doddger10

Hi Another update, I have taken delivery of the rail from SMP and so all the trackwork is now laid. The next job I think is to get it all wired and working. I am also considering lowering the layout a little so that the Mrs can see over the branch line into the sidings. Steve

Hi Brian Thanks. The trackwork probably would have been a bit tatty, but as it's an exhibition layout, it needs to run properly. Hopefully i can make it look a bit tatty one it's all done and working Steve

OK, I have made a start on the ballasting. I have started with the cess using kiln dried sand, as used for grouting block paving, fixed with floor coating by HG, I got mine in Lawsons in Plymouth, but should be available from ant decent hardware store. https://uk.hg.eu/products/synthetic-floors/hg-protective-coating-gloss-finish-gloss-coating-product-77-1l I have to take the layout down now and put it in the shed as we have guests who will be using the spare bedroom, I don't think they would be to happy being put in the shed. Steve

Well it's starting to come together now, all the yard area track is laid and I have started to add droppers. All the sleepers are laid for the branch and I am just awaiting the delivery of some more rail so that I can finish all the track laying. A start has been made on the wiring. The bits of template without track are for the stop blocks. That's it for now as I am away for the weekend dishing out mice pies on the ESR. Steve.

Morning All Some more photos of progress, these show the Servo4 boards and the baseboards with the servos and the uncoupling electro-magnets fitted. As usual an apology for any poor quality photos as they are taken on my phone. Steve

Phil found 4 lengths of rail, which he passed over to me this morning, I can now finish off the yard part of the track laying and start the ballasting. whilst without rail I have fitted the servo's and built a sevo4 board to operate them. Wagons now glide through the point work, I only had a small issue with the one to the dry, all the others were OK. Once this is done, I will need to get a loco up and running to make sure all is good. Now back to the solvent abuse and get the last few chairs down. Steve

Hi All A bit of an update, the track work is mostly done, but I have run out of rail, some more ordered from SMP/Scaleway. Here are a few photos to keep you going. Steve

Thanks very much gents. Steve

Thanks Penlan But there is one problem, the coach illustrated on the list is of coach 9969 not 9968. Steve

Hi Melmoth Do you have any further info? please Phil, mentioned at club last night that he thinks it was a Diag E27, the window arrangement certainly looks correct for this coach. They had Running numbers 7045-9 and 7050-5, but I have to assume from your number that when converted to Camp Coaches the number was changed. Thanks Steve

Melmoth Many Thanks, sorry for the late reply, but I had family problems which meant I have been away. Steve

Hello Les le Breton, The camping coach was parked on the siding between the main station area and the shed. I think it was there from the '20s. I have sent you a pm, with a scan of the photo. Steve

Hello I have just started a thread, asking about camping coaches, but as it's campimg coaches in Aberaeron, I though that I should also ask the question here. I am trying to identify what camping coaches were used at Aberearon , Aberayron station. Thanks for any help. Steve Sorry for the hijack.

I am trying to identify what camping coaches were used at Aberearon , Aberayron station. Thanks for any help. Steve

Here we go the latest photos, sorry one or two are a bit fuzzy, but I took them on my phone. I had to jiggle the points a bit to avoid the operating linkages hitting the stiffeners, but nothing drastic. As you can see I have started putting the sleepers down in preparation for the track laying. I won't be posting much whilst I crack on and get it done. Thanks for looking in. Steve

At last, I have finally got it to up load, so here is what I really hope is the final track plan. Steve EDIT Phil noticed that the 2nd part of the Plym had gone walkabout and he has put it back roughly where it should be.

Hi All I have been trying to post Phil's revised track plan, but I seem to be failing miserably, it would appear that this trainset is jinxed, at least at the moment. Photos have been taken, but so far I have not been able to give them to Phil.

Due to a measuring error, when I tried to get the boards in the back of the car, there was a little bit of bad language, when I realised that the 2nd board would not fit through the door once I had managed to get the first board in. I now have to reduce the width and the height of the backscene, fortunately I had not cut the trackbed. I have got Phil on the case redoing the Templot templates yet again. The language from him was very colourful I can tell you, when I rang him up to tell him, I certainly couldn't put it on here except as !"£$ $%^& etc. etc. I know that boilermakers could swear, but that was something else. I have made the legs, as a consolation. Photo's to follow. Steve

OK Here are a couple of photos of the 2nd board, part of which will have some of the fiddleyard on it. All clamped up And without the clamps And finally one with both boards posed together. I am just awaiting the delivery of some more ply so that I can cut the trackbeds. Steve.

Thanks Brian I will keep an eye out for it. Steve.

Hi All I have bitten the bullet and started cutting wood, well ply to be pedantic. The ply is 5mm thick and will have an additional thickness added on the inside of the ends where the two boards abut each other and will have square section 18mm timber added to reinforce the corners. The sections of ply are only placed in position until I get the 18mm timber. The track plan placed on he ply for planning purposes. Thanks to Phil for resizing the photos for posting. Whilst on the subject of Phil, he continues to swear at bits of brass that will hopefully one day form Diag Q & R auto trailers. Steve

Phil and me had a good weekend, met a few old friends and Rivercider introduced himself. Thanks for a great show Steve, see you next year. Steve

Hi All Phil and me will be at the show with Tipham, please say hello, Phil doesn't bite if you give him a beer. Steve

OK, now for an update, the plaster has finally come off and I can start to think about getting on with the project. Phil has spent a few days re jigging the track plan since the goal posts were shifted, his first response was, well we'll make it 30 inches long and 8 foot deep, but then he thought it might be a bit difficult to operate as we both have trouble with judging where we would need to couple and uncouple during shunting. So here is the revised plan to fit the 2Metre criteria. Phil has also been building a few clay wagons and has also started to build Dia P & Q auto trailers from Worsley Works etches, there has been a lot of foul language and progress has not been swift, he hopes that they will be complete by the time the layout is ready. Steve.

Reading the book last night I saw a picture of my Father, when he was in the Home Guard, during the 2nd World War, we lived at Goodameavy. Steve