MarshLane

Good god Andy, slow down a bit! Rome wasn't built in a day you know ... Although it might have been with you at the helm! Hehe! Seriously, it's coming on really well now, love the detail. Have you used brass rod to create the four bar fence? At this rate you'll be done and finished by 1st June .... Or is that the plan to allow you to get on with the O Gauge! Hahaha! Looks really good, wish I could progress at the same rate! Rich

Thanks Chris, Think you've just sold one ... Maybe two! I'll be talking to you at Doncaster! Rich

Guys, It occurred to me tonight, that i'd put into words my plans for the four phases of this layout, but have yet to put a graphic plan in place! I'll develop these over the coming weeks to show the full story, but the plan entitled 'Marsh Lane Depot' shows how the depot will develop when used as a standalone layout. In essence, Boards 1 and 2, can be used standalone, or can be slotted into the main layout in the loft, and the track on the left hand edge of Board 2, will line up with the first of the permanent boards up there. However, Boards 1 and 2 can be removed from the loft layout, and used with Boards 3 and 4, together with a traverser which I built last year, to allow the layout to be run individually either downstairs, or outside during the summer. There is also the potential, as previously commented, for it to be exhibited in the years to come. However, the main aim is to give me a small layout that I can operate at home, but that the work involved isn't lost on the main layout. I do also have another cunning plan, which is way into the future, but forms the basis of a separate layout, potentially still set in the 1980s, but more of a view that it could be set in the late 1960s/early 1970s, on an industrial branch, and the layout represents on end of a yard, along with the locomotive shed. The idea being that this basis could use the Ixion Hudswell Clarke, or Minerva Kerr Stuart designs in an industrial setting - to give variety in operations and modelling. In this sense, only Board 1 would be reused, with boards 5,6 and 7 being a totally different design. The attached plan of Marsh Lane Shed (below) shows how the shed area would fit into this proposal. The tracks on Board 1 are laid in such a way, that the additional small shed (I thinking something akin to the loco facilities at High Peak Junction) could be included or not, depending on the period being modelled. As always, comments are welcomed. Rich

Hi Paul, Glad to hear your still working on things tho. Off to have a read of your workbench thread! Rich

Hi Peter, Superb images - several of those are so realistic. Really good to see you posting pictures of the layout again. Looks superb! EDIT: Struggling to find that wiring diagram, but looking at what others have posted, I tend to agree with you - a rotary switch could be the best and easiest way forward! Rich

Disrupted with family stuff today, so have only had an hour to spend on the shed construction. Painted the four sides of Plastikard brickwork a couple of days ago and went over it with the grey mortar yesterday, which was then wiped off. Overall it looked OK, but I wasn't totally happy so the two ends which had the grey added, have been washed over with red again! Hope to have another go tomorrow. In other news, I've put together the first five Windows for one of the sides together and they look superb, especially the two open windows! Three out of the five have now been mounted on Perspex and laid over the inner skin. The window cut outs on both the inner and outer skin have been painted white to represent the internal framework, which has worked well. Pics now attached below. The side doors and the internal side of the main doors are going to be covered in a Dark Oak wood stain I think, to give that 'oldy' style to the doors. The exterior of the main doors will be painted in black and yellow stripes. Can I also say thank you to everyone that has looked in, passed comment or given a rating. I find it quite remarkable that in the first seven days, this thread has had just over 1,000 views! Rich

Thanks Paul, I need to go back through your Black Notley thread and have a look. You taught me the art of ballasting! Rich

Thanks Peter, must admit a Scottish tractor with ploughs in large logo is rather dishy! Elsewhere, work on the shed is continuing, although I forgot to take some pictures today! The grey 'mortar' fill on the red external brickwork has been added, and although not totally satisfied, I think once weathered it will look ok. The window frames (which in my stupidity I forgot to order from York Modelmaking) have arrived today and really do look superb. My plan for tomorrow is to build up one of the sides with the windows and inserts and see how things progress. Overall, I'm very pleased with how its all coming together, although I'm itching to get on with some track laying! Debs of this parish has advised that the 0-MF track gauges should be in shortly, so all is looking good for acquiring the C&L trackwork items at the forthcoming Doncaster show. Is anyone else attending? Pictures of the shed tomorrow, hopefully! Has anyone tackled track laid in a concrete floor before - if so, any thoughts or suggestions for the best way of recreating it? Rich EDIT: For autocorrected inaccurate spelling!

Hi Paul, Any further progress on this fascinating layout idea? Rich

Full of admiration with the detail on this PAUL. Hoping I can replicate something similar on mine in the coming months! All the best for end of July too! Rich

Hi Steve, Really coming on. You've done well with that Lima 37! Watching with interest! Rich

Thanks Paul - now how did I miss that! I've looked at that page on a couple of occasions and just never seen the Zimo reference. Oops - ah well, better head to specsavers ... Again!!! Are EDM involved in doing the DCC for the new model? Rich

Hi Peter, looking good! Re: the Erkon signals, I'm sure I've read a way of wiring three aspect through DPDT switches. Centre off gives you red, then down for yellow or up for green (or vice-versa) I'll see if I can dig the wiring diagram out. It might need a small relay in the circuit to default to red when no other power is present, but can't quite remember. Rich

Hi Chris, Very tempted by these. I'm assuming the DCC chips on the fitted examples are Loksound? Has any thought been given to using Zimo decoders - a better product in my own view. Rich

Steve, Looking good. Your a braver man than me! Can't wait to see the end result of that repaint. Rich

Oops! Morel of this story is don't reply from a phone on the mobile version, when your not totally sure which thread your in!!! Now awaiting my centre-headcode 37, class 25 and now Class o3 ... Just to get us back on topic - but for god sake don't mention any of the above to my bank manager! Rich

The side door frames have been built this morning, and panelled this afternoon, and look good. I'm giving some thought as to how I can include a small foreman's office into proceedings, having been inspired by Dave on Waverley West - his Haymarket offices are just superb. The rolling stock fleet has grown slightly today. I came across a couple of weathered Lionheart Trains wagons on eBay last week, and remarkably was the only one to bid on them. Both arrived this morning, and I have to say I'm delighted with them. The mixed freight is now gaining a true mix variety. Having seen the Lionheart mineral now, I'm seriously into saving money to put a rake of them together. Tower Models have a deal on 12-wagons (unweathered) that work out cheaper than buying the kits! Note to self: must get the front end buffer beam detail added to the D1577, looks very odd at the moment! Rich

Your working quickly Andy! Churchyard looks good - How did you do your trees? They look very effective. Rich

Absolutely stunning Dave, In never ceased to be amazed and inspired by the level of detail in your modelling. How did you do the computer and laser printer? Rich

Hi Peter Sorry to hear you've lost your modelling mo-jo a bit. Hope you can refind the interest soon, plenty to keep you going though from the sounds of it! As ever, I look forward to following the progress on Llanbourne. Rich

Hi Peter, All sounds a logical plan. Looking forward to seeing the new plan. Those two aspects always seem to crop up ... Time and money! Can't get away from them! Rich

Hehe ... Think my supply may be running out ... Can feel my wallet complaining at the new Heljan Warships that are out ... Must resist, must resist! Then I see Abbotswood and my temptation increases! Do you have a list of forthcoming exhibitions for the layout at all? Sorry if I've missed it on the write up .... Rich

Hi Ken, Nice to have you along. Hopefully, I'm only a few weeks off the baseboards being started, from which point things will get more interesting to read! As you say, multiple use layouts are much cheaper, but I also felt that doing it this was, I wasn't spending time on a small diorama board that would hardly be used. O gauge definitely is more expensive, but with the rising cost of OO gauge locos and wagons, along with their size, I personally feel it's better value for money than the smaller scales now. But everyone is different! I've experienced the credit card leaving wallet at sight of O gauge phenomena ... Can be very unsettling! You should have a nice little engine threw in the Ixion Fowler. So far, I've been able to resist that one ... But they are lovely models! I'll reply on your thread, but with the Fowler and an 03, you have the basis for a good industrial setting there. Hope you continue to enjoy the thread... Rich

Just goes to show ... In this hobby, never throw anything away! It always comes in somewhere. Rich

Loved the video. Layout looks superb, can't wait to see it in the flesh sometime soon. Never had all that much of an interest in hydraulics until I really got into rmWeb, now I love the things! Another convert! Rich