fulton

You are not alone, I'm happy either way, nearly all the damage has happened during setting up/ taking down and transporting, as for people leaning on the layout or touching that is just ignorant, I do tolerate children touching if they are careful, most parents are good at controlling them. Not a great believer in signs, but this one caught my eye.

Exhibited there with my Port Victoria layout, more then a few years ago, very busy no barriers, shortly after opening a rucksack came within a millimetre of taking out one of my buildings, a piece of 2x1 packing was hurriedly g cramped as a protection post, no other problems. a very enjoyable time.

Must say I selected the 'Albert Usher' wagon for my own SECR layout, only on the bases that they were a London coal merchant, who could have supplied the south east, more information would be interesting, but the wagon would still have a home on my layout.

Empty coal wagons being pushed from the Invicta Engineering Works to the SECR exchange sidings at Strood Kent, on my Janes' Creek layout, five of the new Rapido wagons, converted to EM and three link couplings added, interior repainted and the whole weathered, loco is the CSP Models Avonside, block paving sand used to represent Dungeness beach shingle as used by the SECR.

My other five Rapido wagons now completed for service, being pushed, from the Invicta Engineering Works, to the SECR exchange siding. In reality the board joint does not look as bad as this!

My first two excellent Rapido models, now ready for service, converted to EM, first removed couplings, you will now have to glue the sub floor and weight in place, a little of the brake shoes had to be carved off, EM wheel sets were a straight replacement, had to remove a piece of the sub floor and the slot was increased to accommodate the Smiths 3 link coupling. interior was repainted and the whole wagon weathered, looking forward to converting the other five.

I use one similar to this, they vary in price from around £10 to £30, to me they all look like they come out of the same Chinese factory with different branding, I also add a stainless steel ball bearing to each bottle, some brands of paint have one already, to add mixing.

My baseboards are built with a permeant back board, I use 12mm ply, when not in use or for transport they rest on their backs, using a four wheel skate I can move, the medium to heavy 4' x 2 ' boards with ease, through doorways or across an exhibition hall, stairs or steps are of course a problem requiring two sets of hands, you can just make out the boards on their backs in my van, the backs do take a bit of a bashing so do need to be robust.

Even modern "proper" stock bricks can vary, we were using Funton bricks, manufactured near Lower Halstow Kent, we were buying the cheaper "seconds" which were generally miss shaped and bigger, so the "gauge" thickness of each layer, had to be increased. My scene of Smeed Dean Yellow Stocks being unloaded, we still did it this way in the 1970s.

Yes, not directly affected by Grouping, but companies came and went, liveries for the same company changed over the years, in the current range, suitable pre grouping liveries are limited, I was interested in one PO wagon from Hornby because it sported "SE&CR", but then discovered that livery was applied in Southern Railway days, by the way the wagon chosen was completely incorrect.

My experience is, I phone to place an order, on the number given, get through each time, have code numbers and card details ready, phone call quite short, goods come in a timely manor, always seems good service.

Never been a fan of shed felt roofing, have used red cedar shingles, on my summer house, fixed to battens, fixed to counter battens, fixed to the felt roof, my workshop and one shed I have used slates, (actually a moulded slate/resin product) and this shed, a bought in Southern Sheds product, to which I fixed plastic coated corrugated steel roofing to, fortunately I have a large garden, the brick retaining wall, I am standing on, was originally built by the SER, now runs through the middle of my garden, there is a waterproof membrane protecting the shed from the damp wall.

Am using the Natural Scenics Mine Run Coal Fine, to me it looks the part for tenders/bunkers, would probably use their other sizes, for coal wagons to give some variety, maybe with a grey or brown wash. I have a bunker of real coal, anthracite, but messy to grade and use.

I found this book by Ammo Mig explained things clearly, including base coats, obviously promoting their products, they do a large range of video tutorials as well, I order from them regularly with good service, from Spain to the UK.

I built this myself, 20 years ago, 4" x 2" treated main structure, treated shiplap inside and out, walls floor and roof insulated with vapour barrier, bought in timber double glazed windows, slate roof covering, heats up nicely with a small heater, based on a SER ground frame , I think I spent around £1000 on materials, trade prices, would not like to think of the cost today.