-missy-

Hello Tom. As with the other bits previously this one also looks really good. The whole thing looks really well made. Missy

Hello Don Thanks for the information. I have decided to scrap my idea of using mains tubes to light the layout as it all just seems a little too dangerous with all that high voltage flying around. I really would like 12v tubes as it sounds a lot safer. I try to be as neat as possible although some of it (mostly the wiring) is annoying and I am struggling to keep it neat. I have a good idea on what I would like to achieve and always try my best to get there. Hello Mark I know exactly what you are thinking and it crossed my mind too. Fortunately there is enough of a gap inbetween the fan and the bit it sits on to allow airflow. Not the ideal but it was a compromise to fit everything into the box. Hi Mikkel Thank you. I am trying my best. I was operating Stephens layout 'Ynysarwed Sidings' and although the period wasnt really to my taste the way the engines ran just blew me away. I have never seen 2mmFS engines run as well as they did and it certianly has made me look at mine differently. His wagons are also amazing and hopefully he has given me a few ideas to give producing a kit or two a go. Hello Pete Yes, the 'black box' is what holds all the mains stuff under the layout. The LED control panel still needs finishing off and will come later. Mark helped with the woodwork so I cant lay claim to that, my attempt (as posted before) doesnt come anywhere near as good as the stuff he can make! Missy

Hello Got a bit more done this weekend. Saturday was spent in Stafford operating what is in my opinion one of the best running 2mmFS layouts ever. Today I carried on with the box that holds all the mains stuff. Its nearly there. I have another transformer to fit inside (for the LENZ thingy), the connector on the top, and then wire it all up. I will be really glad when all of this is out of the way so I can then concentrate on more exciting things! While I am here, does anyone know where I can get some 12v fluorescent tubes from? I am after some warm coloured tubes. Missy

Hello Mikkel I just had to add to all the praise for a fantastic video. Thank you for sharing that with us, absolutely brilliant! Missy

Hello again It was about time to post something as I have been quiet recently. I have been back onto the electrics for the layout in a desperate attempt to get something running in the traditional style of a railway layout (is a layout a layout if there arent any moving trains on it?) and with the help of Mark again helping me get a bit of woodwork done here is how far I have got with it... This is my main board which has a few more connectors screwed to it now. The white one at the bottom is the power connector which will eventually connect to all the transformers and stuff on the floor, the little one just above it is the connector for the lenz controller, then about that are two D type connectors, the one on the left is the one for the control panel and the right one is the connector to the next board. I have tried to keep it tidy but its starting to look a bit messy now. Thankfully there isnt much more to add to this board. This is the beginnings of the box which holds all the mains power stuff along with the lenz unit thingy. I need cut a few more holes into it, glue it together, then fit hinges/handles/catches but its getting there. Thank you Mark. I havent given up with all this yet. Fingers crossed it works when I finally flick the switch! Missy

Hello That does look absolutely fantastic and great fun to operate too. Missy

Hi Guys Glad to be of assistance. Its where places like this becomme very useful. Missy

Hello Pugsley Thats an amzing amount of detail you have there, brilliant work. I love the smiley face too, I can imagine some bored mechanic doing that for a laugh. Missy

Hello Thank you Pete and Mark. Pete, its one of those things that if I didnt do it then it would bug me forever so it had to be done. Mark, see my next blog entry, hopefully that helps a bit with the sacks, the boxes are just plasticard offcuts painted up. Missy

Hello Southernboy Thank you. I have now given the guy someone to talk to and I will post a picture when I next do a blog entry. Hello DonW Blimey! Thank you Its cool to think my stuff can evoke such memories, its what I am trying to achieve for sure. I will look out for that book too so thank you. Missy

Hello I agree with Alistair, definately not boring! Were those pictures taken with the new camera? Missy

Hello Paul Im glad to hear that. Welcome to the digital age Missy

Hello Halfwit Thats comming along really well. The engine looks very neat and tidy. I am looking forward to seeing this finished as I love little shunters. It looks like one of those is going to be added to my shopping list soon. Missy

Hi Tom You have some great techniques there, that little tester thingy does look the part. I will have to check out that Anita Decor and Noch stuff. Instead of using the field grass why dont you have a go with the static stuff? Its amazing what you can do with it! Thats the first time I have seen the 2mmSA concrete easitrack too and it looks fantastic. You might as well just do the right thing now and change to 2mmFS as you are half way there! No excuses now what with the drop in wheels Missy

Hello Atso Thank you. It was nice to meet you too, Im sure our paths will cross again sometime. The robo cutter is useful thing to have if you can afford it. I havent got one myself but know someone who has and we tried it out to see what it can do. The main advantage was it can cut plasticard (we were cutting 0.5mm thick stuff) where laser cutting couldnt. There are people who have got good results from using one but in my opinion I would rather stick with laser cutting as I can get finer results from it. Unfortunately though at ??17k for a machine there is no comparison to a robocutter there! Missy

Hello Pete I agree with Neil. That is really cool, I love the way it all fits. Missy

Me Again Mark asked how did I do the sacks and things for the goods shed so I thought I would post a couple of piccies. The crates were made from small bits of plasticard and plastic strip. The sacks were made from Milliput... Once mixed the Milliput was then rolled out into a large sausage about 4-5mm in diameter (see on the right) This was then chopped up into 6-7mm lengths using a blunt edge (in this case a 6 inch rule). The little bit of Milliput was then lightly squashed with my finger and then left to harden. Once hard they were then painted with acrylics. Simples! I dont lay claim to thinking of this. I remember seeing it in a 2FS magazine a while back. Oh, and here are a couple more pictures of the goods shed... Missy

Hello Finally! After a few revelations while studying the books I have come up with my final version of Highclere's goods shed. I also found out that I had got the doors totally wrong so they had to be changed too otherwise it would just bug me rotten. I have added a few bits and pieces inside it too just so if anyone decides to look too close as well as a porter taking a 5 min break (and he has still got his tie on!). The whole thing needs a bit of weathering but that will come in time... Missy

Hi Pete / Alan I would recommend a good quality dual action airbrush. I use THIS ONE with a air compressor but there are cheaper alternatives. Nine times out of ten usually with railmatch enamel paints. It is well worth making the effort to get one because as I mentioned before once you have airbrushed a model I will guarantee you will never go back to brush painting or using aerosols. Missy

Hello I thought this was worth posting... After flicking through my books to see if I could find out a bit more about the goods sheds on the railway I found out that the goods sheds were raised to platform level themselves and didnt sit on a platform (if that makes sense) so I tried to add the extra bit to the bottom of the shed without much luck. The only was to sort this is to strip things back to a bare shell and redo most of it. The thing is its annoying, yes but these things happen and there is no point giving up but instead just getting stuck in and fixing it. Missy

Hi Alan The 02 is comming along well. Are the stripes transfers? Whatever they are they looks good. You do need to invest in an airbrush though, once you have mastered one you will never go back to aerosols / brush painting. Missy

Hi Bryn Good little post there. Those jigs are fantastic, I think I will have to make something like that myself. Thank you. Messy

Hello again As mentioned in my last post I managed to get a bit more done on the goods shed for Highclere at the St Albans show over the weekend and as I had today off work I decided to take a short break from the electrics and carry on with the shed. I have manged to get a bit done today, so much so that I thought I might as well post a blog entry on the good shed... The goods shed has been made in the same way I have done the other buildings with laser engraved brick paper stuck onto a plasti-card shell. The only real difference with this one is that I have added a rough impression on roof beams as I think there might be a chance you could see them one its on the layout. I have also added a LED. Anyway here are some pictures (in no particular order)... Missy

CONGRATULATIONS!