Sandwich&AshfordMR

Plus a video on the N gauge layouts is uploaded too now Enjoy.

The videos have uploaded:

Video news - did a lot of filming to do three videos around 10 mins or less for each. plan is for two videos of OO Gauge layouts and another video for N gauge. as before with the Warley videos I have only videoed modern image layouts which suits my era of modelling. they upload train is currently on the slow line. Videos posted below upon arrival! Layout news - purchases included depot accessories, buffer lights, greenery items and a train to be announced in the near future....

On the way to Model Rail Scotland! Currently at Penrith. Not far now. Videos and news later!

Such a shame swifty.

Over the weekend I have been adding scenery to the Sandwich Platform and building the fence across the back of the platform. I have also got some more benches and another Hornby modern shelter for the platform. Other additions to the platform will be some information signs, station nameboards, advertising and gluing the access bridge into position. Here are some pictures of the latest scenery work: And a view of what's on the TMD through the fence!

Having shown you the progress above in pictures, a summary video is provided below in the February update along with future plans...

Ballasting is complete! Well almost except for some very small gaps to fill in. All tracks work, very happy with this Latest pictures below including a night shot of platform, tmd lighting I have already done a small area and filled it with the very nice Bachmann lineside cabin, seen below.. The rest of today I have spent decodering lights of the Networker and Southern 171. These units can be seen in future videos of the layout.

The fifth and final day on the layout until next week has meant the near completion of ballasting the layout. Small areas need filling in around the points but otherwise letting it dry.....

LM lost in Dover? :s

Day four on the layout involved tidying, testing and some lighting completed. Testing the layout tracks in terms of electrics proved worthy with some faults found which could have been difficult to sort after ballasting. Finally, the sandwich platform has been fixed to the board and lights added and wired up. Access bridge to the station has been built and is in the process of being painted but ran out of paint..... Tomorrow I begin to ballast....

The third day on the layout has involved a lot of gluing. Gluing the cable trunking, signals and paths around the Sandwich section. The art deco signal box has been installed with lights and in place. Typically that side of the layout looks like a work in progress site and I thought i'd like to share the changes amongst the mess.

The second layout day was Friday, it went very well until I tried to connect the point motor decoders to the elink software. To be sorted in the future I think as I plan to continue with the scenery work over today, tomorrow and Wednesday. I did also scrape the polyfiller out of the sleepers and paint them black again where appropriate and hopefully completing lighting of buildings and platforms along with cable trunking ready for ballasting. Something productive completed on Friday was the January update:

The first day of several on the layout.... Today the third rail has been completed for the whole of the layout, with the last sections on the Ashford side completed and the reversing siding off Ashford station receiving a small extension and new track. Laying process of third rail: Finished third rail:

The last time I posted big pictures of the layout were in September, so I thought it was time for the latest big picture and another new big picture to go with it. Ashford section: Sandwich section: Cheers

very nice david, this is the only stock missing from my drs collection, got the flasks and some 20's but not the 37's!

Thanks for the kind comments. Will be following your layout progress with interest and hope you have seen the Deal signal box on my layout! Cheers

Last exam is the 22nd January, so hopefully time for some more progress before February

For the next two weeks I will be revising and then taking my January exams so not much work will occur on the layout during this time. So here is the latest on the work I have done since the new year. I began with the TMD area and tidying up the appearance in terms of straightening the edges and adding into the rear corner to allow for a wall to be put up at the end of the TMD sidings. This wall will then remove the appearance of the curves around the layout and hide the bridge entrance behind, whilst also providing a backdrop to the TMD. The yellow lines around the sidings are now complete along with some refuelling points installed on the siding nearest the wall. Some fuel tanks will eventually appear alongside the refuelling points. A CR signals tower floodlight has also been added to the TMD which provides not too much or not too little light for the TMD. Pictures of progress below...

A few evenings on the layout has resulted in tidying up the TMD concreted sidings and constructing the carriage cleaning steps! The four TMD lines have the yellow lines painted to warn workers around locos moving. The far right TMD line will see the addition of a fuelling point and moveable inspection steps will be acquired for the other lines. Cheers

I enjoyed Christmas and got lots of small and large additions for the layout to add in the coming months. I have now started on the Ashford section, mainly on the TMD area and plan to work my way out from the bridge. The rest of the plans are explained in the December Update! Enjoy

Merry Christmas all and I hope you enjoy my Christmas Special!

Hi James and all, After two months since the previous posts, some very slow and steady process has meant a resemblance of a Southeastern electrostar starting to appear. Because the middle coach as you know contains the motor I have decided to 'black up' the windows on all three coaches. Still lots to do with tidying up the white of the livery also with a final coat to remove the marks/dust etc but will eventually get there. Picture shows a before and now of the windows application . And I read your post earlier today James about no electrostar by Hornby for 2014 (great news!), lets hope Bachmann don't release one quite yet until I finish mine!! All the best and Cheers Matt

Superb comparison and thanks for completing the request so quickly. Can't wait for you to finish the station area and also see your version of the electrostar! Cheers Matt.