Southwich

A quick post to link a few clips from this evening's running session following the completion of the ground cover: A few niggles to fettle but overall very pleased with the progress over the last few weeks. Next on the agenda is to sort the control panel to get the layout fully setup off the panel rather than dangling push buttons! Hope everyone is safe and well. Will

Thanks Iain - think I’ll stick with JMRI through then DR5000 then with the idea to upgrade to iTrain in the future. Kind regards, Will

Apologies for the complete noddy question. I’m using a DR5000 with the Z21 app which I’ve setup this afternoon. Is there a way to read all of the CVS and settings from the current loco (or use a default) rather than having to go through and assign the buttons to the functions etc? I’m using a LokSound V5. Thanks in advance, Will

More progress at Motts Lane. Got the layout fully setup this evening following the completion of the remaining ground cover. Really pleased with how things are looking now following the ground cover on the other two boards and a coat of paint on the fascia. I’ve also cut an additional piece of fascia to match the relief of the landscape on the right hand board using the jigsaw. Need to get the control panel working this morning then it’s time to play trains! Kind regards, Will

Hi Jon, Definitely interested in some, just to check, are these the correct ones here; https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/germanvan/h23bb31f9 Thanks in advance, Will

Thanks Steve much appreciated! Planning on having a larger running session on Sunday. Kind regards, Will

A quick update from Motts Lane this evening. Managed to get a few hours on the fiddle yard this evening, to a point where I can now run trains in and out. This was duly tested by 37698 as can be found below: My plan is now to get the backscenes glued onto the other two boards tomorrow evening, and then get the other two boards sorted with a basic layer of ground cover similar to the right hand board. Thanks for everyone’s continued interest on Motts Lane! Kind regards, Will

Thanks very much for the kind words Wayne. Agreed I’ve never been that fond of scenery, but really enjoyed last weekend's work so hopefully will get the rest of the layout up to that standard over this weekend now I somewhat know what I’m doing! Thanks for the suggestion - I’ll check him out! Thanks Kipford much appreciated! Certainly been inspired by Brighton East - an awesome layout to see at shows! I am indeed on the EM group although don’t contribute that much. Once the layout is a bit further on I’ll post some photos! Thanks Craig. It’s the 37/0 chip with a double iPhone speaker in it. This chip will end up in 37114 and then I’ll get a 37/4 chip for 698. I don’t think anyone does a specific 37/5 chip so I think that’s the closest possible. In the VITrains model you could quite easily get a bigger speaker without any modification Kind regards, Will

Hi Kevin, No worries at all - thanks for the response. I’m looking forward to some more progress having fitted a 37 with Penbits bogies I can appreciate just how good the work on your 50 is! Looking forward to more. Will

Looking great this Jonny. As a fellow modern image EM’er I’m looking forward to further progress! Kind regards, Will

Looks great that Will nice work sir! Will

Evening all, Managed to get a good weekend's work in on the layout, getting the right hand board to a stage which I’m really happy with. Following the basic steps set out by Luke Towan I’ve built up the scenery around the bridge. I started off by using a spare Capri sun box and newspaper to create the basic shape: Before using paper mache to cover the cardboard templates to create the basic shape of the scenery: This was the stage the layout was at last night with the bridge in place to hold the scenery whilst it dried and 114 posed on the layout: The layout first thing this morning having dried: Following a trip to the Range for the plaster cloth, I covered the entire layout to ensure there was no more flat board: Following the setting of the cloth I painted the layout burnt umber: Which was left to dry until it was tacky. Before it fully dried I’ve applied the basic dirt cover using grout from B&Q: Finally this evening, 37698 emerges from the bridge at Motts Lane: Really pleased with the progress this weekend, it’s nice to have one board with no more baseboard showing! I need to get the double slip wired then I can get the track sprayed and ballasted when the weather improves. Kind regards, Will

37698 in the yard at Motts Lane

A quick update on Motts Lane - I’ve channeled my inner child and been out with the paper mache. Will plaster cloth the area tomorrow. The bridge and 37114 in place with the paper mache banks: Kind regards, Will

Thanks Jerry - much appreciated! Me too! Just need the weather to improve then I can get cracking with them. Hoping to wire up the top headlights over the weekend. Will

Evening all, Taken a break from the DRS tractors the last few days as I’ve done about all I can for now with the detailing parts I’ve got in stock. The top headlight has been fitted to 37218 using the same method previously described, and I’ve done the first round of filler on 37059: 059 is now ready for the first coat of primer when the weather improves. I’m putting off sanding off the plate on the bodyside as I really don’t enjoy doing it having to work so carefully. I think that’ll be a weekend jobbie. Turned my attention back to 47145 and the Penbits class 47 bogies. I’ve finished the assembly of the subframes and the bolsters, and modified the bogies to fit in this evening. The bogies need cutting tomorrow to fit the plate in to allow for the full springing. A few shots of the bogies below: Much easier having already done the set for 37114. Following the mods to the bogie towers I’ll make a start on the wheels. And I couldn’t resist posing 145 on the bogies with the in progress Shawplan windows and plasticard strips under the cab roof: More progress soon hopefully. Hope everyone is staying safe and well. Kind regards, Will

A quick update on 37059 this evening. I’ve fitted the etched top headlights and the etched horn grilles. Firstly the headlights were punched, and then drilled using the dremel: The top headlight is secured to the model using a piece of brass rod that I’ve soldered to the headlight, which clips into a hole drilled in the roof (absolute pain in the backside that was!). Then soldered with the peg: Finally two photos of 059 all but complete detailing wise for the body: Hopefully this should allow for easy removal during painting, and being easily relocated on the model. Once the roof/headlight is painted I’ll make a start on the electronics. Kind regards, Will

Thanks for the clarification Paul much appreciated. I did wonder how that would work in practice so thanks for the explanation! Still need to properly look at the forum... Thanks, Will

Happy belated New Year all! Started 2021 by progressing 37059 in original DRS livery over the past few evenings following its arrival between Christmas and new year alongside a delivery from Brian at Shawplan a day after ordering - superb service! 37038 is pretty perfect for 059, apart from the bogies which @dj_crisp very kindly supplied from a class 50. The plate on the side also needs removing similarly to 218, which I’ll do using a lolly stick, sandpaper and masking tape not to damage the surrounding area. Shawplan windscreens fitted at both ends and the fan grille. I also soldered up the etched top headlight (held in place by insulating tape for the photo). Pondering how to attach this properly without purely gluing it! Couldn't resist posing the two RHTT tractors together this evening. A nice pair I think! Really pleased with the authentic details between the two - spot the difference anyone?! And a quick shot with the other tractor on the bench! I’m certainly enjoying the 37s of late. Hope everyone is staying safe and well given the recent news. Certainly more modelling time to be had at Motts Lane! Kind regards, Will

Looks great that Mark - very effective! Could you keep that and have the blades wired to the same switch as the frog? E.g. the polarity of the blades as a whole switches when the point throws? Not sure if this would work but it was something I’d thought may be an option when looking at the ambis tie bars. Kind regards, Will

Hi Damien - the ballast is C&L fine ash ballast. Think it may have been Carrs’ but believe C&L took over the range? Hope that helps, Will

I’ll be interested to see what you come up with. I’ve used a thinned copper clad sleeper on my EM track which, whilst reliable, isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. I’ve joined the S4 Society over the last few days so looking for something a bit more ‘finessed’ for the next layout and when I have to build a silly number of points for Boxenby... I also saw Mark’s thread so look forward to seeing both solutions. Thanks for the info re gauges - think I best get an order in with the S4 society stores! Thanks for the info, Will

Wow Martin that station building is stunning - great work sir! Looking forward to more progress Kind regards, Will

Looking great that Damian - lovely work on the track! I’ll be interested in what you end up settling on for the tiebar arrangement once you install the blades. Are the gauges you use all exactoscale ones? Kind regards, Will

It was indeed - as I was looking at which wheels to order for 47145! I think I will ultimately end up going to P4 as well, however I want to get Motts Lane complete before I do so! The layout sounds great - will be interested to see a topic? no worries at all; glad it was of use! If you do and decide to put them on sale so please let me know as I’d like some correct ones! I’ve never used ultrascale to be honest as I think they’re very expensive, and they take ages to be made (I’m very impatient!) I use a GW Models gear puller to take the old wheels off, and then put the new wheels on the existing axle with the gears. I prefer the full metal wheels over the Gibson ones, however for the 47 I think I’ll go Gibson purely for size reasons as they’re slightly larger than the 14mm used for the 37. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to do things but that’s my personal preference from my year or so in EM. Hopefully that helps! Will