Marcus 37

Cheers Al. Had a nice little running session tonight. Really pleased with the ''Janus''. Looks good and runs a treat. I may do away with the BSC logos on the cabsides and and add some RMC logo's so its a bit more in keeping. Probably a job for Cav as I don't want to make a mess of it. Hope you're keeping well mate. See you soon. Cheers Marcus

Thanks Andy. That's really nice to know. Its good to be back. Hopefully I'll have some time to devote to the layout now that most of the stuff round the house is done. Better brush up on some of my modelling skills. Cheers Marcus

Hey Hey!! I'm back. Layouts looking terrific Andy. You really have done a cracking job with this one. Nice to see my pub still found a place on the layout. The sidings in the rural location makes me think this is Oxfordshire's answer to Peak Forest. Very nicely done indeed. Great work mate. Cheers Marcus

Evening Folks You better sit down as guess what, I've actually got an update on PDW. I managed to get up in the loft tonight spurred on by a couple of new arrivals. Apart from the work I've been doing around the house work has been really manic for the last few months. We've taken on a hell of a lot of extra work which has really stretched us to the limit. A lot of the work I'm involved with such as the S Stock moves with the 20s is mainly night work. With the layout being in the loft the last thing you want to do is shut yourself in a room with no windows when your basically doing permanent nights. Hopefully next year I'll get a Velux roof light fitted which will remedy that issue. Anyway had a very nice little running night tonight. Heres a few pictures of the normal culprits shunting around in the quarry. As its the silly (leaf fall) season I thought we would sent the RHTT out for a spin. Now on to my two new arrivals. First up is this beautiful Hornby Class 60 that was kindly reworked for me by RBE (Cav) of this parish. It is now 60082 "Mam Tor" which is named after the Peak which overlooks Castleton in the Peak District so very appropriate for PDW. A few pictures below. With the fleet of Class 60s now at 4 I couldnt resist getting them altogether for a photo shoot. Some super Tug power below. And finally... I've wanted an industrial style diesel shunter for the quarry for a long while. Unfortunately, having borrowed one from my mate, the Hornby Sentinel just wasn't man enough and just stood there spinning on the Dapol Hoppers. Anyway after receiving the weekly Kernow 'e' news letter a couple of weeks ago I just couldn't resist this little beauty. I know the livery isn't authentic but it fits in beautifully in the quarry and has no trouble trundling around with a rake of nine hoppers in tow, Here she is in all her glory.... I have to say this is the first Oxford Rail product I have purchased and I am extremely impressed with the running qualities. It was really quiet and smooth straight from the box. After running in for an hour in each direction I stuck the Dapol HIA's behind and she pulled them round the layout without any effort whatsoever. Very pleased indeed. Anyway I'll try not to leave it so long this time. sorry I haven't responded to some of the previous posts. I'll get on that tomorrow, Cheers for now. Marcus

Hi Andy Good to see you back mate. Must be something about Peak Forest based layouts taking a break. PDW has been on the back burner for a while. I've spent the summer doing some much needed work on the house but, it's coming to an end now so hopefully I'll be back in the loft very soon. Thoroughly enjoyed the new pictures All the best mate Cheers Marcus

Morning everyone. Sorry I haven't been on for so long. Don't worry PDW is alive and well I've just been really busy doing other stuff. I've been doing a lot of work on the house including repointing the rear, laying a new patio and now in the process of fitting a new kitchen. Works been very busy but enjoyable at the same time and as Adrian said I've been driving Class 50's!! Never thought I would ever get the chance to do that on the main line. I was lucky enough to work the light engines from the SVR to Crewe then work the tour as far as Preston. Here's a few pictures I managed to take on the day. With the dark nights rapidly approaching I'll hopefully be getting more time to do some modelling so I can assure you PDW will be back very soon. Thanks for all the nice comments. Cheers Marcus

Boo!! Evening Andy. How are you mate.Sorry its been so long. Got to say the layout is looking amazing. I really like the changes you've made to the design. Looks great with the trains running through the lanscape. Looks very natural indeed. Well I have managed a couple of days off recently but unfortunately the loft is like the core of a nuclear reactor . So instead I've been repointing the out side of the house instead. Rains forecast for the weekend (typical) so maybe, just maybe I might get in the loft. Anyway off to work again now so, take care mate and I'll try to look in a bit more often. All the best Marcus

Top work Bud. Nice to see the ultimate traction was used for the first runs. Only way to go. HaHa. Unfortunately my 60 is still sat in its box waiting for a running in session. Great to meet up and have a chin wag the other day and apologies to Aex for keeping you away for a couple of hours. All the best mate Cheers Marcus

Morning Simon Just absolutely p*ssed myself watching the intro. You do know that I'm no longer going to be able to traverse Pleck Junction without thinking of your video. Very entertaining. Keep em coming. Cheers Marcus

Cheers Chaps A few pictures from yesterday..... Off to do a bit more now.

Cheers Shed. Sorry so long for the response. Morning everyone. Sorry no updates recently. Been soooooo busy it's been unbelievable. Work and play has been getting in the way of modelling like this weekend again. If any ones visiting the SVR gala I shall be driving our 66 today and tomorrow. Please don't be shy and come up and say hello if you are around. Always up for a chat. I was also lucky enough to deliver the convoy to the Valley on Tuesday. A few pictures below And a quick couple of PDW. I've still been playing as you can see. Cheers for now Marcus

Brilliant work on the hotel Martyn. Looks absolutely stunning. The colouring on the stone looks spot on. I agree with Al, those concrete walls do look very effective. Superb bit of modelling all round. Cheers Marcus

Many Happy Returns mate. 21 again I take it.

Hi Andy Really pleased to see you back up and running. This looks like it's going to be a great project. Loads of play potential with plenty of shunting but the advantage of having continuous running as well. Nothing like shunting away in a yard whilst trains are running by on the mainline. I know that well from my operations on PDW. Shuntings nice but, it's always nice to have continuous movement as well. Looking forward to seeing it develop. Good to have you back mate. Cheers Marcus

Thanks for the helpful and useful comments chaps. Unfortunately I'm on back to back 12 hour shifts this week so modellings out the window I'm afraid. Attention will return to 37411 at the weekend. Cheers Marcus

Which paint manufacturer do you use. It was specifically Humbrol that Aymrg of this parish warned me about.

Thanks Adrian. You're the second person to warn me about using enamels and what they can do to the printed details. That's why I've asked Cav about which paint manufacturer he uses. I'm like you, there is a lot of different techniques out there and it all gets a bit confusing. Cheers Marcus.

Ah right. Might have to get me some enamels then. Which producer of paints do you use, what colours do you recommend and finally what consistency of paint do you use for the washes . Sorry so many questions but this is a steep learning curve. Cheers Marcus

Hi Cav Yeah, got to go over the bogies again. Definitely looks to red. It didn't look that red in the jar. The body side has been done with the cotton buds. The patch by the name plate has been brush painted in the past and the paint seems to have stuck more as the surface isn't so smooth. I'm using acrylics at the moment as I can wash it off if need be. Do you use a damp cotton bud or dry as I seem to be using lots of cotton buds at the moment much to my wife's disgust. Cheers Marcus

Sorry to here about your problems with the Javis scatter. I've been the victim of that a couple of times when waters accidentally come into contact with it. It looks as if you did a first class job of fixing it. The other scenery looks absolutely stunning. The toilet roll rock face looks very effective now it's painted. Top job indeed. Cheers Marcus

I've had a go at another victim tonight. The body was a bit ropey in the first place due to a partial repaint and the adding of the construction transfers. Not quite so dirty this time. It was a bit easier on the lighter colour to see how much paint was left on the body. Still plenty more to do but here's a couple of pictures so far. Again comments welcome. Cheers Marcus

Good tip about the artists chalks. Funnily enough I was looking at a box of them the other day in the art section in the range. I'll have to get some next time I go in. Cheers for the info.

Really nice buddy. What I like about your weathering is its lovely and subtle and not over done. The bogies look nicely done as it has brought out all the details. Whose weathering powders do use if you don't mind me asking. Cheers Marcus

So basically what I need to concentrate on is head code panel, tail lights and head light. Do you use a diluted wash for your paint Cav or neat so it doesn't run to far.

Nor me. Do you reckon someone just cut the "0" of a 40 board. HaHa