chriscleveland

Hi Tom coaling stage looks great and the artwork is coming along nicely for your bridge too really jealous :0 are you going right up to date on Ropley or capping at a time frame keep up the amazing work Chris

I have had the same with building the framework it really does look the part when completed though I must say I really do like the internal look too the odd refurbished project inside will really look good inside I have done a carriage loco and boiler workshop and with the framework makes it look that much better would love to see the layout out on the circuit soon Chris

so.... normally this time of year on Ropley I normally wind down setup a few projects etc to see me into next year well this year its not like that although 30506 arrived yesterday after a visit to Alton model centre she will slowly be done over the Christmas period ready for the second show next year much is going on the sheds are being re structured and having a new skin added so I can make the shed more realistic 75079 has started her restoration looking very nice If I may say so myself 27007 has received her new tarpaulin 34007 is due to arrive in mid December being manston 30 number and name plates have been ordered 3 new buildings have popped up 2 behind the sheds near to the road bridge 30828's lining has arrived southern lettering ordered for 506 and lining for yet to arrive 31806 2 diggers that do the coaling have also arrived for kit bashing using the Dapol kits and that's only to start with board 4 is near complete along with board 3 which means mainly board 2 left with board 1 completed already 30499 can now be finished using DJH s15 as a guide Urie would be happy to see progress so not much !!! beggarwood lane town scene will kick off shortly with the first show a month after mine pictures will follow when the camera appears out of the woodwork Swanage will also be leaving now at some point for a better paint job to my painting quarters will post photos of all progress too I would be interested if anyone has photos of Canadian pacific and ivatt in this time frame too im not 100% on there situation in this time frame I think CP had some rods off????

Hi Ian this reminds me I would like to try a static grass session if your about ? Chris

]Evening all more work today on weathering the layout all track today was sprayed with 4 different paints carefully with an airbrush it was nice to have the layout out in full for a change which will be the last until after Christmas now anyway a few shots to show progress the other end of the line somewhere i don't show often since it is more advanced to the rest of the layout an empty yard something you rarely see the carriage and boiler shop area will now be the focus until Christmas with shed interior and exterior work commencing and 499 on the workbench too!

last few if I have missed or put too many on I am sorry getting carried away

more of the photos

evening all putting one of my timetables together I thought I would show a weekday session in the yard unfortunately my laptop will not let me write captions with photos so I will have to try and do it via text photo 1 shows 37905 bringing the crane into Ropley for some lifting photo 2 shows the yard before moving locos about photo 3 shows the 33 in action moving u boat and 9f out of the yard photo 4,5,and 6 also show the yard being cleared photo 7 shows the main shed emptied photo 8 shows the crane in the yard photo 9,10 and 11the shows the lift that has taken place photo 12 and 13 shows other shunts taking place photo 14, 15 and 16 shows the yard taking shape again photo 17 shows the crane departing Just another day at the works Chris

Evening All so not much wok going on mainly detailing to the shed areas since the layout is coming down soon. many more bits added to the layout and almost ready for airbrushing the track work a couple of recent shots taken showing the 9f in steam and 27007 who has arrived for a new tarpaulin because I am not happy with the bulk of the blue one it catches and sticks out too far.

Very realistic which paint and powders company do you use the rails look really effective along with the ballasting I'm just about to start mine would like to hear some tips etc Chris

feel free to post constructive feedback

so more work continues whilst i wait for paint to dry i thought i would post other pictures taken. obviously whilst track work is carried out running operations are on hold so looks like the workshop team have taken advantage of this and shunted the black 5 near to the shed for attention

Hi All so more progress with both large boards up for the first time this year for work so all hands to the pump mostly detailing work being carried out with around the pits being re levelled since we re aligned these in September. as picture 1 will show around the water tower has also received work with signage final point levers etc. tomorrow I hope to complete more fencing as well as have everything level ready for Thursday since the two boards have to be down on Friday again. a few more photos to show progress I am hoping to get the airbrush out later this week too fingers crossed Chris

Good running session today good meeting you Phil and stu. Ian the layout has come on really well since I last saw it I will put the gates to one side for you once I dig them out. Today has given me more motivation to do more work on Ropley too Chris

So after a good day playing on Tidworth has given me another boost to continue on Ropley.I have completed wiring the yard meaning I can do some shunting and complete the yard. I hope to post some shots of the yard almost completed on Monday then it's onto the carriage shed and finishing 30499. I have sent 30828 away for attention. I hope to also finish the main shed this week too ready for roofing.

More work completed in the yard now the yard itself now runs at long last but I seemed to have forgotten a dropper somewhere woops..... more progress within the yard now has been made too and I am nearly ready now to focus my attention elsewhere yard detail will build over time with more clutter I have just put the wood over the points but am not fully satisfied with this so back to the drawing board the carriage shed is the next focus point and the boiler shed is almost done too board 4 will be the next stage before returning to sort out outside the shed I hope to have boards 1, 4 and 3 to a high stage of completion by Christmas with board 2 going to have some tlc

Hi Ian yeah I should be able to do a whole day Saturday looks promosing Chris

Hi Ian with me operating will be amusing are you able to do some training prior I cant remember the signal setup and road setup routes Chris

Hi Ian Know the feeling time flies and before you know it its deadline day. I have to get the airbrush out once I find what I did with the ballast tub to complete track work always misplace stuff as long as you are making progress that's the main thing unlike myself ripping up areas I took short cuts and ah nice I hear the 27 has vanished again !! you will have to send some photos of lion out on the line Chris

Looking really nice certainly starting to take shape I bet the framework took a fair bit of time! Chris

Hi Ian looks like a weathering session is in hand I do like the static grass on your layout I know what I will be doing next

Hi Ian feel free would be nice to have some feedback you will have to bring lion for some photos something I can not do I do indeed still have the gates and can you call me when possible I have a possible outing for you Chris

better photo I hope

morning all at long last I have finished around the coaling stage quite happy with the outcome more clutter will gather at a later date today with the car away I guess meaning some more modelling might have to take place

so today more work started on the yard wit pumps being made, spring hut is almost complete, new fencing jig, yard clutter and more I will take photos and post tomorrow