Dave Searle

Fingers crossed. Cheers, Dave

Hi Ben, I presume that orders for 390103 don't get to vote for other numbers Cheers, Dave

Hi Eddie, My order has an estimated shipping date of May 7th, so hopefully it'll arrive a little while after that. Cheers, Dave

Hi Eddie, Many thanks - two FXD opens and a van ordered. I'll let you know how they turn out. I'm still planning an LB&SCR layout, just need to get our show out of the way this weekend at NESCOT (where we're showing Hinksey Yard). Cheers, Dave

Hi Eddie, I too would be interested in taking a chance Cheers, Dave

I have the flows (in 2010): 6E55 Theale - Lindsey (empty) 6V84 Lindsey- Theale (loaded) Cheers, Dave

In the words of small children everywhere - "Are we nearly there yet?" - it's been over 24 hours since we started. Many thanks Mike. Cheers, Dave

Hi Ben & Mike, Great news, I think I've identified the ones that might go past Hinksey on 6E55/6V84 and the Didcot PS flows (EWS, grey VTG & ex-FL green). In typical model railway fashion, we had completed a set of re-liveried EWS Farish tankers a little while ago A couple of thoughts for the web-site: It would be nice to see what I voted for (& allow me to change if needed) It would be interesting to see the overall scores for the different liveries Cheers, Dave

That's fantastic Jim - many thanks. Cheers, Dave

I've only really used it in close ups - but seems very good. The image size (18M pixel) allows room to crop images and still get a decent amount of detail in the picture (all the above were cropped and then reduced down to 1000 pixels wide). The depth of field is quite limited, so I need to experiment with taking images focussed at different point and trying to stitching them together. The small size also allows it to be used in confined spaces on the layout and using a 10" tablet as a view finder is great! Cheers, Dave

Hi Jim, That would be great. You mentioned the ground-frame in an earlier post. Also any details of the ground signals at the south end. Many thanks, Cheers, Dave

After a quiet Christmas & New Year we have started plans for the next bits of work. These include some more detailing: electric cabinets & point heaters, speed limit signs, mileposts and ground signals. We also need to add an angled blind to the lighting gantry to prevent us being blinded when we look out at the visitors. In the Christmas Sales I got myself a Sony QX10 lens (as described by big jim http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/70783-jims-down-by-the-tracks-with-colas-thread/page-58&do=findComment&comment=1604172 ) and have been testing out its close-up abilities. The south road bridge: Some fenced off containers near the maintenance siding: The site office: The Wall: The digger at the end of the ballast pile: North bound signal (needs an "OX18" sign on it): Some Network Rail engineers preparing to do something: Cheers, Dave

Hi David, We are booked in for Epsom in April and have accepted Aldershot for October. We were approached for details by a number of other clubs while we were at Warley and are waiting to see if they wish to follow up and invite us. So it's possible we may get to your area. Cheers, Dave

Hi Ian, We've done some sorting out of a couple of points that had got paint and muck between the blades causing some pickup problems. Also replaced a point motor that failed. We are putting together a list of things to do, some scenics, some electrical (making the signals work), drawing up plans for a new larger extra fiddle yard. In the meantime I've been experimenting with modifying DG couplings to fit into NEM sockets. This has been quite successful with the buried permanent magnets. I'll try and get some photos on Saturday (our next working day). Cheers, Dave

Some excellent shots there Ed, I really like the views from the end of the layout along the track. Many thanks, Cheers, Dave

Thanks for the comments. The points were painted with an enamel paint possibly "Weathered Concrete" from the Precision Paints range and then weathered with weathering powders. The paint tin has been finished so I can't check what it was. We aimed to try and match the colour of the Peco code 55 concrete sleepers, with a few of them being painted in the same colour to blend the transition. We've assembled quite a collection of such paints (dirty track, grime...), washes and weathering powders and just try various methods until things look right. Cheers, Dave

Congratulations on a well deserved award. It was great to be able to have a chat and catch up on the 165 progress. And many thanks for the "Hinksey Yard 20 miles (or for this weekend only - just behind us)" advertising! Cheers, Dave

Safely back from a very enjoyable weekend at Warley with the layout. It was very nice to meet a number of RMWeb members, especially Brain Daniels and big jim who have helped us with on-site photos. After a few initial teething troubles the layout settled down and worked pretty well, we tried to keep a good flow of trains moving which seemed to maintain the interest of the viewers. Not surprisingly with Warley being quite near Hinksey, there were many people who knew the area well and recognised the various features - "We've stood on that bridge" was quite a common comment. We had lots of favourable comments on the scenic details and from the more knowledgeable N gauge enthusiasts about the more unusual stock (the MRA wagons from Modern Image Models in particular). We also had some interest in our foam stock trays (JB Model World) from people who could see round the back of the layout. We've come away with a list of fixes and improvements - operating in front of an audience teaches you what works and is appreciated and what doesn't. So just a couple of photos. We were in a block with three other excellent N gauge layouts: Tanners Hill, Banbury and Nine Mills: And towards the end of Saturday you could actually get to the front of the layout: Many thanks to the Warley Club for an excellent show and making us welcome. Cheers Dave

Hi Ian, They look a much better colour than the ones I tried to make - hope they look OK when in place. See you at Warley! Cheers, Dave

Hi Ian, I will be interested to see the results with the paint pens - what type/brand are they? Cheers, Dave

Hi Ben Andy tells me there is a mixture of Woodland Scenics fine scatter, Heki short static grass fibres (applied by tweezers & small puffer) and some teased out foliage net (Folinet) from Ceynix Trees. Plus plenty of diluted Woodland Scenics Scenic cement and cheap extra-hold hairspray. Also some coloured fine scatter for "flowers" from Natural Scenics Ltd. (via Amazon). Cheers, Dave

Absolutely, many thanks, Cheers, Dave

Hi Jim, A photo would be great. In my photos, I can see what appears to be a blue water pipe and some padding to protect heads when going through the gaps in the trellis. Cheers, Dave

Hi Ben, Many thanks. 1. We have loads of Woodland Scenics scatters in various degrees of fine-ness, but I'll check with Andy what he used. The scatter was carefully put in place and then diluted Woodland Scenics cement dripped on. 2. Thanks for that, I'll check with David whether he has the right bogies or if it was a case of putting the wrong ones under the wagons. Hope to see you at Warley, Cheers, Dave