John of York61

Sorry to be off for so long! I haven't done much for a year due to mum's dementia. Recently though, I have finally got a bit more time and turned to a bit of loco building; Judith Edge Ruston 165 with a Digitrains sound decoder....I like the 'wagons hunting/couplings snatching feature', namely, if you apply a sharp braking manoeuvre, you get the clatter of multiple wagons! Also doing up some Corgi/Vanguards vehicles to suit 1977......

Now modelling again after 8 months (mum's dementia plus new boiler behind the layout(!) Started building a Judith Edge Ruston 165 and tonight I painted the Modelu shunter for the Dapol 08. Next comes the ply sub-frame for the layout, to which the lighting and backscene will be attached and I can really get a move on! I have a potential invite to Expo EM North in September 22 as a guest layout in 7mm.

Time to start thinking of the other end. A collection of brick sheds from the old Corporation Depot on Foss Islands Road. Going to create some interesting view blockers between the sheds. Partly demolished building will be the little (illicit) car park. The Dapol 08 is there because I couldn't resist having a little 'play'! Must get the inset track done........

Gave up the scribed DAS approach to the brickwork of the Pub. Slater's Flemish bond for that Georgian look. The layout is set in 1977 so I was looking for a poster that would be appropriate; I can think of nothing better! Usual method of printing on cartridge paper, spray-mounted to brass sheet and cut to fit. It will never warp in spite of being so thin! Got to build the layout subframe and LED lighting rig as I'm sick of looking at the bedroom wall.....high time I did a backscene!

Made a start on the other end. The lane drops down from Skeldergate to the level of the wharf. It will be part stone setts/tarmac (it's set in 1977 after all!). Do I really want to carve the brickwork in all that DAS on the late Medieval building? No; I will clad it in Slater's Flemish bond. Made a little repeater phone bell for the office too.

A bit rough and ready, but here it is. 1 RH point and 1 single slip. Front view blocker will be demolished building with cars parked on it, a la St Andrewgate! Been busy with the grass flocker today. Needs more! The little spur at the left of the slip will JUST take a Fowler 0-4-0 DM

Must get the ballasting finished

Starting to use the 7mm door furniture etch from Scale Link...with a Langley etched drain cover beneath the pipe. Must get my act together to do the layout sub-frame: the idea is to have a frame the layout can sit on. The lighting/backscene is attached to the sub frame so that it can be put up at exhibitions (backscene clipped up etc BEFORE the baseboards slide in as it were).

Thanks Richard.....I may have difficulty fitting DCC decoders to them!!!!

A little bit of work every day. Painted the brickwork with a mix of Tamiya and Lifecolor arcrylics

Scribed the goods platform edge over two or three nights. DAS with two courses of Slater's brickwork. Speaking of brickwork, the platform buildings (from Trinity Lane in York) are of the usual English Garden wall bond with five rows of stretchers interspersed with a row of headers. Typical in York from the 1880s/90s.

Did the surface of the lane next to the pub-a sheet of York-style stable paviors glued down with 'Roket' card glue (no buckling!). Started using foam board and mounting card to infill the track. Pity the local art stockist is closed at the moment! The old building in Skeldergate (in reality) was demolished around 1900. I really fancy the timbering with the rebuilt facade in brick.

The alleyway by the pub will be paved with the (common in York) stable paviours. The wood batten at the far end, part of the sector plate, will have a wall on its surface, so that as the sector plate moves across/away, an alleyway to the right opens up. The styrofoam platform is temporary- it will have a collection of sheds etc on top, to hide the sector plate.

All is now wired; I have done my first shunt! Once it's fully check-railed I'll start the infilling for the dock surface.

Thanks, David. Some images of Albion Street in its new home-relaid to 00 and period changed to 1980s. It's at a mate's house in Eggborough and before all this quarantine I was popping down once a week to help.

Yes Steve; circa 1976-77...I wonder if Corgi (Vanguard) will do a 1:43 Triumph Dolomite or suchlike? I did think of a Citroen 2CV as a nod to the Gravetts!

It lives!

First bit of track laid. The inset ply at left is for the single slip.

The backscene will hang off the back (as it did with "Albion Street" back in 1994) and it will be King's Staith across the river from where the real Albion Wharf (not rail served!) was located.

Time to step up from P4. I realised in moving my old exhibition layout "Albion Street" (BRM Sep 97) to a friend's house that it was fun to operate and look at. I am therefore making something similar in 7mm (and the same size too!) 7' 6" by 2 foot-ish. The old "Albion Street" was a nod to 'Butley Mills' by Iain Rice with buildings from the York area (home!). The new one has a nod to Gordon Gravett; "Arun Quay" is a great idea and I wanted something to combine two interests: fine scale modelling and architecture. My 'day job' (unpaid) is Chairman of the Yorkshire Architectural & York Archaeological Society (YAYAS) and I have access to images of lots of lost York Buildings. So, here goes.......

I cannot say enough; what a venue! Thanks for having "Leeman Road" at the roundhouse...a model of a turntable in a roundhouse!! We even managed a meal at a Mexican restaurant and a few decent bottled ales at the 'Harvester' on Saturday night, despite the football (!) The Viceroy and the Brunswick on Friday...most excellent. Please pass on my thanks to the team. John (Treasurer of the York Model Railway Show)

Nah....I blame Roy Jackson's crew! Still, an enjoyable weekend was had by us all. Thanks to the organisers for a great weekend.

Leeman Road, York c.1964 P4

Thanks for a great weekend. Very nicely taken photos of Leeman Road. We got back to York at 6:40. Highlight for me was South Pelaw. I take it you saw Chris Pendleton AND Dave Bradwell. Had a brief chat with them on Saturday in front of my layout "That's a standard 3"-Chris Pendleton...."Is that one of my J27s?"-Bradwell. ks