Dave Searle

Hi David, Warley is our first outing with the (completed) layout, so at the moment our only other confirmed booking is for our own show next year (Epsom & Ewell Show at NESCOT - 25/26 April). This may change Regards, Dave

Hi Ian, Yes we are looking forward to it - we are planning to have signs showing the relative directions of Didcot and Oxford and will add Banbury. Cheers, Dave

Has it really been three months since I last updated this? Sorry. I've finished the site office which needs to be bedded in and foliage added to the trellising: We've been steadily adding more detailing to the scenery, loads of palisade fencing and small bushes and ground cover. Brian S has been busy creating various colourful plants such as buddleia and rose bay willow herb: We've also set his Pylon in place: We had a full working Saturday this week and took the chance to get some stock out and test the running - to make sure that the scenic work hadn't gummed everything up: A class 08 on some of David's Network Rail autoballasters (NGS kits) Some of David's MRA wagons (Modern Image Models) and Carillion Autoballasters (NGS kits) Somehow a Hanson Class 59 (CJM) has appeared in the Yard We're now on the countdown to Warley, trying to get as much finished as possible. Cheers, Dave

Hi, Some more recent progress: Steve and Brian H have been fencing in the northern bridge and vegetation has started growing around it. Mike has blended in the sky behind it. Andy has added fencing and vegetation at the south end. He has also added the compound for the excavator: I've finished the central bridge (familiar to many enthusiasts): Meanwhile Brian S and Tony have been adding vegetation infill between trees and ground cover on the front extensions. A couple of overall views. Looking north: Looking south: Cheers, Dave

Hi, Ziderhead, Thanks for that info.I believe we have some deer we could put in that area (also some rabbits/foxes elsewhere). Cheers, Dave

Hi Ian, Thanks for your comments. we feel we're making good progress. I need to get the 165/166s out again and have a look. I think we may need to strip them back and repaint them as I originally brush painted them in a hurry and they would look better sprayed. If you get FGW neon-lines decals sorted, then please let me know. Cheers, Dave

Hi, Another enjoyable working Saturday and we cleared away the paint brushes to have a look at where we are: You can see Steve's new modifications to our add-on front "mini-boards". The 2 inch square aluminium now has a low perspex shield added to prevent us damaging the scenery when removing them from the layout. He and Brian H have also started adding scenery to them. Most trees are in place, but we need to do a bit of weeding out of some which don't look quite right, but we're nearly there. Andy has nearly stopped making trees in his sleep. There is still a lot of undergrowth infill to add which Brian S is working on. A view looking northwards over the south part of the yard. Brian S has finished his scratch-built Pylon: I've weathered the north footbridge and put it temporarily in place, Mike has repainted the backscene to fit in with the bridge: Steve and Andy have finished the barrier fence and we test fitted it. So we are making good progress. Cheers, Dave

Hi, I'm another one who bought a Portrait inspired by this thread. I've used it to create the side frames for an N gauge foot bridge for Hinksey Yard: Add some 100tpi stainless steel mesh and assemble: Next time I'll include all the verticals holding the mesh in rather than adding some later as plastic strip (all part of the learning curve). Add the main span over the tracks: Cheers, Dave

Hi, I finally finished the northern foot bridge: And then gave it a coat of grey ready for weathering: A useful morning. Cheers, Dave

Hi, I spent the summer of 1974 running that layout (there was a sister one on one of the Brighton piers which I also spent some time on). Both were owned by the same chap. I learnt a lot about how to repair the various continental locos to keep it running. I don't remember the record attempt. Anyway, I'm an active member of the Epsom & Ewell Club working on their Hinksey Yard layout. Other interests include LB&SCR in P4 (West Wittering) (as well as in O and 2mm) and a bit of Swiss in Z gauge. I also (semi) maintain the LB&SCR web-site. Cheers, Dave

I'm definitely interested in the Avon ones if they go on sale. Cheers Dave

Hi, Brian S & Steve have been extending the afforestation at the north (Oxford) end. This is the "hidden" exit to the fiddle yard through the backscene: Andy has been busy with more trees at the south (Didcot) end (ignore the "tumble weed" on the track): Brian H has been detailing the stream near the copse between the tracks: Steve has made a test piece for the barrier fence in front of the ballast pile to check heights and appearance: And I'm making progress with the northern foot bridge steps using a very fine 100 TPI stainless steel mesh: Cheers, Dave

Hi Jim, That would be great if you can next time you're there - many thanks, Cheers, Dave

We were thinking of possibly plugging them in using a small plug & socket, which would help with the track cleaning and replacement of damaged ones. One of the guys is determined to make them work! Ben's idea sounds worth following up but they would have to be non-working then. Cheers, Dave

Thanks Bob, that's close to what we estimated. Ian, I think we might make up a similar track cleaning device. We already have a couple of Minitrix track cleaning wagons for difficult to get to areas, so that would be another tool in our armoury. Cheers, Dave

Hi, A question - the yard has a large number of lights on post of different heights: Can anyone tell me the size of the heads, the different post diameters and approximate heights of the two styles shown. I'm guessing the shorter ones are about 14ft high. I'm sure adding them will make track cleaning a nightmare Many thanks, Cheers, Dave

Hi, Some more progress as Steve has started on the ballast pile: Ignore the stray tank next to Bill's excavator (it's fallen off an MOD train). The white plastic strip in front is the base for the barrier fence. Meanwhile, I have acquired a Silloutte cutter and made another attempt on the northern footbridges stairs this time from 10 thou plastic card layers: Starting with 12 layers (three for each side) Bonded into the four sides of the staircases. The cutter has handled the small sizes very well. Now to add the steps and mesh sides.which fit between the inner and outer layers of the sides. Each week sees a little more scenic progress, so we should be ready for our next outing to Warley in November. Cheers, Dave

Hi, Following on from Brian's very useful photo of the Abingdon Road (Red) bridge, Andy has now repainted the bridge: And added some foliage (the odd white patches are wet glue): He's had the foliage in stock since the 80's and said it was originally a hedge: Cheers, Dave

Hi Brian, Many thanks for those photos - the bridge one in particular will come in very useful. We're aiming to model the summer - so hopefully not too much water. I'm not sure how well model trains would cope with the water feature. Cheers, Dave

Hi, We've made more gentle progress over the last few weeks. Andy has been busy making trees. We started with some kit made ones to provide some bulk to the wood. They are mounted on plastic pedestals to give a variety of heights: and then added Andy's hand made ones in front and beside: Brian S has been working on the Electricity Pylon: I've made a start on the Northern footbridge: Michael has been adjusting the sky so that it's quite nice to the North over Oxford: but a bit stormy down towards Didcot: The rest of the team have been adding more ground-cover toward the back of the scenic area. Brian H has started work on the river banks. Cheers, Dave

Andy has made a start on a couple of trees, which we couldn't resist trying out: I'm not sure why the tank is there, it just arrived and is moving around the layout, but together with the man in the hi-vis jacket gives a feel for the sizes. And a second tree: The hole in the backscene should eventually be hidden by a lot more trees. Cheers, Dave

Ian White's layout "East Grinstead Town" http://www.early-lbscr.co.uk/grinsted/grinsted.htm runs a chronological sequence from 1866 to 1908 (so over 40 years). And we refer to anything after that as "Modern Image" [Edited to add Smiley] Cheers, Dave

Hi, Some more activity over the last couple of weeks. Bill has added the covers to go over the exits from the front scenic area: and last night, work has started on the ground cover under the trees at the north end: We are looking forward to a talk on tree making from Jacqui Perrat of Ceynix Miniature Trees next week where we hope to pick up some useful tips for the several hundred trees we need to make. Cheers, Dave

Hi Brian, The traffic is mainly ballast and related things (sleeper & rail wagons). Ballast trains are prepared ready for engineering works and then the spoil is returned afterwards. These are sorted and forwarded on for disposal. There is also a car train from Cowley that reverses in the yard so that it can head south. This post http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/33691-hinksey-yard-stock-in-2010/&do=findComment&comment=357357 by Glorious NSE gives a lot more detail. Regards, Dave

Hi TIm, Many thanks for the information. I've seen a train waiting for an up train to pass before crossing over to the passenger loop. Unfortunately that loop (and the south goods loops and Kennington Junction) are all off-scene, so will take some explaining! We will need to create some suitable diagrams at each end. Cheers, Dave