Set in the suburbs of Stoke on Trent it gives a good impression of a railway passing through a city area. The tower blocks are nicely modelled and I loved the Del Boy cameo.
    Other layouts on show included the Famous Train's group's "Darley Green" layout. This was making its exhibition debut and was quite impressive too. There was also plenty of action on this layout with a good procession of passenger trains arriving and departing and freight being shunted. My daughter also seemed to enjoy the action. She was also very interested in club's N gauge "Derwent Valley". On Saturday this was being operated as a preserved railway's gala. On the Sunday modern traction was the order of the day with lots of EWS and Scot Rail liveried stock. Thomas the Tank Engine also made an appearence now and again. He was also present on the club's Thomas layout of course. 10 months old and already my daughter seems to have a taste for the little blue tank engine and his friends. She was captivated by the procession of trains on this particular model.
     
    To be honest all the layouts were excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition. It was also made by the many friendly people I met. I have often considered becoming a member of this group and / or the Famous Trains charity. The friendly nature of the people from both groups continue to make this a tempting option. They all helped make the visit very enjoyable.
    It was also nice to chat to fellow RM Web member Don and to view his Hockley Goods diorama which is excellent. No wonder it was voted into the top 10 of a competition on this website. I look forward to seeing the model again at our show in November.
     
    An enjoyable visit and a big thanks to all involved.
  4. andyram

    The clock is ticking!

    By andyram,

    Back in February I uttered those immortal words during a school staff meeting...."perhaps we could have a model railway show to raise funds for the school". And so there was no backing out. The staff liked the idea and handed the organisation over to me. After all, I am sure that none of the female dominated staff had ever been to a model railway show, let alone realised such things existed!! I am not being sexist here you understand...there are some great blogs written by female modellers out there...they are just not part of our staff who see the token male and his interest in all things model railways to be a passing amusement! Mind you, I think they saw a great "get out clause". With the school celebrating its 5th anniversary in its new purpose built building, and needing to raise £5,000, the headteacher wanted the staff to run a fundraising event to contribute. So why not let the token male go away and do it all?? Perfect for them...not so for me!
     
    In February I was panicing. How on earth could I get this done. I have never been a member of a model railway club, and didn't know a thing about organising a show! What was I to do?? Thankfully many fellow RMWebbers came to my assistance and things began to move. Now the clock is ticking and there are just a few weeks to go until the day of the event finally arrives! It is amazing to look back and see how far things have come. From having no layouts and no idea how to get any..I now have several. Fellow bloggers have promised some layouts with Irton Road, Friarsgate, Guy's Cuttings and Summat Colliery all agreeing to attend for little or no expenses. A big thanks to these guys in advance and I can't wait to see all of these layouts on the day. I also have a demostrator and a diorama that I must confirm in the next few days.
     
    The organising of the show has also given me plenty of bargaining power with my wife. She has been very understanding as I have disappeared off to attend countless local shows in the hunt for more layouts. This has produced a display of micro layouts from Ken Jones and Malcolm Hughes as well as a commitment from the Famous Trains group to bring their "Darley Green" layout. Chris Trafford's "Board Lane" has also been promised and I await an email from a gentleman I saw at Butterley who also promised to attend with his foreign based layout. I also have some representatives from the Ilkeston group who are attending with their Thomas layout which the children can pay to drive - funds going to the school. Thanks in advance guys!!!
     
    I was flying even before a visiting teacher heard about the event and promised a rather large modular layout from the Belper group.
     
    And then of course there is my own layout, Skaleby West. I hadn't even thought of attempting a show layout before February, but now this is nearly finished. The fiddle yard board has been completed and one small area of scenery still needs to be attempted. Can I leave it until October half term??? Maybe not! That is just two weeks before the show.
     
    So as I take stock, and finalise the floor plan over a relaxing pint of "Flying Scotsman" real ale I can feel the panic subsiding a little. Lots of layouts and plenty of trade stands promised too! Hang on! There is still the catering to organise, the show guide to finish and the traders stall rents to collect. Oh and the hope that all my measurements are correct and everything fits where I intend it to go! Oh and that enough people respond to our adverts and turn up on the day...nothing worse than an exhibition with no punters! I can feel the panic returning. Maybe I need another pint!!!
     
    Actually what I do need is the staff to step forward and help out with the catering and the raffle. I had better hope that they step up during tomorrow night's fundraising meeting. The only thing on the agenda - the Weston-on-Trent Model Railway show. Oh and I have a couple of small gaps in corridors. Just right for a couple of small shelf layouts. Now then....if anyone is free on Saturday 10th November....................
     
     
    Until next time...
  5. andyram

    Summer's over!

    By andyram,

    As I get stuck into planning for the new school year the summer really is over for me. It is back to the constant slog of planning lessons, preparing resources, attending meetings and dealing with all kinds of hassles. Yes I really do love my job!
     
    And with the end of summer comes an end to my extended modelling time. One final fling last week saw more progress made on Skaleby West. Using some Gaugemaster materials I created a small rock face on the nearside of the embankment. This was then covered with some lichen material and hanging basket liner to represent plants and grass. Some rocks were glued at the foot of the embankment to represent a small rock fall. I then added the Woodland Scenics cinders to the baseboard to fill the gap between the bottom of the embankment and the start of the track ballast.
     
    I was still not happy with the final effect of the hanging basket liner for the embankment grass, and decided this needed some more texture. Some Gaugemaster scenic scatter was sprinkled on over the top and then a layer of static grass was roughly added on top of this. This seemed to make things look a little better. The static grass was also applied at the rear of the platform, and along the top of a small embankment which had been built a few weeks ago on the right hand side of the layout, leading from the platform to the fiddle yard entrance on this side of the board. Things really have started to take shape, and I have added a few more factory built trees to the scene.

    A view of the embankment scene following the addition of the additional scatter materials.
    Next I turned my attention to the front of the baseboard. I had planned for a signal box and a small coal merchant’s scene in this area. I played around with a few buildings until I was happy with the final effect. I then cut cork bases for the buildings, glued these down and covered them with a layer of plaster bandage which was painted grey when dry. More cinder scatter was then glued around the coal staithes and the grounded wagon body which will act as the coal merchant. This all looks a bit too clean at the moment so I may tackle some weathering once all of the other jobs are done.

    A general view of the front area of the board is seen in the first picture, with a close up of the coal merchants yard in the second shot.
    The signal box is the Skaledale “Magna” model, purchased this week. I had test fitted the old Skaledale “Goathland” signal box in this location, which I had bought a few years ago, but this did not seem to look quite right.
     
    So things have moved on so here is a bit of a before and after comparison.

     
    The Show
    I continue to work on the advertising. There were leaflets present on a trade stand during the Midland Rail-ex show and other traders have had their leaflet supplies restocked. I have also contacted a couple of model magazines about having the show included in their diary pages.
    During the Midland Rail-ex show I spoke to a couple of layout owners and may have secured a couple more layouts for the show. One has confirmed, the other is still to get back to me. I am also awaiting replies from a couple of trade stands who may offer something different should they agree to attend.
    Recently I have also received some more details from exhibitors for the show guide. I had better get back onto this soon.
     
    Until next time….
  6. andyram

    Severn Valley Railway

    By andyram,

    I thought some of you may be interested in some of the pictures taken during my visit to the SVR today. 4 engines in steam with on loan Pannier Tank 3650 in service alongside the 2-8-0 number 2857 and Ivatt 4 number 43106. The fourth engine was the Bulleid "Sir Keith Park" which made a light engine run from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster. It is seen here at Highley.


     
    According to the railway's website it will run on the rear of the first Bridgnorth departure tomorrow top and tailing with 2857.
     

    2857 is seen here arriving at Highley.
     
    The remaining shots show 3650 and 43106 passing the Engine House.

  7. andyram

    Midland Railex

    By andyram,

    This is another show I have been looking forward to. I visited the first Midland Railex show last year and thoroughly enjoyed it with the chance to ride on the full sized trains as well as seeing the model ones aswell.
     
    This year the model railway show did not disappoint. There were lots of excellent layouts, many seen in the modelling press in recent months. Derek Gelsthorpe's "Idle Way" is a superb shunting layout in such a small space. I had seen this featured in its original form in the book "Layouts in Small Spaces" which I purchased at the beginning of the year. Set on a 4ft x 1ft baseboard it helped inspire my own similar sized layout which remains under construction at present.
    The expanded version of this layout was seen in a recent issue of Hornby magazine and it was nice to see it in the flesh and to chat to its owner.
     
    Another excellent layout was the Cambrian Coast inspired Rhyd-y-Clafdy. This was also featured in a recent issue of the Hornby magazine and is truely superb. A lovely, spacious layout with rolling fields and authentic trains. I could have watched it for hours.
     
    The show also featured a few layouts I had seen before. This included the exceptional O gauge "Hospital Gates". I always see something new amongst the detailed scenery. Another superb O gauge model was "St Marnock Shed" which featured smoke and sound fitted models. The Jubilee model was particularly impressive.
    In 00 gauge there was "Skip Hill". A model based on the Cromford and High Peak Line. I had to admire the skill of the operators as they worked the mineral wagons up and down the severe gradients. The scenery included a wonderfully detailed wharf and a moving water crane arm.
     
    There really was plenty to see spread across several buildings around the Swanick Junction site. It was great to meet people from this very website, including Andy. There was also plenty of trade stands, selling a range of goods. Sadly the scenic elements I had been looking for, including some Gaugemaster hedging was not available and the Bachmann "returns" stand was looking rather bare. I guess the latter had rather been picked over on the Saturday. I did manage to pick up a nice weathered loco from "Grimy Times". The Fairburn tank will provide perfect branch line motive power for Skaleby West when it attends its first show at the end of the year.
     
    The show was excellent and I really did enjoy it. My only critcism would be directed at the Midland Railway Centre itself. I do feel that they were not as well organised as they could have been on some occasions. The first train was advertised as being 9.30, but it did not arrive into Butterley platform until about 9.55am. This proceeded to travel onto the causeway towards Hammersmith first, before returning to Butterley for a second stop prior to travelling to Swanick. I guess this may have been to "kill time" prior to the show's 10am start time and avoid the events of last year when the first train arrived at Swanick at 9.35 and deposited visitors well before show exhibitors had even finished setting up! Fair enough if this was the reason, but why advertise the first train at 9.30???
    The second criticism I have of them was with the advertised "Real Ale Bar". This was not very well signposted, not easy to find and featured only ONE cask real ale!
     
    The show also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the class 47 diesel. Now, as anyone who has read my "summer of steam" blog will know, I am not a diesel fan. For those that are however, the railway did put on a display of a number of class 47's. There were several full sized versions on display, and three in service on one of the trains. There was a large display of 00 gauge model 47's and the Swanick Junction model railway also featured such locos operating.
    Sadly, as a steam fan, the only loco in operation on the service trains was the Caprotti 5 number 73129 which was top and tailing with a class 20. Oh dear!
     
    Whilst I did not get any steam mileage in. I did enjoy the show, and apart from a couple of criticism I really could not fault the day. I hope that this event runs again next year and would recommend it to anyone.
  8. andyram
    I remember visiting a local model railway show a few years ago, I can't remember where, and seeing a young lad displaying his first ever show layout. For someone of probably no more than ten years of age the scenic detail was excellent. I do not remember the name of the layout, but what I do remember is my father's criticism as we walked away. He was less than impressed with the "authenticity" of the trains the lad was running. During our time watching the layout I recall that we saw two trains pass through his station. One was made up of British Railways maroon Mk 1 coaches, hauled by a Regional Railways liveried diesel. The second was made up of "blood and custard" Mk 1's, hauled by a blue and yellow liveried diesel. My dad was less than impressed feeling that this would "never happen!"
     
    After the last ten days or so, I can tell my father that yes it does. I guess this lad was modelling a preserved railway where, let's be fair, anything goes! A recent visit to Peak Rail provided an example of the first of those particular trains. I have not visited for a while, and had never travelled on the newly extended line into Matlock Network Rail station. Sat at Rowsley Station I observed the train of maroon Mk 1's arrive, hauled by a Regional Railways liveried class diesel loco. At the rear an Austerity 0-6-0 in pseudo J94 livery followed quietly. The train was top and tailed with steam and diesel traction. The reason? The extension into the network rail station has taken away the line's run round loop. The old "Matlock Riverside" station retains this facility for services in January and February, but the network rail station has no run round facility.
    It seems a strange decision to me. Why extend a line a few hundred yards, but then have to use two locos and therefore double the fuel on services. Surely that does not make financial sense? Maybe I was just feeling sore as this meant my train was only steam hauled one way.
     
    The following week I visited the North Yorkshire Moors Railway where Sir Nigel Gresley was in steam. I hope you enjoy some of the shots I have taken of this wonderful loco.

    Arriving at Levisham

    Arriving at Pickering

    Departing Grosmont.
     
    Now after travelling behind the A4 from Levisham - Pickering and back to Grosmont, we broke our journey in order to take the above picture and visit the loco sheds. Sadly, the following departure was made up of blood and custard mk 1's and a blue and yellow liveried class 37 diesel! Gutted!! The 1 in 49 "Goathland bank" is not quite as appealing when all you can hear is a lawn mower growling in front and smell the stench of diesel oil and blue smoke!
    Now I appreciate that a lot of people are fans of diesel locomotives. I have enjoyed many excellent modern image layouts at exhibitions, and I liked this lad's particular layout even with the diesel models, but I am not a fan of the real thing and when I visit a steam railway I expect to travel behind steam so this turn of events was very disappointing, especially when the same locomotive took charge of my second Grosmont - Levisham journey later in the week.
    It seems that the diesels are gradually becoming more common on our heritage lines. Are we seeing dieselisation all over again?? Last weekend I visited the GCR where half of the departures for the day were diesel hauled. A "period" notice in the waiting room at Loughborough stated that due to the "current modernisation the following departures will be hauled by modern diesels". Following this I drove to the model railway exhibition at the GCR's Nottingham site. All trains here were diesel hauled!! I didn't travel on either line! Today's midweek GCR services saw 3 / 6 trains diesel hauled again! At least my daughter and I managed to get some steam hauled miles in today. I reckon, against the odds, I have managed over 100 steam hauled miles during the last 3 weeks. But I'd better watch out for those diesels.
    Hang on...what is that entering my Skaleby West station this evening....

     
    It seems that I can't escape the curse of the diesels. Even my model railway has succumbed!
     
    I'd better finish with a steam shot!!!

  9. andyram

    3 months to go

    By andyram,

    Where did the last month go? All of a sudden there is just 3 months left until the model railway show and the alarm bells were beginning to sound. I have been off work for almost 3 weeks and there had been no further progress on Skaleby West. True enough I was away on holiday for one of those weeks, but I really needed to get things moving.
     
    With my wife visiting her mother’s today I had a day to myself and really got stuck into things. I used hanging basket liner to cover the embankments to act as long grass. I then added a large Gaugemaster backscene to the layout, and glued some hedging material from the same company in front of this. It provided a nice link between the layout and the backscene, and also hides those areas which weren’t cut as neatly as they could have been.
     
    I also purchased a Woodland Scenics “Forest canopy” kit, and used this to construct some trees which were planted at the rear of the layout alongside some ready made trees that I had bought a while a go. As this was my first attempt at making my own trees I was quite pleased with the effects although I probably should have waited for them to dry before planting them! I then used a variety of Woodland Scenics scatter material to add texture to the ground cover around the base of each tree.
     
    After a good five hour modelling session things really have started to come together. My final job of the day was to glue down the cottage after I had detailed the outside with some Noch laser cut plants.

     
    Now all I have to do is leave everything to dry before I detail the rest of the rear of the platform. At present the layout resembles a “before and after” scene with one side scenic and the other rather barren and empty. But with 3 weeks left before I return to work I hope to get this sorted too. If I do I will feel more confident that the layout will be ready for the show.

    The show
     
    On the subject of the show here is a quick update! Over the last couple of weeks I have suffered a little bit of a blow. One of the layouts has had to pull out. I understand the owner’s reasons for withdrawing and I am thankful to him for giving me plenty of notice. It does leave a space to fill….better get on the look out for a shelf type layout to fill the space then!
    On the plus side all of the leaflets which were left out at the Ruddington show seemed to have been taken. I hope these people all turn up on the day.
  10. andyram

    Foxfield

    By andyram,

    And so the school summer holidays are finally here, and whilst many parents are dreading the next six weeks, this particular teaching parent is relishing the time to spend it with wife, new daughter and also on some serious model railway work. For me there is my home layout, Skaleby, to continue with and also my show layout, Skaleby West. Lots to do. On top of this I always try to make the most of the summer break and visit as many preserved railways as I can, and get in as many steam hauled miles as possible.
    It may not be strictly a model railway theme, but I thought some people out there may find an interest in the photos taken during my trips out. Some may provide some modelling inspiration - you never know!
     
    This weekend I began my summer of steam with a trip to the Foxfield Steam gala. It has been four years since my one and only previous visit. I was a little disappointed by the line on that occasion, but not this time. The line put on an excellent show with seven engines in steam, six of them taking turns on the passenger and freight services and the Dubs Crane Tank 4101 on duty at Foxfield Colliery.
    The railway put on a free bus service from Caverswall Road to the colliery site and, having missed the first train of the day, I made use of this. I was delighted to see areas opened up for photographers with signs into the nearby fields and the footpath to Dilhorne Park station clearly signed. Makes a change from some lines!
    Whilst at the colliery I photographed the vintage well tank "Bellerophon" which was paired with the little 0-4-0 Bagnall No.2. The first picture shows the pair at the colliery, whilst the next two are shots of the first freight of the day to ascend the 1 in 19 Foxfield Bank. Hope you like them! The Bagnall was a "cop" for me. Yes I do actually have a small preserved steam loco spotters book. I am that sad! During the weekend I also "copped" the visiting "Ugly" and resident "Lewisham No.2"

     
    The railway followed the usual gala routine of swapping engines at all stations. The passenger train loco would bring the freight back down the bank, whilst the freight engines would take the passenger train back from Dilhorne Park to Caverswall Road where they would be swapped again. The Bagnall and the Well tank relieved the Austerity "Whiston" for my first passenger run. Whiston is seen here at Dilhorne Park after I had safely navigated the muddy footpath!!


     
    I managed to get a few rides in during the day, and successfully managed to be hauled by all locos except Whiston, seen above leaving Dilhorne Park, and the Dubs which was not on passenger duty. Mind you I was a bit gutted to miss its impromptu ascent of the bank with a brake van moments after I had left the location from which I took the picture below!

    This picture shows Lewisham No.2 and Austerity "Wimblebury".
     
    With several of my trips being on trains from Dilhorne Park, and therefore downhill, I didn't really get too many decent runs. The best was behind the Bagnall and Bellerophon on a train from Caverswall Road later in the day. They did make some nice noise on some of the steeper sections of the passenger line.
    Star guest was the "Ugly" class so I suppose I had better include a shot of that. Not a great pic, but I never seemed to catch it at a decent location. Would have loved to have seen that go up Foxfield Bank. Sadly I was rather limited with time and only had four hours there. I did enjoy it, and would recommend a visit to next year's gala. In such a small space of time I still got a few pictures, and covered 12 and a half miles behind steam. Oh and the colliery did give me a fledgling idea for an extension to Skaleby West in the future.

     
    So there it is. Like I said, not especially a model railway entry, but I hope the pictures at least provide some interest.
     
    Peak Rail next I think!
  11. andyram
    It has been a couple of weeks since my last blog entry, and progress has, to coin a phrase from a previous entry, been back on the slow line. The post school report round of parent's evenings have led to some very long working days, and much reduced time to work on Skaleby West.
     
    I did find some time to finish pinning down the last few lengths of track which I did not have time to do before the layout's public outing at the school's birthday event a couple of weeks ago. These particular lengths had moved in transit and led to some stalling problems when the railway was tested upon arrival back at home. A quick relay, test and these final pieces were pinned down and things ran smoothly. Sadly things were not so smooth with the final point motor! The hole has been drilled slightly in the wrong place and I could not get the extended arm to switch the point fully in both directions. A large amount of filing managed to open up the hole and the motor was test fitted again. This still would not work properly. Although the arm could move freely, it still would not switch the point. It proved to be a very frustrating Saturday afternoon. After several attempts and a lot of cursing I decided that the small joining piece was faulty, and would not hold the two halves together strongly enough to allow it to switch the point. It looks like I will need to buy a new one!
     
    The need for a new point motor has meant that the next job has been put on hold. I had planned to get stuck into ballasting the track. My home layout, Skaleby, is ballasted using the Gaugemaster ballasted foam underlay. This gives a fairly good effect, but I had found it difficult to cut and shape the underlay to fit underneath the points. I had not been too happy with the final effect of this. With Skaleby being a home layout I can rather live with it. As Skaleby West is being built for exhibiting this "make do" attitude would not do, and I have decided to hand ballast this layout using Woodland Scenics materials. As I have never ballasted a layout like this before I have dug out some old Hornby magazines for bedtime reading and have read up on the method. Once the problem with the final point motor is sorted I hope to have a good idea how to tackle the ballasting!
     
    The show
    There seemed to be a good response to the posters and leaflets during the school's open day. A few people were also interested by the floor plan which was attached to the layout's backboard. This remains in place at the moment, and the couple of gaps give me a constant reminder that I need to find a couple more layouts for the main hall. The list of smaller layouts also need to be placed, which reminds me that I need to measure the other rooms.
    This week has also seen me update the posters and leaflets to include directions to the show. This will allow them to be sent out to traders and distributed around local events.
     
    Until next time........
  12. andyram
    Due to a heavy work load since February, progress on Skaleby West has rather resembled that of a steam age freight train – slow, plodding progress interrupted by lots of signal checked periods of inactivity. As I left school on the Friday evening at the start of the Easter break I felt like I was receiving clear signals onto the fast line. This was the chance to speed up progress during the two weeks away from work.

    Things started very well too. During the first week the layout was moved from its home in the small, spare bedroom and taken outdoors to have the backboard painted. A coat of grey / blue matt emulsion left over from a previous decorating job gave a reasonable impression of a clear sky. Not that the Easter skies in Derby looked like that very often. Before the paint was dry I was swiftly moving the layout back inside as the latest wave of dark, black clouds rolled in. I only just got the layout back under cover before the latest April shower was deposited on us.

    When my very understanding wife arrived home that evening, she only raised a slight eyebrow at the sight of Skaleby West, residing on a pair of kitchen stools across the front of the French doors in our lounge. And she has not raised the slightest complaint that the layout has remained there for the subsequent three weeks! During this time I did undertake some test running. A Bachmann “Jinty†was used to shunt a small collection of wagons. I was pleased to see that everything ran smoothly, with none of the stalling issues of the previous test sessions.

    The poor Easter weather meant that it was another week before I found a dry window to take the layout back outside again. This time, with the help of my father, we drilled the holes for, and fitted, the four Hornby point motors to the underside of the board. I had chosen to use the under-board motors with the extended arm attached. Unfortunately these seem to give me a lot of trouble. It took a lot of “playing around†before the motors were aligned correctly, and even then the arm seemed rather fragile and kept “popping out†of the joining piece. I have super-glued all and hope that this solves the problem. Three of the four motors have now been treated in such a way, with arms also cut down to size and track pinned down. The points change fully when the motor is operated by hand, so fingers crossed it will work just as well when they are wired to the power switches. I just have one more point motor to sort out and the final pieces of track to pin down before I can move onto the ballasting of the track.

    In the meantime the layout has made an unexpected first public appearance. As mentioned in previous blog entries, I am constructing Skaleby West for display at the model railway show which I am organising at my school on November 10th. This event is part of the school’s fifth birthday year of fundraising. The weekend just passed has seen the official fifth birthday date and was celebrated with a Saturday open day. This featured various stalls and displays including, at the headteacher’s request, Skaleby West. The layout acted as publicity for the event complete with posters and leaflets.
    With no scenery, no fiddle yard and hand operated points things were very much “work in progressâ€. But it seemed to be well received and provoked some interest in the event. Once again the layout ran smoothly with no stalling issues. The Jinty once again deployed on shunting a few wagons and provided my first experience of operating the layout from the rear! Just a shame a left the uncoupling hook at home! But at least the event proved I could fit it in the car!

    The show itself has seen very little progress since my last entry. But that may have been down to some signal problems, namely a phone line fault that led to a fortnight without the internet. A visit to the Belper show did allow me to confirm the possible attendance of someone to provide some scenic demonstrations. A recent toy fair visit has also seen another trade stand booking. I have produced some posters and leaflets which were displayed at the school event, but these will need to be altered for the wider public as I need to add directions to the school. That will probably be my next job.

    Until next time…..
  13. andyram
    The sun is shining, the weather is getting warmer and the clocks have gone forward. For some the better weather may actually bring their modelling time to an end, not for me! For me it is likely to be the beginning!
     
    I admit it. I hate the start of the year. Not that I hate winter you understand, let's face it we hardly saw much winter this year. But once Christmas has gone and the schools go back I end up extremely busy. Our headteacher, in her great wisdom, decided that our school reports to parents should be sent out as the children break up for Easter. Most schools wait until the summer, not ours! So on top of the usual day to day teaching jobs, for me, the report writing marathon begins in January and runs until March.
     
    Some people may wonder why it takes so long! Gone are the days when a single, handwritten page, giving an overview of progress would suffice. Now our reports run into 6 computerised pages with several paragraphs on EVERY subject of the National Curriculum. For 37 children it takes ages! And then you have to proof read them, hand them to the headteacher so that she can add her comments, proof read them again, print them off and then proof read them a THIRD time. Great stuff.
     
    So my planned modelling weekend disappeared after a pile of printed reports were handed to me on Friday with the instruction to read and sign them! Lovely stuff! I am sure I will be dreaming such phrases as "could do better" and "needs to remember their full stops" for several weeks to come.
     
    But job done! I handed them back this morning and so the marathon is over and the light has appeared at the end of the tunnel! I can now seriously get down to working on Skaleby West and attempt to get it ready for the show in November.
     
    The show
    Talking of the show! After the recent frustration reported in the last blog I can see a little bit of light at the end of this tunnel too. The visit to Mickleover allowed me to chat to a couple of traders and both showed an interest in the show. One booked two tables there and then, and another was 99% certain he could attend. That's five traders sorted. I am already close to selling out the tables I have available from the school's store. I am still waiting on another 4 or 5 traders to get back to me. Then on Sunday my father, who deals in Corgi and Dinky toys, text me from the show he was attending to tell me a railway dealer friend of his had also displayed an interest. Looks like I may need to get hold of the spare tables from the scout hut after all!
    I have also had a few messages from another RMWeb user who thinks they may be able to bring their layout and a teaching colleague confirmed he would be able to attend. Perhaps I will have to measure up a classroom as well as the other rooms! I'd quite like that, it means the show will be growing and there will be plenty for visitors to see.
     
    The layout
    Obviously there hasn't been too much progress on Skaleby West. But, whilst trying to avoid that pile of reports, I did treat the baseboards to a coat of brown poster paint. I always do this so that I do not start scenic work on bare wood. The brown acts as a base colour.
    This evening I temporarily replaced the track and laid out the station platform pieces, using a Hornby brake coach to check clearances. These pics show the layout as it looks today. More to follow....


  14. andyram

    One Month down!

    By andyram,

    Another week and another blog entry. It is a month since I started this blog, and at the time I saw it more as an appeal for help than something I would update regularly. Now it seems that I have settled into a habit of updating it each week. I hope that people are finding these thoughts and experiences of a show organising virgin of some interest. Here is the latest!
     
    The show - taking stock!
     
    After my intial appeal for layouts a month ago I was overwhelmed with the response and offers of help I received. Understandably things have slowed up at the moment.
    At present there are 5 layout owners booked and confirmed, bringing 7 layouts between them. Three of these layouts have been allocated space in the school hall. The other 4 are still planned for other rooms. A 6th owner has confirmed their attendance. All I need to do is decide which of his two show layouts I want. They differ quite a lot in size, so I have decided to wait and see what else I may get before I confirm arrangements with him.
    A colleague, who visits our school once a week, is a member of the Belper model railway group. He has promised to bring his layout, although this is still to be finished, and I am continuing with my own construction project (see below). So technically I can probably say that I have 10 layouts of different sizes and gauges attending the show.
    This week I have also confirmed the booking of two trade stands. This gives me three traders definitely attending so far. There are still some tables still to be sold though.
     
    So what next?
     
    Well I am still waiting on a few replies....
    - One preservation society was approached at a recent exhibition and expressed an interest in the event. Despite taking my details I am yet to hear from them.
    - A model railway group expressed an interest at the same show. This would involve them bringing a layout and having a trade stand. They also took my details but no reply yet.
    - One local railway based charity have promised to take a stand, the arrangements need to be confirmed.
    - I am awaiting confirmation from 3 layout owners.
     
    No panic yet though, the date is still a long way away and people are probably so busy with all the shows that are happening locally at the moment. Mind you, any further RMWebbers who could help with layouts would be welcome.
     
    The school is keen to have some kind of tombola or raffle. My wife has kindly offered her services and is going to contact companies for donations of prizes. I hope that she has more luck than me after I drew a blank from both Hornby and Bachmann. Both stating that they only supported charities local to them. At least they replied I suppose.
     
    The show layout
     
    The baseboards for Skaleby West returned from the workshops (aka my dad's garage) at the weekend. They are now fitted with the under frame supports and back and side boards. The model is now starting to resemble the skeleton of a show layout. I have loosely laid out the track onto the cork track bed to give an impression of how the final model will look. The first shot gives a general view of the whole baseboard.

     
    Whilst the second is a close up of the small goods yard area.

     
    At first I was a bit worried that the tunnel holes were not big enough, but a quick test with a Hornby coach has cleared up this concern.
     
    The next jobs will be to paint the backboards. They currently sport a rough layer of undercoat and will be covered with a grey / blue colour to resemble the sky. This paint was used on the bedroom walls and gives a decent backdrop to my permenant Skaleby model (see other blog).
    The other job will be to lay the track and fit the point motors. Now that will be a challenge!
  15. andyram

    Frustration!

    By andyram,

    Another week and another update. Things had been going so well. I had those layouts booked, trade stands sold, measurements and floor plan well on the way. I had even made a start on the show guide. I was feeling pretty pleased with myself! In the last week I even had another RMWebber contact me with an expression of interest in bringing a layout to the show. Oh and Derby beat Forest 1-0. Things really were going so well!
    But they say pride comes before a fall don't they? Just as the machine is running well someone shoves a spanner in the works!
     
    Oh I love technology! No sooner had I digested the celebratory bottle of (Jake) Buxton mineral water, things began to go wrong. The connection between my laptop and its screen decided to die on me and the screen went blank. So a visit to the school's technician was in order. Fortunately, so I thought, I managed to do a temporary repair and removed all of the show files from the computer's hard drive onto a USB stick. What a relief!
     
    NO!!!!!!
     
    Two days later and, for no apparant reason, the school's computers decided to wipe the memory stick. All my work files....gone! This included all of the work I had done on the show, the floor plan, show guide, contact records everything!!! Have you ever seen a grown man cry?? You nearly did at this point!
     
    Fortunately I had some paper copies of the measurements and I have saved important emails so I did manage to start again and redo most of the stuff. As I redrew the floor plan I found that one of the layouts didn't fit in its original location! Why??? I have no clue. Did I make a mistake before or am I missing something? I have still not worked this one out so, for now, this particular layout has been relocated.
     
    And so I think I am almost back to where I was before the computers decided to have their teenage strop! I still have the show guide to restart but that is not a pressing problem at this stage.
     
    I remain on the lookout for more layouts and trade stands though. I asked a couple of people at the Nottingham show. Both layouts turned me down, but I did get one more trader showing an interest. I am still waiting on replies from all of those referred to last week and I still hope for a few more people. I hope to have more luck at Belper a week on Saturday.
     
    The layout
    Apart from the purchase of a few more items for Skaleby West there is no progress to report.
  16. andyram

    Nottingham

    By andyram,

    After a weekend off from show visits I managed to head over to the Nottingham event on Saturday. I really enjoyed this show when I visited for the first time last year and had been looking forward to it all week. (And that had nothing to do with the Rams win over Forest you understand!!)
     
    Perhaps the organisers needed to help fund some new players for the City Ground. I did think that the £8.00 entry fee was quite expensive. I know hiring the hall and bringing in layouts may not be cheap and that the organisers have to cover their costs somehow, but when compared to Stafford which was £7 for three halls and, I reckon, more exhibits it did seem a bit much. The show guide, at £1.50, was also 50p more than the Stafford one! That said, the show was excellent with plenty to see and some fantastic exhibits. I certainly enjoyed it once again and spent a long time there, so maybe I just about got my £8.00's worth.
    There were plenty of excellent layouts to see. The Scottish section was superb. Although not a diesel fan I did enjoy the B.R blue era Bannochbrae which ran with DCC sound locos. The scenics certainly brought back memories of my honeymoon in the Highlands of Scotland. Also reminding me of this particular holiday was the N gauge, Loch Oran which was based on the Crianlarich junction which I had travelled through on the way to Fort William. I also enjoyed the steam era Culreach which I think I have seen in the pages of Hornby Magazine.
     
    One layout which I had seen in the magazine was the GWR branch line terminus layout, Potterbourne. This too was excellent and showed just what operation can be realistically crammed into a small space. It ran very well too - unlike some layouts I saw on the day.
     
    My favourite layout, without doubt, was Stoke Summit. A huge model of the location of Mallard's record breaking run. This seemed to attract a huge crowd all day. It is a massive model, very impressive. I managed to squeeze into the crowd at one end of the scenic section, right by the tunnel mouth. Here I could look along the whole length of the layout to the curve under the bridge at the far end, straining to see if a train was approaching, whilst suddenly seeing another emerge from the tunnel beneath me. Above the tunnel a footpath was modelled about at my eyeline. As I stood there a constant stream of Eastern region locos passed by - A1, A3's and A4's on passenger trains, Austerity 2-8-0's on freights, a V2 on a parcels and a K3 on a shorter passenger train. For just a few minutes reality blurred and I got a sense of what trainspotting was like in those days when steam reigned supreme. As someone who was born in the 1970's this may be as close as I will ever get!!! Congrats to the owners and builders of this model. It truely was the highlight of the show for me.
     
    Although my wallet had been lightened considerably on entrance, I still managed to make some purchases. I am not a diesel fan, but I could not resist a Heljan model of the Railbus. This small model will go into the loco roster for my Skaleby West layout. I also picked up some point motors for this model too and a few trees. Now to get on with the modelling!!! Oh and I need to be nice to the wife...Belper in 2 weeks!!!
  17. andyram

    Made to Measure

    By andyram,

    Another week has past since my last post about the show. The last seven days seem to have been spent with some kind of measuring implement or another in my hand. So here is the latest.
     
    The show
    This week I have raided the school's P.E store and blown the cobwebs off the long athletics tape measure that is only usually dragged out for the summer sporting events. I have measured the basic dimensions of the main hall and used this to create a "show plan" grid on my computer using scale "1 foot squares".
    Whilst my class were enjoying / enduring a session in the hall learning "first aid" from a visitor I was busy hunting for plug sockets and adding these to the plan. It beat getting bandaged up anyway!
    I have also started to measure the two long corridors in the school which are wide enough for some of the smaller layouts offered so far!
     
    November may seem a long way off, but I want to keep on top of things. Taking a little and often approach I hope to keep things ticking over and avoid a mad rush at the end of the year. With that in mind I have started to place some of the layouts on the floor plan already. Three of the seven layouts confirmed have been, provisonally, allocated space in the hall. The other four are all smaller layouts and should go in the corridors or a smaller room once I have finished the measuring up. I am sure the staff think I'm mad. Not a day seems to go by without me measuring up some part of the school!
     
    So 7 layouts confirmed so far! As it stands I am waiting on confirmation from three others who have previously expressed an interest. I have another exhibitior definitely coming after chatting to him at Mansfield. All I need to do is decide which of his show layouts I want. Even if all of these confirm I still think I could fit three or four more layouts in, possibly more so I will be continuing to keep an eye out during future shows.
    I also have a couple of other exhibitors on the possibles list and need to speak to them to confirm space. These include some practical demonstrations and at least one static diorama.
     
    As for trade stands I have two confirmed and contacted another today. I also have three others still to get back to me. Everyone stocks different stuff so it should give me a good range of products available if they all agree to come, and it will put some money in the kitty too!
     
    As someone who often distracts himself from the school paper work by messing around on dtp programmes, I have already made a start on designing a show guide. Some layout owners have kindly sent me some stuff and that has gone in already, photographs and all. I have sold one piece of advertising space and will be trying to sell more nearer the time.
     
    Phew! It's only when I sat down to write this blog that I realise just how much I have done this week! I really had better get back to writing those school reports!!!
    Just before I do I had better update on
     
    The layout
     
    My kind father took the baseboard away last weekend to begin work on the supports for underneath, allowing the board to be raised to accomodate the point motors. The supports have now been fitted and he is adding the side and backboards this week before he returns the boards to me. I will upload a photo once this has been done.
     
    Whilst at the Mansfield show I did purchase a couple of tunnel portals for each end of the layout and some ballast. I also bought a Gaugemaster backscene print. This was not quite in the plan, but I couldn't resist it.
     
    More updates soon!
  18. andyram

    Mansfield

    By andyram,

    I must have a very understanding wife! Five shows in five weekends! Mind you I am taking her out for a meal this evening in return for today's "pass out" to the Mansfield show!
     
    I have never been to this event before and have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The venue was a bit hard to find, not knowing Mansfield very well and I did drive past it once. Never mind! I got there in the end.
    The show is on two floors in lots of different rooms in the St Peter's Church Centre. It is a bit like a rabbit warren with lots of different places to find, but the show map made things nice and clear. Some great layouts too. It was nice to see "Hatton Parkway" which I remember from a series of articles in the Hornby Magazine. I am not a modern image fan, but I did enjoy seeing this particular layout. I have also seen St Minions in a magazine recently and it was also nice to see this layout "in the flesh". It shows just how much you can realistically pack into a small space. The display space was even smaller than "Board Lane", the ironing board shunting layout which I saw for a second weekend in a row. I am looking forward to welcoming "Board Lane" to our show in November - just a pity I ran out of time and didn't get to speak to the owner of St Minions.
    The two stand out layouts for me were the O gauge "Tummel VIII". I saw this at the Nottingham show last year and loved it. The layout is a lovely model of a Scottish branch terminus and depicts it very well - the "protesting cows" were a rather amusing addition!
    Avyn-a-Llyin is the second stand out layout of the show. This narrow gauge layout had lots to see. The scenics were fantastic with a beautiful wooden pier on one corner of the layout. Superb.
    I don't usually pay a lot of attention to Thomas layouts. But the N gauge one on show here was using the Hornby Railmaster control system. This is the first time I have seen it used and it looks fantastic.
     
    Unlike the other shows I have visited recently I did actually end up spending money on some scenic items as work gathers pace on my Skaleby West show layout. I picked up some ballast, a Gaugemaster backscene and a couple of Skaledale tunnel portals for each end of the layout. I did hang an admiring glance over the newly released Heljan "Railbus". There was no price on this so I hate to think how much it would have set me back. Although not a diesel fan, I have ridden on one of these at the North Norfolk Railway and thought one would add something different to my smaller layout. Maybe next time then!
     
    The show did seem to have a really friendly atmosphere. It was great to chat to so many people. Some were quite interested in attending my school's show too which is encouraging. More on that in my next show blog!
    Oh and the bacon sandwiches were nice too - biggest I've had so far!
     
    Now 5 / 5 - don't think there is a local show next week. But its Nottingham the following weekend so I think I will need to save money until then!
  19. andyram
    Well I managed it! Four weekends in February and four model railway shows visited,.....and my wife is still talking to me! Result!!!
     
    This is another small show, but I really did enjoy it. Lots of very good layouts to enjoy. The club's own model of Ilkeston Town station in 00 gauge was excellent a really good depiction of the branch line terminus from the days of the LMS. The scenics were excellent.
    The Soar Valley M.R.C layout, Aylett End, is one I have seen a couple of times before. It is also very nice and there always seemed to be something happening. The last couple of times I saw it it seemed to be worked by sound fitted locos, on this occasion it didn't seem to be the case though. Despite this I still very much enjoyed watching the action once again.
     
    Now that I am in the middle of sorting out the exhibition for my school, any show visit seems to involve looking for exhibits. Today was a big success. I liked Chris Trafford's ironing board layout "Board Lane" so much that I asked him if he was free straight away. Layout booked - just need to put him somewhere in the floor plan. It was a great little shunting layout in 00 gauge fine scale and I could have watched it for ages. How impressive to fit so much in such a small space!
     
    Great credit also goes to the Ilkeston Woodside MRC members. This was their 10th annual show and their 25th anniversary. They were such a great help to me. A chance conversation with a member produced all sorts of help with the possibilities of layouts and trade stands. A big thanks to all, with support like that no wonder they have been running for so long. I look forward to seeing them at our show in November.
     
    My only disappointment - well two actually!
    1) I still can't find the dry stone wall pieces I need for the rear of the station on my Skaleby layout. I did buy a book to help with my ideas for Skaleby West though, so my money didn't stay in my pocket this time.
    2) I picked the wrong time to go to the canteen. Just as the exhibitors lunches were being given out! No bacon ready for the general public! Not going to complain though, the exhibitors need their lunches and the cup of tea and cake was nice instead. Apparantly the bacon sandwiches were very nice - so says my father in law. Yes! 2 weeks after we bought him his first Hornby train set for his 65th birthday he is now firmly bitten by the modelling bug and Trowell was his first show. He spent more than me too!!!!
     
    So 4 shows in 4 weekends. Can I make it 5 in 5??? Well there is the Mansfield show on Saturday and Sunday. I wonder if the wife will babysit.....
  20. andyram
    Just over a week ago I broke up for my school's half term planning a relaxing week at home with my wife and new daughter. I had even hoped that I could end my modelling drought by restarting work on my home layout of Skaleby. But like the best laid plans of mice and men life does not always work out how you expect it. Visits to two model railway shows and several local model shops failed to find the dry stone wall pieces that I needed for my planned half term project. And with no other parts of Skaleby really providing me alternative inspiration, things have remained static in that area.
    But that was not to be it of course. A flippant comment made during a school fundraising meeting has landed me with the job of organising a model railway show at the school. This will be to raise funds for our "fifth anniversary appeal". It also landed me with the job of providing a layout of my own for the show. Sadly, Skaleby is not portable so I have decided to start another layout which will be Skaleby's little brother and one that will be built specifically to attend shows.
     
    So here is where we have got to now:
     
    The show
    Throughout half term I have been frantically researching show dates for the end of the year. The school's headteacher wants the event to take place in 2012 in order to fit in with our year of fundraising events. I have checked the dates of as many local shows as I can think of, and have come up with a list of prospective dates that won't clash. These will be taken to the governor's meeting later this week for confirmation.
    At present I am 99.9% certain that the show will be on Saturday 10th November and will take place at Weston-on-Trent Primary School in South Derbyshire. Once the date is confirmed I will be turning my attention to creating leaflets and posters to advertise the event.
    I have been very humbled by the response I have received from fellow RMWeb members and the offers of layouts I have already received. As this is a new show, and one that is being run to raise funds for the school, I have already stated the fact that I am unable to pay out much in the way of expenses. This has not stopped the layout offers coming in and I am really excited by the offers I have had. At least one layout offered had appeared on the "hit list" I dreamt up during the last few days.
    I have also received two definites for trade stands too, and that was from the first two people I asked!
     
    My recent visit to the Sileby show even brought up the possibility of a couple more layouts too. I am so amazed how easy it was to discuss this with people. As someone who admits to being quite shy, it was a big effort to actually ask people face to face for help. Thanks to all of those for being so helpful and understanding.
     
    So I hope to be able to formally announce the date soon and will then start finalising the list of layouts and looking for trade stands. It is all quite exciting!
     
    The layout
    I never thought a week ago that I would be contemplating another layout build. I have so much to do on my permanant home layout, Skaleby, that starting another one would be a ridiculous notion. But I have promised to show a layout of my own at our show. In reality, building a show layout has always appealed to me anyway and so this is a good excuse, even if the Weston show may be the only one it ever visits!
    As I am on a deadline and need to construct the model in just 8 or 9 months I have decided on a small micro layout. I have already purchased wood for the baseboard which will be 4 ft x 1 ft. The railway has been given a working title of "Skaleby West" and will feature a small branch line station complete with passing / run-round loop and a couple of goods sidings. This will allow me to transport some of my smaller stock over from Skaleby.
    I am not intending to model a particular region, and will make things deliberately freelance and vague. That way I could choose to run the model as ex GWR, Midland or even North Eastern region as I have appropriate locos and stock for these areas.
    So far I have played around with the track layout and have come up with what I think will be the final track plan. This is shown in the picture below. So far the board is sat on the top of the rabbit hutch which shares the railway room with Skaleby. I just need to run a few trains to check the plan is operable.

  21. andyram
    Just over a week ago I broke up for my school's half term planning a relaxing week at home with my wife and new daughter. I had even hoped that I could end my modelling drought by restarting work on my home layout of Skaleby. But like the best laid plans of mice and men life does not always work out how you expect it. Visits to two model railway shows and several local model shops failed to find the dry stone wall pieces that I needed for my planned half term project. And with no other parts of Skaleby really providing me alternative inspiration, things have remained static in that area.
    But that was not to be it of course. A flippant comment made during a school fundraising meeting has landed me with the job of organising a model railway show at the school. This will be to raise funds for our "fifth anniversary appeal". It also landed me with the job of providing a layout of my own for the show. Sadly, Skaleby is not portable so I have decided to start another layout which will be Skaleby's little brother and one that will be built specifically to attend shows.
     
    So here is where we have got to now:
     
    The show
    Throughout half term I have been frantically researching show dates for the end of the year. The school's headteacher wants the event to take place in 2012 in order to fit in with our year of fundraising events. I have checked the dates of as many local shows as I can think of, and have come up with a list of prospective dates that won't clash. These will be taken to the governor's meeting later this week for confirmation.
    At present I am 99.9% certain that the show will be on Saturday 10th November and will take place at Weston-on-Trent Primary School in South Derbyshire. Once the date is confirmed I will be turning my attention to creating leaflets and posters to advertise the event.
    I have been very humbled by the response I have received from fellow RMWeb members and the offers of layouts I have already received. As this is a new show, and one that is being run to raise funds for the school, I have already stated the fact that I am unable to pay out much in the way of expenses. This has not stopped the layout offers coming in and I am really excited by the offers I have had. At least one layout offered had appeared on the "hit list" I dreamt up during the last few days.
    I have also received two definites for trade stands too, and that was from the first two people I asked!
     
    My recent visit to the Sileby show even brought up the possibility of a couple more layouts too. I am so amazed how easy it was to discuss this with people. As someone who admits to being quite shy, it was a big effort to actually ask people face to face for help. Thanks to all of those for being so helpful and understanding.
     
    So I hope to be able to formally announce the date soon and will then start finalising the list of layouts and looking for trade stands. It is all quite exciting!
     
    The layout
    I never thought a week ago that I would be contemplating another layout build. I have so much to do on my permanant home layout, Skaleby, that starting another one would be a ridiculous notion. But I have promised to show a layout of my own at our show. In reality, building a show layout has always appealed to me anyway and so this is a good excuse, even if the Weston show may be the only one it ever visits!
    As I am on a deadline and need to construct the model in just 8 or 9 months I have decided on a small micro layout. I have already purchased wood for the baseboard which will be 4 ft x 1 ft. The railway has been given a working title of "Skaleby West" and will feature a small branch line station complete with passing / run-round loop and a couple of goods sidings. This will allow me to transport some of my smaller stock over from Skaleby.
    I am not intending to model a particular region, and will make things deliberately freelance and vague. That way I could choose to run the model as ex GWR, Midland or even North Eastern region as I have appropriate locos and stock for these areas.
    So far I have played around with the track layout and have come up with what I think will be the final track plan. This is shown in the picture below. So far the board is sat on the top of the rabbit hutch which shares the railway room with Skaleby. I just need to run a few trains to check the plan is operable.

  22. andyram
    Me and my big mouth!
     
    My South Derbyshire school is celebrating its 5th anniversary in its new building this year. As part of the celebrations we have set up a fundraising drive in order to pay off our remaining share of the cost of the new build. The headteacher had asked for fundraising ideas.
    I have run many a quiz night for the school over the last few years and I am sure I will be doing another one before the summer. But apparantly we need more events. Well I said it didn't I? I made the suggestion of holding a small model railway show in our building to help with the fundraising. Of course I expected the women in the school, who all have no railway interest, to laugh it off and tell the token male in the school to not be so silly.
     
    Right???
     
    Wrong!!!!!
     
    The headteacher thought it was an excellent idea, and now I found myself responsible for organising it! Oh and she wants it this year as well!!!
     
    What was I thinking???
     
    Now at present the date is to be finalised. The three favoured dates are Saturday 8th September, Saturday 13th October and Saturday 10th November. Not sure which one it will be yet, but expect this to be decided in the near future. I am just checking dates of other local shows in order to avoid any clashes.
    I do have two traders who have promised to attend the event whatever the date. Once I know the actual date I will be approaching a few more.
     
    But its layouts I need. I need help here!!!! I need small exhibition layouts whose owners are prepared to help out a stressed fellow modeller and attend. As this is a new show I am looking for local people as we can't be paying out loads on expenses. Can anyone help???
     
    Oh...and if that wasn't enough! If my big mouth had not got me in enough trouble, I then heard myself saying that I would display a layout of my own. It looks like my developing home layout, Skaleby, is going to have a little brother!!!! I think I'm going to be going for the old classic of an ex-GWR branch terminus. More on this as I make, what will have to be rapid, progress.
     
    Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  23. andyram

    Allestree, Derby

    By andyram,

    A second weekend in February, and a second model railway show! After visiting Stafford last week I found myself at the Allestree "Trains Day" today. This show takes place annually at the church hall in Allestree, Derby. I believe it is run to raise funds for the church whose hall it uses.
    A large model railway show with lots of impressive layouts and various trade stands this isn't. With no more than 12 exhibitors this had a more intimate and family feel than the large show at Stafford. In fact it took me just 20 minutes from entering to have seen every stall. Had I not stayed for a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich from the refreshment window and not made three circuits of the room I would never have made my visit last an hour.
    I had hoped to find some scenic items amongst the trade stands as I need a few things for my next scenic project on my Skaleby layout. Sadly I was to be out of luck. Most stands featured a good mix of new and second hand Hornby and Bachmann locos and rolling stock and some items of Lima, Hornby Dublo and Triang, but featured little in the way of scenic items. The only such stock available was from "Derby Trees" who were selling their range of HO gauge trees from a stand alongside the "Famous Trains" charity. This is a group who are trying to construct a large OO gauge model railway in a building inside the city's Markeaton Park.
     
    The lack of scenery seemed to spread to the layouts within the show. There was an ecletic mix of layouts, most of which fell into the "train set" category. These featured a series of ovals with trains travelling around continuously, never leaving view, with a few storage sidings for spare stock. The big attraction was that the layouts featured models from the past and some manufacturers and ranges long consigned to history.
    One layout featured a display of Triang Hornby with an A4 and an 8F travelling around in opposite directions hauling passenger and freight sets respectively. The only loco on display was an 08 shunter parked in the sidings at the rear. The scenery consisted of a few buildings and a little scatter material with no variation in height, no hill or enbankment in sight!
    Another exhibitor displayed a collection of old tinplate clockwork Hornby 0 gauge, whilst another had an impressive collection of working Lone Star. Three circuits of track featured British and American outline models hurtling around at breakneck speed.
    There was also a small N gauge display of two circuits stuck to a green baise board and a large working display of Triang Battle Space. The only out and back layout was an "L" shaped Thomas model. Trains arrived from the fiddle yard to a large station area complete with engine shed and goods yard. Whilst the buildings were all present no other scenic work had taken place and it did look like the buildings and track had been placed onto the table at the start of the day. There was no run round facility so trains pulled stock one way and propelled it the other.
     
    As a modeller who visits shows to admire others work, view spectacular models and gain ideas and inspiration for my own layout - this show did not provide anything for me. But for those who like to view the models from yesteryear it was perfect. The constant movement of trains also provided plenty of entertainment for the children who are not going to be interested by constant shunting and interventions from the great hand in the sky. Maybe this show will act to inspire these youngsters to be the modellers of tomorrow. There was certainly a decent crowd of youngsters enjoying the action.
     
    What the show did do for me however, was to plant a little seed of an idea in my head. If this was run as a fundraiser for the church, perhaps I could convince my headteacher to allow me to run a similar event in our school hall. Maybe that would provide an ideal event for my school's latest fundraising drive. Now there is an idea!!
  24. andyram

    Stafford

    By andyram,

    I had been looking forward to today's Stafford show for the last few weeks as it would be my first show visit of 2012. This would be my 4th visit in as many years and I knew that there would be plenty of high quality layouts to see and lots of trade stands to tempt me to part with my hard earned cash.
    I was a bit worried by the snow forecast for the day, but relieved that it hadn't appeared when I left this morning.
     
    As someone who is building my first solo project at home I was hoping to get some ideas for my Skaleby layout and also pick up a few supplies to help with my next scenic project. Unfortunately I was not able to pick up the dry stone wall pieces I wanted for my station scene.
    I did trawl the stalls looking for bargains and whilst one or two items tempted me there was nothing which caused me to put my hand in my pocket.
     
    As a subscriber and regular reader of the Hornby Magazine, I always look out for those layouts that have appeared in its pages. I hope that these shows give me a chance to see some of these layouts "in the flesh". Today I enjoyed seeing "Dagnell End", a brilliant Southern region layout set in the London suburbs. The scenery on this is excellent. The station and track is set amongst several levels of scenery giving a real urban feel. The scratch built buildings are superb and I loved the touch of having glass walls on the half relief buildings at the front of the layout. The detail in the church was excellent, and the cinema foyer was very effective too. This layout also features a working underground section. The last time I saw this it was working very frequently, but in the time I was stood there today no trains moved.
    Another Hornby magazine layout was "Bash Street" which is set in 1959 and was making its last visit to an English show. This was the first time I had seen this layout and I was very impressed. It certainly caught the grime of a city location very well. Just a shame that this is the one and only time I will get to see it.
    The Hornby magazine's own layout "Berrybridge" was in attendance. This is a fairly simple layout compared to the other two mentioned, featuring a station, single road engine shed, goods yard and little in the way of non railway scenery. It is still a very nice model however and it was nice to see the trains running through the station on this occasion. The last time I saw Berrybridge was at the Bachmann event at Wirksworth when space meant that there were no fiddle yards and the model was used as a shunting layout. It certainly looked much better in its full exhibition set up.Perhaps a more scenic back scene would have improved things further. Easy for me to say though!
    There were a few other layouts in attendance which I had seen in the past. The shelf layout based on Cromer is small, but effective. I am not normally a fan of modern image layouts, but this one has kept me entertained at two previous shows. The operators did throw a steam special into the mix today. One modern image layout that really did catch my eye was St Giles. This Western region, Rail Blue era layout, had a constant flow of trains which is always important for maintaing a crowd. The scenics were good too with lots of detail packed into their busy street scene. There was even an Inspector Morse jag parked with a police van outside the pub. These extra touches always raise a smile.
    The Stafford society's own layout, New Haden Colliery, was there again. This is another one I have seen in the Hornby magazine. I like this one as there is always something happening with plenty of little tank engines shunting coal wagons, trains arriving and departing and passenger trains passing on the line at the front. The pit buildings are very well detailed too. When I first saw this layout it had a large back board. This, I think, made it difficult for the operators. Maybe that is why it has been removed. Now you can see everyone moving around behind as there is no back board at all. It does spoil the illusion somewhat.
    Talking of spoiling the illusion....surely someone on one particular layout should have noticed that on shed they had two standard 4's, BOTH numbered 75029!!!! That really is poor in my book!
     
    The best layout for me was EM gauge "Alkham". This branch line terminus station was set in rolling countryside scenery with beautifully modelled buildings and was brilliantly lit. Trains ran at realistic speeds without stalling. I could have watched it for hours and would still have found new things. Excellent!
     
    I should mention the Soar Valley Clubs layout "Dorehill St.Stevens". It claimed to be new although I am sure that I have seen bits of it before. It was huge!! Lots of trains and very entertaining.
     
    I really did enjoy the Stafford show. My only regret is that the snow started about 1pm, and I did rush the last hall in order to get away before the weather worsened.
  25. andyram
    It has been sometime since my last entry on Skaleby, and things have rather ground to a halt, hit the buffers or any other phrase you can think of which means tools have been well and truely downed! Other things have rather taken over. Our first child, Amber, was born on the morning of the 13th December 2011. Therefore I have had rather more urgent priorities of late such as feeding, nappy changing, sleep and finding enough time for work as well. At times like this I rather wish the myth that teachers only work from 9am - 3.30pm was true!
     
    There has been no scenic progress on Skaleby to report. But rather like many others at the end of 2011, it has been a good time to reflect on the progress so far. It was only in April 2011 that the baseboards were installed in the spare bedroom so progress has been quite rapid. The track layout was finalised and track around the station area was pinned down. I have since built three embankments, added scenery to one of these and started the scenics around the rear of the main station building. I have started the scenery around the small engine shed and laid out track for the fiddle yard. I do now have one area where I can photograph trains and the scenery looks finished (see photos in the earlier posts). Not bad for just a few weeks work, spread over the last 8 months!
     
    Of course I have managed to run trains. Even in the last few weeks I have stolen a few minutes to keep trains running. It does help that the layout shares the spare room with the family's house rabbit, who just happens to need his exercise each day. As supervising the rabbit comes down to me, I do manage to sneak a few train movements each day whilst also catching up with work on my laptop. Who says men can't multi-task!!!
    The down side of this room sharing arrangement is that the rabbit fur seems to have a nasty habit of flying up and settling in all areas of the layout. I seem to be forever tackling the cleaning of stock with small tweasers and a paint brush! At present it is keeping the trains running and the trusty SDJR "Jinty" has made many return trips with the Standard 3 82020 substituting when the Jinty is "in the works" for de-furring!!!!
     
    With half term approaching I have received "permission" from the transport minister (aka the wife!!) to resume scenic work. At present I am not quite sure what I am going to do next as there are so many half finished areas. At present my mind is drifting towards working on the rear of the rear platform with the idea of working on the scenery from the back of the layout to the front. I will need some stone walled sections in order to do this though as I know that at Goathland dry stone walls stand at the rear of this platform. I do not have any yet so I will have to keep my eyes open over the next few weeks.
    I do have a busy few weeks of shows to visit. This weekend sees the new Derby "trains only" swapmeet which has moved from West Bridgford. Much better for me!! Who wants to go over to Nottingham (except to see the Rams pick up three points with only ten men!!). Then I have Stafford Model Railway show before half term. With the Leicester show at Syston also falling around half term I have three chances to get what I need. Mind you the last two events will probably also serve to re-ignite my dreams of building a layout for displaying at a show - Skaleby is strictly a home only layout!! I think that dream may have to remain on hold for a few more years...unless those 6 lotto balls drop for me of course!!
     
    I will post pictures and updates as and when!
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