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Hi Everyone, Well I can confirm that OTW will be appearing at the Cornwall Model Railway Exhibition on the 30th October at the Carn Brea Leisure Centre at Pool, Redruth. The show is organised by Cornwall 0 Gauge Group but has a wider range of scales at the show. Anyone who saw the layout at Hayle and comes to Carn Brea may notice e few alterations. After the Hayle show I mentioned that there had been a few little niggles. These mainly centred on the fiddle yard and its relationship to the layout which caused the occasional derailment, which is not a good thing when exhibiting and creates a poor image of the layout. As wagons are propelled on to the layout any small misalignment caused the lighter wagons to derail on the back siding although the weightier locos were ok. The problem was that when building the layout I needed to get as much space as possible between the two sidings to provide space for the buildings and road which resulted in the sidings being at the extreme limit of the travel on the traverser. As you can probably imagine only the slightest touch on the fiddle yard could result in a very small misalignment. This did not happen often but usually when I was least expecting it. At home, and thinking about the possibility of another show I knew I would not be happy until the issue was resolved so I decided the only solution was to reduce the distance between the two sidings. This would involve swinging one siding across by as little as 5mm. The back siding was effectively inaccessible so any change had to be at the front, so biting the bullet I have taken up part of the siding and swung it across to give sufficient play on the traverser. This sounds simple but it actually involved an amazing amount of work on what was a fully modelled siding. But it is now complete and extensive testing has been done, so far successfully! Perhaps I should also mention that the elaborate track layout on the fiddle yard, which included a sector plate to avoid me having to handle the stock has also gone. In operating at the show I hardly made use of the sector plate and when doing the other work I decided that it was all overly complicated and I should go back to first principles and keep everything simple. I now have parallel tracks which can be used for storage and will also mean that the fiddle yard can double up as the fiddle yard for the new layout which, hopefully, I can now find time to concentrate on. Hopefully I may see some of you at Carn Brea, so until then regards to all, Rob

Just a quick thank you guys for your comments which are all greatly appreciated. Regards Rob

Hi All, Osney Town Wharf is back home after it's first public outing at the weekend. An enjoyable two days at the Hayle Railway Modellers summer show. A few niggles, as always with a new layout, even one as small as OTW, but nothing that can't be put right, including damage to a lamp post which was positioned to close to the edge of the board. Three link couplings !!! My magnetic pole worked quite well and I developed some sort of technique but it either worked first time or after 5 minutes of struggle. One kind soul did offer to step back away so that, as he put it, I could express my true feelings 😁. Hopefully no one was put off by my struggles but I think most people were sympathetic. This is the first layout I have operated from the front and I must say how it improved the occasion. People were more ready to chat to you and for me it was a new experience to be able to talk without leaning over the layout. It was good to meet one or two people who had been following the build online and were able to see the layout in reality. It is always good to see the faces behind the comments and also to see familiar faces after nearly three years of not exhibiting. I also received two requests from other shows, one, sadly was too far away but the other was local, so if that is confirmed we will be on our travels again later in the year. As soon as the schools are back I will have more time for modelling and after a little work on OWT to put the little niggles right I can get on with the next idea which has been on hold during the holidays. Rob

Just a couple of recent photos. 1426 has had some coal added and some fire irons but is still in need of a crew. These are Modelu but awaiting painting, hopefully in time for the show.

I should have guessed you might be exhibiting, its really quite a small world we operate in, but good fun. It will be good to see you and Feltham again.

Hi Ray, yes it's Hayle, will you be down on holiday about then?

Hi Everyone, as mentioned in the last post I have agreed to exhibit the Wharf at a local show over the bank holiday weekend. As a result I have been spending time finishing the presentation of the layout and also adding a few details and actually spending some time running the layout as it would be at the show. The name is now on the facia/lighting board and velcro has been stuck around the boards to accomodate the screening curtain. So presentation ready. However when I had erected the layout with fiddle yard there was a slight discrepancy between the rail heights on the fiddle yard and the scenic boards, how I don't know. The result was that when propelling wagons on to the wharf, and all wagons will be propelled, some derailed. The solution was simple and just needed some packing under the rail, but a good reason for testing of the layout in operating conditions. I have also been adding a few more small details to increase interest. After all, this part of the system may see the daily goods to Osney only deliver a wagon to the the wharf very occasionally and nothing might happen after that for a day or so, hardly inspired viewing, so while everyone is waiting for something to happen there will at least be something to look at. That's my theory anyway. 😁 Lastly I have been running in the Dapol 14xx as I had only had it out of the box to check it out, not easy when you only have about 7 feet of track. But it is now running well and the sound is very good, to my way of thinking. Oh yes, I have also been practicing using my magnetic shunters pole and learning the best technique re the coupling. It does work well but I can't guarantee there won't be bad language on the day!! That's all for now , Rob

Hi there everyone, some progress to report, the shells of the two bridges which frame the platform have been completed which begins to give some form to the layout. There may not be an awful lot to report for awhile as summer holidays approach and I have also just agreed to exhibit Osney Town Wharf at a local show and I have realised that the presentational aspects had been left unfinished, so will have to spend a little time preparing it for showing, its first public outing! I have also been re-installing the photos on the thread, so any body who is interested can now go back and view the saga in full. The biggest problem was finding the originals on my own chaotic system. The only gaps are where others have added their own photos but I can't do anything about that sadly. Hopefully all the photos will be re-installed at some point.

Hi Marc, I have fond memories of Looe and its branch line as we used to visit when I was quite young, in fact I can say that I can remember steam on the line, which makes me feel very ancient. I can also remember seeing wagons on the quayside at what used to be the fish market, now all car parking! Even today there are so many aspects to the line that makes it 'modellogenic'. Good to hear from you Marc, we are doing well as I hope you are. Its finding time to model that is the problem. Regards Rob

Hi, and finally some positive action to report, not a lot, but progress of a kind. Track has been laid and ballasted and a basic paint job added which will do for the moment. Platform edging has also made an appearance and you will see that I have gone down the timber route as discussed earlier and suggested by Steve. I think it will work quite well for the location. In the photos the platform surface is 'building reclamation' but something similar should blend well. I think the next step should be a look at the two bridges which will frame the whole layout but I need to be clear in my head as to the number of arches and their function. A recent trip down the Looe branch helped with ideas, also with the relationship between the stream and the line which runs alongside for a good way. That's it for now, Rob

In the absence of any significant progress at Osney junction I had a wander down to the wharf and came on a remarkable sight. I have no idea what an auto-trailer was doing parked on the quayside while 7404 shunted the farm industries siding and the handful of passengers in the coach were probably just as mystified. On the assumption that this was never going to happen again I took a couple of photos in case no one believed me. You can tell that my efforts to get going with the next layout have faltered, not with lack of ideas, those are established, but with lack of motivation. I am suffering from what I like to call that 'blank canvas syndrome' when you find it difficult to actually make that first positive step rather than using mock-ups etc because at that point you are committed. The answer to the riddle of the auto trailer may have something to do with testing clearances and having come out of its box the wharf was a handy place to park it. On a different subject we have visited a couple of local shows recently and how wonderful it is to get back to some form of normality and to see old friends again, even though some of them are trying to convince me to exhibit The Wharf at some point. Regards Rob.

Thanks for that suggestion, not one I had considered. I am some way from actually doing any work on the stream but all ideas will be gratefully received and tried. With your suggestion I guess you would need to dilute the pva to insure it has a smooth finish and can 'flow' into the areas you want it to go. Rob

Thanks for that Don and Stu, I'm not quite sure what you are asking. Have I missed something obvious? My stream has meandered along this valley since time began, or at least before the railway and is so gentle and quiet in its movement to the sea that it troubles no one, not even the railway. In fact it is lined with reeds and other assorted vegetation. The only problem now is how do I actually portray all that fantasy, do I use multiple layers of varnish or use one of the professional water treatments. How do you get the reeds to appear to grow out of the water and not appear just glued to the surface? All these and many other questions in my head remain unanswered. More importantly it is now time to go and collect the shopping which my wife has ordered, so answers to these questions will be put on hold, and perhaps someone will come up with solutions or point me in the direction of those who have already been down this modelling route. Regards to all, Rob

Hi All, I have been playing around with card buildings and other bits of salvage from previous layouts. I like to leave things in place for a few days and then come back to the layout. This I find helps in planning the final composition and , hopefully, prevents any false starts. It means the build is somewhat slow but reflects the look I am going for and gets me to the point of actual building which is where I think I am now. The photos illustrate the current ideas. The intention is to raise the foreground a little so that the land slopes to the stream. This would be from the edge of the board rather than shown on the photos! As always, comments welcome. Rob

Progress continues, but slowly. The attached photo shows that track has been cut and positioned but not fixed in any way. The old track formation has been swung away from the original. Those of you following this saga will probably pick up on the clues here, from the track formation and the former track bed, yes that's right, the stream at the front of the board has won out! Rob

Hi Steve, thanks for the suggestion. Timber would certainly be appropriate for the look I am after and was used, to some extent, on both the Looe branch and the Culm valley branch. So a possible in my head. Rob

Hi Everyone, I have been busy removing the old track ballast and some of the cork underlay ground cover in preparation for which ever direction I go in. I must say I am inching towards the stream being at the front of the board. When this issue of the size of the rolling stock first came up on an earlier build, the platform line was very close to the edge of the board and I had very limited space, a couple of inches or so, in which to lessen the impact. This time I have about 9 inches to play with and the photos to follow up Don's comments show that this can have a significant effect. While the trees etc would be very different and the ground level could also be raised, I think it could well work. The new photos help to emphasize this fact and also show where the track would be curved using a Y point, which would help to reduce the parallel effect. The buildings dotted around in the background are there merely to provide me with some ideas and anything could happen in the area if I go down this route. The old track bed would form part of the new stream bed but would obviously have to be swung away from the track towards and under the bridge. That's it for the moment but the old excitement is coming back so watch this space, and also, thank you for the many 'likes' which seem to favour the stream option. Regards Rob

Let's not carried away now, although.... I am now wondering about a packet of jam sandwiches to go with the two lads. Food for thought.

Have been having a ponder about Don's comment and produced the following but don't look to closely at photos as old scrappage items have been used to give an idea. It might work.

Hi Don, Yes that was plan A but now I'm not so sure and I was quite keen on modelling a stream! Still am really. Rob

Hi Stu, I haven't but I understand where you are coming from and I would agree that parallel lines are not always the best and I would probably opt for a curve if I could. I will have a ponder though but I rather think that my limited size will mean that it may have to be parallel but on the plus side the last photos don't show the rest of the board as there will be, possibly, a Y point which will add a curved element. Good to hear from you, regards Rob

At last some small progress, the back boards have been glued in place, before they were just clamped, and a coat of paint has been applied. The 'little grey cells' have also been much in use although I find that as the years progress it is the lack of 'little grey cells' that becomes the problem. The issue is an old one, how do you design a layout of 5 feet in length, in which an auto coach and loco or a 'bubble car' do not dominate the scene. If you put a platform to the rear the whole thing begins to look like a stage set, which is not the look I am after. However, if the platform is at the front where it lessens the impact of the rolling stock, I am back on old territory, and not so long ago, in July to be precise, I said I did not want to go back down that route. To illustrate, some photos, all rather crude but they help to highlight the issues: The first two show a platform to the rear, the first with a larger station building and the second with a small waiting shelter, which would be the most appropriate for the location, but which really gets lost when the train is in the station. As I have mentioned earlier I am looking at the idea of Coombe Junction on the Looe branch line which was mainly there to reverse the train. The next photos show what happens when the platform is placed at the front. The impact of the rolling stock is immediately reduced but with this option my earlier idea of a stream in the foreground has to go. With the station to the rear i don't think the stream option would have sufficient impact. You may wonder why I am concerned at getting the basics right but I'm after as realistic a scene as possible but in a very limited area, really a balanced picture but which includes a moving train. The building outline to the rear is just there to show potential ideas only: So that's it for the moment, all comments, views are welcome as always, Regards Rob

Hi Andy, Just noticed that the photos have been restored. Many thanks for your prompt response, greatly appreciated. Regards Rob

Yes, I've just done a reply to thank him and also again, thank you for your advice as well which spurred me into action.

Hi Andy, Many thanks for your prompt reply. I appreciate how busy you are and as long as I know that the photos aren't lost and will eventually return, I am more than happy. Regards Rob