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andyram

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Blog Entries posted by andyram

  1. 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!
  2. 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!
  3. 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!
  4. 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.....
  5. andyram
    This week has been another busy week as my return to work saw the date of our show confirmed and a start made on booking layouts and exhibits for the event.
     
    The show
    The date has been confirmed as Saturday 10th November. A big thank you to those people who have got back to me already. So far I have confirmed 5 layouts for the show and reckon I have at least another 5 or 6 layouts as possibles as well as a couple of trade stands confirmed and a couple of other exhibits. Things are beginning to take shape and it is nice to see the show plan beginning to fill up. I have even gained permission to use a couple of other rooms in the school so I do have some more space available to me.
     
    The layout
    As mentioned previously, I have committed to building a layout for the show. This may be a big ask and things have moved rather slowly this week. "Skaleby West" will be a small 4 ft x 1 ft layout featuring a small single platform station, passing / run-round loop and a small goods facility.
    I showed a picture of the track plan in my last entry. I have now tested this, briefly, and things worked ok. Today I have laid the cork base for the track work. My home layout, Skaleby, uses the gaugemaster ballested foam underlay - but Skaleby West will be hand ballested. This will be my first attempt at this. I also plan to install point motors on this new layout, something which Skaleby also does not have.
    The next task will be to install the extension pieces under the baseboard in order to lift the baseboards to allow the point motors to be installed underneath. The back board will then be fitted before I turn my attention to permenant track laying and the installation of point motors.
    One small bit of luck is the offer from my father to take on the woodwork. As someone who is a bit of a DIY "duffer" this will be most helpful.
  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. andyram

    Sileby, Leicestershire

    By andyram,

    Three weekends in February so far and now three model railway shows visited. This time it was the Syston Model Railway society show which takes place in Syston, Leicestershire.
     
    I have to say I really enjoyed this show. Whilst there was once again nothing on the trade stands to tempt me, I enjoyed many of the excellent layouts on show. There were some old favourites such as Rowthorne and Cromer, both of which seem to attend every show I go to.
    I always like to see layouts that have appeared in the Hornby magazine, so it was nice to see Bishops Wearburn. This large N gauge layout always had something moving. The scenery was good too, with an impressive double track bridge over a river at one end.
    Summat Colliery was also enjoyable to watch and looks good too. Can't wait to see it once "Harry" gets the sound chip....Or should I not mention that
    I've not seen a Z gauge layout for a while, but "Nevermoor", set in LNER days was very impressive. So much detail in such a small scale. Just a shame that the owner heralds from Ipswich - I won't be able to afford to book it for my show later in the year.
    Mentioning small scale, the "T" gauge garden layout was also superb. Can't believe there is a working gauge as small as that!!
     
    Finally a mention on the catering. The bacon cobs were delicious, and contained much more bacon than at the Allestree show last wee!!
  9. 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  10. 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!!
  11. andyram

    Loco problems

    By andyram,

    As half term approaches I am beginning to plan my next bout of scenic work on Skaleby. As mentioned in my previous post I am looking to work on the rear station platform by adding a dry stone wall to the rear and adding various trees, scatter and other foliege. I am also hoping to tidy up the board as it has become a little bit of a "dumping ground" during the last few weeks as the baby takes priority over everything else.
     
    Unfortunately it looks like I will have another job added to the railway's "to do" list. As I mentioned before, the layout has been hampered by the "flying fur" from the house rabbit that shares the railway room. I have had to clear small bits of fluff and hair from those locos which are stored on the layout at regular intervals. This week my trusty Railroad Jinty needed quite a bit of "defluffing". Sadly, despite my best efforts, it seems that the engine is developing a problem. Whilst running a train this morning the motor sounded quite rough. I can only describe it as a bit of a "croaky" sound. Strangely it only makes the sound when travelling forwards, as the motor is fine in reverse.
     
    It looks like I may have to learn how to do a few more loco repairs next week.

    In the meantime I thought I'd add this very old shot of the engine on the layout. This was taken before all of the boards were in place. The shorter running line resulting in the use of the old coaches.
  12. 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.
  13. 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!
  14. andyram
    With preparation for the impending birth of our first child, I have had precious little modelling time. But I did find some time to work on the small engine shed area. The track was laid on a cork base rather than on the Gaugemaster foam ballast as before. I want to hand ballast this area with a darker tone of scatter material to represent the ash, coal and general shed area dirt.
    I used rolled up newspaper, covered in a layer of plaster bandage to create some small contours to the ground in order to seperate the area from the main running line. I have purchased a small coaling stage to stand outside the engine shed. My 0-4-0 Hornby collector club loco has been posed in this area for the first of today's pictures.

     
    This weekend I have been using the layout to test a couple of locos ahead of selling them on EBay. The railway has been quite busy. Here a Bachmann J72, number 69022 passes the signal box with a van train.

     
    One of the favourite locos in my collection is the Bachmann Standard 3 tank. Here it stands in Skaleby station with a three coach train of Eastern Region mark one's. This shot shows the progress made in the station area so far.

  15. andyram
    I always said it would happen! Half term holiday over, back to work, and the progress on Skaleby has slowed to an almost standstill. There has simply been too much paperwork to catch up during the evenings and with the birth of our first child also immenent, my weekends have been taken up with decorating!
     
    I have, at least, managed to sneak out to the occasional model railway show. I visited the recent Burton Rail Fayre which took place at Burton Albion Fc's "Pirelli Stadium". Quite a nice morning out, even if the room was a little cramped. I did manage to purchase a couple of items for the layout. Firstly I acquired a set of Noch tunnel portals. One of these has been placed in-situ to represent the entrance to the fiddle yard. This will allow me to build up the scenic area around this location. I have plans for a second cottage which will be located above the "hidden siding". Before I consider purchasing the cottage however, I need to check that it will fit! Therefore, building up this area is one of the next items on the jobs to do list.

    The location of the tunnel opening can be seen in this picture.
     
    The second purchase from Burton was a little bit of a disaster! I purchased a Bachmann model of Ivatt class 4 number 43160. Unfortunately my memory seems to be fading. I have this model already. Doh!!!! I have tested the engine on the layout (see picture below) and have placed it on EBay! Perhaps I should keep a record of my collection! You live and learn I suppose.

     
    And so the progress has come to a standstill. I have managed to run some trains though. The trusty Railroad SDJR "Jinty" has operated each day with a couple of surburban coaches. I have usually managed to sneak in to run the train out to the fiddle yard before I leave for work, and return it in the evening. It may be simple, but it keeps me happy!
  16. andyram
    My half term break has allowed me to make more progress with the scenics and also to run some trains. In my earlier post I outlined how I had built the embankments and cuttings around the road over bridge at the "Pickering end" of the station scene. Beyond the road bridge the line is due to enter a further short cutting before entering the fiddle yard through a tunnel.
    The embankments for the cutting at the rear of the layout will hide a hidden siding which will add extra storage space to the fiddle yard. It is this area that I have turned my attention to.
     
    Starting the hidden sidings and tunnel cutting.
    The top of this embankment will feature one or two country cottages, one of which is the Skaledale "Yew Tree" cottage as I feel it fits in with the Yorkshire Moors element of the layout. I started by gluing down further polysterene blocks to act as a base, ensuring the blocks are large enough to fit the cottage on top. The hidden siding track was then laid up to the polysterene.
    In time this siding will be hidden underneath the cutting so strips of foam board were cut and glued either side of the siding. Eventually a "roof" will be built above these foamboard sides to fully enclose the siding, and the cutting detail will be added on top.
    The progress so far can be seen in these photographs:

    In this picture you can see the siding, complete with foam board sides. You may be able to see the location of Yew Tree Cottage too.

    The second picture gives an overview of the fiddle yard area. The coal drop scenic break can be seen at the front of the picture. In front of this will be the main engine shed scene. You will see how limited the fiddle yard space is hence the need for the hidden siding!
     
    Running trains
    Half term has also allowed me to spend some time running trains. My Hornby Railroad Jinty, pictured in an earlier entry has taken a bit of a break this week. Train services have been worked by a Hornby A1x "Terrier" numbered 32636 and an ex Great Western Auto Coach giving things a branch line feel.
    I have included a picture of the combination, taken in front of the previously completed Darnholm embankment.

  17. andyram

    More Skaleby pictures

    By andyram,

    I was very pleased with how many people read my first blog entry yesterday. A big thanks to those people who commented. For the member who wanted more pics I am happy to oblige.
     
    Yesterday I described how I had started building my layout, based loosely on the preserved station at Goathland on the North Yorkshire Moors. One of the first scenic areas I have completed is the embankment which carries the footpath towards the location of Darnholm.
    Here are a couple of pictures of the completed the structure.

    This first picture gives an overview of the embankment, complete with trees and footpath. As you can see, some of the stone scatter material wasn't stuck down well enough onto the footpath and it has started to come off revealing the grey paint underneath (see bottom of the picture). I will have to repair this at a later date.
     

    This second picture gives a low level view of the embankment and footpath taken from the bottom of the enbankment.
     
    More developments
    Being a teacher the progress with Skaleby seems to go in "fits and starts". During term time the workload often prevents me from doing any scenic work, although I do find time to run the occasional train. But during the holidays things seem to move much quicker. The baseboards were only completed back in March. The track layout was experimented with during the Easter period before it was finally pinned down during the June half term. The "Darnholm embankment" was completed during the summer break along with the bases for the station buildings.
    As this week is my half term things are moving forward once again. I have turned my attention to the "Pickering" end of the layout where trains will leave the station under a road over bridge. The bridge has been placed "in-situ" and the embankments for the associated cutting has now been started. As before I built up the area using the polysterene blocks from Skaledale buildings. These were glued down before screwed up newspaper was added on top to create a basic shape ( as seen in this picture).

     
    I once again cut out strips of cardboard and stuck this on top of the newspaper to provide a firm base for the road. The whole structure was then covered with plaster bandage.

     
    I also added a cardboard base to the top of the enbankment for the pub which will stand here and overlook the station. I have placed the pub in the correct position for this shot. The building is the Skaledale "Mason's Arms".

     
    This whole area has now been left to dry. You may notice that on one side of the bridge the embankment has a "recess built in" (where the paintbrush is on an earlier shot!). This will house the signal box and a lamp hut. For those of you who know Goathland station you will realise that this is the wrong side. At the real location a water tower sits here. Sadly, space prevented me from placing the signal box in its true position on the near side of the line. Had I tried to put it there I would have had a very short platform or no goods yard, and both were important to me.
    Also I do not like the ground level signal box at Goathland, nor its associated Hornby model. I have therefore used major artistic license and moved the signal box location, and changed the style of the box too. The box I will use is actually Bachmann's model of Highley signal box from the Severn Valley Railway. Ok, ok I know it is not right for the area, but like I said previously...it is my layout so I will choose what I like! Besides as Skaleby is on a fictional preserved line I could easily invent a story to suggest that the original North Eastern box has been demolished!!! Anyway I like the Bachmann model and had to use it somewhere!

    I have placed the Bachmann box in its location for this shot which was taken of a Hornby West Country (Clovelly) whilst on test prior to be placed on EBay. Not sure why I bought this model. I think I had some spare cash and my local model shop was having a sale!
     
    Anyway moving on! With the bridge cuttings drying what is next?? I still have a few half term days left and I am sure there will be a bit of modelling time to be found amongst the decorating of the baby's room! So what are my plans?
    My next projects will be:
    * Permenantly pinning down the track in the fiddle yard.
    * Build a hidden storage siding to expand storage space in the fiddle yard.
    * Paint the cuttings in brown base paint.
    * Begin to add scenery to the rear of the far platform.
     
    Oh and I still need to connect up the track to the main engine shed scene and add scenery around the single road shed too. Watch this space!
  18. andyram
    I have only been a member of RM Web for a few days, but I thought that I would get started with a blog about the construction of my first solo model railway. I have had no previous modelling experience other than helping my dad build his, never finished, layout when I was a child. This is definitely going to be a learning process.
     
    Today I thought I would introduce my layout and hopefully I'll get round to adding some photos of my efforts in due course.
     
    My layout, named Skaleby (a combination of Skaledale and Hornby as I will be mainly using off the shelf products) is a shelf layout measuring some 12 feet in length. It incorporates a small, two platform station, with a small goods yard and coal merchants area as well as a single road locomotive shed. The station is loosely based on Goathland on the preserved North Yorkshire Moors Railway, with some serious pieces of artistic license. My station is not a through station, but a terminus on a severed branch line.
    For those that know Goathland, the Grosmont end of the line is the severed end with all departures heading in the Pickering direction. Once the train passes under the road over bridge all links to Goathland end there. The line is planned to pass through a short cutting before entering the fiddle yard via a tunnel. One line will deviate off onto a wider section of baseboard in front of the fiddle yard. Here a larger locomotive shed has been planned which will incorporate the Hornby Coal Drop structure as a scenic break between shed and fiddle yard. I hope that makes things clear to everyone.
     
    As I am a steam enthusiast, it is steam that will be the focus of my layout. At 36, I am too young to remember steam working on the national network and so my interest has come from the preservation era. Therefore my layout will be that of a preserved line. This allows me to run a wide variety of locomotives in whichever livery I desire. My collection is very mixed although the majority of engines carry B.R livery. I do not favour any particular area. I have examples of locos from all Big Four groups.
     
    So far
    The track into the station has been laid onto the Gaugemaster pre ballested underlay. All platforms have been checked and placed and the scenery has been built up to allow the buildings to be placed onto the layout. I used cut off polysterene pieces from Skaledale boxes, glued down and covered with plaster bandage to act as a base.
    My biggest success so far has been the construction of the large embankment at the back of the baseboard to the left of the station platform. If anyone knows Goathland, this is the embankment which includes the steep footpath to Darnholm.
    I built this up using more polysterene blocks, with screwed up newspaper added to create a rough shape. I then cut thin pieces of card and glued these down to provide a flat base for the footpath before everything was covered in plaster bandage. After drying I painted the whole structure with brown poster paint and covered it with dark green scatter from the Woodland Scenics range. When this was dry I added tufts of hanging basket liner to create the look of rough grass, and then used clumps of Woodland Scenics dark folaige to represent plants. These then had assorted colours added to the top to create the look of flowers. Some trees from the Skale Scenics range have been added which completes a scene that I am very pleased with. I used Metcalfe stone sheets to build the retaining wall at the front.
    I am quite pleased with the result so far. It provides a back drop to the one picture I do have. It shows my Hornby Railroad Jinty standing in front of the embankment and retaining wall. This cheap engine is perfect for test running to avoid spoiling my more expensive models.

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