Aureol

Things are moving along - station name boards next - I've noticed that the Smiths 7mm GWR name board brass letters are out of stock, plus I can't get onto the GWR e-group to get the TTF name board font file. Two questions - would anyone have an U-F-F-E-X-E going spare in the brass letters that I could buy (preferred option) or does anyone have the TTF font file to hand. Thanks in advance - need the detail to be right. Giles

Fantastic, thank you, that’s the very thing!

A big push over the weekend - some terraforming done, base landscaping in place, ballasting done, fence posts installed, station hut rebuilt, stream bed laid and culvert formed (needs stonework). I feel like I’m getting into my stride now with this... Giles

Some updates over the last week or so.... Cut baseboard for a small brook which will emerge from the overbridge embankment, this was quite hairy, lots of reinforcement to support the plywood baseboards, foam board for the banks with lashings of PVA and paper Scratch-built the first of two plate girder sections over the brook, these will need detailing with walkways and rivets (I wish someone made simple domed plastic rivets that could just be glued into appropriate holes - any alternative ideas welcomed). Built the halt waiting shelter with a plasticard shell (with wooden beam one the entrance - another coffee stirrer) clad with sections of a San Palegirno can (other fizzy 'pop' is available) which I ran through a hand paper crimper (hugely satisfying). This will be a prototype only though, needs refining and a bit of rescaling but the broad form is there First bit of ballasting done in the platform area this being the first panels of track that have been wired. Quite enjoying this! Giles

After some careful tense fettling with a hacksaw it’s corrected! Phew.

Dave - arghh, a mis-measure on my part, you are correct it’s about 4mm too high, not sure how that happened, tomorrow’s job to reposition!

A bit more fettling with the weathering, is this getting there? Drying brushing has helped liven it up. Advice welcomed! Giles

Productive Saturday, platform halt built from foam board and coffee stirrers - loosely based on Halburton Halt on the Tiverton branch. Still some weathering to go, but it's getting there... Giles

Hello all, Be gentle... here goes... my first 7mm venture after more than 30 years absence from 'serious' modelling. 'Uffexe', a 'micro' 7mm layout (if that's not a contradiction), fictitiously mashing together elements from the Exe Valley line and Hemyock branch. So far... Two Grange and Hodder, laser cut boards assembled, 8 X 2 foot in all for the main layout Peco track laid - just 3 turnouts with all track laid as 60' panels with C&L fishplates to join (meaning each panel will have to be wired), laid on 4mm foam board to provide the permanent way foundations The first structure is nearing completion - a Peco kit 2 track over bridge, heavily bashed to reduce its width, an approximation of Halberton Halt bridge on the Hemyock branch. Handpainted stone by stone, weathering yet to be completed. The layout will depict a run round loop from the through line with the 'branch' serving a goods siding and what will eventually be a dairy (or an excuse for GWR pattern 6 wheel milk tanks!). Tens of hours in so far of what might be a very long slog! Two photos to kick things off, a general view and a Slaters BR Banana van at the new overbridge (the scenic divide to what will be one of the cassettes at each end of the layout). Giles