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slow8dirty

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  1. slow8dirty
    As I'm not sure if I'm going to transfer the layout thread from the old Rmweb (not sure if our new shiny home needs two and a half years worth of mostly bare plywood and mediocre modelling ), I'll use this entry as a summary of what Milford Dock is and how far its got to date.
    At the time I was modelling the S&D in N as my first attempt, however the need for the railway room to become my newborn sons nursery and the impulse buy of a Dapol Shed forced my hand a a move to modern N in a small space resulted.
    The track plan and fake history is an unashamed borrow of Aberdaugleddaw, a OO exhibition layout set in West Wales in the early '90's. My version however measures slightly differently and is set c2004-2008. As my mind sketched away the details over time the story evolved and diverged and a new name was needed, Milford Dock (Doc Daugleddau?) was born.
    The layout measures 5'6"x1' for the scenic portion, the fiddleyard has varied between 3-4' depending on where the layout has lived
    Early Days


  2. slow8dirty
    Its not big,its not clever but it is Welsh!Now Milford Dock
     
    by slow8dirty
     
    original page on Old RMweb
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    ??? posted on Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:51 pm
     
    Hi all fairly new poster so go gentle,
    just worked out how to upload images so i thought id bore you all with a few ropey pics of my ropey N Gauge effort. Not a lot to see yet(currently working on point motors and isolations) would you believe this is the result of 15 months work!
    Only my second layout, my first had to be dismantled half way through due to the arrival of my baby son.
     

     

     

     
    The birth of my son and the arrival of decent n gauge modern stock basically started this project off. Its small set in south wales c2004-2007 and isn't that original, I wonder if any hawkeyes will recognise the track plan? I was looking for something in the same area came across this layout and couldnt come up with anything better to fit my wants. so terrible but i am going down my own path with it.
    so any questions, critiscism, comments,opinions flak or help gratefully recieved and viewed. I'll plan to slowly add to this but trust me nothing will move quickly, so if you didnt like Treoch(i did!) turn away now!
    Cheers Matt Smith
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    Comment posted by Jamesonb on Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:57 pm
     
    Holland Park?
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    Comment posted by corax67 on Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:00 pm
     
    Looks familiar but I cannot put a name to it - nice and neat though and the control panel looks good too.
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    ??? posted on Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:04 pm
     


    Jamesonb wrote:
    Holland Park?
    No, but now you mention it i can see your thinking, now there's an idea


    corax67 wrote:
    Looks familiar but I cannot put a name to it - nice and neat though and the control panel looks good too. Thankyou, i've tried to learn from the first attempt, no missing sleepers and not relying on point blades for contact. The control panel is a last minute job, forgot to add any room for it when planning ill tidy it it up once all wiring is complete, lots of lessons learnt and being learnt as i go here.
    Any other takers for the inspiring layout(or whose idea I ripped off depending on your point of view )it was Wales based.
    Cheers for your comments
    Matt
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    Comment posted by dyserthroad on Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:11 pm
     


    Jamesonb wrote:
    Holland Park?
    You called
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    ??? posted on Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:17 pm
     
    he he
    No no, the inspiration from yourself is just some top quality modern era modelling to aspire to, saw Holland Rd at Showcase, easily one of my favourites.
    Matt.
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    Comment posted by dyserthroad on Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:19 pm
     


    slow8dirty wrote:
    saw Holland Rd at Showcase, easily one of my favourites.
    I didn't see that one I was to busy with Holland Park
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:26 pm
     
    Sorry that'll be the cider sharpening my faculties
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    Comment posted by Tom Middleton on Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:28 pm
     
    Looking good, pleased keep us updated!
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    ??? posted on Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:13 pm
     
    Fiddle yard and 1 cassette now complete and fully wired to the rest of the layout.
    sorry about the qaulity of the pics ill sort the camera/operator out in a bit
     

     
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:29 am
     
    The plan,
    Right not a lot to show at the moment cos i'm roughly working at the pace of 1 point motor/day! So heres the general background to my project.
    The original idea is from John Anderson's Aberdaugleddaw(RM Apr05) a fictitious substitute for Milford Haven in the late sectorisation period. I've seen the model liked what i saw so i'm using the concept but taking forward a decade or so.
     

     
    So this leaves us with a small rundown station, a few Portakabin staion buildings. a small but busy loco stabling point, a freight only branch to the docks, requiring reversal for access, undesirable but unavoidable once modern developments had taken place prior to the redevelopment of the North docks and short enterprise workings up to MOD Gashpipes.
    The trackplan is essentially the same as the original but N gauge has allowed me to stretch the plan so i can comfortably accomodate top and tailed 4 coach sets ala ATWs loco hauled reliefs and football specials.Work is progressing, also building up my stock list iaw with a working timetable taken from ATWs passenger timetable and freight tables for South Wales. I'll try and keep things updated as i go along as much to spur me on as much as anything else, Hope this isn't proving too boring
    Please feel free to post critiscism,advice or questions
    Cheers Matt
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    ??? posted on Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:42 pm
     
    WOW June the 27 and in that time i have wired up a grand total of 5 point and accessory switches, and one of those connected the frog with the opposite end of the layout by mistake!! Work has totally deprived me of muc spare time so that is my excuse. I have bashed a peco train shed for the maintenance shed, not complete just enough to give me dimensions. Now umming and ahing wether to use a small pikestuff shed instead(much better quality than the peco and not as common) or use it stripped down on the fuelling point, maybe one building too far. Does anyone know the whereabouts of any pictures of the sheds at camarthen they could prove useful. Also busily voiding the warranty on my bachfar turbostar ready to convert it into a 175 with the etched pixels kits. Pics to follow. not a lot to show but progress is progress no matter how glacial,
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:19 pm
     
    Hooray!!!
    Finally the electrics are complete, and to celebrate heres a pic of a ATW 158 breaking the "ribbon"!
     

     
    Its amazing how much time can be whiled away before you realise you've actually designed in a couple of major short cicuits
    Time to move on to some actual modelling now and try to get my head around the nitty gritty of the signalling. ho hum.
    Progress, Glacial but progess.
    cheers Matt.
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    Comment posted by Sir Jacky on Sat Sep 13, 2008 8:02 am
     
    Thats looking good. Keep the updates coming.
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    Comment posted by MartinWales on Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:12 pm
     
    Nice one! . That really bought a smile to my face Keep it up!
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    Comment posted by pacer lover on Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:05 pm
     
    great layout
    i look forward in following the updates
    love the 158 breaking the ribbon it reminds me of when atw open the vale of glamorgan line with 150
    can i ask what it said on it?
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:57 pm
     
    he he, It said "PECO STREAMLINE SL-300F CODE 55", I think it was provided by the permanent way contractors Or was that all i had to hand in my solder fumes adlled moment of lunacy Thanks for the comments guys
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by mason on Sat Nov 01, 2008 1:29 pm
     
    looking good matt, think we are coasting along the same lines, you have ya wiring done and i havent and im working thru my scenics and you arnt its coming togther tho mate keep up the good work
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    Comment posted by Trainsrgr8 on Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:34 pm
     
    Coming along well Matt!!
     
    Danny
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    ??? posted on Sat Nov 01, 2008 5:53 pm
     
    Right some more pics to show the projects alive rather than actual progress.
     

     
    First steps on the two overbridges.
     

     
    Final position, crummy light but there is some colour to those walls.
     

     
    Halfway with the cut&shut trainshed kit.
     
    So paint the backscene, bring up the land contour a bit and start ballasting the track. Ooh bout 3yrs the rate i work at! Just picked up a large logo 50 off e-bay so those ATW mkIIs are urgently required, hello Electra?
    Other than that My Hippo conversion has moved from 4%-8%complete. Oh and I looked at my PFA kits today . Breakneck:)
    Least I finally got out me armchair.
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    Comment posted by Trainsrgr8 on Sat Nov 01, 2008 6:23 pm
     
    You making a 175???
     
    Is there a kit for this???
     
    Danny
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    ??? posted on Sat Nov 01, 2008 6:47 pm
     
    Hi Danny,its a conversion kit for the Bachfar turbostar, have a look on tinterweb for Etchedpixels or go to Electra Railway Graphics its a bit of a joint venture between the two.
    http://www.etchedpixels.co.uk/
    http://www.electrarailwaygraphics.co.uk/
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Trainsrgr8 on Sat Nov 01, 2008 7:23 pm
     
    Cool, can't wait to see it when you have finished!!!
     
    Danny
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    ??? posted on Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:40 pm
     
    Hi all,
    I was hoping to post great progress on the layout by now, with the ballasting completed and serious thought on the scenics starting, alas it was not to be. A fact that to be honest was really starting to sap my enthusiasm for the project
    However a little bit of unexpected free time to crack on with things has got me cheery again.
    I really must say again thankyou to all who responded both on thread and by PM to my request for help with the signalling, Thankyou all guys, you know who you are! The help given and the effort taken by others just shows what a great place this is.
    Anyway whats ocurring? Bearing mind almost every modelling task I do is a first or only the second time round, I took an inordinate amount of pleasure knocking together a metcalfe platfom kit today. I was a bit dubious about card but I was really impressed with the kit, simple things eh?
    Base coat of blue has been added to the backscene,Beginnings of the landform framework is in place, fuelling point built but not painted or detailed yet.
    Ballasting has started and is progressing slowly in these temperatures! What is covered is just the initial pass, ive yet to chip away the unwanted lumps and add to the bald patches, and then theres painting, s&t cable trunking and troughs etc.Oh and the basic platform temporarily in place, which is really helping me to picture what this will be like when no longer a bare plank!
    Some pics of work so far, not the best quality I'm afraid
     

    Overview of the station with basic platform temporarily in place. not looking shiny or papery
    This view is evidently from the latter half of 2006 as that is when the gaugemaster track rubber was outbased at Milford Dock.
     

    View to the NorthWest showing progress of the initial ballasting.
     

    Birds eye view from the road bridges.
     

    Closer view of ballasted area.
     

    In autumn sunshine Atw 158 leaves for Clarbeston Rd and ballasted lines as a shed on a docks branch trip ticks over in the goods loop.
     

    Spotters view from the platform end.
     
    Enough drivel from me now, next time I post the ballasting will be complete and track painted I Promise!!
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    Comment posted by dave_long on Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:29 pm
     
    Coming along nicely. I like those dark blue hooded steel vans. Ballasting is starting well by the looks of it.
    __________________________________________
  3. slow8dirty
    Its not big,its not clever but it is Welsh!Now Milford Dock
     
    by slow8dirty
     
    original page on Old RMweb
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by nebnoswal on Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:48 am
     
    Just found this, look forward to watching the progress
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:50 pm
     
    Hi all,
    For once a productive weekend(possibly a first on this project )I'm off to sea shortly so thought I'd crack on and get the ballasting up to a logical step to pause at before i'm away. So at last the bulk of the ballasting is complete and just patch up work to be done when i return.Even with just unpainted rails and bare ballast down though I can really start to see how the layouts going to take shape now, very encouraging after bare boards for nearly 2 years.
    Also thanks to some phots of the wagon repair shed at Warrington passed to me by a friend the original peco trainshed has now been scrapped, the plan is to replace this with a kitbashed pikestuff shed I've got lying around and make this little corner a lot more prototypical. I've never been very happy with the peco effort, to my mind its just screamed "model".
    A more frustrating note; I bit the bullet and got round to doing some work on my Etched Pixels conversion kit for a turbostar into a Hippo(175). Being a Welsh layout a Hippo was a must have, but being a complete beginner as far as any form of brass work Ive taken my time and only done a few minutes here and there on it, mainly through being a bit scared to tackle it. So after about 6 months finally got round to fixing the roof etches on. And put them on the wrong way round check and check again those reference pictures! It is recoverable just, and i'm carrying on with it, but i do feel a bit stupid
    The layout now has a name-Milford Dock, to be fair Aberdaugleddaw 2 is what it is but as time and has gone on my fictional history and what/why runs on it has diverged enough from the original to need a new name so Milford Haven/Pembroke Dock=Milford Dock
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by sithlord75 on Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:08 am
     
    Always interested in N gauge modelling. Will keep an eye on this. The overbridge looks pretty good.
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    ??? posted on Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:02 am
     
    Finally returned from sea.
    Mrs Smudge bought me 08921 for me birthday while I was away so Milford Dock has an 08 in residence. Before this version came out the story was the last Milford shunter got scrapped in the 90s, cos no way would the old offering standup against more recent traction.
    Once it was politically acceptable to sneak away from the family I returned to the layout room. To greet me was Thomas the Tank engine residing on Milfords stabling sidings Mini-me has now been rebriefed
    Before patching up the first round of ballasting from before I went away I found that 6 of the point motors needed to be coaxed back in to life and at least one of the PL13 switches has gone dud.I suspect i should have followed the advice on here about them, but they were already in when i found the discussion on them.
    Anyway, ballasting is now complete, track awaiting painting and weathering plus some more details(cable troughs and a clamplock representation, orange "tamper targets" are already in.). Have had great fun putting plaster bandage down(another first attempt) tonight, seems to have gone okay.
    Some pics taken after tonights session, sorry main cameras duff so i used the mobile.
    Some shots of the station throat.
     

     

     

     

     
    Looking towards Clarbeston Rd from the platform.
     

    Being just a BLT a minimal amount of locos will be required
     

    A couple evenings work stretched out to 13 months so far!
     

     
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    ??? posted on Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:53 pm
     
    ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS listen to advice
    Unable to get across to the SWAG do on sunday(well done all) due to the car not returning from the stored unservicable pool in time I decided to console myself with a period of "Intensive testing" for the afternoon. Okay playing with my toys.
    All worked surprisingly well given the ballasting and painting going on recently, so I was very happy, bar yet another Peco switch going frrrp.
    When it came to setting a rake of universal track defect detectors(otherwise known as Dapol spine wagons) back under the scenic break along the docks line I realised all is not well. They constantly derailed at this point and my 57 even did it a couple of times light engine. the only stock affected it seems.
    What I originally did many moons ago when building my board joints was to forego such scary options as copperclad sleepers(didn't have the confidence, embarrasingly) and just pin and glue the track really really heavily at these points.Now this method has worked for the last 2 years of the layouts life without any movement at all on 2 out of 3 tracks.
    The docks branch line, however, has a reverse curve on the fiddle board to move it apart from the main line to allow space for the cassettes and alignment methods. Now up until now this has held(yes i was surprised), but the reverse curve has pushed the rail ends out by a tiny fraction of a millimetre. For a lot of stock this is ok but a significant few are derailed.
    The way forward;
    Listen to advice in future, I'm getting better at this.
    Redo the fiddle board to get rid of the reverse curve and use a different cassette design.
    So all in all
    frustrated Matt
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    Comment posted by Nevermakeit on Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:03 pm
     
    Matt - sorry to hear about your set-back. Hopefully others will be able to benefit from your experience though!
     
    This layout looks great and I look forward to seeing more photos.
     
    Best wishes
     
    Nev
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    Comment posted by sithlord75 on Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:28 pm
     
    Bet the worst part is it worked for so long. Much sympathy but silver lining time - do you get more space for the scene?
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    ??? posted on Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:26 pm
     


    sithlord75 wrote:
    Bet the worst part is it worked for so long. Much sympathy but silver lining time - do you get more space for the scene?
    Thats a good point, I dont get any more space but by eliminating the reverse curve, that will improve the look of trains leaving on that line, as although off scene you could still see longer stock kick out as they negotiated the sharp curve. So not frustration, in service improvements!
     
    Hi Nev! thanks for your comments, and welcome to the the best club round here
    I don't expect my fumblings to inspire but if i someone learns from my boobs then happy days
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    ??? posted on Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:15 pm
     
    an update!
    Ballasting complete and all track weathered.
    Pretty happy with my efforts to be honest, probably not up to most standards on here but the difference between the before and after is most satisfying.
    A significant start has been made on the scenics and its possible to get a feel for the look of the "finished" article now.
    Qiuetly satisfied in Somerset.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by sithlord75 on Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:12 am
     
    Hi Matt,
     
    Good to hear that there has been progress. Any chance of some pictures?
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    Comment posted by Will Vale on Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:35 am
     
    It's hard to tell some of these pictures are N-gauge - very impressive. I like the picture with the row of electrical cabinets particularly, and I was wondering if there's a good place to get information about permanent way details like the cabinets and tamper targets - you seem to have a good handle on this!
     
    Thanks,
     
    Will
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    Comment posted by EddScott on Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:47 pm
     
    Looks very good. I live in Haverfordwest and quite close to the railway line.
     
    I was going to model the refinery but its been dropped from my final layout design. I am going to model the train though.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Aug 25, 2009 12:35 pm
     


    sithlord75 wrote:
    Hi Matt,
     
    Good to hear that there has been progress. Any chance of some pictures?
    Hi Kevin, some issues with the camera at the moment, the diagnostician in me feels its broke However will post some up before the end of this fortnights leave period.
    Will, you flatter me, There is a good place to get details of permanent way, Its here , i know absolutely nothing but have gone out and looked at the most benign bits of track wherever i am and anything I dont understand I've asked about on here. I realise where you are,the going out and looking is a bit impractical, but any of the prototype mags are useful for looking at things past the rolling stock.Railway herald is on line and free so probably an easy option for you. Also several of the rolling stock sites, Martyn Reads site and wagons on the web, all useful for the stuff behind the wagons. HTH
    As regards THE train(the murco tanks), Id love to have the space to fit in the tanks but Milford dock's nowhere near big enough! however modellers license allows me to have a trip working of 6 tanks. at the moment for operational purposes the gap is filled with some grafar TEA's but Im keeping a close look at ewsjo's workbench. The other signature items for this area and period I feel are 'Hippos' and the loco hauled Arriva mkII rakes. All under build or on their way.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Sep 05, 2009 1:32 pm
     
    Aargh Just run out of rail joiners Could of sworn I had more than that in me bits boxes. Oh well new fiddleyard delayed till i next get back from work. On a plus new camera fired up ok today so I'll have a bash at getting some update pics on tomorrow.
    Cheers Matt
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:38 am
     
    Ok as threatened, some update shots,
    Please bear in mind nothing is actually finished yet, and most of it is a first attempt, so any advice/constructive criticism gratefully received.
    Also apologies for the bad quality shots, first rushed effforts with new camera, will read the manual one day
     
    The local gronk ticks over in the siding that lead to MOD Gashpipes
     

     
    A view down the length of the layout from under the main line road bridge.
     

     
    Station throat overview
     

     
    and a bit to the left.
     

     
    A LOT more to do at this end.
     

     
    Well a refreshing change to post something other than bare plywood and streamline Nothing is finished in any of the pics btw
     
    Cheers, Matt
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:51 pm
     
    Hooray, New fiddle yard built.
    Kids driving me mad
    Going up to tidy the layout room(and poosibly test out me working timetable
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Nevermakeit on Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:23 pm
     
    I really like the shot of the length of the layout. Any chance of you posting the working time-table when it is ready? One of the big problems I have with getting started on a layout is knowing what to do with the trains! I could just run them up and down and drop wagons off etc, but would like to have some idea if the movements were prototypical or not.
     
    Thanks.
     
    Nev
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Thu Oct 08, 2009 6:13 pm
     
    Hi, the timetable has been drawn up for the passenger workings form the Arriva Trains Wales timetable for Milford Haven, thus providing an hourly to two hourly DMU service. The only deviation from the prototype is due to the "accidental" purchase of a Virgin Voyager. This is covered by moving the actual Virgin Cross Country to Newcastle from Cardiff/swansea(cant remember exactly ), as a replacement for the HST that used to run from Milford Haven in BR days.
    As far as the freight goes, this was done by browsing the Freightmaster timetables for 2005/7, specifically the Margam, Port Talbot Parkway, Cardiff Central and Newport listings. Suitable workings were chosen and their pathing changed ever so slightly . The result is a selection of actual trains from the area be modelled only slightly misplaced to a branch that in reality only sees DMUs and the Murco tanks train. Weaved inbetween the timetabled workings are the short trips from the dockyard siding to the wagon workshop, MOD Gashpipes branch and occasionly fuel for the fuel point by the resident 08, and light engine movements from the docks and Robeston refinery.
    The minus points are that the single track main line is probably about 10 times busier than it has any right to be, but I suspect that I'm not the first modeller to suffer from this little "problem". This is acceptable to me as everything moves sequentially and with a purpose. Also as there is rarely more than one train moving over the layout at any one time its not that noticeable to the viewer.
    The plus point is everything has a purpose and the timetable gives me a list of stock to build and aquire as the project progresses. For greater fidelity I could probably trim down some of the workings and draw up a train graph to get accurate times between workingsbut to be honest I think thats probaly a step too far for me.
    Hth, Matt
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by nebnoswal on Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:47 pm
     
    Its good to see that my layout is not the only one to have a giant can hair spray on it
    __________________________________________
  4. slow8dirty
    Well work has taken up most of my time of late, so not much modelling done.Now on leave tho so no excuse now I've reminded the family what I actually look like(A reminder too far possibly ). Only a few hours snatched so far but a few details added and a couple more coats of paint on things
    Okay so technically its still a bad shot but I like it, if I ignore all the unfinished bits it looks like I've got a model railway!

    The stabling point, probably the most unfinished area now, but I think this is going to be how its laid out.

     

    The station "building" and the wag rep area. Just filling in the gaps now really.
     

    And finally the "arty" shot, 60052 "Glofa Twr" peeks through the undergrowth, apologies for the camera shake I only just got to the edge of the common to take the shot before it rumbled off down the docks branch with its rake of departmentals.
     
     
    I think most immediate jobs will be painting the wag rep shed, adding more scenics to the yard and starting to detail the platform area. The ware houses and backscene need some attention soon. And those signals are starting to be notable by their absence.
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