Dave Searle

Hi Jim, With hindsight and more experience, I agree with you, but at the time I wanted to be confident of good electrical connections because we had had issues when using standard Peco points on our previous layout. I felt that with multiple paths provided by soldered chairs and sleepers, we would avoid problems. The astute amongst you, however, will spot that with the interlaced sleepering (with chairs for each track on different sleepers), there still aren't many electrical paths, but it is easy to slip a small piece of nickel silver shim under the rail when needed – I've been learning as I go along I have used the Association's new etched chairs soldered on to the sleepers and the rail using small solder balls to deliver a consistent amount of solder. There are three types of chair (plain, slide, and check rail) and I have found them easy to use with a bit of practice. They have the advantage of allowing you to fold up the jaws of the chair far enough so that the rail can be dropped in from above, or the chair lifted from below, if there isn't space to slide them along the rail. I have a small jig which allows the preparation of a complete sheet of etches quickly, pushing the jaws partially open, so the chairs are prepared in bulk ready for use. Here is an early test, where I haven't trimmed the etched tabs completely off the chairs, it is also a challenge is to get a consistent final angle when folding the jaws back down onto the rail. Note a small solder ball trying to escape at the bottom centre of the picture. Cheers, Dave

This is what we are aiming at: Cheers, Dave

Hi, Apologies for the long gap in posting, things are moving slowly forward. I have been working (slowly) on the first phase of track for most of the last year. Firstly I produced a Templot plan of the main London/Brighton Junction. This has a double junction with a point and single slip squashed up by it leading into the bay triangle : I thought if we started with the hardest bit we would know if we can actually build it The first attempt used plain Easitrack sleepers to start on the interlaced sleepering: I wasn't totally happy with this approach as it made electrical connections an issue, so I've gone for a composite method using copperclad sleepers for the pointwork and Easitrack for plain track. So the next stage was to lay out the sleepering using 9' sleepers, a few longer crossing timbers and Easitrack tie bar kits (2mm part 1-430). Gradually rails have been added and tested: Both of the curved lines (towards London) will have a continuous check rail due to the tight curvature on the prototype - so I'm alternating plastic and copperclad sleepers there. Most recently the rest of the turnout sleepering has been added: So I'm getting there - despite "encouraging" words from the rest of the team about completion dates Cheers, Dave

Hi, I paid for a King deposit by Barclaycard and raised a Section 75 claim with them simply by messaging them with the transaction details, the fact that DJM were now in receivership and that I hadn't received anything. They came back within 24 hours with a message saying they had credited my account while they made further enquiries and asked me to retain copies of any relevant documentation, should they need to see them. Very impressed, I hope others have as straightforward process to get their refunds. Cheers, Dave

This weekend we're off to the Great Central Model Event. Do drop by. Cheers, Dave

I did some experiments with Chinchilla dust and Aquarium sand for Lewes. We used a mix of Carrs 2mm light grey ballast and Chinchilla dust on Hinksey Yard for ballasting and plain Chinchilla dust in the ballast wagons. Cheers, Dave

This coming Saturday we're off to the SWING show at Littlehampton. Do drop by. Cheers, Dave

Hi Javier, I really like the LBSCR Horsebox. I think the Horsebox is earlier than Stroudley, dating from the around 1850s. I think it's a type 19B (from LB&SCR Carriages. Volume 1: 4 and 6 wheel ordinary passenger stock) Will you be making them available on Shapeways, and if so, could you do them in 2mm scale? Many thanks, Regards, Dave

A big THANK YOU to all our exhibitors and traders for making it a great show. And also many thanks to all our visitors for coming along and making it all worthwhile On to next year's show... Cheers, Dave

Also visiting is Hurstmonceux by Andy Jones: Cheers, Dave

Also appearing is Minories by Howard Bolton: Cheers, Dave

Another visiting layout is Vale of Oxbury from Carl Woodwards: Cheers, Dave

A holly blue in the garden today: Cheers, Dave

Another visiting layout is Northallerton from the Cleveland MRC: Cheers, Dave

Hi, I had an email from Digitrains yesterday: Hope this is of interest. Cheers, Dave

One of our visiting layouts is Arun Quay by Gordon & Maggie Gravett: Cheers, Dave

We're taking Hinksey Yard Cheers, Dave

Hi, We're off to the Crawley show at Horsham this weekend, Do come and see us - and lots of good layouts there . Cheers, Dave

My reading of the Digitrains site is that there will be 50 of each of the four versions - there are 50 "in stock" on the "shirtbutton" page and less on the other pages. Cheers, Dave

Hi, We are pleased to add Model Railway Developments to our list of traders at the show. Cheers, Dave

Epsom and Ewell Model Railway Club's 2019 Exhibition Saturday 27th April and Sunday 28th April 2019 at the North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT), Reigate Road, Ewell, Surrey KT17 3DS Full details on our Website Opening Times Saturday 27th 10 am - 5:30 pm Sunday 28th 10 am - 5 pm Admission Adults £7.00 Accompanied Children (under 16) Free Refreshments available FREE on-site parking for 500 cars Level access for the disabled Layouts attending Arun Quay, 7mm/ft, O, BR(S), 1950s (3.5m x 0.8m) Fintonagh (Clogher Valley Project), 7mm/ft, On16.5, Clogher Valley Railway (Irish narrow gauge) (3m x 0.5m) Dent, 4mm/ft, OO, Settle and Carlisle (14' x 8') Frecclesham, 7mm/ft, O, BR(S), 1950s (23' x 3') Gerrog Wen, 4mm/ft, OO9, Snowdonia, 1880s (9' x 2') Hornby Junction, 4mm/ft, OO, Children's activity layout using products by Hornby Ltd. (9' x 5') Hurstmonceux, 4mm/ft, OO, BR(S) Ouse valley, 1950s, (26' x 2') Little Aller Junction, 2mm/ft, N, BR(W) Devon, 1960s (7' x 3'6") Llangerisech, 2mm/ft, 2FS (9.42mm), GWR (Cambrian), 1930s (9'6" x 8') Minories, 4mm/ft, P4, BR(S), 1950s (4.35m x 2.5m) Northallerton, 2mm/ft, N, Post privatization (N.Yorkshire), 2000s (25' x 4'6") Snowdon (NWNGR), 8mm/ft, 1:38, Rhyd Ddu, North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway (17' x 2') St George's Dock, 7mm/ft, O, Tyneside, 1930s (3m x 1.5m) Theobald's Yard, 7mm/ft, O, Mixed gauge industrial (27' x 8'6") Vale of Oxbury, 2mm/ft, N, BR(W), early 1960s (12' x 4') Wittenden, 7mm/ft, On16.5, Kent, 1950s (16' x 2') Wolfe Low, 7mm/ft, O, Staffordshire, 1920s (24' x 3') Searles Railway (7¼in & 5in mixed gauge, Miniature Railway Rides) Traders attending ACE Products Addlestone Model Centre All Components Branchlines C&L Finescale Dart Castings d.c. Kits Eileen's Emporium Freestone Model Accessories Green Scenes Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust (Surrey Support Group) Model Railway Developments (Added 2019-03-29)) N Brass Locos Plus Daughters Rail Books Railwayania/Replica Railways Roger Carpenter Photos Roxey Mouldings South Eastern Finecast Club second-hand stand.

Many thanks to Adrian and the Uckfield Club from the Hinksey Yard team for a most enjoyable weekend. A very friendly show with lots of quality exhibits. Cheers, Dave

We spent Saturday getting Hinksey Yard ready for the show: Looking forward to being there. Cheers, Dave

Hi, We're off to the Uckfield Show this coming weekend. Do drop by. Cheers, Dave