-missy-

Hello

When I made a start on the tree it was supposed to be an Oak but somehow the idea got lost when I was twisting the wire so it ended up a bit more generic than I really wanted it to. I was concentrating a bit too much on making sure the thing was big, something that you dont often see on layouts.

For a first attempt I am reasonably happy with it although looking at it there are still some tweaks I can do which will hopefully help. Im sure they will get better the more I do but I think this one will find its way onto the layout.

Missy

Forget about lifting the track- that would disturb your electrics - not exactly your favorite job I believe.

You could grind up a bit of brass to make a chisel just the right size to go between the sleepers and under the rail. Clearance would be tight.

Donw

Hello Don

That is pretty much what I have planned to do to tackle this but the idea was to use a flat screwdriver instead. I am still not looking forward to doing it but I know that its really the only thing I can do to be happy with it.

Missy

Hi Pete

I do love the way it all slots together. Everything you do is so neat, its fantastic.

Missy

Hi Guys

Thank you for the useful advice. As Chris said I am a bit of a perfectionist and at the moment the only way I will be happy is if I strip it off and start again, painful I know but it will be worth it. I just thought it was worthwhile posting something about it so hopefully people will remember it in the future and not make the same mistake.

Missy

Hey Bryn

Dont worry about not entering the layout into the challenge, I know that oneday it will turn up at exhibitions. Take your time, there is no hurry, you have started something which is alot more than most people and I am sure you will be back modelling again soon.

Are you comming to the Expo yourself?

Missy

I'm agonizing a bit over that one. I would want the right kind of flicker etc to fit the period, but am not sure if this is possible/feasible? My skills with electrics are very limited, but it would be interesting to learn. You've certainly set the example to follow!

Hi Mikkel

I think it would be worth the little bit of extra effort (but I would say that I guess!)

You cannot do any worse than buying a pack of those battery tealights and start experimenting.

Missy

A 2mm padlock? - insane - but I love it.

 

The backdrop is also very nice. Is it painted or a photo? If it is painted, what medium is it?

 

Hello

Thank you, that backdrop was painted by a guy from the High Wycombe model railway group. I believe he uses pretty much whatever he can get his hands on like acrylics, poster paints, and emulsions. I am still amazed on how brilliant it looks.

Missy

Hi Rich

These are really interesting to me as I have one of these kits to build at some point. To be honest I have kinda been putting off building it as it looked a little complicated. How would you rate this kit out of 10 on ease of building? How do they compare to something like a chassis etch to build?

Thanks

Missy

Hello Mikkel

That looks really really really good, I love it! I didnt know that scribed balsa existed so I am going to look out for that, it looks a very useful material (although I will have to think of a use for it now!)

That roof is a work of art! I hope you are fitting appropriate working lights to it too?

Missy

It's not an airbrush that's the problem its the complete lack of anywhere to use it. Brushes for all their problems can be used in confined spaces and indoors without the household authorities objecting.

 

(and a shed would unfortunately involve a fight with the planning people for idiotic reasons)

I know exactly what you mean there. I do my spraying in my kitchen using a box with a bathroom extractor fan bolted to the bottom of it and a pipe hanging out the window. I spray enamels without any problems (although I dont have anyone to object!)

Missy

Hello Trevor

Its nice to see some progress, please keep the posts comming.

I like the buildings, they all look nice and square and well put together. I do have a question on the provender shed though, what shape are the plinths its sitting on? It just looks a bit weird from that photo.

Missy

Hello

That does look very impressive. It all looks so neat and tidy, you can tell you are taking your time over this to get it right. I am looking forward to seeing this in MRJ too.

Missy

Hello Alan

Those look neat and tidy. Great work.

Missy

P.S. Have you got yourself an airbrush yet?

I've been following this for some time now - fantastic - do you ever find time to sleep?

Hello Jim

I sleep loads! Trust me here, I am not the fastest of modellers by a long long way. You have to bear in mind its taken me about 4 years or so to get this far.

Missy

Hello

Thanks once again for the comments, they are all appreciated.

Is that a BR green 08 shunter creeping in there.....? Is it a new Farish model repainted perchance? Would be interested to see that!

 

Exquisite modelling as always Missy - love your structures, they are so lifelike.

 

Alan

Hello Alan

As Horsetan mentioned it is the 2mm Association kit. I built it a while ago but sadly it is now a bit tatty around the edges as it has suffered from me experimenting with DCC controlled couplings on it. I will post a picture of it next time if you like?

Trackwork & ballasting looks great. Who's ballast did you use, it looks to be well proportioned & doesnt seem oversize.

I am stugling to find a ballast that I feel is the right size for my N gauge layout, we all know the OO boys & girls use N gauge ballast, but what do us smaller scale modellers use ??, struggling to fins a Z scale ballast anywhere LOL

 

Regards

Scott

Hello Scott

I used the ballast from a company called GEOSCENICS and sifted it through a small sieve before sticking it down in the tried and tested method of diluted PVA with a hint of washing up liquid. The good thing about thier stuff is its natural stone, not nut shells or similar.

Missy

Thank you John and Geoff

The Pannier with all the daylight under the boiler is also a lovely piece of work. Have you thought of working your magic on a Peco Collet Goods to go with it ?

Best Wishes,

Geoff

Geoff. I have the bits to do a collet engine and as they were the most common engines on the railway then no doubt one or two will come along soon. There is an etched chassis comming out soon for them (if I can get round to sorting out some dimensions) which will make things alot easier.

Missy

Hello

That looks like a nice little kit and its definately put together well. Normally I am not a fan of whitemetal but that looks good.

Missy

If you build another one you would have to do all the electrics again!

 

Donw

Good point there Don!

Im sure next time I could make a better job of it though. As with everybody else its a big learning curve and as always the next time you do something its usually better.

Missy

Hello Rich

You are right, that is a mess The thing is, is it possible to model and NOT make a mess?

Its nice to see it comming together, I bet you cant wait to see something working though?

Missy

If it ever gets that dark then people won't be able to see the trains anyway

 

Enjoy playing trains testing the layout!

 

David

Hello David

Good point and well made. One of the intentions is to operate the layout in the dark hence all the little bits on illumination dotted around the layout, wether it works or not is another matter but it was worth a try.

As for the playing trains testing the layout bit to be honest it doesnt really interest me that much, I guess thats why its taken this long to get anything working. For me the real fun is in the building, its going to be interesting at shows for sure. I wouldnt be that bothered if the layout is scrapped after its finished as it would mean I could start building something fresh. The only reason why I can see not to is its something to test my engines and rolling stock on.

Missy

For someone who "HATES Electrics" that is a superb bit (lot) of wiring, and that control panel literally out-shines (!) anything I have seen elsewhere.

As one who is never likely to exhibit or work in 2mmFS, I suggest a big "Work in progress" sign, and a biggish low level mirror to show off that underneath wiring. I can safely predict that it would be a talking point to silence the critics!

Hello Don

Thank you for the vote of confidence, its much appreciated.

I am pretty sure people at the show will realise that it will be unfinished although I am trying my best to get it together into some kind of condition where hopefully it will attract a bit of attention. As for mirrors well, people are more than welcome to look underneath but I am not planning on advertising anything there!

Missy

Hello

Thank you all, Im glad you like the control panel. I just wanted to try out something different to see if it worked, no doubt it will come back and bite me in the rear sometime! FYI I got the idea for it from those illuminated emergency exit signs.

Beam me up Missy! Does the panel go 'beep' when you press it?

 

Congratulations on a successful power-up.

 

Tom.

Hello Tom

No, it doesnt go 'beep', lights is enough I think

Missy

Hello

Thanks guys. There are a few tweaks still to do on that board until I am happy but the worst of it is out of the way now. The second board 'should' work fine as there is nothing complicated on it, al of the connections and control is on this board.

Missy

Hi Missy,

 

I hope the electrical testing and de-bugging is going OK?

 

Can't believe you resisted the temptation to run a test train or two if the DCC system was working - if it was me I'd have been running 'test' trains up and down for hours!

 

Look forward to seeing Highclere at the 2mm Expo.

 

Andy

Hi Andy

Its kinda stopped right now. I have spoken to a few people about the issues I am having with the electricals and the general concensus is the PC power supply isnt supplying enough current so to stop anymore problems now and in the future I am going to remove it and replace it with a dedicated 12v power supply. Apart from that everything works fine and all first time too (well apart from a small short across 2 tracks on a PCB by a bit of solder)

I still havent run anything on it either. I dont really want to until I know it all works.

M.

Hello

Thanks for all the encouragement guys. I wasnt really digging for encouragement (although it is nice!), I was trying to get across how nervous I am getting over taking it to exhibitions. Although the whole layout was built so it can be transported around its only now really dawning on me when I go to shows and see layouts there, that it will be me soon. After reading peoples 'frank' comments recently about some layouts has just reminded me that if the lyout is not upto scratch I could be in for a rough time. I guess by the comments I have had about Highclere that people have certian expectations about seeing it and its a bit scary to think I have to live upto those expectations.

Not forgetting the Class 121 Bubble either

 

Not sure if I missed something, but do I understand from above that Highclere will be making an appearance at the 2FS Expo in July? If so, I am booking my plane ticket right now

 

Pete

Hi Pete.

The bubble car has kind of taken a bit of a back seat for now. The only reason why I was doing one was to try out some of Negel Lawtons motos and pulley stuff. I have plenty of other engines to make right now!

I am hoping you are comming to the expo anyway!! TBH I dont think I have had any choice in the decision if Highclere goes or not. It seems it is going regardless

Pete, thanks for the reminder about the 08 and news of the 37. One assumes these are in a decent green.

Michael

Hello Michael.

Of course they will be green. Thats modern image in my eyes!

Anyway, it isnt worth adding another blog entry but I have been busy on the layout again today but with not quite as much sucess as yesterday.

I have finally managed to finish off the last connectors today and get everything plugged together and switched on! The good thing is I was surprised that some of it actually worked, the bad thing is not all of it works. The DCC side of things all works fine and in theory there is no reason why I cannot actually run something on the layout (which is way cool) but there are still a few problems...

1. The 12v circuit which powers the servo controllers, the lights on the control panel, and the relay which switches the 3v lighting circuit is there, but only the servo controllers are working. I have checked to see if there is voltage to them which there is but they dont seem to be working right now.

2. Not all the servos are working. Out of the 4 on the first board only 2 seem to be operating when switched. I am hoping that this is just because they havent been adjusted yet (none of them have been setup)

After trying to figure out the problems for just over 7 hours today I am giving myself a break until tomorrow.

I HATE electrics

Missy