Bluemonkey presents....

Getting closer hope the weather gets betters

Can't wait for the show. Was excellent last year and the year before. With the loss of many local model shops the trade support can be vital to many modelers as well. Advance ticket secured see at the show.

Annoying but these set backs can help progress other projects faster than expected and that provides future impetus for the completion of this one and may also provide a 'light bulb' moment regarding re-fabricating the doors.

Sadly lost the local (ish) model shop a year ago so have to rely on shows and the internet. Seems this is a growing common theme.

Using both methods above or a little 'dry brushing' if you do not have an airbrush or spray cans will help significantly. Phil's BRM vids are a great watch and you can really learn a great deal from them/him. Matt varnish will certainly remove the shiny plastic effect. Practice on a few first to get an appearance that you like, then be brave and go for it on the 'keepers'. Good luck.

It has been some time now but the boards are sanded and any lifts have been secured. The rolls of foam have arrived as too has spring. That along with the beast from the west have been a distraction from any further physical progress. I will need to get hold of something suitable for the back-scene and fix this to the boards before laying any of the foam. The fight with the beast from the west has stalled as I would like a pair of brass whistles rather than the whitemetal metal ones supplied and appropriate fire irons. My local show is just two weeks away and they have excellent trade support so will wait and see what I can get. Hopefully this will provide me with the opportunity to complete it. It has taught me something at least and that is to stick with 4mm/OO, much more fun in my opinion.

Finally I am there. I now have a decent foundation to start modelling. Well I need to add surrounding back for distant backscene and to board the central chimney stack (not shown); The need for 'The town Arches' to be construct is high to ensure a full roundy roundy. Turn table has already been positioned, cut and inserted. Apologies for the pictures I don't seem to be able to get decent angles.

Try; www.scalelinkfretcetera.co.uk Disclaimer: No link just been searching the interweb for a similar item.

Lovely you can only better a Western Pannier with another. Great pictures as usual.

Nice job on the tarp Martin. I like the foil use. I have used kitchen foil in a similar way for metal sheeting. What a brilliant paint shade as well I think I need to get a pot of that for my plans. Keep up the great work.

I have spent many an hour thinking, rethinking on the subject of baseboard covering ....or not. Made a decision then some more (very helpful) information was gained so decided to re-evaluate once again and came up with another decision but a final one! I will not bore you all with the thought process and decision making. The short of it is why do I want/need to top the boards anyway? To me it comes down to the transmission of sound through the boards, increasing the volume as well as cause a lot of disruption in rooms below. So a very quick test with some wagons and a full length straight run proved I needed to try something at least. I have opted for high density foam used for acoustic flooring underlay. Fingers crossed and eyes tightly shut. I have also been exploring the need for a larger shed scene 'off stage'. Again I want to use a real location but only for inspiration this time. So basing loosely on part of the track diagram and building positions but not actual buildings so I can use modeler's licence and have some freelance fun one side whilst being completely controlled and regimented the other side. Here's a little snippet of what track diagram I intend on using and keeping relatively local to my chosen location; I am positive this will be very familiar to most. A big thank you to everyone for their suggestions, help and input regarding the underlay thingy it really has taken me about 8 weeks to make a calculated decision on this one, especially as this is a one time build I must get all the major structural things right first time. Things will take a much longer time on some aspects as I am not skilled in a lot of these areas or have knowledge of so I am having to teach myself a lot of new tricks and skills. This is probably the best thing about the hobby and means that everyone can gain something from it no matter what previous knowledge or skills set they bring.

How are things progression with your conversion?

Never collected now recycled

Beautiful Mikkel, as always. Glad to see you back in action, you are an inspiration.

If you have a specific location in the Wiltshire area I could have a track diagram from the GWR/WR Region track Diagram booklet, just ping me a PM and I'll see what I have.

Looking forward to it.

Hi 81C, thank you. Would be really good to hear your opinion about the use of the foam. Any good? What the running like for the locos? etc Thank you for your input anything and everything is appreciated here. I am still confuddled about what to use. I have used cork in the past but am tempted with the potential for acoustic reduction qualities of the foam but how does this take painting? So many questions!

Yes Sir I sure am. Still researching thought I had decided but had not seen your reply now exploring another route. Thank you, looking forward to your input. I may have a little surprise for you in the distant future of this layout................keep watching! All framework has now been sanded and the entire space has been cleaned, phew what a mess! Just need to get the boards cut to fit and decide on the covering to use if any prior to track laying. Incidentally; all the frames are non-standard sizing as I have seemingly designed and built everything back-to-front. I should have looked at my total space and designed framework and boards to fit this to the standard dimensions as purchased boards would allow. Then fit my chosen track plan into that space, compromising where necessary rather than deciding on the track plan and building to suit this. Would have been a lot quicker and easier with out the need to carefully think about how to cut timber and boards to reduce waste and maximise usable area. Well this is the one and only layout I have planned so hopefully this will help someone else in the future when they are planning a layout build.

I have used 'An historical survey of selected Great Western stations' all volumes - RH Clark; for plans and the Great Western Branch line modelling series - Stephen Williams; for general ideas and plans. Additionally if you have an exact location to use or base a plan on historical ordnance survey maps online or 'Britain from Above' - online historical pictures from the air give a real good feel for the on the day in history.

Thanks Mikkel, great help as always appreciate your time.

Thank you Andy for all your hard work with the new site. Here's to a weekend of exploring new for old.

Finally the frame work is complete, now for the boards and a clean up. I know I have over engineered the framework but everything has to be robust as this is a dual purpose space and the legs need to be able to take a little abuse from visitors especially when lofting out and moving around cages and fish tanks. As mentioned before the flooring has been reinforced and somewhat leveled as well. Even though it has taken me much longer than hoped it certainly has been well worth it and is a very nice space to use for hobbying and storage. Really looking forward to being able to make a considered start on the track laying but one step at a time. Pictures do not really show the structure in a good light, especially with the mess around the floor but it is a very decent base to work from.

Hi, Try; https://www.cctrans.org.uk/products.htm Very help and a massive list available.

Good luck sounds like a very nice project.

I can not agree more with all the comments made. I had a layout with a real location layout and I poorly made the boards in my haste to get something up and running. I then found I was unable to do things as I wanted thus losing interest for years. I started making a few kits that I had collected and still made occasional purchases for my 'dream' layout. I challenged myself to made that 'pipeline' model basking a kit and scratch building various other aspects. After about 8 months I ended with a model of crane tank and a huge drive to rebuild my dream layout. This time taking everything that I had gained from my previous layout and arming myself with the knowledge that things take time I have started rebuilding. So not to be over fazed by the constant construction or hitting that brick wall I also have a kit project running at the same time. So when I get fed up with work work, ballasting etc I switch to kit building and vice versa. You will find natural peeks and troughs through a layout build, especially large or real locations as by the nature of them they will take a long time to construct.