Sandwich&AshfordMR

Went to the DEMU show at Burton today and picked up a network rail 50ft BG Parcels van enginers yellow modelzone exclusive and a 'less Co2 rail' oxford diecast container. Pictures to follow soon. Recently, as seen in the may layout update video, I have been transforming the Roco IHA wagons in HO gauge to the British versions. The Roco wagons were in bright red Railion livery which will be converted to the brown weathered like wagons used on the British network. The pictures show below what I aim to achieve.

I have finished University!!! This means plenty of time to get things moving again on the layout. Plans are to continue with the signalling, re-decoder the points and finish the Electrostar project. All developments will be frequently blogged and a much needed website update will also take place over the next few months. Below is the May Update for the layout, not much progress but some quick fixes and plans for the layout are within the video.

As a mini break from revision I have had a short running session with my Southern Class 171. This is a modelzone limited edition weathered model limited to 500. Enjoy the video.

Very kind comments dt and to all those who have liked etc, can't wait to add the real detail to the other side of the layout later this summer. Cheers, Matt.

Spent the day on the layout adding some more finer details to the Ashford sections. Lots of additions means it is easier to view these in the April Update for the layout.

Not much happening on the layout in terms of progress. Many small things at the moment and will be shown in the April Update later this month. In the meantime I have filmed a DRS 47 Charter Special. Enjoy!

"I'm sorry David, its a no from me." ...... the is in the detail for it to be finished by end of May! Best of luck if you are aiming for this!

Signals now attached to the gantry but not yet connected. Clearance under gantry has been tested! (Excuse to run trains )

The second signal gantry has been constructed for the Ashford station.

Here is also 375304 Good point well spotted James and yes leaving the really finer details to the committed modellers! I have to say with it being white on white it is difficult to notice from a distance tbh.

Sounds great the more people that attempt the conversion the better before a ready-to-run model is produced! James Makin provides the superb cab ends for the conversion and the original scratchbuild of electrostars was by him here..... http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/44066-wells-green-tmd-hsts-377-electrostars-even-more-dirty-fun/ In the meantime the video below shows my southeastern electrostar running on my layout and describes the changes since the first video back in July last year!! Cheers and enjoy!

Humbrol No 69 yellow.

Hi James and all, It was December 2013 last time I posted an update to this topic on my Electrostar build. Since then, it has taken a while (like the best electrostars ) to get the livery as close as possible to the Southeastern colours. This is where I am up to now with the Southeastern livery colours added and the decals to come next (sometime in the future ha). The cab ends and centre car look amazing, so thank you James for your contribution to my project. I have been sharing my progress on here, youtube and facebook and the main question I keep getting is where are the cabs from? So hopefully more people will begin attempting this ambitious but worthwhile project. I know David Todd with his layout of Dover is attempting one and hope more people will also share their projects. One question I would like to ask is that would you be able to produce any underframe equipment boxes for sale. I know you used the same resin cast method for the cabs as for the underframe equipment and these would be very extremely helpful and useful towards completing my Southeastern electrostar.. If anyone has any questions about my Southeastern 375 please ask me. Hope to hear from you soon James, Cheers!

The painting livery process is now complete with the Electrostar in it's Southeastern colours. The next stage is to add the decals; logos, numbers, letters, signs etc.

The update is now in video form and shows the new signal with platform number indicator.

.... because a 4-car would certainly suit your layout and Priory station very nicely. I only did a 3-car due to the space restrictions on my layout!

Here is another finished electrostar car and pictured in Ashford station.

Finished the centre car for the Electrostar (bottom picture) But to show my first attempt against the second livery attempt. 1st attempt: New centre car which contains the motor for the 3-car electrostar.

Dimensions are 6ft 5in x 5ft board Most of the track is Hornby setrack with a small amount of flexitrack sections to fill in the gaps. Thanks for the kind comments and hope that helps.

These are pictures from the past when I previously painted the cab ends of the electrostar.

The centre car livery was completed earlier and requires the windows to be added on. The windows will all be 'blacked out' due to the motor, decoders and wires in the car and the fact I never took the windows out of the body shell in the first place when cutting down the cars. So covering up my muck up at the same time .

Some more stages of the Electrostar livery painting process. I will add that the cab ends had been previously painted and completed prior to the re-paint process. The yellow doors are first painted onto the coach. Then the black outline for the doors is put on. Before the solebar is masked and painted on.

Thanks for the reply dt. A1. When i get home later i need to wire it up correctly so it fully works in connection with points switching and the signal at clear and post here asap when working. A2. I saw your posts when you were cutting up to correct lengths more accurately than my attempt tbf. A4. here... (had problems adding photo from phone) Furthermore, here is the second stage of the electrostar paint process recoating the coach in matt white spray paint.

An update on what I have been up to; Fitting more signals to the layout including a route indicator number for platforms at Ashford approach line. Starting a new project with wagons to go with my colas engines. Continuing the never ending project of the electrostar. Although I say never ending I hope its near ending on recent good progress. For the next week I will be uploading pictures of the stages of livery application to the Southeastern Electrostar. Before revealing the full sets new livery and running of the set in a project video on YouTube. So here is the first stage which is decodering the cars. Each car has a decoder with the middle car having the motor for the train and the rear and front having directional lighting.

The train purchased from Model Rail Scotland has now arrived at the Ashford Platform.... It's another Southeastern Networker for the layout. So here is the video on my original project to get the actual Networker moving and with the new Networker in tow, quite literally.