SMR CHRIS

I can say for certain that Tongue in Cheek won't get you track clean in one wipe I gave up using Peco rubbers way longer ago than 25years when my NSWGR layout had a Main line run of over 80ft+ and another 100ft+ of yard trackage and having to clean and clean again after to get rid of the residue was a real chore , made me look for a better alteritive and the one found, I can only say convinced me to never bother with the Peco cleaner ever again As for the offer ! Don't want to have to use / wipe thinners all over my rails to remove the residue beside that the Peco rubber are thin to start with, so must be so thin by now that I'd struggle to hold it. Again as I said don't under stand the of use nasty (thinners) in a place that you are happy to have Thousands of pounds worth of models. I made a suggestion to Newtz re the cleaner as it was passing on info. and an Ozzy supplier You should try modelling down under esp in O scale, basicly everything you UK modellers take for granted we have to import at a hugely inflated price due to a poor exchange rate so to get our brass 2-8-0 we have to work twice as hard / long to earn the $$ to get it get stung £50+ to send it and then get to pay an extra 25% import duty on top. So a few dollars for a cleaner is nothing to us See your Peco rubber what it costs from UK now tell me the Flieshmann rubber is exensive when it is 4 time bigger as well and actualy works for the advertised purpose with out extra cleaning after with another cleaner or solution

Great set of photo's Jonathan You are building a really good display for all your fine models getting close to having to think about the actual presentation of the layout board.

No "Brillo Pad" Martyn and when you consider I last purchased one over 10 years ago extremely good value try getting that out of a Peco rubber I never use Peco rubbers as they leave a residue a rubbery substance on the rails The reason you have to use thinners after. Never had to do that with the Fleischmann cleaning block. Re Cost as O scale modellers we have many thousand $$ or ££ worth of models on a layout and your worried by spending a few quid on some thing that will assist to make then run faultlessly Very strange attitude I find it perplexing. And remember it's Ozzy Dollars until recently that was equivalent to £5- £6 pounds this week it's probaly £8 average that over ten years a few Pence or about 10 Peco rubbers and a pot of thinners pile of rags the cleaning block is looking really good and cheap now. When I exhibited my Model Railway recently, I cleaned the track on the Sat morning and that was it, the guy from the layout next to me came over at midday Saturday and asked if I was having issues with dirty track "No " he said he was and most of the others were too, He was having to constantly clean with his Peco rubber and still having Locos stall, I gave him my Flieshman cleaning block, He came back and said couldn't believe the difference in the clean between it and the Peco and he went the rest of the day with out an issue all Sunday then came and asked to use the cleaning block before the show opened on Monday just as a precaution. So it's not just me who could see the value in it he was going to order one straight after the show.

It's amazing how much a back Scene lifts the look of the Layout It's a really rewarding feeling when you take the first photo with it in place. Had a similar result with Moonan Flats http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/97814-7mm-modelling-down-under-moonan-flats-small-oscale-the-current-project/?p=2317247 Made the layout look a lot wider than its really is Your back scene has done the same thing looks good, did you also get some good photos for making photo flats out of to stand in front of the Sky, on foam board between the bridge and the shed. You may even be able to photoshop parts out of old photos around the shed and make up a good set of flats to go I front of the sky It's looking good. Re Cleaning the Track after all the work has been done I use one of these fleischmann-cleaning blocks (see link) the first one I got lasted 10 years just got a new one still a great product, for good cleaning of the rails also good for cleaning right into the edge of wheel flanges as the block has a nice edge when it is new http://www.allaboardexclusive.com.au/index.php/fleischmann-ff6595-track-cleanning-rubber.html Got it from Allaboard near Mittagong NSW order on line got it the next day as well great service can recommend this Ozzy retailer. Really gets any gunk off with out much effort and isn't hard on the rail surface.

Hi Stu when you do decide to come back to this project you may like to take a look at this system its very new Blue Rail trains Bachman have done a basic range using the technology using track power and the blue tooth control but on the Blue Rail sight they do a dead rail Verision Link http://bluerailtrains.com/board-sign-up/ They do a standalone Dead rail system everything included, control board, battery, magnetic on off switch plus it's free to download the Control App to your smart phone It would solve all the issues and as the train will always have the carriage attached you have plenty of space for the battery etc. People are using it in old US Oscale and getting 2 plus hours run time with the small motor in the donor Hormby loco should get full day of running at say a show on one charge I would guess. Quick vid showing the dead rail board

Those nice light towers are finally lighting the way on a foggy night Great work the bridge is looking good waiting for the new photos

Got to love your family Stu no dodgy socks or ties only the good stuff that you will really appreciate. Full marks to them, and good luck now for some truly great Christmas presents Can I become a family member to LOL Real like the ingress of green Diesels they actualy look right at home.

Anything special about December Jonathan Xmas present !! Or are you exhibiting.

Andy they look the business I have the black No4 plus 5 other on order including the RM yellow one Looking forward to these arrivals can't be long now fingers crossed

Nice Bob and a sunny day too are you ready for the ice and snow a real posibility again this year.

Hi Chris thanks for the nice comments re the Ixion 32 Yes did see them and I had a chat with Lindsay But one problem your 32 falls between the track on my layouts, one of my friends/operator on my layout for the weekend got 2 of them though look nice.

Video of Trains running on Moonan Flats at the recent Brick Pit 2016 exhibition in NSW Australia And a video of the other model railways at the show BTW that's me Chris on the left Young Jack and Gary

Hi Bob it was a very successful show The layout performed very well with only operator errors no layout or model issues at all. We got 2nd place in the best model Railway award 1st was "Over the fence" 3rd was "Industry Lane" pretty good as Moonan Flats is not the usual tail chaser style layout. Enjoy the video Link to youtube with the layout at the show. https://youtu.be/Qx1xZaX4aGA

Thanks all for the nice comments Hi Bob Yes surprising the amount of stuff in a water tank lots of cross bracing stays etc Will add some corner cross stays and the cross stays to the middle once the water is finished as it would be hard working around all the wires First fill of water is in

Water tank works tonight to give the old tank a fresh old look With the internal stays fitted, painted it a fresh coate of mat black weathered just waiting for the water now. Tank being striped for removal of the flat top. Water tower make over under way by Top and sides refitted with the top lower to allow some details and water Water tower make over under way by CHRIS, on Flickr Internal Stays for the sides cut and ready to be fitted Old Water tower model detailed, painted and weathered Stays fitted and ladder top landing area installed. Old Water tower model detailed, painted and weathered Repainted Mat black all over again Old Water tower model detailed, painted and weathered Inside the tank wreathed with Pan pastels Old Water tower model detailed, painted and weathered How it looked before the rebuild It was this plain mat black with non prototypical closed flat top, now it is an open top tank as per prototype with weathering a few more little bits and fingers crossed it will have water or atleast something that looks like it. After the rebuild with some basic weathering done with Pan Pastels, Old Water tower model detailed, painted and weathered Photo the other way Old Water tower model detailed, painted and weathered Water post if it works tomorrow.

Exhibition coming up Hi all I will attending a show next weekend with my model railway. At the Brick pit Staduim Thornleigh NSW Australia stand 17 Moonan Flats. With the Platform1mrc. Promo stand next to the layout then Gary's of "Linden Ford" fame has a New OO layout "Industry Lane" that will also be next to Platform1 Link to the show, directions, times and other info http://www.eppingmodelrailway.org.au/exhibition.html So don't be shy if you are visiting the show call by and say Hello. A good number of stands at this show. Brick pit exhibition Thornleigh NSW exhibit list Floor plan Brick pit exhibition Thornleigh NSW exhibit list

Hi Kevin you are spot on with the parrot but not one there are Two who like to help out with any model building.And getting a quite video clip is almost impossible unless done very late at night putting the Parrots in their cages just results in back ground voices asking to come out. The length isn't much of an issue as with the bearing preloaded becomes super stable and yes I really did stand on it and tested figured if it would hold me it wasn't going to be an issue with $1000's of worth of Loco's and rolling stock, the rating on my bearing is in excess of 300kg's PS the little cartoons are great

Hi Chris to Lindsay I'm 40 min door to door and to Phil B about 1-1/2hours depending on traffic and yes know them both and been to both places. Yes the peco Coffins should have modified before I fitted the points may look at after the exhibition "removing them" The basic layout was intended as a demo "you can do this" type and so didn't worry to much about the points. Just made 100% DCC friendly now as all the scenic's develop the Boxes stand out as being out of place. Mind you so is the bull head rail of the Peco not that anyone has noticed or said anything as only one or two places in NSW had bull head and I think that was due to it coming as ships ballast like on the Morpeth Line north of Newcastle had bits of bull head mixed with the standard flat bottom.

Again thanks everyone for all the likes again. Well the Tourist season started at Moonan Flats this week with the population exploding extra station Staff are sent each morning from Scone, the Junction station for the Moonan Branch to handel the extra load as the tourists arrive on there way to the Baringtons National Park. Tourist Season at Moonan Flats The observant will see that the painter if putting the finishing touches on the yearly spruce up. Tourist Season at Moonan Flats Steps fitted to the end of the platform and weathered Tourist Season at Moonan Flats Looks like he's even painted the station name board legs. Tourist Season at Moonan Flats A Young train spotter asks a crew member some questions on his return to Moonan Flats from Boarding school. Also Put a bit of weathering on the brick section of the platform using Pan Pastels.

Thanks for the comments everyone and all the likes, the little box at the top was lit up this morning This Model Railway was never originally planned to get to this stage of detail, It was only going to be a basic demo board to show that you don't need a huge amount of space to model O scale and run some of the bigger Locos. I had so much fun with shunting it like a puzzle that it went from basic layout to A ModelRailway, even though it's only 2 points the sector plate is like having several more it's the yard approach extra sidings etc eg stock yard siding train arives you shunt the yard place a van to pickup the milk in the bay and shunt the stock vans on to the sector plate then I use the sector plate as a turn table to turn the loco, one of the best bits of making the table strong and easy to use, it rotates right round quick and easy with a DCC auto reverser to power so doesn't even need to be unplugged. Now the next layout is underway planning and boards etc so I have planned to have the photo back scene at the beginning not part way into the build.

Unfortunately Marty the way I built the top then used the space right to the corners ruled out curving then I got the photo print scene, so it is what it is I'm no rivet counter so it's not going to worry me. Next time I will plan the corners to be curved from the start and not have the tracks right to the corners. Re The colours yes I have had the photo backscene since last year chosen as it very closely represents the real Moonan Flats hills Bit of a thing that the Flats are really just a small area between hills on the edge of of the Baringtons Tops hence a possible rail route from the inland branching off between Aberdeen and Scone heading to the coast but costs to get through the mountains resulted in the line stopping at Moonan Flats and the Tourist traffic is such that the line remained open. My Next small Layout plans are well underway components to build in stock. Quite different to this one small industrial Locos and animation with emptied hoppers in loads out etc "Perhaps life is way to short ". "It is" , you never know what may happen I Speak from real life experience as you know, so take that thought you just had and get building on your layout Marty you have been putting it off for years, life is way too short as you just said, get started before another decade passes without you getting a real "Model Railway" built and I don't want to hear I don't have space.

photo's of a loco that I don't think has been seen before at Moonan Flats NSWGR 35class #3531 I'm well chuffed with the look of the new photo Backscene. I'm sure my next layout will get a similar treatment well worth it. 3531 at Moonan Flats

A photo Backscene for Moonan Flats This is some thing I had been putting off doing for a while firstly it was going to need two people and I was not sure how it was going to look on such a shallow layout. The Back Scene chosen is from the Haskell Model Company and is a vinyl material with a self adhesive backing (basically a big sticker) www.haskellco.net for any one interested in seeing other back scene's they do. So a start was made, Step 1 strip to top off the layout Step 2 assemble the layout top, laying across the back deck pool table with the back down to make it easier too work the sticker into place Step 3 Measure the start point and cut in around the frame. Step 4 start working towards the other end cutting in around the pelmet braces as we went. Step5 get to the other end and cut out opening in the end of the layout top for the trains to come through trick here is to cut back at an 45'angle from each corner 15mm then cut the centre out from the end of each cut this leaves enough to roll over the edge ie no sharp cut off edge. Step 6 Add some scenic's along the back edge of the layout boards to hide the join between the layout and photo, sorry forgot to take photo of this bit see the photos below step8 Step7. Refit top to layout, now it's a "Model Railway" Step8 the most important "Step" of all thank my wife Shelley for helping otherwise there would have been a lot of Beeep words. And for taking photos, then take photos of the "Model Railway" and admire your hand work with a cool drink. WOW what a change in look Back Scene for Moonan Flats Back Scene for Moonan Flats That's it, for a long post, about not much but what a change to the look of the Model Railway it has made. May even get some trains back out now and have a shunt.

Thanks Bob It sounds like you had a productive time with the layout and the rolling stock. With the warn days we have Been having its extended the running season outside, buy a good month or so. Back scene coming up next post.

Hi Kevin, just looked in on this section and your thread , to see your using the same style of rotating sector plate I built for my O scale layout Moonan Flats And the same style of bearing for the pivot My set up has proved very successful and had no issues with an intensive 3 day exhibition its first test with continuous use.and then used most days at home. Info links below Links to my build http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/97814-7mm-modelling-down-under-moonan-flats-small-oscale-the-current-project/?p=1973369 This one shows the important under bearing to keep some preload on the top bearing for proper operation. It stops any movement that may compromise the alignment. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/97814-7mm-modelling-down-under-moonan-flats-small-oscale-the-current-project/?p=1981560 I also made a tung and groove style alignment at the layout join end of the sector plate (see photos in the links) this keeps every thing in line and tracks leven no matter how much weight is at the other end of the table that incidentally is not supported as the frame that the sector sits on is only a bit longer than the bearing point to save on weight for transport. The table will support my weight off center and still turn I tested it as I figured if. It would hold my weight would be no issue with the several thousand of dollars worth of models on it whilst being rotated http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/97814-7mm-modelling-down-under-moonan-flats-small-oscale-the-current-project/?p=1991886 Best of luck with the build.